Mining speed (also known as "tool speed") is an invisible statistic that determines how fast the player can mine (or break walls, or chop down trees/cacti). Its value shows the time per hit in 60ths of second. It is therefore something of a misnomer: it's presented in the form of the amount of time taken for a certain event, whereas speed is the number of events that take place in a certain amount of time (or, in mathematical terms, the number you see is the reciprocal of the speed). This means that faster tools have smaller numbers, not larger. For example, a mining speed of 15 means that the tool will hit the block every 15/60 of a second, or four times per second. A mining speed of 20, on the other hand, means that the tool will hit the block every 20/60 of a second, or three times per second.
When breaking walls, its value is cut in half, then any numbers after the decimal point removed (e.g. 2.8 would be rounded to 2.) Thus, walls break twice as fast as blocks.
Your final mining speed is determined only by the following:
- Your tool's base tool speed, which is hidden in the game's code and not normally visible (but can be looked up on this wiki, referred to as "tool speed" on each tool's page and as "mining speed" as a column header in a table of tools).
- Any speed-modifying prefix on the tool (the best being "Light," with a 15% increase. Note that for some tools, there are other prefixes which will work just as well. Details below). Changing other stats via a prefix (e.g. damage) has no effect on mining speed.
- Buffs and items specifically increasing mining speed. Note that these only apply to tools that are capable of actual "mining," i.e. Pickaxes and Drills. An interesting quirk is that the Drax, Laser Drill, Pickaxe Axe, Picksaw and Shroomite Digging Claw, which can function as both pickaxes and axes, will benefit from these bonuses even when being used as an axe.
In particular, a tool's mining speed is independent of how quickly it swings, which is the speed you can see in the in-game tooltip (e.g. "Copper Pickaxe—Fast Speed"). That statistic is properly called "use time." Speed-modifying prefixes affect both mining speed and use time, potentially leading to the misconception that "melee speed" bonuses improve mining speed. In truth, melee speed bonuses affect only use time, which is useful for combat but has NO influence on mining speed.
Useful prefixes
Pickaxes (including the Pickaxe Axe, Shroomite Digging Claw, and Picksaw), axes, hammers, and hamaxes (including The Axe) can be reforged with speed bonuses to improve their mining speed. Drills (including the Drax), chainsaws, and the Chlorophyte Jackhammer cannot. The speed-increasing prefixes are:
| Prefix | Damage | Speed | Critical Strike Chance | Size | Knockback | Tier | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Light | - | +15% | - | - | -10% | - | +7.12% |
| Legendary | +15% | +10% | +5% | +10% | +15% | +2 | +209.85% |
| Deadly | +10% | +10% | - | - | - | +2 | +46.41% |
| Agile | - | +10% | +3% | - | - | +1 | +35.96% |
| Quick | - | +10% | - | - | - | +1 | +21.00% |
| Nasty | +5% | +10% | +2% | - | -10% | +1 | +16.87% |
| Murderous | +7% | +6% | +3% | - | - | +2 | +44.54% |
| Nimble | - | +5% | - | - | - | +1 | +10.25% |
While the best prefix for mining in general is Light, certain tools will achieve the same speed with lesser prefixes due to rounding, which means it is much easier (and cheaper) to reforge these tools, since there are more prefixes that tie for "most optimal." This is complicated by the fact that tool speed is halved and floored when hammering, but the long and short of it is this:
- Tools with a tool speed of 6, 7, 8, or 16 will achieve equal block/tree/cactus-breaking speeds with either a +10% or +15% prefix—these include the Adamantite, Candy Cane, Chlorophyte, Orichalcum, Titanium, and Luminite Pickaxes, the Pickaxe Axe and the Picksaw; as well as the Adamantite, Chlorophyte, Cobalt, Mythril, Orichalcum, Palladium, and Titanium Axes, the Luminite, Meteor, and Spectre Hamaxes and The Axe.
- Tools with a tool speed of 9 or 10 will achieve equal block/tree/cactus-breaking speeds with either a +6%, +10%, or +15% prefix—these include the Mythril and Spectre Pickaxes.
