What Is the Mo' Pickaxes Mod?
Minecraft tools define how you interact with the world, and the pickaxe is arguably the most essential item in your hotbar. The Mo' Pickaxes mod expands your mining arsenal by introducing a handful of creative new pickaxes, each with its own crafting recipe, durability, dig speed, and combat stats. Whether you are carving through the Nether or looking for a transparent alternative to stone tools, this mod adds variety without overwhelming the vanilla feel. It is a lightweight addition that fits neatly into survival and creative playstyles alike.
New Pickaxes and Their Recipes
The mod currently adds six unique pickaxes, with more promised in future updates. Each one is crafted using materials you can gather during normal gameplay, so there is no need to hunt down obscure resources. Below is a breakdown of every pickaxe, its recipe, and its key attributes.
Glass Pickaxe
This translucent tool is crafted from three glass blocks and two sticks. While it looks like a stone pickaxe at first glance, its see-through texture sets it apart visually. The glass pickaxe offers a durability of 146, a dig speed of 4, and deals +3 damage to entities. It is a solid early-game option if you have an abundance of sand and a furnace handy.
Netherrack Pickaxe
Forged from three netherrack blocks and two sticks, this pickaxe is a quick craft for anyone who has spent time in the Nether. Its durability sits at 141, with a slower dig speed of 2, but it compensates with a slightly higher damage output of +3.5 against mobs. It is a decent backup tool when you are deep in a fortress and your main pickaxe breaks.
Quartz Pickaxe
The quartz pickaxe requires three quartz blocks and two blaze rods, making it a mid-game upgrade for Nether explorers. With a durability of 201, a dig speed of 6.5, and +4 attack damage, it outperforms iron in several categories. The blaze rod handle gives it a distinct look and a satisfying crafting progression.
Wool Pickaxe
Suggested by community member MrSmiley101, the wool pickaxe is a novelty tool that mirrors the wooden pickaxe in every stat. Any wool color works for the recipe, so you can craft a rainbow of pickaxes to match your base aesthetic. It is not a powerhouse, but it adds a fun, customizable element to the game.
Bone Pickaxe
Another idea from MrSmiley101, the bone pickaxe also shares the wooden pickaxe’s stats. Crafted from bones and sticks, it gives a use to the piles of bones that accumulate in any mob farm. It is a thematic choice for players who enjoy a skeletal or wasteland build style.
Redstone Pickaxe
The redstone pickaxe is the standout addition. With a durability of 230, a dig speed of 5, and +4.5 attack damage, it rivals diamond tools in some respects. The recipe uses redstone dust and sticks, making it accessible once you have a reliable redstone source. Its crimson glow and solid performance make it a favorite for extended mining sessions.
Installation and Setup
Getting the mod running is straightforward if you are familiar with Minecraft modding. The mod is built for version 1.7.10 and requires Forge Mod Loader. You can manually place the downloaded .jar file into your mods folder after installing Forge. For players who prefer a more streamlined experience, there is a modern alternative. Many users now rely on the foxygame.net launcher, which bundles mod management right into its interface. You can browse, install, and update mods like Mo' Pickaxes without digging through system folders, making it a flexible and convenient choice for both newcomers and veterans.
Manual Installation Steps
- Locate your Minecraft directory. On Windows, press Windows + R, type
%appdata%, and open the .minecraft folder. On Mac, navigate to /Users/YOUR USER NAME/Library/Application Support/minecraft. - Install Forge Mod Loader for Minecraft 1.7.10. Run the Forge installer and select the client option.
- Launch Minecraft with the Forge profile at least once to generate the necessary folders, then close the game.
- Open the newly created mods folder inside your Minecraft directory.
- Place the Mo' Pickaxes .jar file into the mods folder. If the file came as a .zip, extract the .jar first.
- Restart the game using the Forge profile, and the new pickaxes will appear in your crafting menu.
Gameplay Impact and Strategy
Mo' Pickaxes does not overhaul the tool system but instead fills small gaps and adds flavor. The quartz pickaxe, for instance, gives Nether quartz a new purpose beyond decoration and redstone components. The redstone pickaxe offers a mid-tier option that can be crafted without mining diamonds, which is especially useful on servers where diamond reserves are contested. The glass and wool pickaxes are more whimsical, but they encourage experimentation and can serve as decorative items in item frames.
In survival mode, having multiple pickaxe types means you can reserve your high-tier tools for precious ores while using cheaper alternatives for bulk stone or netherrack excavation. The bone and wool pickaxes are essentially wooden pickaxe clones, but they let you save wood for other crafting needs. The mod also adds a layer of personalization; you can choose a pickaxe that matches your skin or base theme without sacrificing functionality.
Community and Future Updates
The mod’s description hints at more pickaxes to come, and the inclusion of community-suggested items shows the developer’s openness to feedback. If you have a creative idea for a new pickaxe material, sharing it with the mod author could lead to its implementation. The mod’s simplicity makes it a great candidate for modpacks, as it does not conflict with major content mods or alter core mechanics.
Conclusion
Mo' Pickaxes is a charming, lightweight mod that injects fresh utility into Minecraft’s tool system. With six new pickaxes ranging from the practical redstone and quartz variants to the playful wool and bone options, there is something for every type of miner. The crafting recipes are intuitive, the stats are balanced, and the installation is painless whether you go the manual Forge route or use a modern launcher that handles mods automatically. If you enjoy tinkering with tools and want more choices when heading underground, this mod is a worthy addition to your game.