What is the Metal Axe, and what’s it used for?
The apex of all tool construction in Green Hell. Crafting your own Metal Axe from scratch in the wild is a feat of ingenuity and an impressive accomplishment. Properly constructed by wedging a metal head into a split handle, this axe is easily the best woodcutting tool in the game.
This guide will walk you through how to craft a Metal Axe and offer some tips on how it can best be used.
How to craft a Metal Axe in Green Hell
Before crafting any metal tool, the player will need a functioning Mud Forge, some melted iron, and some empty molds. This particular recipe will require you to cast a Metal Axe head.
Once you’ve forged the metal portion of the tool, you can assemble it by combining the following materials:
- 1 Stick
- 1 Rope
- 1 Metal Axe
Sticks can be found on the ground all over the map, gathered by chopping down trees or harvested from Long Sticks or Logs. Rope can be collected by gathering Liana vines off of large trees. Metal Axe Casts can only be created by Forging and harvesting metal axe molds.
Once you’ve collected the proper materials, craft the Metal Axe by:
- Opening the radial menu (by holding the
Ckey) - Select crafting from the options
- Drag the stick, rope, and Metal Axe Cast to the crafting rock from the backpack or environment
- Press the craft button above the crafting rock
Note: The crafting menu can also be opened from the inventory sidebar or by holding the alt-select button (default RMB) over one of the ingredients and pressing craft.
How to equip the Metal Axe
The Metal Axe can be found in the tools tab of the inventory and occupies one of the four standard tool slots (numbered 1-4. It can be equipped at any time by pressing the number key corresponding to the slot this tool occupies.
Tips and tricks for using the Metal Axe
An effective substitute for a modern hatchet, this tool is best used for late-game woodcutting but can also be used to destroy structures or your enemies. The Metal Axe deals more damage and degrades more slowly than any other tool in its category, effectively making it the best axe in the game.
It is a rather effective weapon for melee combat and throwing. Though it doesn’t quite stack up against other high-tier weapons such as the Metal Spear, Tribal Spear, or Aztec Weapon, the Metal Axe may still deal more damage overall if the player has a higher Axes skill.
This weapon suffers from the same short reach that handicaps other members of its class. In combat, focus on blocking direct attacks while circling to the side of an opponent to avoid spear thrusts and arrows. This will prevent you from spending all your stamina on blocking and allow you time to strike. Be sure to space out your swings to perform a faster follow-up combo.
The Metal Axe also makes for a deadly throwing weapon at short to mid-range. When thrown, striking an enemy in the head with this weapon will usually kill them instantly. Keep track of where your axe lands, however, as it is a waste of valuable materials to lose it.
We recommend waiting to craft metal tools until your skill is above 30. While metal tools naturally degrade much slower than other items, crafting a low-durability metal tool still feels like a waste of precious iron.
Final thoughts on the Metal Axe
The tool of a truly established survivor. The Metal Axe is powerful, durable, and extremely useful for the industrious player. It is a must-have for those wishing to build truly impressive structures, and we applaud Creepy Jar for its design.
Looking for some more pointers to help you survive Green Hell? Check out our 10 Tips for Getting Started or our walkthrough on How to Survive Your First Day.