- Tools with a tool speed of 4 or 5 require the Light prefix for their speed to be improved at all. The only tool with a tool speed of 4 or 5 is the Shroomite Digging Claw. And if there were any tools with a tool speed of less than 4, not even the Light prefix would improve their speed.
- Hammers with a tool speed of 8, 17, 19, 21, or 23 will achieve equal wall-breaking speeds with either a +10% or +15% prefix—these include...well, almost half the hammers in the game, actually: the Boreal Wood, Copper, Gold, Lead, Palm Wood, Pearlwood, Platinum, Silver, and Tin Hammers, the Flesh Grinder, The Breaker, and the Spectre Hamaxe.
- If there were any hammers with a tool speed of 10, they would achieve equal wall-breaking speeds with either a +6%, +10%, or +15% prefix.
- Hammers with a tool speed of 12, 14, or 16 will achieve equal wall-breaking speeds with either a +5%, +6%, +10%, or +15% prefix—these include the Chlorophyte Warhammer, Hammush, Rockfish, Pwnhammer, and the Meteor and Molten Hamaxes.
- Hammers with a tool speed of 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, or 13 cannot have their wall-breaking speed improved by prefixes at all—these include the Luminite Hamaxes and The Axe.
- This means that the only hammers for which "Light" actually is the exclusive best prefix are the Ebonwood, Iron, Shadewood, Tungsten and Wooden Hammers.
Speed-increasing buffs and items
These are the buffs and items which improve mining speed (again: pickaxes and drills only):
- The Mining buff from the Mining Potion adds 25%.
- The set bonus of the Mining armor adds 30%.
- The Celestial Shell and Celestial Stone each add 15%.
- The Sun Stone and Moon Stone add 15% during day and night respectively.
This increase is capped at 70%, even though all items together add 100%.
Formula
1. Start with your tool's tool speed (as documented on this wiki).
2. Multiply by [1 - speed modification from tool prefix].
3. Round to the nearest whole number.
If your tool is a pickaxe or drill:
4. Add up all the bonuses to mining speed from buffs and items.
5. If you got more than 70%, use 70% instead.
6. Multiply the number you got in step 3 by [1 - the number you got in step 5].
7. Round down.
If you are hammering:
4. Divide by 2.
5. Round down.
Example: digging a tunnel with a Light Shroomite Digging Claw, having drunk a Mining Potion and wearing a Celestial Stone.
- The Claw's tool speed is 4
- The Light prefix has +15% speed. 4×(1-0.15) = 3.4
- 3.4 is rounded to 3
- The Mining Potion adds 25% and the Celestial Stone adds 15%. These total 40%
- 40% is less than 70% so we leave it alone
- 3×(1-0.40) = 1.8
- 1.8 is rounded down to 1
Performance will be one hit every 1/60s (e.g. it will mine 60/1 = 60 dirt blocks per second).
Example: chopping trees with an Annoying Pickaxe Axe, having drunk a Mining Potion.
- The Pickaxe Axe's tool speed is 7.
- The Annoying prefix has -15% speed. 7×(1-(-0.15)) = 8.05
- 8.05 is rounded to 8
- The Mining Potion adds 25%
- 25% is less than 70% so we leave it alone
- 8×(1-0.25) = 6
- 6 is already a whole number
Performance will be one hit every 6/60s, or 60/6 = 10 hits per second.
Trees have 500% hit points and the Pickaxe Axe has 110% axe power, so it will take CEILING(500%/110%) = 5 hits to chop down a tree, which will take (6×5)/60 = 0.5 seconds.
Example: tearing down background walls with a Murderous The Axe, wearing full Mining armor.
- The Axe's tool speed is 7
- The Murderous prefix has +6% speed. 7×(1-0.06) = 6.58
- 6.58 is rounded to 7
- 7/2 = 3.5
- 3.5 is rounded down to 3
Step 3 illustrates why some tools do not have their speed improved by some prefixes.
The Mining armor was a red herring: it has no effect on The Axe.
Performance will be one hit every 3/60s, so it will break 60/3 = 20 walls per second.
Mining speed tables
Note: the Legendary, Deadly, Agile, and Nasty prefixes have exactly the same impact on mining speed as Quick.
