Both Steel Ingots and Golden Ingots sit in the mid-to-late-game trade and crafting layer, not basic currency. They each have their own unlock path and their own list of recipes they open.
More context
Steel Ingots are not smelted at a Furnace in the sequel. They are purchased from Bishop at the Royal Foundry once you have completed Jack's sewer storyline.
On this page
Steel Ingots
Close the Western Floodgate
Close the Western Floodgate.
Finish the Eastern Floodgate battles
Finish the Eastern Floodgate battles.
Break Through to the Bathhouse Basement
Win "Break Through to the Bathhouse Basement".
Reach the Royal Foundry
Reach the Royal Foundry.
Trigger Man of Steel
Trigger the "Man of Steel" conversation by asking the Bishop about high-quality steel.
Royal Foundry becomes a waypoint
The Royal Foundry then becomes a fast-travel waypoint.
Steel Smithing research requirements
Jack reputation: 70. Red tech points: 120. Blue tech points: 15.
Steel Smithing recipes
| Recipe | Inputs / yield |
|---|---|
Steel Detail | 1 Steel Ingot → 4 (6 with Engineer perk) |
Steel Screws | 1 Steel Ingot → 8 (10 with Blacksmith perk) |
Steel Axe | Steel Ingot + woodwork ingredients |
Steel Pickaxe | Steel Ingot + woodwork ingredients |
Steel Hammer | Steel Ingot + woodwork ingredients |
Steel Shovel | Steel Ingot + woodwork ingredients |
Engineering Details | Made at Furnace II with Casting Table extension; requires the Steel Casting technology. |
Gold — Nuggets and Ingots
Gold comes in two forms with separate sources.
Golden Nuggets — three sources
Trademaster
Bought from the Trademaster at the first trade level.
Gold Digger bonus
Drop as a Gold Digger bonus when washing Sand in a Sluice Box.
Philosopher Stone
Converted from a Stone plus Iron Ore at the Formulation Bench with Philosopher Stone mastery 6.
Golden Ingots — how to smelt
Smelting nuggets into ingots requires the Reanimation II technology (100 blue tech points, after Reanimation Liquid) and a Furnace II with the Bellows extension at mastery 4. The recipe is: 3 Golden Nuggets + 30 Fuel → 2 Golden Ingots (3 with Fireman perk). Golden Ingots are also sold by the Jeweler from the second trade level, and a Philosopher Stone at mastery 8 can convert 1 Stone + 1 Iron Ingot into 1 Golden Ingot.
What Golden Ingots are used for
Golden Zombie Collar
1 ingot + 1 Blue Crystal + 5 Faith at the Jewelry Table. This is the second tier of the resurrection collar chain.
Golden Talisman
A late-game crafting component used in tier III jewelry recipes.
Blank Hardcover Notebook
Crafted at the Scriptorium for Theology tier III prayers.
What Golden Ingots feed
For the broader crafting chain that consumes these metals, see the Crafting and tech tree guide.