How to Use the Flint Knife for Cutting and Binding

What the Knife Cuts

The Flint Knife is the primary cutting tool. Its main job is converting Plant Fiber into Plant String. Plant String is the binding agent for early tools, the Fire Starter, and several shaped recipes that would otherwise need sticks. Without a knife, Plant Fiber is nearly useless.

Crafting the Knife

The Flint Knife is a shaped recipe using Flint Shards and a handle material (stick or Plant String). Craft it as soon as you have shards. Upgrade later to Iron Knife, Gold Knife, Diamond Knife, or Netherite Knife — each tier cuts faster and lasts longer, but the recipe output is the same.

Knife in the Tool Chain

Many flint tool recipes assume you already have a knife to prepare bindings. If a recipe will not complete, check whether you are missing Plant String. Harvest grass by hand or with any tool to get Plant Fiber, then right-click or craft with the knife to convert it.

Higher-Tier Knives

Iron, Gold, Diamond, and Netherite Knives are made via smithing_transform recipes once you have the base metals and gems. They are not required for progression, but they speed up cutting and reduce inventory churn. Keep one knife in your hotbar at all times — running out mid-recipe is a common early-game stall.