Pickaxes/Drills
Note: modifiers aside, all drills which have a corresponding pickaxe are functionally identical to that pickaxe and have therefore been omitted, except for the Orichalcum Drill.
| Pickaxe | Made From | Pickaxe Power |
Range | Mining Speed |
Best Speed (Minimum Prefix) |
Can mine |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Copper Pickaxe |
Template:Linked icon×12 + Template:Linked icon×4 | 35% | -1 | 15 | 13 (Light) | Everything below Meteorite |
 Cactus Pickaxe |
Template:Linked icon×15 | 35% | 0 | 15 | 13 (Light) | Everything below Meteorite |
 Tin Pickaxe |
Template:Linked icon×12 + Template:Linked icon×4 | 35% | 0 | 14 | 12 (Light) | Everything below Meteorite |
 Iron Pickaxe |
Template:Linked icon×12 + Template:Linked icon×3 | 40% | 0 | 13 | 11 (Light) | Everything below Meteorite |
 Lead Pickaxe |
Template:Linked icon×12 + Template:Linked icon×3 | 43% | 0 | 12 | 10 (Light) | Everything below Meteorite |
 Silver Pickaxe |
Template:Linked icon×12 + Template:Linked icon×4 | 45% | 0 | 11 | 09 (Light) | Everything below Meteorite |
 Tungsten Pickaxe |
Template:Linked icon×12 + Template:Linked icon×4 | 50% | 0 | 19 | 16 (Light) | Meteorite |
 Bone Pickaxe |
N/A (Dropped by Undead Miner) | 50% | 0 | 11 | 09 (Light) | Meteorite |
 Gold Pickaxe |
Template:Linked icon×12 + Template:Linked icon×4 | 55% | 0 | 17 | 14 (Light) | Meteorite, Demonite, Crimtane |
 Candy Cane Pickaxe |
N/A (Dropped by Present) | 55% | 0 | 16 | 14 (Quick) | Meteorite, Demonite, Crimtane |
 Platinum Pickaxe |
Template:Linked icon×12 + Template:Linked icon×4 | 59% | 0 | 15 | 13 (Light) | Meteorite, Demonite, Crimtane |
 Nightmare Pickaxe |
Template:Linked icon×12 + Template:Linked icon×6 | 65% | 0 | 15 | 13 (Light) | Hellstone, Obsidian, Ebonstone/Crimstone, Dungeon Brick |
 Deathbringer Pickaxe |
Template:Linked icon×12 + Template:Linked icon×6 | 70% | 0 | 14 | 12 (Light) | Hellstone, Obsidian, Ebonstone/Crimstone, Dungeon Brick |
 Molten Pickaxe |
Template:Linked icon×20 | 100% | 0 | 25 | 21 (Light) | Cobalt, Palladium |
 Reaver Shark |
N/A (Obtained from fishing) | 100% | 0 | 18 | 15 (Light) | Cobalt, Palladium |
 Cobalt Pickaxe |
Template:Linked icon×15 | 110% | 0 | 13 | 11 (Light) | Mythril, Orichalcum |
 Palladium Pickaxe |
Template:Linked icon×15 | 130% | 0 | 11 | 09 (Light) | Mythril, Orichalcum |
 Mythril Pickaxe |
Template:Linked icon×15 | 150% | 0 | 10 | 09 (Murderous) | Adamantite, Titanium |
 Orichalcum Pickaxe |
Template:Linked icon×18 | 165% | 0 | 8 | 07 (Quick) | Adamantite, Titanium |
 Orichalcum Drill |
Template:Linked icon×18 | 165% | 0 | 10 | 10 (ineligible) | Adamantite, Titanium |
 Adamantite Pickaxe |
Template:Linked icon×18 | 180% | 0 | 7 | 06 (Quick) | Adamantite, Titanium |
