Minecraft’s Copper Gear: Game-Changer or Just Another Step? Find Out Now!
Minecraft is finally giving copper a real purpose beyond just looking cool. With the upcoming copper update, players will be able to craft copper tools and armor. But the big question is: are these new copper items actually worth using, or should you just stick to the classic iron gear?
- Introduction of copper tools and armor in Minecraft
- Comparison of copper tools to stone and iron
- Mining capabilities and resource availability
- Pros and cons of copper armor
- Additional copper uses and testing phase notes
Copper Tools: A Middle Ground?
Starting out in Minecraft usually means using wooden tools, then upgrading to stone before finally reaching iron. Copper tools fit right between stone and iron in terms of performance. They share the same attack power as stone tools but are better in durability and mining speed, though not quite as good as iron. Interestingly, copper ore is easier to find and yields more resources per block than iron, making it simpler to craft copper gear early on.
While testing the update, it was clear that copper tools mine faster than stone ones, which is a nice boost for early-game players. However, copper tools can’t mine valuable ores like redstone, gold, diamonds, or emeralds, which limits their usefulness. Because of this, many players might prefer to skip copper tools altogether and go straight for iron, which offers better speed, durability, and mining capabilities.
Will Copper Tools Become More Important?
If Mojang ever decides to allow copper ore to be mined with a wooden pickaxe, copper tools could become a more essential step before iron. But as things stand, that’s not the case, and it might be better to consider copper tools as an optional upgrade. For now, iron remains the go-to for serious mining.
Copper Armor: Worth the Investment?
Copper armor, on the other hand, offers an interesting alternative. A full copper set gives 5 armor points compared to iron’s 7.5, so it’s not quite as protective. But since crafting a full iron set requires a hefty amount of ingots, many players often stick to leather armor while saving iron for tools and weapons. Copper armor could be a solid middle ground, letting you stay safer without spending your precious iron.
Keep in mind that a full copper armor set requires 24 ingots, so it’s a significant investment. Still, since copper hasn’t had many practical uses until now, using it for armor might be a smart choice for those looking to diversify their resources.
Other Copper Uses and What’s Next
Besides tools and armor, copper ore will also be used to craft a copper golem, adding more fun possibilities. Remember, the copper update is still in testing, so some features and stats might change before the official release.
For those eager to try out copper gear, you can enable experimental features in Minecraft Bedrock Edition. The update will also come to Java snapshots later on.
