Terraria Pickaxe Guide: All Pickaxes, Stats, & More

Throughout your adventures in Terraria, you'll become quite familiar with a range of pickaxes and putting them to good use. Here, we'll cover every pickaxe available in Terraria, their stats, and the ore they're useful for.

Every Pickaxe in Terraria (A Breakdown)

At the time of writing, 31 pickaxes are available in vanilla Terraria. Note that each Pickaxe has its unique benefits and shortcomings.

Cactus Pickaxe

The Cactus Pickaxe is a pre-Hardmode pickaxe in Terraria and one of the low-tier choices. It shares the same pickaxe power as the Copper and Tin Pickaxes. However, this Cactus variant has slightly slower mining speed.

Stats

• Rarity: White
• Pickaxe power: 35%
• Damage: 4
• Knockback: 2
• Critical hit chance: 4%
• Use time: 25
• Tool speed: 16

How to get: Craft the Cactus Pickaxe by combining 15x Cactus at the Work Bench.

Copper Pickaxe

New Terraria players will typically start the game with the Copper Pickaxe in their inventories. Note that it can only mine blocks and ores weaker than Meteorite. However, it’s still a good option to start exploring Terraria’s subterranean layers.

Stats

• Rarity: White
• Pickaxe power: 35%
• Damage: 4
• Knockback: 2
• Critical hit chance: 4%
• Use time: 23
• Tool speed: 15

How to get: Craft the Copper Pickaxe by combining 8x Copper Bar and 4x Wood (any variant) near an Iron or Lead Anvil. Alternatively, buy it from the Merchant for 5 Silver Coins.

Tin Pickaxe

The Tin Pickaxe is the alternate variant to the Copper Pickaxe. However, this Tin variant has a slight advantage on some stats over its Copper counterpart.

Stats

• Rarity: White
• Pickaxe power: 35%
• Damage: 5
• Knockback: 2
• Critical hit chance: 4%
• Use time: 21
• Tool speed: 14

How to get: Craft the Tin Pickaxe by combining 8x Tin Bar and 4x Wood (any variant) near an Iron or Lead Anvil.

Iron Pickaxe

Journey Mode players will start with the Iron Pickaxe as opposed to the Copper Pickaxe. It’s still an early-game pickaxe since it shares most stats with the Tin Pickaxe.

Stats

• Rarity: White
• Pickaxe power: 40%
• Damage: 5
• Knockback: 2
• Critical hit chance: 4%
• Use time: 20
• Tool speed: 13

How to get: Craft the Iron Pickaxe by combining 10x Iron Bar and 3x Wood (any variant) near an Iron or Lead Anvil.

Lead Pickaxe

Similar to the Tin Pickaxe and Copper Pickaxe, the Lead Pickaxe is the alternate ore counterpart to the Iron Pickaxe. But this Lead variant is slightly stronger and faster than its Iron cousin.

Stats

• Rarity: White
• Pickaxe power: 43%
• Damage: 6
• Knockback: 2
• Critical hit chance: 4%
• Use time: 19
• Tool speed: 12

How to get: Craft the Lead Pickaxe by combining 10x Lead Bar and 3x Wood (any variant) near an Iron or Lead Anvil.

Silver Pickaxe

The Silver Pickaxe shares most of its stats with the Lead Pickaxe. But this pickaxe is the alternate ore counterpart to another low-tier option, the Tungsten Pickaxe.

Stats

• Rarity: White
• Pickaxe power: 45%
• Damage: 6
• Knockback: 2
• Critical hit chance: 4%
• Use time: 19
• Tool speed: 11

How to get: Craft the Silver Pickaxe by combining 10x Silver Bar and 4x Wood (any variant) near an Iron or Lead Anvil.

Tungsten Pickaxe

Although the Tungsten Pickaxe is the alternate ore counterpart to the Silver Pickaxe, this option's slightly stronger pickaxe power makes it possible to mine Meteorite. Note that it can’t mine blocks and ore weaker than Crimtane and Demonite Ore.

