How to Get and Use Magma Smelter in Dwarf Fortress

To build a successful magma-powered industry in Dwarf Fortress, you will need safe access to this limitless source of heat. One of the most important segments of the magma-based industry is magma smelter, but using them properly may not be as straightforward as you’d like.

For that reason, follow our guide on how to get and use magma smelters in Dwarf Fortress.

How to Prepare for Building Magma Smelters in Dwarf Fortress

If you have a volcano nearby, you need to plan your magma forge area properly to avoid any accidents. Start by digging out a level where you will place the smelters and forges and be generous with space. Then, dig out a level of the same size right below the existing one and make a narrow (1-wide) corridor that goes from this sub-level to the side of the volcano.

Before you connect the volcano and your sub-level, make sure to place a magma-safe door on the entrance connecting the upper and lower level of your forge area—safety first, people, safety first.

Now, send a brave volunteer to dig out the remaining block and connect the volcano and your corridor on the sub-level. To avoid any casualties, try to send a more agile dwarf for this job. If your dwarf survives, you can also build a magma-safe wall on your side of the door to eliminate the risk of losing more dwarves to this fiery chasm.

Once the sub-level is 4/7 or 5/7 full of magma, you can punch holes for smelters and forges on the upper level. Smelters require 1 hole.

How to Get a Magma Smelter in Dwarf Fortress

Once you’ve prepared everything, it’s time to build your magma smelter. You can access the option for building magma smelters by following this path: Workshops – Furnaces – Magma smelter.

It’s best to use 1 Gabbro for each smelter that you plan to place since this is magma-safe material.

How to Use Magma Smelters in Dwarf Fortress

If your magma smelters are now up and running, it’s time to put them to use. You can select a smelter, click on Add new task, and then smelt your heart away (depending on the resources you have or need). You will most likely be smelting some hematite into iron, so make sure not to forget to build a magma forge so that you can create weapons from all that iron from your new magma smelter.

That’s all you need to know about magma smelters in Dwarf Fortress. While your dwarves are smelting, you can check out our other Dwarf Fortress guides, including How To Use Floodgates in Dwarf Fortress or How to Build and Use Hospitals in Dwarf Fortress.