 Titanium Pickaxe |
Template:Linked icon×20 | 190% | 0 | 7 | 06 (Quick) | Adamantite, Titanium |
 Chlorophyte Pickaxe |
Template:Linked icon×18 | 200% | +1 | 7 | 06 (Quick) | Chlorophyte |
 Spectre Pickaxe |
Template:Console iconTemplate:Mobile iconTemplate:Linked icon×18 + Template:Linked icon×18 Template:Pc icon Template:Linked icon×18 |
200% | +3 | 10 | 09 (Murderous) | Chlorophyte |
 Pickaxe Axe |
Template:Linked icon×18 + Template:Linked icon×1 + Template:Linked icon×1 + Template:Linked icon×1 | 200% | 0 | 7 | 06 (Quick) | Chlorophyte |
 Shroomite Digging Claw |
Template:Linked icon×18 | 200% | -1 | 4 | 03 (Light) | Chlorophyte |
 Picksaw |
N/A (Dropped by Golem 12.5%) | 210% | +1 | 6 | 05 (Quick) | Lihzahrd Brick |
 Luminite Pickaxes |
Template:Linked icon×10 + [ Template:Linked icon×12 or Template:Linked icon×12 or Template:Linked icon×12 or Template:Linked icon×12 ] |
225% | +4 | 6 | 05 (Quick) | Lihzahrd Brick |
 Laser Drill |
N/A (Dropped by Martian Saucer 11.11%) | 230% | + 10 | 8 | 08 (ineligible) | Lihzahrd Brick |
Axes/Chainsaws
Note: modifiers aside, all chainsaws which have a corresponding axe are functionally identical to that axe and have therefore been omitted, except for the Chlorophyte Chainsaw.
| Axe | Made From | Axe Power |
Range | Mining Speed |
Best Speed (Minimum Prefix) |
Tree Time (No Prefix) |
Tree Time (Best Prefix) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Copper Axe |
Template:Linked icon×9 + Template:Linked icon×3 | 35% | 0 | 21 | 18 (Light) | 5.25s | 4.50s |
 Tin Axe |
Template:Linked icon×9 + Template:Linked icon×3 | 40% | 0 | 20 | 17 (Light) | 4.33s | 3.68s |
 Iron Axe |
Template:Linked icon×9 + Template:Linked icon×3 | 45% | 0 | 19 | 16 (Light) | 3.80s | 3.20s |
 Lead Axe |
Template:Linked icon×9 + Template:Linked icon×3 | 50% | 0 | 19 | 16 (Light) | 3.17s | 2.67s |
 Silver Axe |
Template:Linked icon×9 + Template:Linked icon×3 | 50% | 0 | 18 | 15 (Light) | 3.00s | 2.50s |
 Gold Axe |
Template:Linked icon×9 + Template:Linked icon×3 | 55% | 0 | 18 | 15 (Light) | 3.00s | 2.50s |
 Tungsten Axe |
Template:Linked icon×9 + Template:Linked icon×3 | 55% | 0 | 18 | 15 (Light) | 3.00s | 2.50s |
 Platinum Axe |
Template:Linked icon×9 + Template:Linked icon×3 | 60% | 0 | 17 | 14 (Light) | 2.55s | 2.10s |
 Cobalt Waraxe |
Template:Linked icon×10 | 70% | 0 | 8 | 07 (Quick) | 1.07s | 0.93s |
 Sawtooth Shark |
N/A (Obtained from fishing) | 70% | 0 | 8 | 08 (ineligible) | 1.07s | 1.07s |
 Blood Lust Cluster |
Template:Linked icon×10 | 75% | 0 | 15 | 13 (Light) | 1.75s | 1.52s |
 Palladium Waraxe |
Template:Linked icon×12 | 75% | 0 | 8 | 07 (Quick) | 0.93s | 0.82s |
 War Axe of the Night |
Template:Linked icon×10 | 75% | 0 | 15 | 13 (Light) | 1.75s | 1.52s |
