What to Put in the Melting Furnace in Baldur’s Gate 3

The Melting Furnace in Baldur’s Gate 3 (BG3) is a versatile crafting station used to convert materials, create specific items, and unlock quest progress. This guide explains which items to place in the furnace, how to use it efficiently, and what combinations produce the best results for crafting, quest resolution, and character progression. Players who want predictable outcomes and to avoid wasting rare materials will find step-by-step guidance and practical examples below.

Item Put In Furnace	Result	Notes
Iron Ingot	Smelted Iron	Basic crafting material
Gold	Molten Gold	Used for jewelry and dialogue options
Silver	Molten Silver	Crafting and merchant sale
Fey Metals/Unique Ores	Special Components	Quest or upgrade items
Random Junk (Coins, Nails)	Scrap / Refined Bits	Low-value outputs, used for practice

How The Melting Furnace Works In BG3

The Melting Furnace functions as an interactive device within certain areas of BG3 where players can combine fuels and raw materials to produce molten metals or refined components. It typically requires fuel such as wood, coal, or other combustible items and the raw material to smelt. The furnace may be scripted to produce specific outcomes based on the item placed, and some unique ores yield special quest-related items rather than generic materials.

Players should pay attention to environmental context, quest logs, and NPC hints when using the furnace. Some furnaces are tied to specific questlines where inserting the correct item triggers dialogue, unlocks doors, or advances story beats.

Common Materials To Put In The Furnace

Metals: Iron, Gold, Silver

Standard metals like Iron, Gold, and Silver are commonly processed. Iron ingots or raw iron ore convert into smelted iron used for weapons and armor upgrades. Gold and silver often become molten forms useful for crafting jewelry or enabling special interactions with NPCs who value precious metals.

Unique Ores And Fey Metals

Unique ores found during exploration—such as mysterious fey metals or enchanted ore veins—may produce special components when placed into the furnace. These components can be required for upgrading rare items, completing puzzles, or fulfilling quest requirements. Because outcomes can be non-standard, players are advised to save before attempting to smelt unique ores.

Junk Materials And Low-Value Items

Less valuable items like coins, rusted nails, or scrap metal typically generate low-grade refined materials. These are useful for learning the furnace mechanics or for crafting minor items but are generally not recommended for players seeking high-value outputs.

Fuel Requirements And How To Prepare

Most furnaces require a source of heat. In BG3 this can be provided by placing flammable items nearby or by using environmental fire sources. Common fuel sources include wood logs, torches, or combustible alchemical reagents. Ensure there is a clear way to ignite the furnace—either through the player’s spellcasting (Firebolt, Produce Flame) or using existing fires in the environment.

Preparing the furnace: clear surrounding lootable objects that might block access, place the fuel, and then place the smeltable item. If the area permits, use a character with interaction proficiency or a crafting skill to guarantee success and to potentially reveal additional options.

Quest-Related Uses Of The Furnace

Several BG3 quests involve furnaces where players must smelt specific items to progress. When an NPC or journal entry references a melted sample or molten material, it is a strong sign the furnace will be the tool. For many of these tasks, only specific items will trigger the desired outcome, so players should preserve unusual ores until consulting quest clues.

Examples include forging a key component for a broken mechanism or producing a symbolic offering. Some quests require a deliberate choice between melting a relic (consuming it) or preserving it for other uses, so scene-saving before interaction is advised.

Crafting Items And Upgrades From Furnace Outputs

Outputs from the furnace often serve as ingredients for crafting recipes at anvils, workbenches, or NPC blacksmiths. Smelted iron becomes raw material for weapons and armor, while molten silver or gold can be fashioned into trinkets that boost charisma-related checks or are used for barter. Players should track recipes found in books, merchants, or through NPC dialogue to maximize the furnace’s value.

Some items require combining furnace outputs with other components like leather, gems, or magical essences. A coordinated approach minimizes material waste and ensures higher-tier items are craftable when reaching a blacksmith or artisan.

