I still remember the first time I saw him, and in 2026 I still return to his stall like a moth to a furnace. In Minecraft Dungeons, the Blacksmith is not just another camp merchant. He is a masked, apron-wearing promise that my favorite sword, no matter how outclassed it looks after a few difficulty jumps, might still have one more chapter. I have spent more emeralds at his station than I care to admit, and I have waited out more three-mission upgrade timers than any sane hero should. But sanity is for people who do not main a cursed axe.
The Masked Artisan Behind The Apron
When Minecraft Dungeons first released, the Blacksmith was the main merchant in the Camp. I unlocked him after completing the second mission, Creeper Woods, and he handed me random pieces of gear in exchange for emeralds. Then the Creeping Winter DLC arrived and changed his role forever. Now the Mystery Merchant sells random gear, while the Blacksmith upgrades the gear I already love. That shift matters to me. Random loot is a slot machine; the Blacksmith is a workshop.
His appearance is mostly hidden by his mask and apron. He strikes an ominous look with glowing eyes and a bright purple symbol on his apron. Long-time players might remember that his skin used to be duller. He used to wear the mask above his eyes and lacked the glowing elements he now has. Today he looks like a character who has seen the endgame and decided to keep working anyway.
How I Unlocked Him In Redstone Mines
First things first: where exactly is the Blacksmith in Minecraft Dungeons? Players find him in the Redstone Mines. Start the Redstone Mines mission and work through the whole level. As you approach the end, you will find the Blacksmith in a cage to the right of the exit. Interact with the cage to free him and unlock the new merchant. He appears at the Camp in the Overworld after this point.
I almost ran past that cage the first time. It was tucked to the right, like a secret the level wanted me to miss. Freeing him felt like pulling a stuck lever in a dungeon and hearing a door open somewhere far away. From then on, my camp routine changed. I stopped treating every piece of gear as disposable and started thinking about which weapon deserved a second life.
Upgrading Gear: My Emerald Addiction
To upgrade an item, you must give the Blacksmith emeralds. The amount required depends on the piece of gear being upgraded. The more powerful a piece of gear is, the more emeralds it will cost. But players will have to spend at least 80 emeralds. At the top, you will see your upgrade slots. Select an upgrade slot and then select an item from the section below. This only shows unequipped items, which is why you must first unequip anything you want to upgrade.
Once you have chosen an item to upgrade, it will be removed from your inventory. To finish the upgrade and get your item back, you must complete three missions on a certain difficulty. The Blacksmith will specify the difficulty depending on the power of the item you are upgrading. A low-level item might require three missions on Default mode or higher, while a more powerful item might need you to do three Apocalypse missions. Once you have completed three missions at the specified difficulty, return to the Blacksmith to retrieve your upgraded weapon. It will then have a new power level, which is decided by your recommended difficulty in Minecraft Dungeons. This should aid you in defeating some of the most difficult enemies you have encountered so far.
The wait is a slow-cooked stew, not a microwave meal. I have learned to queue upgrades before logging off, then let real life simmer while the Blacksmith does whatever mysterious smithing he does. In 2026, with the game's meta settled, this is still one of the most reliable ways to keep a favorite build alive.
Upgrade Slots: One Is Never Enough
When you first unlock the Blacksmith in Redstone Mines, you will notice that he only has one upgrade slot available for your gear. However, there are three in total. The other two are locked until you complete specific tasks.
| Upgrade Slot | How To Unlock |
|---|---|
| First slot | Unlock the Blacksmith in Redstone Mines |
| Second slot | Defeat the Arch-Illager on Default difficulty |
| Third slot | Defeat the Arch-Illager on Adventure difficulty |
To unlock the second upgrade slot, you must defeat the tough boss known as the Arch-Illager on Default difficulty. Once you have done this, you will be able to upgrade two items at once. To unlock the third slot, you must also defeat the Arch-Illager on Adventure difficulty. Adventure is unlocked after completing the game on Default.
My 2026 Blacksmith Routine
Even in 2026, my routine is simple:
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⚒️ Unequip anything I want to upgrade.
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💎 Check my emerald count; 80 is the minimum, but stronger gear costs more.
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🧭 Choose an upgrade slot and select the item.
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🗡️ Run three missions at the required difficulty.
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🛡️ Return to the Blacksmith and collect the upgraded gear.
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🔓 If a slot is locked, hunt the Arch-Illager on the right difficulty.
The Blacksmith is a patient tide against my impulsive gear-hoarding. He does not care that I have thirty swords. He only cares that I bring him the one I actually use and enough emeralds to make it sharper. If you are returning to Minecraft Dungeons in 2026, do not ignore the masked man in camp. Free him from Redstone Mines, feed him emeralds, and let him turn your favorite weapon into something that can survive the next difficulty spike.