I went around the web and found a Smelter glitch that allows to to upgrade your equipment without sacrificing any minions! All you need to do is when your upgrading or forging add whatever minions you want and when you hit forge press start when the camera immediately is above the smelter before the minions come out. then after you press start exit game and load it. you'll find no minions where sacrificed and the upragde has been done! Does work i've tried it and maxed my acranium mace.
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