First, get out of protected spawn
Join a Survival world, then check whether you are in its protected spawn area. Mining and building are disabled there. Choose Go exploring or send /wild in chat to find a safe spot; you can also walk out.
The protected radius comes from the world, so follow the message the game shows instead of counting a fixed number of blocks. If the reminder is still visible, you have not yet left the protected area.
On desktop, hold left mouse to mine and use right mouse to place or interact. On a phone, hold Hit to mine and use the Use button for placing or interacting.
A simple route from logs to stone tools
- Collect three logs. Oak, Birch and Spruce each craft into four matching planks per log.
- Turn them into twelve planks. Open inventory with E; each log-to-plank recipe is shapeless.
- Make a crafting table. Use four planks in a 2 × 2 square.
- Make sticks. Put one plank above another to get four sticks.
- Place and use the table. It opens the larger crafting grid.
- Craft a wooden pickaxe. Put three planks across the top row and two sticks down the center.
- Mine Stone for Cobblestone. Use three cobblestone and two sticks to make a stone pickaxe.
- Collect eight more cobblestone for a furnace. Fill the table’s outer ring, leaving the middle empty.
This sequence is a planning suggestion built from the game’s recipes. Three logs cover the table, first set of sticks and wooden pickaxe. You will still need more materials for other tools, storage and shelter.
Your first Survival session
Tick off each step. Your checklist stays on this device.
Early recipes to keep beside the game
| Make | Ingredients | Layout | Output |
|---|---|---|---|
| Planks | 1 Oak, Birch or Spruce Log | Any slot | 4 |
| Sticks | 2 planks | One above the other | 4 |
| Crafting Table | 4 planks | 2 × 2 square | 1 |
| Wooden Pickaxe | 3 planks + 2 sticks | Planks on top; sticks down center | 1 |
| Stone Pickaxe | 3 cobblestone + 2 sticks | Cobblestone on top; sticks down center | 1 |
| Furnace | 8 cobblestone | 3 × 3 outer ring | 1 |
| Torches | 1 coal or charcoal + 1 stick | Fuel above stick | 4 |
| Chest | 8 planks | 3 × 3 outer ring | 1 |
| Bed | 3 wool of one color + 3 planks | Wool row above plank row | 1 |
Inventory provides a 2 × 2 crafting grid. Recipes that need three columns or three rows require the crafting table. For a furnace or chest, remember the empty center slot.
Use the right pickaxe before mining an ore
Breaking a block and harvesting its drop are different checks. The correct tool type and harvest level matter. The following table gives the lowest useful pickaxe tier for these resources.
| Resource | Minimum pickaxe tier | Normal drop |
|---|---|---|
| Stone | Wooden | Cobblestone |
| Coal Ore | Wooden | Coal |
| Iron Ore | Stone | Raw Iron |
| Lapis Lazuli Ore | Stone | Lapis Lazuli |
| Gold Ore | Iron | Raw Gold |
| Diamond Ore | Iron | Diamond |
| Spark Ore | Iron | Spark Dust |
| Obsidian | Diamond | Obsidian |
A golden pickaxe has the basic harvest level despite its fast mining speed. Do not use it as a substitute for an iron or diamond pickaxe when a higher harvest level is required. Enchantments can alter some drops, so this table describes ordinary harvesting.
Avoid the common first-session mistakes
- Trying to mine at spawn. Leave the protected area first.
- Using a small crafting grid for a large recipe. Pickaxes and furnaces need the table.
- Filling the center of a furnace recipe. Use eight cobblestone around an empty center.
- Mining an ore with the wrong tool tier. Upgrade before using up the block.
- Dropping the wrong stack. Q drops one item; Ctrl + Q drops the stack.
- Entering Hardcore as a guest and expecting Survival controls. Guests spectate in that mode.
Use the original game’s Save your progress action if you want to link your X identity, and keep the world link so you can return to the same session. For other control or loading problems, see troubleshooting.
Sources
Gameplay details follow the original game and its current controls and rules.