Stats

• Rarity: White
• Pickaxe power: 50%
• Damage: 6
• Knockback: 2
• Critical hit chance: 4%
• Use time: 21
• Tool speed: 19

How to get: Craft the Tungsten Pickaxe by combining 10x Tungsten Bar and 4x Wood (any variant) near an Iron or Lead Anvil.

Gold Pickaxe

The Gold Pickaxe is a slight upgrade to the Tungsten Pickaxe. With it, players can mine Meteorite and Obsidian. However, it can’t mine blocks and ores weaker than Crimstone, Ebonstone, Hellstone, and Pearlstone.

Stats

• Rarity: White
• Pickaxe power: 55%
• Damage: 6
• Knockback: 2
• Critical hit chance: 4%
• Use time: 20
• Tool speed: 17

How to get: Craft the Gold Pickaxe by combining 10x Gold Bar and 4x Wood (any variant) near an Iron or Lead Anvil.

Candy Cane Pickaxe

Both the Candy Cane Pickaxe and Gold Pickaxe share the same pickaxe power. But this particular pickaxe is typically more difficult to obtain than the Gold variant since it’s an event-exclusive item.

Stats

• Rarity: White
• Pickaxe power: 55%
• Damage: 7
• Knockback: 2.5
• Critical hit chance: 4%
• Use time: 20
• Tool speed: 16

How to get: Defeat enemies during the Christmas event to obtain the Present item. Open Presents for a chance to obtain the Candy Cane Pickaxe.

Fossil Pickaxe

The Fossil Pickaxe is the first Blue rarity pickaxe obtainable in the game. Players can also use this pickaxe to mine Crimtane and Demonite Ores.

Stats

• Rarity: Blue
• Pickaxe power: 55%
• Damage: 8
• Knockback: 4
• Critical hit chance: 4%
• Use time: 18
• Tool speed: 14

How to get: Craft the Fossil Pickaxe by combining 12x Sturdy Fossil and 4x Wood (any variant) near an Iron or Lead Anvil.

Bone Pickaxe

It might be tough to acquire the Bone Pickaxe since it’s a drop from an uncommon enemy. Players who are fairly lucky in receiving one during the early stages of the game would know that this pickaxe is a considerable upgrade to low-tier options, such as the Cactus and Copper Pickaxes.

Stats

• Rarity: Blue
• Pickaxe power: 55%
• Damage: 8
• Knockback: 3
• Critical hit chance: 4%
• Use time: 19
• Tool speed: 11

How to get: Kill the Undead Minor for a chance to receive a Bone Pickaxe (the item’s drop rate increased from 2% to 5% in patch 1.4.1).

Platinum Pickaxe

The Platinum Pickaxe in Terraria is still one of the early-game options. Nonetheless, it has a decently high pickaxe power despite being a reasonably low-tier choice to dig and mine.

Stats

• Rarity: White
• Pickaxe power: 59%
• Damage: 7
• Knockback: 2
• Critical hit chance: 4%
• Use time: 19
• Tool speed: 15

How to get: Craft the Platinum Pickaxe by combining 10x Platinum Bar and 4x Wood (any variant) near an Iron or Lead Anvil.

Reaver Shark

The Reaver Shark is a Pickaxe that players must fish out of the water. This means that it can be quite challenging to obtain. Some players might want to skip trying to get this fish-slash-pickaxe because of its rarity and mid-tier stats.

Stats

• Rarity: Orange
• Pickaxe power: 59%
• Damage: 16
• Knockback: 3
• Critical hit chance: 4%
• Use time: 22
• Tool speed: 13

How to get: Must fish it from the Ocean biome.

Nightmare Pickaxe

Thanks to its reasonably high pickaxe power, the Nightmare Pickaxe can mine any block and ore weaker than Dungeon Bricks. Note that players can only obtain this pickaxe after defeating the Eater of Worlds boss.

Stats

• Rarity: Blue
• Pickaxe power: 65%
• Damage: 9
• Knockback: 3
• Critical hit chance: 4%
• Use time: 20
• Tool speed: 15

How to get: Craft the Nightmare Pickaxe by combining 12x Demonite Bar and 6x Shadow Scale near an Iron or Lead Anvil.

