Check if a Block Requires a Specific Tool

Using Waila/Hwyla

When you hover over a block in the world, the Waila or Hwyla mod overlay (top-left corner by default) will display harvest information. If the block cannot be harvested with your current tool, the tooltip will show:

• What tool is required (pickaxe, axe, shovel, etc.)
• The minimum harvest level needed for that tool
• Whether it's harvestable at all with standard tools

Manual Inspection

If you want to know requirements without hovering:

1. Open your inventory and look at your current tool's tooltip

2. The tooltip displays the tool's harvest level (e.g., "Mining Level: 2")

3. Compare this to the block you want to harvest

4. Attempt to break the block—if it won't drop, you need a higher-tier tool or different tool class

This system helps you understand progression: stone requires a pickaxe, wood requires an axe, dirt requires a shovel. Some blocks (like glowstone) drop without any tool at all.