Ore Progression Complete Guide
Pre-Hardmode Ore Mining & Equipment Upgrade Path
Ore Tier Overview
Starting tier ore, world randomly picks Copper or Tin at generation
Key material for crafting the Anvil, Lead is the alternate version
Mid-tier ore, Tungsten is slightly stronger than Silver
Highest base ore pre-Hardmode, Platinum variant is stronger
Obtained from Eater of Worlds / Brain of Cthulhu, not interchangeable
Strongest pre-Hardmode ore, requires special preparation to mine
Mining Tools
Starting tool
Copper/Tin Bar x12 + Wood x4
Iron/Lead Bar x12 + Wood x3
Silver/Tungsten Bar x12 + Wood x3
Gold/Platinum Bar x12 + Wood x3
Demonite Bar x12 + Shadow Scale x6 / Crimtane Bar x12 + Tissue Sample x6
Hellstone Bar x20
Evil Ores
Demonite Ore
Demonite OreDropped by Eater of Worlds, or spawns naturally in Corruption after breaking Shadow Orbs
Crimtane Ore
Crimtane OreDropped by Brain of Cthulhu, or spawns naturally in Crimson after breaking Crimson Hearts
Hellstone
Hellstone
HellstoneMining Hellstone releases lava, and touching it causes burning damage! Make sure to prepare before heading to the Underworld.
- Equip Obsidian Skull or Obsidian Shield to be immune to burning block damage
- Bring Obsidian Skin Potion for lava immunity (lasts 4 minutes)
- Build a Hell Bridge (place platforms across the Underworld) for easy movement
- Bring plenty of healing potions, Underworld enemies hit hard
- Hellstone Bars require a Hellforge to craft (Hellstone x3 + Obsidian x1)
Obsidian Skin Potion
Obsidian SkullCrafting Stations
Work Bench
Furnace
Iron Anvil / Lead Anvil
Hellforge
Ore Armor Sets
No set bonus
No set bonus
No set bonus
Gold: +4 defense / Platinum: +4 defense
Shadow: +15% movement speed / Crimson: Greatly increased life regen
Melee attacks inflict fire damage, +17% melee damage
Summary
Prioritize upgrading your pickaxe - mining efficiency determines overall progression speed
Each ore tier has an alternate version, both function similarly so don't stress about which one
Evil ores require defeating a Boss or breaking Shadow Orbs/Crimson Hearts to obtain
Prepare Obsidian Skin Potion and Obsidian Skull before entering the Underworld
The Anvil is key for equipment crafting, prioritize making it with Iron/Lead
Molten Armor is the strongest pre-Hardmode set, worth rushing for
Don't skip the Gold/Platinum tier - its tools handle most early content
Spelunker Strategy
Use Spelunker Potions combined with Mining Potions for the fastest ore gathering. Dig horizontal tunnels at different depths to cover maximum area.
Frequently Asked Questions
What pickaxe do I need for each ore tier?
Copper/Tin ore can be mined with any pickaxe. Iron/Lead needs 35% power (Copper Pickaxe works). Silver/Tungsten needs 35%. Gold/Platinum needs 35%. Demonite/Crimtane needs 55% (Gold/Platinum Pickaxe). Hellstone needs 65% (Nightmare/Deathbringer Pickaxe). Each tier's pickaxe unlocks the next.
What is the best mining strategy in Terraria?
Dig horizontal tunnels at different depth levels, spaced about 50 blocks apart. Use Spelunker Potions to highlight ores nearby, and Mining Potions to increase mining speed by 25%. Bombs and Dynamite are also effective for quickly clearing large areas.
Should I mine Copper/Tin or skip to higher ores?
Skip Copper/Tin armor entirely. Craft a Copper/Tin Pickaxe if needed, then head straight to Iron/Lead or deeper. The time spent on Copper gear is better spent pushing to Silver or Gold tier, which will carry you much further.