Is Even Given the Worthless 'Blacksmith' Class, I'm Still the Strongest Worth Reading? Review
Quick Answer
If you want a low-stakes, underestimated-protagonist isekai built around a crafting gimmick rather than combat, the opening premise is genuinely appealing, though the story doesn't sustain that idea as well as it sets it up.
Quick Verdict
“Promising crafting-focused isekai hook that gradually loses its own identity to generic battle-shounen plotting.”
Best for: Readers specifically drawn to crafting-and-appraisal isekai premises who don't mind the story eventually shifting toward more conventional action.
Not for: Readers who want the crafting-focused slow-life concept to stay central for the whole series rather than fading into standard shounen battles.
- Type
- Manga
- Genres
- Fantasy, Action
- Status
- Completed
- This review
- Minor Spoilers
- Author
- Ryuta Kijima
- Artist
- Hideaki Yoshimura
- Publisher
- Kodansha
- Platform
- K Manga
| Quick facts | |
|---|---|
| Format | Manga (shōnen), 163 chapters, 11 volumes |
| Run | 2020–2023 · completed |
| Community score | AniList 6.3 |
| Where to read | K Manga — official |
Overview
Even Given the Worthless 'Blacksmith' Class, I'm Still the Strongest follows Relius, who's handed the Blacksmith class - widely regarded as the weakest job a person can receive in this isekai-flavored fantasy world. Rather than chase adventuring glory, he settles into quieter work at an inn, only to discover that his blacksmith's hammer can appraise and recreate almost anything, pulling him into increasingly complicated entanglements with nobles and the people around him.
What it does well
The series' opening hook is genuinely appealing: instead of another sword-and-magic power fantasy, it leans into a crafting-and-problem-solving premise, where Relius's strength comes from ingenuity and appraisal rather than raw combat ability. That's a distinct enough angle to stand out in a crowded isekai field, and the early volumes get real mileage out of watching him quietly outclass people who underestimated him using his hammer rather than a sword. As a complete 11-volume series available for free through Kodansha's K Manga app, it's also an easy, no-cost series to try.
Where it falls short
The trouble is that the story doesn't sustain its own best idea. Reader reviews consistently describe the crafting concept as underdeveloped once the plot gets going, with characters that stay shallow and a narrative that increasingly resembles generic battle-shounen rather than the more distinctive slow-life-adjacent premise it opened with. The ending, per available reviews, lands as anticlimactic rather than a satisfying payoff for the full run. The Harem theme tag also sits a little awkwardly against the more grounded crafting concept the story starts with.
Verdict
Even Given the Worthless 'Blacksmith' Class, I'm Still the Strongest opens with a genuinely clever premise - a dismissed, 'weak' class turning out to be a different kind of overpowered - but doesn't fully capitalize on that idea across its complete run, drifting toward more familiar isekai battle-shounen territory instead. Worth a look for the crafting hook if you're deep into the underestimated-protagonist isekai subgenre, but it's not an essential pick.
Strengths & Weaknesses
Strengths
- The underestimated-class hook is a fun spin on the standard isekai power fantasy - instead of a flashy combat job, Relius gets dismissed as weak for being a blacksmith, which sets up a more craft-and-problem-solving kind of power fantasy.
- His hammer's ability to appraise and recreate almost anything gives the early volumes a distinct identity built around ingenuity rather than pure combat strength.
- It's a complete series, so the full arc is available without an indefinite wait for more chapters.
- It's officially, freely readable through Kodansha's K Manga app, with no cost barrier to trying it.
Weaknesses
- Reader reviews are consistently critical, describing the characters as shallow and the crafting concept as underdeveloped relative to its early promise.
- The story is described as drifting from its distinctive crafting premise into more generic battle-shounen plotting as it goes on.
- The ending is called anticlimactic by reviewers, undercutting the payoff for readers who stuck with the full 11-volume run.
- The series carries Harem as a listed theme, which some readers may find at odds with the more grounded crafting concept it opens with.
Similar Titles
A different setup, but a similar underestimated-protagonist isekai power fantasy with harem elements woven through.
The Dungeon Cleaning Life of a Once Genius Hunter
Another isekai built around a less combat-glamorous skill set turning out to be more powerful than anyone expected.
A similarly structured 'dismissed as weak, actually powerful' isekai premise aimed at the same genre audience.
Where to Read Officially
| Platform | Format | Pricing | Region notes | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| K Manga | Digital chapters (free, ad/ticket-supported) | Free | Region availability varies | Open |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Even Given the Worthless 'Blacksmith' Class, I'm Still the Strongest finished?
Yes, the manga is complete at 11 volumes (163 chapters), serialized from 2020 to 2023.
Is this series available in English?
Yes, it's officially available for free (ad/ticket-supported) through Kodansha's K Manga app.
Does the crafting premise stay central throughout the series?
Not entirely - reader feedback indicates the story shifts toward more standard battle-shounen plotting as it progresses, moving away from its early crafting-focused identity.
Is there a harem in this series?
Yes, Harem is listed as a theme, with Relius becoming entangled with multiple women as the story progresses.
How long is Even Given the Worthless 'Blacksmith' Class, I'm Still the Strongest?
It's a mid-length complete series at 11 volumes and 163 chapters, manageable to read through in full since the story has already wrapped up.
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