Practical Examples And Step-By-Step Uses

Example: Smelting Iron Ore

Step 1: Acquire iron ore or an iron ingot from a mine, chest, or enemy drop. Step 2: Place fuel (wood or torch) into or next to the furnace. Step 3: Place the iron ore into the furnace interface. Step 4: Ignite using a fire spell or lever. Step 5: Collect smelted iron and use it for crafting.

Example: Turning Gold Into Molten Gold For A Quest

Step 1: Retrieve gold pieces or a gold bar from loot. Step 2: Ensure adequate fuel and fire source. Step 3: Place the gold into the furnace and initiate melting. Step 4: Use molten gold in the specified quest container or with an NPC offering to unlock dialogue or gates.

Saving Materials And Avoiding Common Mistakes

Players should avoid melting unique or quest-critical items without confirming outcomes. Use quicksave before experimenting with rare ores or artifacts. When uncertain, consult in-game journal entries, NPC hints, or community guides to prevent irreversible loss.

Another common mistake is using high-value items for basic recipes. Reserve precious metals for jewelry, selling, or quest uses; instead, use common ore for practice. Maintain an inventory of low-value fuels and scrap items to experiment without consequence.

How Character Skills Affect Furnace Outcomes

Characters with proficiency in crafting or intelligence-based skills can sometimes reveal additional options or efficiencies when interacting with the furnace. Dialogue checks or tool proficiencies may unlock alternative methods to process items or yield bonus components. Assigning the most appropriate party member to interact with the furnace can yield better results.

Magic users may bypass physical fuel requirements by casting persistent fire spells or using conjured materials. This can be useful when fuel is scarce or when players wish to avoid environmental triggers that might attract enemies.

Advanced Tips: Combining Furnace Use With Other Systems

Combine furnace outputs with alchemy stations or enchanting tables to create hybrid items. For example, molten silver can be combined with gem dust at an enchanter to produce enchanted trinkets. Use the furnace to turn base metals into usable components for later high-value crafting to maximize return on materials.

Players should also experiment with different party compositions to open unique furnace interactions—an NPC companion might provide a special reaction or alternative recipe when present during melting.

Where To Find Furnaces And Key Locations

Furnaces are commonly found in mines, blacksmith shops, ancient ruins, and certain quest areas. Explorers should inspect foundries, forge rooms, and underground lairs. NPC settlements and camps often have functioning furnaces available for use. Always check for environmental clues such as slag piles, metalwork tools, and heat sources which indicate an interactable furnace.

Some furnaces are one-time-use for quests and will disappear or become inert after completion. Identify whether a furnace is a permanent crafting station or a scripted quest object before investing rare items.

Troubleshooting And Community Resources

If the furnace does not accept an item or does not produce an expected result, check the quest log for hidden requirements or dialogue prompts. Reloading saves and attempting different party members can resolve script-related issues. Community forums and wikis often list specific furnace recipes and locations—consult these resources for rare or unique outcomes.

When bugs occur, report them through official channels, but use quicksaves to avoid losing precious materials. Players may find user-created tables detailing furnace inputs and outputs for precise crafting strategies.

Key Takeaways For Efficient Furnace Use

• Preserve Rare Items: Save unique ores and artifacts until quest requirements are confirmed.
• Use Common Materials For Practice: Learn furnace mechanics with low-value scrap.
• Prepare Fuel: Ensure fire sources are available before attempting to melt items.
• Assign Skilled Characters: Use the party member with relevant proficiencies for better interactions.
• Quicksave Often: Protect against irreversible mistakes and scripting errors.

Recommended Follow-Up Actions In-Game

Players should catalog furnace recipes discovered and maintain a stash of common ores and fuels. Experiment in safe areas to discover repeatable outcomes, and consult companion dialogues for clues about what to melt. Use the furnace strategically to support crafting plans rather than as a random recycler to optimize resource value.

For complex quest paths, combine furnace outputs with other crafting systems and verify the end purpose of each smelted item. This approach ensures materials are directed toward high-impact upgrades, quest completion, or profitable trades.