How can this happen?!

[Maelstrom]

Copper on chromium yet we need steel pounder caps?

Last I checked you can forge steel items with a copper hammer as well.

[Zane Mordien]

I've found this to be odd as well.

[Zaph42nd]

Always thought it was an oversight/concession for the crafting grid system and smithing, but it's a bit funny (I'd think it'd destroy your tools before doing much).... I'd not be surprised if eventually it gets fixed when there's more reworks to crafting and smithing gets some more significant updates

[Tam Hawkins]

You need steel pounder caps to crush the chromium bits itself.

All you do witht he copper hammer is removing the stone parts so that you can take out the ore bits.

 

Edit: inserted a "m" into "chroium" to turn it into "chromium"

Edited 29 minutes ago by Tam Hawkins

[LadyWYT]

22 hours ago, Zaph42nd said:

I'd not be surprised if eventually it gets fixed when there's more reworks to crafting and smithing gets some more significant updates

I wouldn't be surprised if this was the case either, since there's now the option to smash ore on the ground now. It's possible the grid recipes could be removed later once players are used to having the option available.

 

On 11/5/2026 at 10:55 PM, Maelstrom said:

Copper on chromium yet we need steel pounder caps?

Either way though, it's a funny example of what I like to call "Vintage science". It's the same reasoning behind how one can put an empty bucket underwater and pull it back up empty.

[Grummsh]

8 hours ago, Tam Hawkins said:

You need steel pounder caps to crush the chroium bits itself.

All you do witht he copper hammer is removing the stone parts so that you can take out the ore bits.

exactly this! It actually is working as intended in that way imo