If you craft the wrong tools early in Minecraft, you waste time, break tools faster, and make survival harder than it needs to be.

The early game is not about crafting everything.

It’s about crafting the right tools in the right order.

This guide explains:

• Which tools to craft first

• Which tools to skip

• When to upgrade

• What tool order makes survival easier

The Correct Tool Order (Day One Priority)

If you want the simplest answer, follow this exact order:

1. Wooden Pickaxe

2. Stone Pickaxe

3. Stone Sword

4. Stone Axe

5. Furnace

6. Iron Pickaxe

7. Shield

That order prevents 90% of beginner mistakes.

Now let’s break it down properly.

1. Wooden Pickaxe (Temporary Tool Only)

The wooden pickaxe is not a real tool.

It’s a transition tool.

You only craft it to mine stone.

Why you need it:

You cannot mine stone without a pickaxe.

What beginners do wrong:

They craft full wooden tool sets.

That wastes wood and time.

Correct move:

Craft:

• 1 wooden pickaxe
  Then immediately mine stone.

Never craft wooden sword or wooden axe unless you absolutely have no stone nearby.

2. Stone Pickaxe (Your First Real Tool)

The stone pickaxe is your first serious upgrade.

It:

• mines faster

• lasts longer

• unlocks iron ore

You should craft this within the first 3–5 minutes.

Why this matters:

If you delay upgrading to stone, your survival speed slows down.

3. Stone Sword (Early Combat Tool)

You will need to defend yourself before night.

The stone sword is strong enough to:

• kill animals quickly

• defend against zombies

• handle spiders safely

Why sword over axe?

The axe hits hard, but sword is faster and better for early mob control.

If you’re new, use a sword.

4. Stone Axe (Underrated Starter Tool)

Many beginners ignore the stone axe.

That’s a mistake.

The axe:

• breaks wood much faster

• deals heavy damage early game

In Java Edition especially, axes hit harder than swords.

If you plan to gather wood for a base, stone axe saves time.

Tools You Should NOT Craft Early

Let’s stop common mistakes.

❌ Wooden sword
❌ Wooden axe
❌ Wooden shovel (unless terraforming)
❌ Golden tools
❌ Hoes on Day One

Golden tools break too fast.

Hoes are only useful once you’re farming.

Focus on survival tools first.

5. Furnace (Not a Tool, But Mandatory)

The furnace is as important as a pickaxe.

It allows you to:

• cook food

• make charcoal

• smelt iron

Without a furnace, your food is weak and your progression slows.

Craft it as soon as you collect cobblestone.

6. Iron Pickaxe (Your First Major Upgrade)

Once you mine iron ore, your priority should be:

1. Smelt iron

2. Craft iron pickaxe

Why iron pickaxe first?

Because it unlocks:

• diamonds

• redstone

• advanced mining

Do NOT craft full iron armor before iron pickaxe.

Pickaxe first. Always.

7. Shield (Early Survival Game-Changer)

Once you get iron, craft a shield.

Recipe:

• 6 planks

• 1 iron ingot

The shield blocks:

• skeleton arrows

• creeper explosion damage (partially)

• melee attacks

This single item makes survival much easier.

Best Starter Tool Setup (Day One Kit)

By the end of Day One, you should ideally have:

✅ Stone Pickaxe
✅ Stone Sword
✅ Stone Axe
✅ Furnace
✅ Food cooked
✅ Shield (if lucky with iron)

If you have this setup, your Survival World is stable.

When to Craft a Shovel?

A shovel is useful, but not urgent.

Craft one if:

• you are building

• you need gravel

• you are flattening land

Otherwise, it can wait.

When to Craft a Hoe?

Only craft a hoe if:

• you are starting a farm

• you have seeds or crops ready

Don’t craft it randomly.

Tool Progression (Early Game to Mid Game)

Here’s the ideal tool progression:

Wood → Stone → Iron → Diamond → Netherite

Do not jump into caves chasing diamonds without:

• iron armor

• shield

• food запас

• torches

Tool upgrades should match your survival stability.

Best Enchantments for Starter Tools (When Ready)

Once you reach enchanting stage, focus on:

Pickaxe:

• Efficiency

• Unbreaking

Sword:

• Sharpness

• Looting

Axe:

• Efficiency

• Sharpness (optional)

But enchantments are mid-game.
Don’t rush them before stable survival.

Common Beginner Tool Mistakes

Let’s fix them clearly.

Mistake 1: Crafting Everything at Once

New players craft full sets of wooden tools.

Wrong move.

Upgrade step-by-step instead.

Mistake 2: Using Iron Too Early

Don’t waste iron on:

• iron shovel first

• iron axe first

• iron armor before pickaxe

Iron pickaxe is the priority.

Mistake 3: Ignoring the Shield

Most beginners don’t realize how strong shields are.

Skeletons become easy once you block properly.

Mistake 4: Mining Without Backup Tools

Always carry:

• extra pickaxe

• food

• torches

Breaking your only tool inside a cave is dangerous.

Best Starter Tool Hotbar Setup

Organize your hotbar like this:

1. Sword

2. Pickaxe

3. Axe

4. Food

5. Torches

6. Blocks

Good hotbar management saves lives.

Quick Tool Checklist (Day One Survival)

Before the first night:

✅ 1 stone pickaxe
✅ 1 stone sword
✅ 1 stone axe
✅ furnace crafted
✅ food cooked
✅ torches ready

If you have these, you’re safe.

Final Verdict

The best starter tools in Minecraft are not about crafting everything.

They’re about crafting smart.

If you follow this priority:

Wooden Pickaxe → Stone Tools → Furnace → Iron Pickaxe → Shield

…you avoid beginner mistakes and progress faster than most players.

Strong tools early = safer survival later.