 Mythril Waraxe |
Template:Linked icon×10 | 85% | 0 | 8 | 07 (Quick) | 0.80s | 0.70s |
 Orichalcum Waraxe |
Template:Linked icon×12 | 90% | 0 | 7 | 06 (Quick) | 0.70s | 0.60s |
 Adamantite Waraxe |
Template:Linked icon×12 | 100% | 0 | 6 | 05 (Quick) | 0.50s | 0.42s |
 Meteor Hamaxe |
Template:Linked icon× Template:Pc iconTemplate:Console icon20/Template:Mobile icon35 | 100% | 0 | 16 | 14 (Quick) | 1.33s | 1.17s |
 Titanium Waraxe |
Template:Linked icon×13 | 105% | 0 | 6 | 05 (Quick) | 0.50s | 0.42s |
| Pickaxe Axe |
Template:Linked icon×18 + Template:Linked icon×1 + Template:Linked icon×1 + Template:Linked icon×1 | 110% | 0 | 7 | 06 (Quick) | 0.58s | 0.50s |
 Chlorophyte Greataxe |
Template:Linked icon×18 | 115% | +1 | 6 | 05 (Quick) | 0.50s | 0.42s |
 Chlorophyte Chainsaw |
Template:Linked icon×18 | 115% | +1 | 7 | 07 (ineligible) | 0.58s | 0.58s |
| Picksaw |
N/A (Dropped by Golem 12.5%) | 125% | +1 | 6 | 05 (Quick) | 0.40s | 0.33s |
| Shroomite Digging Claw |
Template:Linked icon×18 | 125% | -1 | 4 | 03 (Light) | 0.27s | 0.20s |
 Luminite Hamaxes |
Template:Linked icon×12 + [ Template:Linked icon×14 or Template:Linked icon×14 or Template:Linked icon×14 or Template:Linked icon×14 ] |
150% | +4 | 7 | 06 (Quick) | 0.47s | 0.40s |
 Molten Hamaxe |
Template:Linked icon×15 | 150% | 0 | 14 | 12 (Light) | 0.93s | 0.80s |
 Spectre Hamaxe |
Template:Pc icon Template:Linked icon×18 Template:Console iconTemplate:Mobile icon Template:Linked icon×18 + Template:Linked icon×18 |
150% | +3 | 8 | 07 (Quick) | 0.53s | 0.47s |
 Butcher's Chainsaw |
N/A (Dropped by Butcher 2.5%) | 150% | 0 | 9 | 09 (ineligible) | 0.60s | 0.60s |
| Laser Drill |
N/A (Dropped by Martian Saucer 11.11%) | 150% | +10 | 8 | 08 (ineligible) | 0.53s | 0.53s |
 The Axe |
N/A (Dropped by Plantera 2%) | 175% | +1 | 7 (Template:Pc icon) 6 (Template:Mobile iconTemplate:Console icon) |
06 (Quick) (Template:Pc icon) 05 (Quick) (Template:Mobile iconTemplate:Console icon) |
0.35s (Template:Pc icon) 0.30s (Template:Mobile iconTemplate:Console icon) |
0.30s (Template:Pc icon) 0.25s (Template:Mobile iconTemplate:Console icon) |
Hammers
Notes:
- The hit points of a wall are more than 60% and at most 70% (the exact value is unknown). Therefore: tools with at least 70% hammer power will break a wall in one hit, the Wooden Hammer will take three hits, and all other hammers will take two hits.
- The Chlorophyte Jackhammer is the only jackhammer in the game.
- While the Meteor and Molten Hamaxes do not further improve their hammer performance with prefixes beyond Nimble, they can improve their axe performance.
- While the Luminite Hamaxes and The Axe do not improve their hammer performance with prefixes, they can improve their axe performance.
