Wandering through Mt. Forja Quarry in 2025's smash hit Avowed, players inevitably stumble upon that tantalizingly barred gate - the gaming equivalent of a locked cookie jar hovering just beyond reach. Behind it lies Forge's Friend, the fiery great hammer that makes Thor's Mjolnir look like a child's toy mallet. The sheer frustration of seeing that glowing chest through the iron bars while Steel Garrote fanatics chase your tail creates a deliciously agonizing dilemma: embark on an elaborate treasure hunt or become a parkour pirate exploiting physics glitches. Either path promises sweaty palms and the glorious payoff of wielding Obsidian Entertainment's most devastating creation since Fallout: New Vegas' Blood-Nap. 😤💥

The Poetic Path: Kostya's Cantec Crusade

For purists who enjoy earning their loot through lore-rich quests, retrieving Forge's Friend becomes an adventure worthy of bardic songs. The journey begins in Warden's Rest near Salt Flat Farms, where a corpse clutching Kostya's candid letter rests beside abandoned farmland. After battling spooky skeleton sentinels (who clearly didn't get the memo about staying dead), players discover the uncollectable Letter to Ambassador Hylgard - possibly Avowed's most hilariously frustrating glitch. Returning to snake-tongued Councilor Kostya in Solace Keep unlocks the secret: a poetic cantec that sounds like a blacksmith's love sonnet. Reciting "Of all the treasures to which one aspires, none greater than those wrought of sweat and fires" before the hidden Warden storehouse door south of Mt. Forja's entrance feels absurdly theatrical yet deeply satisfying.

• The Bittersweet Bonus: Completing the quest means confronting infected Captain Aelfyr and grabbing Death Knight Gloves

• Loot Galore: Beyond the hammer, smaller chests offer goodies perfect for hoarder-players

• Strategic Timing: Grab the hammer then flee to avoid premature boss fights with Inquisitor Lodwyn

Glitch Gambit: Physics-Defying Parkour

For impatient warriors who'd rather break the game than complete fetch quests, the Charge Jump glitch delivers chaotic joy. In Mt. Forja's first chamber, that glowing corpse on an inaccessible ledge mocks players like a dangling carrot. Scaling rocks left of the torch-lit mushrooms, fighters channel their inner mountain goat before executing the sacred combo: leap + Charge skill + frantic button mashing. Successfully parkouring onto the ledge triggers triumphant screams usually reserved for lottery wins. This gloriously janky sequence represents everything players adore about RPGs - unintended exploits that become cherished community secrets.

Approach	Time Required	Difficulty	Satisfaction Level
Cantec Method	45+ minutes	Moderate 🌟🌟🌟	Epic quest fulfillment
Glitch Method	5-15 minutes	High 🌟🌟🌟🌟	Rule-breaking euphoria

Pyromancer's Plaything: Building Around The Beast

Once secured, Forge's Friend transforms combat into apocalyptic poetry. This isn't just a hammer - it's a portable volcano summoner. The Fiery Apprentice effect unleashes Greater Fire Blights during special attacks, while power strikes coat enemies in molten misery. Choosing between Steel Yourself's parry-boosted mobility or area-of-effect fire upgrades creates deliciously destructive dilemmas. Paired with Pyromancer builds, each swing delivers:

• 🔥 Immolation showers that turn groups into walking campfires

• 💥 Concussive stun damage making enemies stagger like drunken giants

• 😈 Fiery Blight minions bombarding foes with explosive volleyballs of death

The sheer joy of watching Steel Garrote fanatics flee from your flame-encased mallet never fades.

The Forge's Final Verdict

That original barred gate becomes a beautiful metaphor upon reflection - sometimes the greatest rewards demand either patience to find the key or audacity to climb the walls. Whether reciting Kostya's dramatic cantec with theatrical flourish or cheesing physics with gravity-defying glitches, the moment Forge's Friend first connects with an enemy's skull makes every struggle worthwhile. In Avowed's rich universe where choices define legacies, this magnificent hammer proves that sometimes the sweatiest pursuits yield the shiniest toys. Now if you'll excuse me, there are some very flammable skeletons needing urgent attention... 🔨🔥