How to Get a Pickaxe in Terraria
How to Get a Pickaxe in Terraria
⚡ QUICK ANSWER
You start every new Terraria world with a Copper Pickaxe already in your inventory. If you need a better one, craft a Copper Pickaxe at an Anvil using 12 Copper Bars + 4 Wood, or upgrade to an Iron Pickaxe (12 Iron Bars + 3 Wood) as soon as you find Iron underground.
| Pickaxe | Power | Materials | Where to Craft |
|---|---|---|---|
| Copper Pickaxe | 35% | 12 Copper Bars + 4 Wood | Iron/Lead Anvil |
| Tin Pickaxe | 35% | 12 Tin Bars + 4 Wood | Iron/Lead Anvil |
| Iron Pickaxe | 40% | 12 Iron Bars + 3 Wood | Iron/Lead Anvil |
| Lead Pickaxe | 40% | 12 Lead Bars + 3 Wood | Iron/Lead Anvil |
| Gold/Platinum Pickaxe | 55% | 12 Gold/Platinum Bars + 4 Wood | Iron/Lead Anvil |
| Nightmare/Deathbringer Pickaxe | 70% | 12 Demonite/Crimtane Bars + 6 Shadow Scales/Tissue | Iron/Lead Anvil |
How to Get Your First Pickaxe — Step by Step
Check your starting inventory
Every new character in Terraria spawns with a Copper Pickaxe already in their inventory. Open your inventory (Esc on PC) and check your hotbar — it should be there from the very beginning alongside your Copper Axe and Copper Shortsword. If you are playing a new world and character together, this is your pickaxe for the first hour of play.
📦 Starting gear: Copper Pickaxe, Copper Axe, Copper ShortswordSmelt Copper Ore into Copper Bars
To craft a replacement or upgrade, you need metal bars. Mine Copper Ore from the surface or shallow underground — it spawns abundantly near the top of the world and appears as orange-brown specks in the stone. Collect at least 36 Copper Ore, then smelt it in a Furnace (20 Stone + 4 Wood + 3 Torches, crafted at a Work Bench). Every 3 Copper Ore produces 1 Copper Bar, so 36 Ore gives you 12 Bars.
⛏️ 36 Copper Ore → 12 Copper Bars at a FurnaceBuild an Iron or Lead Anvil
Pickaxes are crafted at an Anvil, not a Work Bench. To make an Iron Anvil you need 5 Iron Bars — or 5 Lead Bars for a Lead Anvil. Mine Iron or Lead Ore underground (it appears as grey or dark grey deposits), smelt it, then craft the Anvil at your Work Bench. Place it next to your crafting area. This single station unlocks all metal tool and weapon recipes.
🔨 Iron Anvil = 5 Iron Bars, crafted at Work BenchCraft your Copper Pickaxe at the Anvil
Stand next to the Anvil and open your inventory. Find the Copper Pickaxe recipe in the crafting list — it costs 12 Copper Bars + 4 Wood. Click it to craft. This gives you a fresh pickaxe with 35% pickaxe power, identical to the starting one. If your original broke or was lost, this restores it instantly.
Upgrade to Iron or Lead Pickaxe as soon as possible
The Iron Pickaxe (12 Iron Bars + 3 Wood) has 40% pickaxe power — enough to mine Stone, Dirt, Sand, most early ores, and even Meteorite. This is a meaningful jump over Copper and should be your first crafting goal once you have enough Iron underground. Lead Pickaxe is the alternative for worlds that spawn Lead instead of Iron.
🎯 Target: Iron Pickaxe before your first underground explorationProgress toward Gold or Platinum Pickaxe for deeper mining
Gold Pickaxe (55% power) and Platinum Pickaxe (55% power) are the last pre-boss upgrades and can mine almost everything in pre-Hardmode including Hellstone with a bit of difficulty. They require 12 Gold/Platinum Bars + 4 Wood each. After defeating the Wall of Flesh and entering Hardmode, you will need a Nightmare Pickaxe or better to mine Hardmode ores like Cobalt and Palladium.
Pro Tips
Pickaxe power determines what blocks you can mine. A 35% pickaxe cannot mine Meteorite (50% required) or Obsidian (65% required) — always check the power before going deeper.
Your world generates either Copper or Tin ore, and either Iron or Lead — never both pairs. Check what your world has before deciding which pickaxe to craft.
The fastest early pickaxe upgrade is the Bone Pickaxe (35% power, same as Copper) dropped by Undead Miners in the Cavern layer — but the Nightmare/Deathbringer Pickaxe at 70% is the real game-changer and worth grinding for before going to the Underworld.
Always keep a pickaxe in your hotbar slot 1 — switching tools quickly during cave exploration is essential when enemies appear while you are mid-dig.
In Hardmode, the Drax (crafted from Hallowed Bars) has 200% pickaxe power and can mine all Hardmode ores. It is one of the biggest power spikes in the entire game.
Pickaxes are the most fundamental tool in Terraria — without one you cannot progress through the underground, find ores, or reach the bosses that unlock the next stage of the game. The progression from Copper to Iron to Gold to Nightmare is straightforward but each upgrade opens new areas and possibilities. Never skip upgrading your pickaxe when you have the materials: the speed and power difference between tiers is significant and directly affects how fast you can explore and build.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you start Terraria with a pickaxe?
Yes. Every new character starts with a Copper Pickaxe (35% power) in their inventory. You do not need to craft one to begin mining.
What pickaxe can mine Hellstone in Terraria?
You need a pickaxe with at least 65% pickaxe power to mine Hellstone. The Nightmare Pickaxe and Deathbringer Pickaxe both have 70% power and are the minimum requirement before entering the Underworld to farm Hellstone Bars.
What is the best pickaxe in pre-Hardmode Terraria?
The Nightmare Pickaxe (Corruption worlds) and Deathbringer Pickaxe (Crimson worlds) are the best pre-Hardmode pickaxes at 70% power. They are crafted from Demonite or Crimtane Bars after defeating the Eye of Cthulhu or Eater of Worlds.
Can you mine without a pickaxe in Terraria?
No. Blocks can only be mined with a pickaxe or drill. Your hands cannot break stone or ore. Always keep a pickaxe accessible in your hotbar during exploration.