Deathbringer Pickaxe

The Deathbringher Pickaxe is the Crimson counterpart to the Nightmare Pickaxe. However, it’s a slightly stronger version than its Corruption counterpart.

Stats

• Rarity: Blue
• Pickaxe power: 70%
• Damage: 12
• Knockback: 3.5
• Critical hit chance: 4%
• Use time: 22
• Tool speed: 14

How to get: Craft the Deathbringer Pickaxe by combining 12x Crimtane Bar and 6x Tissue Sample near an Iron or Lead Anvil.

Molten Pickaxe

Despite it being a pre-Hardmode pickaxe, the Molten Pickaxe has 100% pickaxe power. So, this pickaxe is the strongest option before entering Hardmode. Some players will still find this pickaxe fairly useful when entering Hardmode.

Stats

• Rarity: Orange
• Pickaxe power: 100%
• Damage: 12
• Knockback: 2
• Critical hit chance: 4%
• Use time: 23
• Tool speed: 18

How to get: Craft the Molten Pickaxe by combining 20x Hellstone Bar near an Iron or Lead Anvil.

Cobalt Pickaxe

Players who want to upgrade from the Molten Pickaxe can start with the Cobalt Pickaxe. This pickaxe is slightly stronger, and it can mine various blocks except Adamantite Ore, Chlorophyte Ore, Titanium Ore, and Lihzahd Bricks.

Stats

• Rarity: Light Red
• Pickaxe power: 110%
• Damage: 10
• Knockback: 5
• Critical hit chance: 4%
• Use time: 25
• Tool speed: 13

How to get: Craft the Cobalt Pickaxe by combining 15x Cobalt Bar near an Iron or Lead Anvil.

Palladium Pickaxe

Despite its stronger pickaxe power, the Palladium Pickaxe can mine the same ores as the Cobalt Pickaxe. However, this Terraria pickaxe can mine faster than the Cobalt variant.

Stats

• Rarity: Light Red
• Pickaxe power: 130%
• Damage: 12
• Knockback: 5
• Critical hit chance: 4%
• Use time: 25
• Tool speed: 12

How to get: Craft the Palladium Pickaxe by combining 15x Palladium Bar near an Iron or Lead Anvil.

Mythril Pickaxe

The Mythril Pickaxe in Terraria can be a great upgrade to the Palladium Pickaxe and other lower-tier pickaxes. Its fairly high pickaxe power allows players to break and mine ores from most blocks except Chlorophyte Ore and Lihzahd Brick.

Stats

• Rarity: Light Red
• Pickaxe power: 150%
• Damage: 15
• Knockback: 5
• Critical hit chance: 4%
• Use time: 25
• Tool speed: 10

How to get: Craft the Mythril Pickaxe by combining 15x Mythril Bar near a Mythril or Orichalcum Anvil.

Orichalcum Pickaxe

The Orichalcum Pickaxe is an even stronger choice than the Mythril Pickaxe. Although it can mine the same blocks and ores as the Mythril Pickaxe, this Orichalcum variant does the job faster.

Stats

• Rarity: Light Red
• Pickaxe power: 165%
• Damage: 17
• Knockback: 5
• Critical hit chance: 4%
• Use time: 25
• Tool speed: 9

How to get: Craft the Orichalcum Pickaxe by combining 18x Orichalcum Bar near a Mythril or Orichalcum Anvil.

Adamantite Pickaxe

The Adamantite Pickaxe is slower than its drill counterpart, the Adamantite Drill. However, this Hardmode pickaxe excels in range when compared to its drill variant.

Stats

• Rarity: Light Red
• Pickaxe power: 180%
• Damage: 20
• Knockback: 5
• Critical hit chance: 4%
• Use time: 25
• Tool speed: 8

How to get: Craft the Adamantite Pickaxe by combining 18x Adamantite Bar near a Mythril or Orichalcum Anvil.

