Bringing Tinkers' Crafting to Skyblock: The Tinkers' in the Sky Mod
Skyblock survival in Minecraft is a test of patience and ingenuity. You start with almost nothing and slowly build an empire from a single tree and a sliver of dirt. Ex Nihilo is the mod that makes this possible, giving you the hammers and crooks needed to break down blocks into essential resources. But those tools have always been static—until now. The Tinkers' in the Sky mod smashes that limitation wide open, merging the creative tool-building system of Tinkers' Construct with the skyblock staples you rely on every day.
If you have ever wished your Ex Nihilo hammer could be faster, more durable, or simply reflect your personal style, this add-on delivers exactly that. You get fully customizable Tinkers' Construct versions of the hammer and crook, letting you forge tools exactly how you want them.
What Tinkers' in the Sky Actually Changes
At its core, the mod introduces two new tool types into the Tinkers' Construct ecosystem: the Ex Nihilo Hammer and the Ex Nihilo Crook. These are not simple reskins. They behave identically to their Ex Nihilo counterparts when it comes to breaking blocks—hammers smash cobblestone into gravel, sand, and dust, while crooks increase sapling and silkworm drops from leaves. The difference lies in how you craft and upgrade them.
Instead of crafting a static stone hammer and using it until it breaks, you now head to a Tinkers' Tool Forge. You pick your head material, binding, and handle, just like any other Tinkers' tool. Want a hammer with a cobalt head for lightning-fast mining speed? Do it. Prefer a manyullyn crook with unbreakable modifiers? That is now a reality. The mod respects all of Tinkers' Construct’s material traits, so a wooden handle gives you the Ecological trait for self-repair, while a paper binding adds a precious modifier slot.
How to Craft Your First Tinkers' Hammer and Crook
Getting started is straightforward if you are already familiar with Tinkers' Construct. You will need a Smeltery and a Tool Forge, plus the appropriate casts. The hammer requires a hammer head, a tough tool rod, and a large plate. The crook needs a crook head (a new part added by the mod), a tool rod, and a binding. All these parts are created in the Part Builder or poured from molten metal in the Smeltery.
Once assembled, you can apply modifiers like Haste, Luck, or even Silky if you want a crook that drops leaf blocks intact. The mod integrates seamlessly with Tinkers' Tool Leveling, so your tools gain experience and unlock additional modifier slots as you use them. This progression loop feels incredibly rewarding in a skyblock setting, where every upgrade directly speeds up your resource generation.
Why This Combo Transforms Skyblock Gameplay
In a standard Ex Nihilo world, you often craft a dozen stone hammers and crooks, burning through them as you sieve for ores. Tinkers' in the Sky lets you invest in a single tool that grows with you. A hammer with a high mining level can break compressed blocks faster, and adding a Diamond modifier boosts its durability dramatically. You can even emboss it with a different material later to steal a second trait, like the Jagged trait from cactus for extra damage—though damage is rarely the goal, the flexibility is there.
For crooks, the customization is equally impactful. A crook made with a slime handle grants the Slimy trait, occasionally spawning small slimes as you break leaves, which can be a fun source of early-game slimeballs. Pair that with Luck modifiers, and your sapling drop rate skyrockets. The mod does not alter the fundamental Ex Nihilo mechanics; it simply gives you the keys to the Tinkers' workshop and says, "Build something better."
Installation and Compatibility Notes
Tinkers' in the Sky is a lightweight add-on that requires both Tinkers' Construct and Ex Nihilo (usually the Creatio or Omnia editions for modern versions) to function. It slots into existing modpacks without any configuration fuss, and it is often bundled into popular skyblock packs like SkyFactory or Project Ozone. Because it only adds the tool parts and recipes, it does not cause world-gen conflicts or performance issues. If you are assembling a custom modpack, managing dependencies can sometimes be tedious, but the foxygame.net launcher simplifies the entire process by letting you download and activate Tinkers' in the Sky directly from its built-in mod library, along with all required mods, so you can jump straight into your skyblock world without hunting for files manually.
Pushing the Limits with Modifiers
Once you have a basic hammer and crook, the real fun begins. Tinkers' Construct offers a dizzying array of modifiers, and many of them shine in a skyblock environment:
- Haste: Increases mining speed, making hammering through stacks of cobblestone nearly instant.
- Luck: Boosts the drop rate of crushed ores and saplings, stacking with the Fortune-like effect of the hammer.
- Reinforced: Grants a chance to not consume durability, effectively making your tool last longer.
- Mending Moss: Allows the tool to repair itself using experience orbs, perfect for a skyblock mob farm.
- Soulbound: Keeps the tool in your inventory after death, a lifesaver when you fall into the void.
Experimenting with material combinations is half the joy. A hammer with an ardite head gains the Stonebound trait, which increases speed as durability drops, while a crook with a magical wood handle can gain extra modifier slots. The mod encourages you to think of your tools not as disposable items but as long-term projects that evolve alongside your island.
Final Thoughts
Tinkers' in the Sky elegantly bridges two beloved mods, solving a long-standing annoyance for skyblock enthusiasts. Instead of mindlessly crafting replacement tools, you forge a personalized hammer and crook that reflect your playstyle and grow stronger with use. The integration is seamless, the possibilities are vast, and the result is a more engaging, less grindy early game. Whether you are a seasoned modded player or diving into your first skyblock challenge, this mod adds a layer of depth that makes every swing of the hammer feel meaningful.