| Hammer | Made From | Hammer Power |
Range | Mining Speed |
Effective Speed |
Best Effective Speed (Minimum Prefix) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Wooden Hammer |
Template:Linked icon×8 | 25% | 0 | 25 | 12 | 10 (Light) |
 Boreal Wood Hammer |
Template:Linked icon×8 | 35% | 0 | 23 | 11 | 10 (Quick) |
 Copper Hammer |
Template:Linked icon×10 + Template:Linked icon×3 | 35% | 0 | 23 | 11 | 10 (Quick) |
 Palm Wood Hammer |
Template:Linked icon×8 | 35% | 0 | 23 | 11 | 10 (Quick) |
 Rich Mahogany Hammer |
Template:Linked icon×8 | 35% | 0 | 23 | 11 | 10 (Quick) |
 Tin Hammer |
Template:Linked icon×10 + Template:Linked icon×3 | 38% | 0 | 21 | 10 | 09 (Quick) |
 Ebonwood Hammer |
Template:Linked icon×8 | 40% | 0 | 20 | 10 | 08 (Light) |
 Iron Hammer |
Template:Linked icon×10 + Template:Linked icon×3 | 40% | 0 | 20 | 10 | 08 (Light) |
 Shadewood Hammer |
Template:Linked icon×8 | 40% | 0 | 20 | 10 | 08 (Light) |
 Lead Hammer |
Template:Linked icon×10 + Template:Linked icon×3 | 43% | 0 | 19 | 9 | 08 (Quick) |
 Pearlwood Hammer |
Template:Linked icon×8 | 45% | 0 | 19 | 9 | 08 (Quick) |
 Silver Hammer |
Template:Linked icon×10 + Template:Linked icon×3 | 45% | 0 | 19 | 9 | 08 (Quick) |
 Tungsten Hammer |
Template:Linked icon×10 + Template:Linked icon×3 | 50% | 0 | 25 | 12 | 10 (Light) |
 Flesh Grinder |
Template:Linked icon×10 + Template:Linked icon×5 | 55% | 0 | 19 | 9 | 08 (Quick) |
 The Breaker |
Template:Linked icon×10 + Template:Linked icon×5 | 55% | 0 | 19 | 9 | 08 (Quick) |
 Gold Hammer |
Template:Linked icon×10 + Template:Linked icon×3 | 55% | 0 | 23 | 11 | 10 (Quick) |
 Platinum Hammer |
Template:Linked icon×10 + Template:Linked icon×3 | 59% | 0 | 21 | 10 | 09 (Quick) |
| Meteor Hamaxe |
Template:Linked icon× Template:Pc iconTemplate:Console icon20/Template:Mobile icon35 | 60% | 0 | 16 | 8 | 07 (Nimble) |
 Rockfish |
N/A (Obtained from fishing) | 70% | 0 | 14 | 7 | 06 (Nimble) |
| Molten Hamaxe |
Template:Linked icon×15 | 70% | 0 | 14 | 7 | 06 (Nimble) |
 Pwnhammer |
N/A (Dropped by the Wall of Flesh 100%) | 80% | 0 | 14 | 7 | 06 (Nimble) |
 Hammush |
N/A (Bought from the Truffle for 40) | 85% | 0 | 14 | 7 | 06 (Nimble) |
 Chlorophyte Warhammer |
Template:Linked icon×18 | 90% | +1 | 14 | 7 | 06 (Nimble) |
 Chlorophyte Jackhammer |
Template:Linked icon×18 | 90% | +1 | 16 | 8 | 08 (ineligible) |
| Spectre Hamaxe |
Template:Pc icon Template:Linked icon×18 Template:Console iconTemplate:Mobile icon Template:Linked icon×18 + Template:Linked icon×18 |
90% | +3 | 8 | 4 | 03 (Quick) |
| Luminite Hamaxes |
Template:Linked icon×12 + [ Template:Linked icon×14 or Template:Linked icon×14 or Template:Linked icon×14 or Template:Linked icon×14 ] |
100% | +4 | 7 | 3 | 03 (none) |
| The Axe |
N/A (Dropped by Plantera 2%) | 100% | +1 | 7 (Template:Pc icon) 6 (Template:Mobile iconTemplate:Console icon) |
3 | 03 (none) (Template:Pc icon) 02 (Quick) (Template:Mobile iconTemplate:Console icon) |
Fastest mining tools
Note: again, the Legendary, Deadly, Agile, and Nasty prefixes have exactly the same impact on mining speed as Quick.
Pre-hardmode
Pickaxes
- Light Bone Pickaxe for things that it can break in one hit (e.g. Dirt, Mud, Sand, Snow), as well as things that will take two hits no matter how strong your pick is (e.g. Grass).
- If you can't get a Bone Pickaxe, substitute a Light Deathbringer Pickaxe.
- Template:Console iconTemplate:Mobile icon If using a Bone Pickaxe, also use it for everything else that it can mine (namely, Meteorite ore and below, plus Spikes).
