Salty's Realistic Forging
by saltywater
Salty's Realistic Forging changes how ores become tools: raw ore is smelted and then forged step by step in a process that replaces the vanilla shortcut.
What it does
The mod adds forging mechanics that turn ores into equipment through a sequence of specific steps. Each ore is processed in its own way, and each tool is crafted in a different way, so iron, gold, copper, netherite and diamond follow separate routes. Cauldrons, stone cutters and grindstones take part in the process, and vanilla blocks gain a single purpose within it. Each ore vein yields as many as five raw ores, and a rough gem is cut into two finished gems at the lapidary step.
The design aims at immersion and early-game role play. Forging is done by holding certain items in the main hand and the off hand and right-clicking, with a graphical interface kept to a minimum. Players who prefer automation or quick smelting will find the process slower. Smelting raw ore blocks with Silk Touch is an option for those who want to skip forging. The mod requires playerAnimator on Forge and NeoForge.
Salty's Realistic Forging is published for Forge and NeoForge across four release versions, 1.19.2 – 1.20.4, with the latest files for 1.20.1 and 1.20.4 dated 2024-08-22. It is server-side only, so players join without installing it, and it is released under All rights reserved, not as open source.
Key features
Multi-step forging
Iron, gold, copper, netherite and diamond ingots and tools each go through their own sequence of forging steps.
Lapidary gems
Rough gems are processed on a lapidary route, and a rough diamond yields two diamonds.
Ore veins
Mining an ore vein can return up to five raw ores, and every raw ore is then processed into an ingot, a gem, a tool or a weapon.
Vanilla block roles
Cauldrons, stone cutters and grindstones each take a defined part in the forging chain.
Compatibility
Latest build for each game version and loader.
Only full game releases are shown. This mod publishes no snapshot builds.
Requirements
Dependencies declared by the latest file for each loader.
Required 1
Use cases
Who it’s for: The mod suits survival players and server owners who want a slower, step-based metal and gem progression. Players who prefer automation may find it too slow.
How it compares
Hot Iron is a Forge-only mod for 1.20.1 with client and server environment, released under the MIT License and not open source. Overgeared is open source under the MIT License, covers Fabric, Forge and NeoForge for 1.20.1 – 1.21.1, and runs on client and server. Salty's Realistic Forging is server-side only, so players do not need to install it.
| Mod | Loaders | Game versions | Environment | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salty's Realistic Forging | Forge and NeoForge | 1.19.2 – 1.20.4 | Server-side only | 2024-08-22 |
| Hot Iron | Forge | 1.20.1 | Client and server | 2025-03-15 |
| Overgeared | Fabric, Forge and NeoForge | 1.20.1 – 1.21.1 | Client and server | 2026-10-01 |
Questions
Does Salty's Realistic Forging require another mod?
Does the server need the mod if players do not?
Can recipes from other mods conflict with forging?
In the catalog
Salty's Realistic Forging is one of 8,016 Management mods on ModsFinder, and one of 2,698 Management mods for Forge. 13,907 mods support Minecraft 1.20.4.
More from saltywater
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What the author says
This mod aims to make smelting ores and forging tools more immersive (GUI free) and engaging. It adds new mechanics to smelting and forging ores and tools and steps for gems lapidary.
Official listing
- Modrinth page
- modrinth.com/mod/saltys-realistic-forging
- Owner
- saltywater
- Published
- 2024-02-10
- Updated on Modrinth
- 2024-08-22
- Facts verified
- 2026-10-15