Choosing the right race in The Forge is not a minor decision. It can determine how successful your entire gameplay experience will be. With 13 distinct races available through the gacha system, understanding which races perform best in combat, mining, or progression is essential for maximizing your potential.
S-Tier Races
S-tier races represent the pinnacle of design and utility in The Forge. They provide the most versatile abilities, strong synergies, and are valuable for both combat and progression. Players should aim to obtain at least one of these races to maximize efficiency and performance.
Angel
Angel dominates as the game's most balanced race, excelling in both combat and resource gathering. The Wings passive transforms your mobility with:
- -20% Dash Cooldown for constant repositioning
- +50% Dash Distance to escape danger
- +15% Longer Dash iFrames for invincibility frames
- +20% Movement Speed and +25% Jump Boost
The Mighty Clover passive provides a massive +25% Luck Boost, making ore farming significantly more rewarding. When combined with Smite (50% chance for 30% physical damage) and Holy Hand (infinite stamina below 20% health), Angel becomes virtually unstoppable.
Demon
Demon specializes in pure offensive power, making it the ultimate choice for combat-focused builds. Demonic Powers grants:
- +20% Physical Damage and +20% Fire Damage
- +20% Attack Speed for faster weapon swings
- +20% Movement Speed for aggressive positioning
The Cursed Aura creates a damage field dealing 10% weapon damage per second during combat, while Devil's Finger has a 20% chance to summon hellfire circles dealing 45% weapon damage per second for 3 seconds.
Backfire adds defensive utility with a 25% chance to burn attackers when you take damage.
The Forge Race Tier List: Best Classes Ranked
A-Tier Races
A-tier races are strong alternatives to S-tier options. They provide significant advantages but may lack the overall versatility or raw power of Angel or Demon.
Dragonborn
Dragonborn offers the best compromise between offense and defense for players who can't obtain mythical races. With +20% Max Health and +12% Physical Damage, it provides solid foundations for any build.
Dragon's Breath triggers a 40% chance to burn enemies for 30% weapon damage per second over 3 seconds, adding consistent DPS to your arsenal.
Golem
Golem transforms you into an unstoppable fortress with +30% Health and +30% Size. The Stone Heart passive provides a 50% chance to reduce incoming damage by 25%, making you incredibly durable.
Heavy Hitter grants +15% Attack Speed specifically for heavy weapons, encouraging a specific playstyle that rewards commitment.
Warning
Golem suffers from -10% Movement Speed, making positioning more challenging in fast-paced encounters.
Dwarf
For progression-focused players, Dwarf remains unmatched. Gifted Miner provides +15% Mining Damage and +5% Better Forge chances, while Critical Mining offers a 20% chance for +50% damage to rocks.
Check out our Beginner's Guide for optimal mining strategies with Dwarf builds.
The Forge Race Tier List: Best Classes Ranked
B-Tier Races
Shadow
Shadow provides excellent damage potential with +15% Movement Speed, +10% Attack Speed, and +5% Physical Damage. However, the -10% Health penalty makes positioning critical.
Phantom Step offers a 15% chance to dodge attacks by becoming ethereal, but the low proc rate limits reliability.
Minotaur
Minotaur excels in specific builds focused on Bull's Fury. When health drops below 50%, you gain +30% Physical Damage and increased movement speed, turning desperate situations into comeback opportunities.
The +20% Health from Beast helps you survive long enough to trigger the rage effect.
Orc
Orc offers straightforward benefits with +10% Physical Damage and +15% Health from Muscular. While the -10% Stamina and -10% Movement Speed penalties hurt mobility, the raw stat boosts work well for straightforward combat approaches.
C-Tier Races
Goblin
Goblin serves one primary purpose: the Bargain passive provides a 12% discount when shopping. This makes it invaluable when purchasing expensive pickaxes or materials, but you should immediately switch afterward.
The -15% Health penalty from Tiny makes combat extremely risky.
Elf
Elf provides a modest +7% Luck Boost and +15% Stamina, making it acceptable for new players who haven't unlocked better options. However, Angel completely outclasses it in every meaningful way.
D-Tier Races
Human
Human exists purely as a tutorial race. The +3% Luck and +3% Extra XP from Blessed provide minimal benefits that better races completely overshadow.
Zombie
Zombie suffers from catastrophic design flaws. The -25% Max Health penalty from Rotten creates massive vulnerability, while Mutated Genes only provides +2% health regeneration every 5 seconds.
Absorb offers a mere 15% chance to convert damage to health, making it unreliable for survival.
Undead
Undead combines the worst aspects of defensive races. Fragile Bones reduces health by 12%, while Second Chance only triggers every 5 minutes, making it useless in extended combat scenarios.
Sharp Surface reflects 10% damage, but this minimal amount rarely impacts fights meaningfully.
Important
Both Zombie and Undead should be rerolled immediately. No build benefits enough from their limited upsides to justify the massive health penalties.
Race selection fundamentally shapes your entire Forge experience. While RNG determines your options, strategic rerolling and smart temporary switches maximize your potential regardless of luck. Focus on obtaining at least one solid A-tier race before pursuing the mythical prizes, and always keep your playstyle preferences in mind when making final decisions.