If you just started playing Fields of Mistria and feel overwhelmed by all the tools at your disposal, you are not alone. Our team spent over 40 hours testing every tool, upgrade path, and stamina-saving technique so we could put together this guide on the best tools in Fields of Mistria. We wanted to figure out exactly which upgrades make the biggest difference and which ones you can safely skip.
Fields of Mistria gives you eight different tools to manage your farm, explore the mines, and interact with the world around you. Each tool can be upgraded through multiple tiers, but the upgrade costs stack up fast. That is why knowing the right priority order matters, especially in Early Access where resources feel tight.
In this guide, we will walk through every tool type, explain how to get each starter tool, break down the upgrade system, and share our recommended upgrade priority ranking based on real playtime and community consensus from Reddit discussions.
Table of Contents
All 8 Tool Types in Fields of Mistria
Fields of Mistria features eight core tools that cover every major activity in the game. Understanding what each tool does and how its upgrades improve your gameplay is the foundation for making smart upgrade decisions. Let us break down each one.
Pickaxe
The pickaxe is your go-to tool for mining rocks, breaking ore deposits, and clearing boulders from your farm. It is the single most important tool for progressing through the mines, where you will find the ores needed to upgrade everything else. Upgrading your pickaxe increases the range of tiles you can mine in a single swing, which saves both time and stamina.
Axe
The axe handles chopping down trees, removing stumps, and clearing wooded areas on your farm. Wood is a critical resource throughout the entire game, used for building, crafting, and quest completion. Upgraded axes cover more tiles per swing, making large-scale clearing projects much faster.
Hoe
The hoe tills soil so you can plant crops. Its primary use is farming, and upgraded hoes till a wider area in a single action. While farming is important, the hoe has a more limited scope compared to the pickaxe or axe, which is why it ranks lower on most upgrade priority lists.
Watering Can
The watering can keeps your crops hydrated. Higher-tier watering cans cover more tiles per pour, dramatically reducing the time you spend each morning on farm maintenance. For players focused on large-scale farming, this upgrade makes a noticeable difference in daily routine.
Fishing Rod
The fishing rod lets you catch fish in bodies of water around Mistria. Fish contribute to cooking recipes, museum collections, and gifting. Upgraded fishing rods improve cast range, which helps you reel in rarer fish that appear farther from shore. This is especially useful if you are working toward museum completion.
Shovel
The shovel is used for digging up artifact spots, buried items, and certain resource nodes. It also helps with landscaping around your farm. While useful, the shovel sees less daily use than tools like the pickaxe or axe, so it typically falls in the middle of upgrade priority.
Bug Net
The bug net catches insects scattered throughout the world. Bugs contribute to museum sets and can be used in certain recipes or sold for Tesserae. However, the bug net upgrade is widely considered aesthetic-only by the community. Multiple Reddit threads confirm that upgraded bug nets do not provide meaningful gameplay benefits beyond visual changes. Save your resources for other tools first.
Sword
The sword is your primary combat tool for fighting monsters in the mines. Combat becomes increasingly important as you descend deeper into the mine levels, where enemies hit harder and appear more frequently. Upgrading your sword increases attack power, making it easier to clear floors and protect yourself while mining.
How to Get Your Starter Tools in Fields of Mistria
You do not start Fields of Mistria with every tool in your inventory. Instead, the game introduces tools gradually through NPC interactions during your first few days. Here is how and when you receive each starter tool.
The hoe and watering can are the first tools you receive, handed to you early on day one as part of the farming tutorial. These are essential for getting your first crops planted and establishing your farm income. Without them, you cannot engage with the farming system at all.
The pickaxe and axe come next, typically provided during the mine introduction sequence. Once you gain access to the mines, these tools become your primary means of gathering ore and wood. The pickaxe specifically unlocks your ability to mine copper, iron, and silver ore, which are the backbone of the entire upgrade system.
The shovel is given to you by an NPC shortly after you begin exploring the town and surrounding areas. It opens up artifact hunting and lets you dig up buried treasures that contribute to the museum collection.
The fishing rod is obtained from the fishing-related NPC, usually after a brief introduction to the fishing mechanic. Fishing provides food, gifts, and museum contributions, so it is worth picking up as soon as it becomes available.
The bug net comes from the nature-focused NPC in town. Once you have it, you can start catching the various insects scattered around Mistria for your museum sets and cooking recipes.
The sword is provided when you first enter the mines and encounter combat scenarios. It becomes indispensable as you push deeper into the mine levels where enemies spawn regularly.
How to Upgrade Tools in Fields of Mistria
Tool upgrades in Fields of Mistria happen at the Blacksmith forge. You need two things to upgrade any tool: ore ingots and Tesserae, the in-game currency. The blacksmith is located in town and becomes available for upgrades once you progress far enough in the main storyline.