- Template:Console iconTemplate:Mobile icon If using a Deathbringer Pickaxe, also use it for things it mines in three hits: Ebonstone, Crimstone, Hellstone ore and Dungeon Brick.
- Light Reaver Shark or Light Molten Pickaxe (Template:Console iconTemplate:Mobile icon) for everything else.
- Keep in mind that Bombs and Dynamites can mine faster than pickaxes when used well. I is also possible to make them more intuitive to use by combining them with gel to make Sticky Bombs and Sticky Dynamites.
Axes
- Light Molten Hamaxe.
- Without access to Hellstone, the best chopping tool is a Sawtooth Shark (any prefix), followed by a Quick/Light Meteor Hamaxe.
Hammers
- Rockfish/Molten Hamaxe with any speed-increasing prefix.
- Meteor Hamaxe with any speed-increasing prefix is a distant second, since it takes two hits to break a wall.
Hardmode
Pickaxes
- Light Shroomite Digging Claw for everything except Lihzahrd Brick (which it cannot mine).
- Template:Pc icon Post-Moon Lord, use a Light Luminite Pickaxe for Lihzahrd Brick, or if the Claw's -1 range cramps your style.
- If you don't have a Luminite Pickaxe, substitute a Quick/Light Picksaw.
- Template:Pc icon Laser Drill (any prefix) when you are willing to sacrifice speed for extreme range.
- Pre-Plantera, a Quick/Light Chlorophyte Pickaxe (a Quick/Light Pickaxe Axe, which must be crafted first, has the same speed but lacks a range bonus).
- If you haven't yet beaten all the Mechanical Bosses, use a Quick/Light Adamantite/Titanium Pickaxe.
- Bombs, Dynamite, Rockets II and IV (most preferably used with the Snowman Cannon) as well as the Drill Containment Unit might be more effective strategies for mining large areas but they can lack the precision of standard tools.
Axes
- Light Shroomite Digging Claw.
- Quick/Light The Axe if the Claw's -1 range cramps your style.
- Quick/Light Picksaw if you can't get The Axe or can't stand its sound effect.
- Template:Pc icon Quick/Light Luminite Hamaxe if you have beaten the Moon Lord and absolutely must have more range than even a Picksaw or The Axe (don't get confused: with the best prefixes on everything, the Picksaw is a faster axe than the Luminite Hamaxes but a slower pickaxe than the Luminite Pickaxes).
- Pre-Plantera, a Quick/Light Chlorophyte Greataxe (a Quick/Light Adamantite/Titanium Waraxe has the same speed but lacks a range bonus).
- If you haven't yet beaten all the Mechanical Bosses, use a Quick/Light Adamantite/Titanium Waraxe.
Hammers
- Luminite Hamaxe (Template:Pc icon) or The Axe (Template:Console iconTemplate:Mobile icon), with any speed-increasing or speed-neutral prefix.
- Template:Console iconTemplate:Mobile icon Quick/Light Spectre Hamaxe if you can't get The Axe, can't stand its sound effect, or want even more range.
- Template:Pc icon Pre-Moon Lord, a Quick/Light Spectre Hamaxe (it has the same speed as the Luminite Hamaxes, but a smaller range bonus).
- Pre-Plantera, a Chlorophyte Warhammer with any speed-increasing prefix (a Hammush/Pwnhammer/Molten Hamaxe/Rockfish with any speed-increasing prefix has the same speed but lacks a range bonus).
- If you haven't yet beaten all the Mechanical Bosses, use a Hammush/Pwnhammer/Molten Hamaxe/Rockfish with any speed-increasing prefix.
Trivia
Despite being presumably higher-tech, Drills and Chainsaws are generally inferior to Pickaxes and Axes made out of the same material: they have the same or worse tool speed and they cannot be reforged to increase that speed. They do have the advantage that clicking "resets" the digging process, so you can theoretically make up the difference (and then some) by clicking rapidly. However, faster tools require faster clicking to keep up, and realistically, doing this with even Cobalt tools is very demanding, most likely requiring two hands on the mouse for any player not thoroughly seasoned in rapid clicking from other games.
Template:Translation project