- Anvil Empires bronze quality is determined almost entirely by the temperature at which you quench a finished part.
- Hammer until the shape stops changing on the anvil—that means the part is fully formed and ready to quench.
- Tier 3 results require precise quench points: 25% for tool heads, 10% for weapon tips, 40% for sword blades, 55% for axe heads.
- Reheat carefully: reheating a partially formed part to 100% heat resets it back to an ingot.
- Forge with bellows to exceed the default 50% heat cap when you need higher working temperatures.
How Bronze Quality and Smithing Work in Anvil Empires
In Anvil Empires, the quality of a smithed part—the number of "pluses" or tier stars it carries—is not random. It depends on two things: hammering the part to its final shape on the anvil, and quenching it at the correct temperature in the quenching station. Judge the temperature and timing correctly and you get a Tier 3 part. Judge it wrong and the result drops to Tier 2 or even Tier 1.
Video Highlights:
- Full workflow from iron ore fragments to finished Tier 3 parts
- Exact quench temperature percentages for tool heads, weapon tips, sword blades, and axe heads
- How reheating works and why overheating resets a part to ingot form
- Forge and bellows heat mechanics explained
Quality is decided at the quenching station, not the anvil. A perfectly hammered part can still come out Tier 1 if you quench at the wrong temperature, so watch the gauge on the left side of the part.
Workshop Setup: Stations You Need
A functional smithing workshop needs several stations working together. Each one handles a specific stage of the production chain, from raw ore to finished Tier 3 part.
| Station | Purpose | Key Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Workbench | Basic crafting | Flint tools, blanks (1 plank = 1 blank) |
| Advanced Workbench | Final assembly | Combines blanks + part into finished tools |
| Furnace | Smelting ore | 3 iron ore fragments + 1 min fuel = 1 ingot |
| Forge | Heating ingots/parts | Plank = 3 min fuel; 50% heat cap without bellows |
| Anvil | Hammering shapes | Select form: tool head, sword blade, weapon tip, axe head |
| Quenching Station | Locks in quality | Must contain water; determines final tier |
Forge
- Heats ingots and parts
- 50% heat cap without bellows
- Planks provide 3 min of fuel
Anvil
- Choose the target form first
- Hammer until shape stops changing
- Listen for sound change = part cooled
Quenching Station
- Requires water inside
- Temperature at quench = final tier
- Gauge sits left of the part icon
Reheating a partially formed part all the way to 100% heat turns it back into a plain ingot. Reheat just enough to keep hammering, then stop.
Getting Materials: From Ore to Ingot
Before you can chase high bronze quality parts, you need a steady supply of ingots. The chain starts with a flint pickaxe and a wild iron spawn.
| Item | Recipe | Crafted At |
|---|---|---|
| Flint Pickaxe | 3 planks, 2 fiber, 2 flint | Workbench |
| Flint Hammer | 2 planks, 2 flint, 1 fiber | Workbench |
| Blank | 1 plank | Workbench |
| Iron Ingot | 3 iron ore fragments + 1 min fuel | Furnace |
| Iron Hammer (example) | 2 blanks + 1 tool blade, 30 sec | Advanced Workbench |
To farm ore, equip the pickaxe (press Tab, place it in the right hand slot, press 1), then hold left click on an iron outcrop. Press E to collect the dropped ore fragments. Right-click the fragment stack in the furnace production panel to move it all at once, add branches as fuel, and collect your ingots from the output slot.
Branches fuel the furnace for about 1 minute—exactly enough to smelt one batch of fragments. Planks are better value at the forge, giving 3 minutes each.
Exact Quench Temperatures for Tier 3 Parts
This is where quality is won or lost. After hammering a part until its shape stops changing on the anvil, move it to the quenching station and watch the temperature gauge on the left of the part icon. Quench at these points for Tier 3 results.
| Part Type | Quench Point | Gauge Reference | Used For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tool Head | 25% | Bottom of the iron ingot symbol | Daggers, hammers |
| Weapon Tip | 10% | Well below the ingot icon | Spears |
| Sword Blade | 40% | Bottom of the top ingot mark | Swords |
| Axe Head | 55% | Slightly above the middle of the icon | Pickaxes, axes |
Hammer to final shape
Place the heated ingot on the anvil, select the correct form, and hammer until the model stops changing. Reheat as needed—but never to 100%.
Watch for the cool-down sound
The hammering sound changes as the part cools. Once it changes, the part can no longer be formed—return it to the forge immediately.
Move to the quenching station
Press E, left click the finished part to place it in, and confirm the station has water.
Quench at the target temperature
Track the gauge on the left and press the quench button at the exact percentage for that part type. Correct timing yields a Tier 3 part.
Tool head 25%, weapon tip 10%, sword blade 40%, axe head 55%. Letting the temperature drift past these windows is the most common cause of Tier 1 and Tier 2 results.
Common Mistakes and How to Fix Them
| Mistake | Result | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Reheating to 100% | Part resets to ingot | Reheat only partway before returning to the anvil |
| Quenching too early (too hot) | Tier 1–2 part | Wait for the gauge to fall to the target percentage |
| Hammering a cold part | No progress, wasted time | Listen for the sound change; reheat before continuing |
| Empty quenching station | Cannot quench | Keep water stocked in the station |
| No bellows on forge | Heat capped at 50% | Add and operate bellows for higher working heat |
Before Your Next Smithing Session:
- Stock the furnace with ore fragments and fuel
- Confirm the quenching station has water
- Craft a flint hammer and pickaxe at the workbench
- Memorize the four Tier 3 quench percentages
- Set up bellows at the forge for full heat control
The temperature falls steadily once the part enters the station. Players who click the quench button out of impatience almost always land one tier lower than intended.
FAQ
Q: What determines bronze quality in Anvil Empires?
Quality is determined by the temperature at which you quench a fully hammered part. A part hammered to its final shape and quenched at the correct gauge percentage comes out Tier 3; wrong temperatures produce Tier 2 or Tier 1 results.
Q: What happens if I overheat a partially formed part?
Reheating a partially formed part to 100% heat resets it back into a plain ingot, destroying your hammering progress. Reheat just enough to continue shaping, then return to the anvil.
Q: How do I know when a part is fully formed?
Keep hammering until the model on top of the anvil stops changing shape. Some parts require reheating cycles along the way. The changing hammer sound also signals when the part has cooled too much to work.
Q: Why can't my forge heat an ingot past 50%?
A forge without bellows is capped at 50% of the heat bar. Boost the forge with bellows to reach higher temperatures for full working heat.