I’ve played Path of Exile 2 for years and I’ll tell you exactly how to handle the “Finding the Forge” quest so you don’t waste time. This mission matters: it gives access to a working forge and useful crafting options that help early characters. I’ll say up front what to expect and why each step matters.
Quest at a glance
Finding the Forge appears in Act 2 around level 15–20. You meet Greust, a smith who lost his forge to bandits. You’ll clear the Abandoned Foundry, fight the bandit leader Oak, and unlock new crafting services. In my experience, this is worth doing early (it speeds your gear progress), but it depends on your build and goals.
Quick facts (2025)
- Where: Act 2 — The Crossroads → Riverways → Abandoned Foundry
- Recommended: level ~15–20 (depends on your niche)
- Playtime: about 10–25 minutes if you know the route
Where to start and who to talk to
Start at The Crossroads waypoint and speak with Greust near the eastern exit. You must have finished “Breaking the Seal” first. We found Greust always stands near the anvil marker (that little yellow icon). Silk in the Western Forest gives extra hints if you want them.
| NPC | Where | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Greust | The Crossroads | Quest giver |
| Silk | Western Forest | Optional tips |
| Oak | Abandoned Foundry | Boss |
How to get there — short route
Follow the Riverways heading east toward the Western Forest. Watch for broken anvils and old mining carts; those environmental clues point to the foundry entrance (you can’t miss the dwarf runes over the cave). Want it faster? Use a movement skill and skip clear-heavy detours.
Combat and hazards
Expect bandit groups: fast scouts, archers, and heavier bruisers. Don’t stand in mobs. Use area damage if you’ve got it and bring decent resistance flasks. Honestly, if you rush without prepping resistances you’ll regret it.
Oak — what to expect
Oak fights in changing stages. He’s a melee bully who adds fire attacks and summons minions as the fight continues. Watch his charge and dodge the big AoE blasts. I’ve noticed melee players who keep mobility skills alive do much better than those who try to tank everything.
Here’s the funny part: some players insist you must cap fire resistance at 75% before Oak. I disagree — that’s overkill for many builds. It helps, sure, but mobility and flask timing usually win the encounter (controversial, I know!).
Practical tips
- Bring life flasks and a quicksilver for gap closing.
- Use movement skills to avoid charges and the big fire bursts.
- Focus archers first when groups form; ranged hits ruin momentum.
“Preparation matters more than raw numbers. Resistances help, but positioning wins fights.” — from my playbook
Rewards and why they matter
Rewards matter for power and crafting: you’ll usually get experience, a passive point in most playthroughs, and currency orbs (amount varies by difficulty and patch). The real value is the forge access — that unlocks new crafting options that let you shape gear sooner, saving you grind later.
Special note: farming Oak for uniques is tempting, but for new players chasing uniques can be a waste of time. Focus on stable upgrades first — yes, that’s another controversial point.
What to aim for
- Secure the forge access for steady crafting
- Top up flasks and resistances before trying multiple clears
Extra things I’d tell a friend
By the way, if you’re replaying or running leagues, the Foundry is a good XP loop for levels ~15–25 (we found it consistent across several builds). There are exceptions, though — some ranged glass-cannon builds will struggle with the close quarters.
One counterintuitive insight: skipping every side-clear and learning the boss arena from memory often saves more time than trying to min-max resistances. Practice the mechanics and you’ll shave minutes off each run.
// small route hint (copyable)
Waypoint -> Crossroads (talk to Greust)
Follow Riverways east -> enter cave with runes
Clear to Abandoned Foundry -> kill Oak -> return to Greust
Final reminders
Patch behavior can change drops and numbers (check patch notes on the official site before farming). This guide is concise but practical — I wrote it from many runs, and yes, I stumble over wording sometimes—so forgive the odd pause. Good luck; go reclaim that forge and don’t forget your flasks! 🙂
