Workbenches, resources, and gear tiers: In Hytale, crafting is the key to progression. We show you how to use the system the right way.
In Hytale, the crafting system is with you from the very first minute and remains a core pillar of your adventure in the world of Orbis. Whether you’re making gear, expanding your base, or brewing potions, nothing works without crafting. To help you stay on track, we’ll walk you step by step through how crafting in Hytale works—and which workbenches, materials, and tricks you should know.
Getting Started with Crafting in Hytale: Pocket Crafting and Your First Tools
Even before you build your first workbench, you can get started via Pocket Crafting in the inventory menu. Press the Tab key to open the interface and immediately see which recipes are available to you. This is where you craft basic tools—such as the Crude Pickaxe, Crude Hatchet, or Crude Sword. These only require simple materials like Rubble, Plant Fiber, and Sticks, which you can find everywhere in the world.
You should craft these starter tools right away, as they dramatically speed up gathering Tree Trunks, Stone, and Ores. Without them, mining takes so long that progress quickly grinds to a halt. A Crude Bedroll made from Plant Fiber and Light Hide is also important early on, as it lets you set a safe spawn point.
- Mining resources feels too tedious? Check out our Hytale cheat guide.
In addition to tools, Pocket Crafting also lets you build simple objects like Wooden Chests, Crude Torches, Campfires, or even your first Workbench. The workbench is the central hub for everything beyond the basics.
Crafting Tiers: How Progression Works
Hytale divides its gear into three crafting tiers. Each tier requires not only better materials, but also upgrades to the corresponding workbench.
- Tier One: Copper and Iron items. Requires a basic workbench.
- Tier Two: Thorium and Cobalt gear. Requires upgrades using Copper and Iron Ingots.
- Tier Three: Adamantite and Mithril items. Requires expensive materials such as Thorium, Gold, or Storm Leather.
Each tier unlocks new recipes—from weapons and armor to specialized workbenches.
Important: You don’t just need to upgrade the workbench—you also need enough materials for the final items. If you sink everything into upgrades too early, you may end up without the resources needed to actually craft your gear.
The Most Important Workbenches at a Glance
General Workbench
This is the foundation for all other workbenches. You craft tools, basic gear, and specialized workbenches here. Upgrading it to Tier Two and Three requires large amounts of Copper, Iron, Thorium, and other metals.
Furnace
Essential for processing ores into ingots. Without a furnace, your ore is useless. Wood, Charcoal, or Sticks can be used as fuel.
Blacksmith’s Anvil
This is where all weapons are made: Swords, Battle Axes, Maces, Daggers, Shortbows, and Crossbows. Like other stations, it can be upgraded through three tiers—the higher the tier, the better the weapons you can craft.
Armorer’s Workbench
Used to craft Helmets, Cuirasses, Gauntlets, and Greaves. Each piece of armor requires specific materials such as Leather, Fabric Scraps, or special ingredients like Essence of the Void.
Tanning Rack and Loom
Important intermediate stations: The Tanning Rack turns Animal Hides into Leather, while the Loom converts Plant Fiber into fabrics like Linen Scraps. You’ll need these for many armor sets and workbench upgrades.
Alchemist’s Workbench
From Tier Two onward, this lets you brew potions such as Health Potions, Stamina Potions, or Morphing Potions. Building it requires materials like Bone Fragments and Venom Sacs.
Arcanist’s Workbench
Unlocked using rare materials like Thorium, Linen Scraps, and Essence of the Void. This station allows you to craft magical gear and Teleporters—especially useful for exploring the world efficiently.
Resources in Hytale: Where to Find What
Each crafting tier requires specific materials. These aren’t found everywhere, but in particular biomes or depths:
- Copper Ore: In shallow caves near the starting area.
- Iron Ore: Deeper underground, often in larger cave systems.
- Thorium Ore: Very deep underground or in dangerous dungeon sections.
- Cobalt Ore: In snowy biomes, often on mountains.
- Adamantite Ore: On remote islands or in desert regions.
- Mithril Ore: Only found in high-level areas with heavy enemy presence.
You’ll also need:
- Leather: Produced by tanning animal hides. Light, medium, and heavy leather come from animals of different strength.
- Fabrics: Crafted at the Loom from Plant Fiber.
- Essence of the Void: Dropped by special enemies with glowing green eyes—usually found in dungeons or boss encounters.
- Tip: Every dungeon and ruin can contain chests with rare materials. Thorough exploration always pays off.
Weapons and Armor: How Gear Crafting Works
Weapons and armor are crafted at their own dedicated workbenches, and a few clear rules apply:
- Weapons such as Swords, Battle Axes, or Shortbows require Ingots, Leather, and Fabrics.
- Armor consists of four pieces: Helmet, Cuirass, Gauntlets, and Greaves. There is no separate footwear slot.
- Shields can be crafted as well, but they prevent you from using torches or tools in your off-hand.
Each piece of gear requires materials appropriate to its tier. A Mithril Sword, for example, needs Mithril Ingots, Storm Leather, and a rare component like a Voidheart. Plan your material usage carefully, since workbench upgrades and gear crafting often compete for the same resources.
Advanced Tips: Getting More Out of the Crafting System
Don’t Throw Away Old Gear
Using the Salvager’s Workbench, you can break down old equipment into its components. An Iron Cuirass, for example, can yield enough Iron Ingots to craft a new tool.
Upgrade Workbenches Strategically
Not every workbench needs to be Tier Three. If combat is your focus, prioritize the Blacksmith’s Anvil and Armorer’s Workbench. Builders should invest in the Builder’s Workbench and Furniture Workbench instead. This approach saves valuable resources.
Unlock Teleporters Early
The Arcanist’s Workbench allows you to craft Teleporters, letting you travel quickly between biomes. Even though the materials are rare, the investment is well worth it.
Use Potions and Bombs
The Alchemist’s Workbench isn’t just for Health Potions—it also lets you craft Morphing Potions and Popberry Bombs. The latter are especially effective for clearing dungeons or dealing with groups of enemies.
Grow Your Own Crops
With the Farmer’s Workbench and a Watering Can, you can start your own farm. This ensures a steady supply of ingredients for potions, fabrics, and food. Some seeds are “permanent” and regrow automatically after harvest.
Common Crafting Mistakes in Hytale—and How to Avoid Them
One of the most common mistakes is building too many workbenches too early. Save your resources—one workbench is more than enough at the start. Another issue is crafting tools too late: without Crude Tools, progress is painfully slow.
Also make sure not to waste rare materials. Use salvaging before smelting new ingots whenever possible. Many players also upgrade workbenches at random—instead, set clear priorities based on your playstyle.
One more mistake you should absolutely avoid: ignoring Essence of the Void. You’ll need it for the best gear in the game, so start collecting it as early as possible.
Tip for Faster Progression
As soon as you’ve built the Salvager’s Workbench, start dismantling any gear you find. Dungeon loot becomes a valuable source of materials—especially when resources like Iron, Leather, or Fabrics are scarce. Playing this way gets you better gear faster without constant resource grinding.
