Pickaxe Tiers in Minecraft (1.21.5)

In Minecraft, in order to mine most blocks, you'll need a pickaxe.

Not all blocks require a pickaxe to mine, and some require different tools to be faster. For example, wood is faster mined with an axe, but stone and iron ore require a pickaxe. You can still mine stone and iron ore without a pickaxe, but they won't drop anything and will take much longer.

You can craft a pickaxe using sticks and a material that changes for every pickaxe. Not all pickaxes can mine the same thing, however.

Wooden Pickaxe: Craftable with sticks and planks of any wood type. It can mine stone, coal ore, and a few other blocks.

Stone Pickaxe: To get this, simply mine stone, blackstone or cobbled deepslate and use it to craft it. Craftable with sticks and cobblestone. It can mine stone, coal ore, iron ore, copper ore, and a few other blocks.

Iron Pickaxe: To get this, simply mine iron ore with your Stone Pickaxe, smelt it using a furnace, and craft it. Craftable with sticks and iron ingots. It can mine stone, coal ore, iron ore, copper ore, diamonds, and a few other blocks.

Diamond Pickaxe: To get this, simply mine diamonds with your Iron Pickaxe and use it to craft it. Craftable with sticks and diamonds. It can mine stone, coal ore, iron ore, copper ore, diamonds, obsidian, and a few other blocks.

Golden Pickaxe: To get this, simply mine gold ore with an Iron Pickaxe or better, smelt it using a furnace, and craft it. Craftable with sticks and gold ingots. It can mine stone, coal ore, and a few other blocks. It is similar to a wooden pickaxe, but with less durability.

Netherite Pickaxe: To get this, go to the Nether, find a bastion, get a Netherite Upgrade Template, mine Ancient Debris, smelt it, combine it with gold ingots to get a Netherite Ingot, and then use a Smithing Table to use your Netherite Ingot, Netherite Upgrade Template and Diamond Pickaxe to craft a Netherite Pickaxe. The Netherite Pickaxe is the best pickaxe in the game.