Each tool has multiple upgrade tiers, corresponding to the ore types you find in the mines. The tiers follow a consistent pattern: Copper, Iron, and Silver. Each tier requires a specific mining level before you can craft the corresponding ingots or purchase the upgrade.
Copper Tier Upgrades
Copper is the first ore you encounter in the upper mine floors. Copper ingots are relatively inexpensive to craft and represent your first meaningful tool upgrades. These upgrades provide modest range increases and set the foundation for better tools. Most players can start copper upgrades within their first few in-game weeks.
Iron Tier Upgrades
Iron ore appears in the middle mine floors and requires a higher mining level to process. Iron tool upgrades offer a noticeable jump in range and efficiency over copper. The leap from base tools to iron tools feels significant, while the jump from iron to silver is less dramatic for some tools. This is one reason players on Reddit express disappointment with silver upgrades.
Silver Tier Upgrades
Silver is found in the deepest accessible mine floors during Early Access. Silver tool upgrades provide the maximum range and efficiency currently available. However, community feedback consistently notes that silver tools do not always reduce the number of swings needed compared to iron tools for certain actions. The main benefit is the expanded area coverage per swing rather than faster individual actions.
Material Requirements
Each upgrade tier requires a specific number of ingots plus a Tesserae payment. Copper upgrades typically cost fewer ingots and less currency, while silver upgrades demand a substantial investment. You also need to factor in the mining level requirement, which gates your access to higher-tier crafting recipes. Plan your mining sessions around gathering the ores you need for your next planned upgrade rather than hoarding everything at once.
The forge itself operates on a time system. When you submit a tool for upgrade, you will be without that tool for a period of in-game time. Schedule your upgrades carefully so you are not left without a critical tool during a season when you need it most. For example, avoid upgrading your watering can during planting season.
Best Tools in Fields of Mistria: Upgrade Priority Ranking
After testing different upgrade orders across multiple playthroughs and comparing notes with the Fields of Mistria community on Reddit, we settled on this priority ranking. This order accounts for versatility, daily utility, and return on resource investment.
Priority 1: Pickaxe
The pickaxe is the unanimous first upgrade recommendation from nearly every experienced player and guide author. The reason is simple: the pickaxe directly enables every other upgrade in the game. You need it to mine ore, and you need ore to upgrade everything else. A better pickaxe means faster mining, which means more ore, which means faster progression across the board.
Upgrading the pickaxe also helps with treasure spots in the mines. Players on Reddit consistently note that the pickaxe feels like the single most impactful upgrade you can make at any tier. Our testing confirmed this. The difference between a base pickaxe and a copper pickaxe is immediately noticeable in mining speed and range.
Priority 2: Axe
The axe earns the second spot because wood is a resource you need constantly. Building projects, crafting recipes, and farm expansion all require large quantities of wood. An upgraded axe covers more tiles per swing, which means you can clear a forest area in a fraction of the time. For players trying to expand their farm quickly, this upgrade pays for itself in saved time within a few in-game days.
Priority 3: Watering Can
If you are running a serious farming operation, the watering can upgrade is a quality-of-life improvement that compounds over time. Each morning, you water your crops. With a base watering can, this process takes considerable time and stamina. Upgraded watering cans cover more tiles per pour, shrinking your morning routine and freeing up stamina for mining, fishing, or exploration. For farming-focused players, this might even jump above the axe in priority.
Priority 4: Sword
Combat becomes unavoidable in the deeper mine levels, and a stronger sword makes those encounters manageable. The sword upgrade does not help with resource gathering directly, but it protects your ability to mine safely. If you find yourself struggling in the mines despite having a decent pickaxe, the sword upgrade might need to move up your list depending on your playstyle.
Priority 5: Fishing Rod
The fishing rod upgrade primarily benefits players working toward museum completion. Rarer fish that count toward museum sets are easier to catch with an upgraded rod due to the improved cast range. If museum completion is a secondary goal for you, this upgrade can wait. If it is a primary goal, move it up a couple of spots.
Priority 6: Shovel
The shovel sees inconsistent use throughout gameplay. Some days you use it heavily for artifact hunting, and other days it sits in your inventory untouched. Upgrading it provides range improvements, but the practical impact is smaller than the tools ranked above it. Upgrade the shovel when you have surplus resources and no higher-priority tools left to improve.
Priority 7: Hoe
The hoe is essential for farming, but its upgrade benefits are the least impactful of all tools. You typically till your farm plots once per season or when rearranging your layout. The frequency of use is low enough that upgrading the hoe provides minimal return on investment. Upgrade it last or near-last.
Priority 8: Bug Net
The bug net ranks last, and this is one of the strongest points of agreement across the community. Multiple Reddit threads confirm that bug net upgrades are aesthetic-only changes that do not meaningfully affect gameplay. One player put it bluntly: save your ore and Tesserae for literally anything else. Unless you are completionist who wants every tool at silver tier, skip this upgrade entirely.
