How to Use Tool Stats to Plan Mining in a Modpack

Identify the Right Tool Tier

Before heading to a new dimension or biome, hover your pickaxe and read its mining level. Then check the blocks you intend to mine — if the tool's level is below what the block requires, you will get no drops. Craft or upgrade to a tool whose mining level meets or exceeds the target blocks. This prevents wasted trips into modded caves where ores silently refuse to drop.

Estimate Trip Length from Durability

Read the durability line and compare it to how many blocks you typically break per trip. If your planned mining run will exceed the remaining durability, bring repair materials, a spare tool, or an enchantment that restores durability. The tooltip tells you exactly how much life is left, so you can top up before leaving base instead of mid-expedition.

Pick the Fastest Tool for the Job

When you have several pickaxes of the same tier, hover each and compare mining speed. Take the fastest one for bulk stone clearing and keep the slower, higher-durability one for precision work or dangerous areas where losing it would hurt.

Watch Durability While Mining

Because the tooltip updates live, you can check remaining durability between blocks by opening your inventory and hovering the tool. When the number gets low, swap to a backup before it snaps — a broken tool mid-mine costs more time than a quick swap.