What is MoreThanAPickaxe?
Every survival player knows the frustration of juggling half a dozen tools just to gather basic resources. You switch from pickaxe to axe, then to shovel, then back to sword when a creeper ambushes you. MoreThanAPickaxe sweeps away that inventory clutter with a single elegant solution: the Adze. This clever mod adds a multi-purpose tool that combines the functions of a pickaxe, axe, sword, hoe, and shovel into one item. The only thing it cannot do is shear sheep, so you still need those trusty shears for wool. Beyond simple convenience, the Adze opens up a world of mod compatibility, letting you craft super-tools from dozens of popular mods and unlock special abilities that transform how you interact with your world.
The All-in-One Adze Tool
The star of the show is the Adze itself. Once crafted, it replaces almost every standard tool in your hotbar. Mine stone, chop wood, dig dirt, till farmland, and fight mobs — all without swapping items. This doesn't just save inventory slots; it speeds up your entire workflow. Imagine clearing a forest and instantly switching to mining the exposed stone without missing a beat. The Adze works on all the usual blocks and materials, respecting the same mining levels as the equivalent pickaxe or axe. It also deals the same damage as a sword of that material, so you won't be left defenseless.
To craft an Adze, you'll need the SurvivalPlus mod installed, as MoreThanAPickaxe depends on its crafting mechanics. The recipe typically involves combining the individual tools of a given material on a crafting table — for example, a wooden pickaxe, axe, shovel, hoe, and sword arranged in a specific pattern. This ensures the Adze feels like a natural progression rather than a cheap shortcut.
Crafting and Material Variants
The Adze comes in every standard Minecraft material tier, plus several bonus ones added by the mod itself or through compatibility with other mods. The base lineup includes:
- Wooden Adze
- Stone Adze
- Iron Adze
- Gold Adze
- Diamond Adze
- Netherite Adze (fireproof in all versions)
In addition, the mod introduces Bronze, Titanium, and Steel Adzes. The Steel Adze is only craftable if another mod adds steel ingots to the game, making it a seamless bridge between vanilla and modded content. Each tier retains the durability and efficiency you'd expect, so a Diamond Adze will still mine obsidian, while a Netherite Adze laughs at lava.
Expanding with Mod Compatibility
Where MoreThanAPickaxe truly shines is its deep integration with other mods. As of version 0.1.6, it supports over 19 different mods, automatically adding new Adze types for the tool sets those mods introduce. This means if you have a mod that adds emerald tools, you'll get an Emerald Adze. If you have a mod with obsidian equipment, you'll find an Obsidian Adze. The compatibility list is extensive and varies by Minecraft version, but here are some highlights:
- Gemstone Adzes: With mods like Gems and Crystals, you can craft Amethyst, Sapphire, Topaz, and Quartz Adzes. Ruby Adzes appear when using Simple Emerald Mod or similar mods.
- Lumberjack Integration: If the Lumberjack mod is present, any Adze can chop down entire trees in one go without additional configuration.
- Gobber Synergy: The Gobber mod adds Gobber, Nether, and End Adzes. The Gobber and Nether variants chop whole trees, while the End Adze goes further — it shoots infinite arrows, places infinite torches, and can break single tree blocks when you hold shift.
- The Aether: Adds Gravitite, Holystone, Skyroot, Valkyrie, and Zanite Adzes, each with their own special abilities like increased reach or floating effects.
- Better Combat: Adds axe attack animations to the Adze, making combat feel more dynamic.
- Galacticraft and ExtraPlanets: Introduces Steel, Desh, and a host of planet-specific Adzes like Mercury, Carbon, and Uranium variants, plus a Sticky Desh Adze that can harvest Slimeling eggs.
- Hammer Time: Adds a Dense Adze that acts as a hammer, shovel, axe, and sickle all in one.
The mod also supports older versions like 1.12.2 with a huge array of compatible mods, including FutureMC, Vulcanite, Carbonado, and Simply Platinum. For 1.19, the focus is on modern favorites such as Gems and Crystals, Standard Materials, and FancyTools. This backwards compatibility ensures that even players on legacy servers can enjoy the unified tool experience.
Special Abilities and Unique Interactions
Beyond simply combining tool functions, some Adzes gain extraordinary powers when paired with specific mods. The End Adze from Gobber, for instance, becomes a survivalist's dream: it fires endless arrows without consuming ammunition, places torches indefinitely, and still acts as a top-tier universal tool. If you have both Gobber and The Aether, the End Adze will place Ambrosium Torches in the Aether dimension, while in Galacticraft's airless planets, it places Glowstone Torches. These small touches show how thoughtfully the mod integrates with different environments.
Another standout feature is the Lumberjack compatibility. Normally, chopping down a large oak or jungle tree is a chore, but with an Adze in hand, a single break of the bottom log fells the entire structure. This works across all Adze tiers when the Lumberjack mod is present, making wood gathering incredibly efficient. For players who prefer precision, holding shift while using a Gobber or Nether Adze limits the effect to just one block, so you can shape trees without destroying them.
Getting Started and Requirements
To use MoreThanAPickaxe, you must have the SurvivalPlus mod installed — it's a hard dependency and the Adze recipes rely on its crafting system. The mod is available for several Minecraft versions, with active maintenance for 1.12.2 and 1.19, and plans to update to 1.20 once the corresponding Forge version is stable. While you can manually drop the jar file into your mods folder, many players prefer a more streamlined approach. For those who want a hassle-free setup, this mod can be easily installed via the foxygame.net launcher — a convenient, flexible, and modern Minecraft launcher where you can download mods right from the menu. It handles dependencies automatically, so you won't accidentally miss SurvivalPlus.
The mod includes translations for English, Spanish, Japanese, Russian, and both Simplified and Traditional Chinese, making it accessible to a global audience. Whether you're building a massive modpack or just want a simpler survival experience, MoreThanAPickaxe fits right in. It's also licensed for use in any modpack as long as you credit the creator, coolsim.
Why the Adze Deserves a Spot in Your Inventory
MoreThanAPickaxe isn't just a quality-of-life mod; it's a gateway to a smoother, more connected Minecraft experience. By merging five tools into one, it frees up hotbar space and mental bandwidth, letting you focus on building, exploring, and fighting. The extensive mod compatibility turns it into a universal adapter that grows with your modded world, while special abilities add layers of fun without breaking balance. If you've ever wished for a single tool that does it all, the Adze is your answer — and it's ready to chop, mine, and slash its way into your next adventure.