Stamina Efficiency Tips When Using Tools
One topic we noticed no other guide covers is stamina management in relation to tool usage. Every action in Fields of Mistria costs stamina, and running out means your day is effectively over. Here are strategies we developed during testing to make the most of your stamina budget.
Range upgrades are secretly stamina upgrades. When your pickaxe covers three tiles in one swing instead of one, you spend one-third the stamina to clear the same area. This is why upgrading tools is not just about speed, it is about sustainability. A copper pickaxe does not just mine faster, it lets you mine longer before needing to eat.
Plan your daily activities around tool efficiency. If you need to mine ore, dedicate an entire day to it rather than splitting your time between mining, farming, and foraging. Focused days let you take advantage of your upgraded tools’ range without context-switching between activities that use different tools.
Food is your stamina economy. Cooked meals restore more stamina than raw ingredients, so invest in a kitchen setup early. Keep a stock of high-stamina meals in your inventory, especially on days when you plan to mine or clear land. The Tesserae you spend on cooking ingredients pays back in extended productive hours.
Avoid redundant actions. If you are chopping trees, chop everything in an area before moving on rather than making multiple trips. The same applies to watering crops and mining ore. Batch your actions to minimize wasted swings and maximize the benefit of your upgraded range.
Tool Infusion Mechanics Explained
Tool infusion is a lesser-known mechanic in Fields of Mistria that only one competitor guide even mentions. Based on our research and community discussions, infusion allows you to add elemental properties to your tools, giving them additional effects beyond their base function.
The infusion system ties into the broader magic and enchantment mechanics in the game. You can infuse tools at specific locations once you unlock the associated storyline content. Infused tools may deal elemental damage, have increased critical hit chances, or provide bonus resources when used.
During Early Access, the infusion system appears to be partially implemented. Some infusion options are available, but the full range of effects and combinations may expand in future updates. We recommend experimenting with infusion on your pickaxe first, since it sees the most use and provides the most opportunities to observe the additional effects in action.
Keep in mind that infusion materials are separate from upgrade materials. You will need to gather specific infusion reagents, which are different from the ores used for tier upgrades. This means infusion and upgrading are parallel progression systems that you can pursue simultaneously without one blocking the other.
Frequently Asked Questions About Fields of Mistria Tools
How do I get the pickaxe in Fields of Mistria?
You receive the pickaxe during the mine introduction sequence early in the game. Once you gain access to the mines, the pickaxe is provided automatically as part of the tutorial. You cannot miss it.
How do I get a shovel in Fields of Mistria?
The shovel is given to you by a town NPC shortly after you begin exploring the area around Mistria. It unlocks artifact hunting and buried treasure digging.
Which tools should I upgrade first in Fields of Mistria?
Upgrade the pickaxe first since it directly enables mining ore for all other upgrades. After that, prioritize the axe for wood gathering, then the watering can for farming efficiency. The bug net should be your last priority since its upgrades are aesthetic-only.
Is the bug net upgrade worth it in Fields of Mistria?
No, the bug net upgrade is widely considered not worth the resources. Community consensus on Reddit confirms that bug net upgrades only provide aesthetic changes with no meaningful gameplay improvement. Save your ore and Tesserae for other tools.
Are silver tools worth upgrading to in Fields of Mistria?
Silver tools provide the maximum range upgrades currently available in Early Access, but some players report that the number of swings needed for certain actions does not decrease from iron to silver. The benefit is primarily expanded area coverage per swing. Upgrade to silver if you have surplus resources, but iron tools are sufficient for most content.
How do I upgrade tools in Fields of Mistria?
Take your tools to the Blacksmith forge in town. You need ore ingots and Tesserae currency for each upgrade. The forge operates on a time system, so you will be without the tool for a period of in-game time while it is being upgraded.
Wrapping Up: Finding the Best Tools in Fields of Mistria
Finding the best tools in Fields of Mistria comes down to understanding what each upgrade actually does for your gameplay and investing your resources accordingly. The pickaxe stands out as the clear first upgrade priority because it fuels every other improvement. From there, the axe and watering can handle your daily resource needs, while the sword, fishing rod, and shovel fill specialized roles.
We recommend skipping the bug net upgrade entirely during Early Access and saving your silver-tier resources for tools where the range increase makes a tangible difference. Stamina efficiency matters more than most players realize, so think of every tool upgrade as a stamina upgrade too.
Fields of Mistria is still in Early Access, which means tool mechanics, infusion options, and upgrade paths may change with future updates. We will keep this guide updated as new content drops and the community discovers more about the full tool progression system. For now, follow the priority ranking above and you will be well-equipped to handle everything Mistria throws at you.