Titanium Pickaxe

The Titanium Pickaxe can be obtainable early into Hardmode with its reasonably easy-to-find materials. With the Light or Rapid modifier, this pickaxe can reach a sufficiently fast use time.

Stats

• Rarity: Light Red
• Pickaxe power: 190%
• Damage: 27
• Knockback: 5
• Critical hit chance: 4%
• Use time: 25
• Tool speed: 7

How to get: Craft the Titanium Pickaxe by combining 20x Titanium Bar near a Mythril or Orichalcum Anvil.

Spectre Pickaxe

The Spectre Pickaxe is a Hardmode pickaxe only obtainable after defeating Plantera. It also has no drill counterpart.

Stats

• Rarity: Yellow
• Pickaxe power: 200%
• Damage: 32
• Knockback: 5.25
• Critical hit chance: 4%
• Use time: 24
• Tool speed: 8

How to get: Craft the Spectre Pickaxe by combining 18x Spectre Bar near a Mythril or Orichalcum Anvil.

Chlorophyte Pickaxe

The Chlorophyte Pickaxe can break and mine ores from blocks in the game, except for the Lihzahd Brick. It’s important to mention that Chlorophyte is a valuable in-game resource. So, some players might want to skip making this Terraria pickaxe for something more valuable, like the Turtle Armor set.

Stats

• Rarity: Lime
• Pickaxe power: 200%
• Damage: 40
• Knockback: 5
• Critical hit chance: 4%
• Use time: 25
• Tool speed: 7

How to get: Craft the Chlorophyte Pickaxe by combining 18x Chlorophyte Bar near a Mythril or Orichalcum Anvil.

Pickaxe Axe

The Pickaxe Axe is the pickaxe alternative to the Drax. Like the Chlorophyte and Spectre Pickaxes, the Pickaxe Axe can mine any in-game block except the Lihzahd Brick.

Stats

• Rarity: Light Red
• Pickaxe power: 200%
• Damage: 35
• Knockback: 4.75
• Critical hit chance: 4%
• Use time: 25
• Tool speed: 7

How to get: Craft the Pickaxe Axe by combining 18x Hallowed Bar, 1x Soul of Fright, 1x Soul of Might, and 1x Soul of Sight near a Mythril or Orichalcum Anvil.

Shroomite Digging Claw

Even if it’s without a modifier, the Shroomite Digging Claw is the fastest Pickaxe in Terraria. But its short range is perhaps its main drawback as a pickaxe.

Stats

• Rarity: Yellow
• Pickaxe power: 200%
• Damage: 45
• Knockback: 6
• Critical hit chance: 4%
• Use time: 12
• Tool speed: 4

How to get: Craft the Shroomite Digging Claw by combining 18x Shroomite Bar near a Mythril or Orichalcum Anvil.

Picksaw

With its stronger pickaxe power than the Shroomite Digging Claw and all other pickaxes below it, the Picksaw can mine all blocks in the game. It means that this Terraria pickaxe can also mine Lihzahd Bricks.

Stats

• Rarity: Lime
• Pickaxe power: 210%
• Damage: 34
• Knockback: 5.5
• Critical hit chance: 4%
• Use time: 16
• Tool speed: 6

How to get: 25% chance of dropping from the Golem boss.

Luminite Pickaxes

Luminite Pickaxes have four variants: Nebula, Solar Flare, Stardust, and Vortex. Although each option has a different appearance, all Luminite Pickaxes share the same stats.

Stats

• Rarity: Red
• Pickaxe power: 225%
• Damage: 80
• Knockback: 5.5
• Critical hit chance: 4%
• Use time: 12
• Tool speed: 6

How to get: Each Luminite Pickaxe requires 10x Luminite Bar and can be crafted at the Ancient Manipulator. But each model requires a different crafting ingredient with the Luminite Bar. The Nebula Pickaxe needs 12x Nebula Fragment, the Solar Flare Pickaxe uses 12x Solar Fragment, the Stardust Pickaxe consumes 12x Stardust Fragment, and the Vortex Pickaxe uses 12x Vortex Fragment.