Discovering FancyTools: A Fresh Take on Minecraft Tool Tiers
Every seasoned miner knows the familiar progression: wooden tools give way to stone, then iron, and finally the coveted diamond set. But what if the crafting table offered something beyond that classic lineup? The FancyTools mod breaks the mold by introducing two entirely new tool tiers—Emerald and Obsidian—each with distinct strengths, weaknesses, and beautifully detailed 32x32 textures that make them stand out in your inventory. Whether you’re a builder who needs unbreakable durability or a warrior seeking extra punch, this mod adds meaningful choices to your gear strategy.
What FancyTools Brings to Your World
FancyTools doesn’t just reskin existing items; it rebalances the entire late-game tool ecosystem. Emerald and Obsidian tools are crafted using familiar patterns, but the materials and resulting stats push you to think differently about resource gathering. Obsidian, long reserved for portals and blast-resistant walls, finally gets a practical use as a tool material, while emerald steps out of its villager-trading niche to become a viable weapon component.
One of the best parts? The mod is fully configurable. If you feel the default numbers don’t match your playstyle, you can tweak speed, durability, damage, and enchantability directly in the config file. This flexibility makes FancyTools a perfect fit for modpacks and private servers where balance is key.
Obsidian Tools: The Unyielding Workhorses
Obsidian tools are all about endurance. Their extreme hardness translates into over double the durability of diamond, making them the go-to choice for massive excavation projects or endless strip-mining sessions. They also boast excellent enchantability, meaning you’ll have an easier time getting those coveted Efficiency V or Unbreaking III enchantments.
However, this durability comes at a cost. Obsidian tools make terrible weapons—their damage output is significantly lower than diamond, so you won’t want to face a creeper with an obsidian sword. They’re specialists, not all-rounders. Crafting them also requires a twist: instead of wooden sticks, you’ll need blaze rods as handles, adding a Nether-based challenge to the recipe.
Obsidian Stats at a Glance
- Durability: 3200 (pre-1.15.2) / 2500 (since 1.15.2)
- Damage: 2 (both versions)
- Mining Speed: 8 (pre-1.15.2) / 7 (since 1.15.2)
- Enchantability: 25 (pre-1.15.2) / 5 (since 1.15.2)
Emerald Tools: Precision and Power
Where obsidian focuses on stamina, emerald tools lean into combat effectiveness. Emerald swords and axes deal slightly more damage than their diamond counterparts, and the material still offers better durability than diamond—though not as extreme as obsidian. The result is a balanced weapon tier that feels rewarding without being overpowered.
Emerald tools use the standard stick handle, so you won’t need to hunt blazes. This makes them more accessible early in the endgame, especially if you’ve been farming emeralds through villager trades. The green, crystalline texture gives them a distinct look that pairs nicely with enchanted glint.
Emerald Stats at a Glance
- Durability: 2500 (pre-1.15.2) / 1000 (since 1.15.2)
- Damage: 3.25 (pre-1.15.2) / 2 (since 1.15.2)
- Mining Speed: 9 (pre-1.15.2) / 8 (since 1.15.2)
- Enchantability: 10 (pre-1.15.2) / 15 (since 1.15.2)
Important Version Differences
If you’re playing on Minecraft 1.15.2, note that the mod requires Forge version 31.2.10 or newer. Additionally, the stats underwent a significant rebalance starting with that version. Pre-1.15.2, emerald tools were incredibly fast (speed 9) and dealt high damage, while obsidian had massive durability and enchantability. The newer numbers tone down both tiers to better fit alongside diamond, so always check your config if you’re updating an older world.
While exploring mod options, many players find that managing installations across multiple versions can become tedious. A modern solution is to use a dedicated launcher that streamlines the process—for instance, you can grab FancyTools directly through the foxygame.net launcher, which lets you browse and install mods from its built-in menu without juggling external files. This kind of tool keeps your modded setup clean and up-to-date with minimal effort.
Crafting Recipes and Integration
The crafting patterns follow the same shape as vanilla tools—pickaxe, axe, shovel, hoe, and sword—so you won’t need to memorize anything new. For obsidian tools, simply replace the wooden sticks with blaze rods in the handle position. Emerald tools use standard sticks. Both material blocks (emerald and obsidian) are placed in the head slots just like you would with iron or diamond.
Because the mod doesn’t lock you out of vanilla recipes, you can mix and match tools from different tiers depending on the task. Carry an obsidian pickaxe for deep mining and an emerald sword for nighttime defense—the choice is yours.
Why FancyTools Deserves a Spot in Your Modpack
FancyTools succeeds because it fills a gap without bloating the game. Two new tiers with clear trade-offs encourage strategic thinking, while the config file lets server admins and modpack creators fine-tune every value. The custom 32x32 textures are a visual treat that fits Minecraft’s aesthetic without clashing. And since the mod author explicitly allows inclusion in modpacks without permission, you can freely share your customized experience.
Whether you’re a veteran player tired of diamond’s monopoly or a modpack builder searching for balanced content, FancyTools delivers a polished, lightweight expansion to the tool system. Grab some blaze rods, mine that obsidian, and see how long you can dig before your new pickaxe gives out.