Permafrost Flint Pickaxe: Recipe and Pickaxe Tiers
Updated:
Quick answer: craft a stone pickaxe by hand, mine flint from flint boulders, unlock the flint pickaxe in the blueprint tree, then craft it at a workbench — the recipe is 2 flint + 4 wood (game files). The flint pickaxe mines copper, coal and sulfur in addition to stone and flint.
Step by step
- Hand-craft a stone pickaxe (
TAB/I→ crafting panel; reported 2 stone + 4 wood). It mines stone and flint only. - Mine flint — the bone cave on the dog-rescue route is the first reliable spot. See where to find flint.
- Unlock the flint pickaxe in the blueprint tree. Blueprint points come from leveling your crafting/building skills — craft a batch of arrows or build a few walls if you're short (crafting XP accrues per item).
- Build a workbench (10 wood, needs a roof) and craft the flint pickaxe there. Crafted items appear on the bench — remember to pick them up.
The pickaxe tier ladder
| Tier | Also mines | How to get |
|---|---|---|
| Stone pickaxe | stone, flint | Hand-crafted |
| Flint pickaxe | + copper, coal, sulfur | Workbench |
| Refined flint | same, better durability/damage | Workbench (flint + cloth) |
| Scrap pickaxe (tier 3) | + iron | Scrap tool set (2 blueprint points; scrap + processed plastic) |
| Copper pickaxe | + iron | Workbench, copper ingots |
| Iron pickaxe | higher yield/speed | Later stations |
| Quality pickaxe ("rank 4") | + moon rock, gold | World loot at a military site / late crafting |
Two useful shortcuts: the scrap pickaxe can be unlocked early with blueprint points via the scrap tool set, and a quality pickaxe exists as world loot at a military location — reachable on day one if you're willing to brave armed bandits.
Known issue: iron pickaxe tooltip
The ordinary iron pickaxe's description claims it can mine moonstone. It cannot — moon rock requires the quality iron pickaxe. This is on the developers' known-issues list; don't waste time swinging at moon rock with a basic iron pick.
Durability and the tool icons
- A red crossed-out icon means the node is above your tool tier — or you're holding the wrong tool entirely (a bow won't skin a deer). White icon = good to go.
- Tools are destroyed at zero durability. Repair at a repair bench before that happens: repairs cost a matching material (stone for stone tools, scrap for scrap tools) and are instant.
- Shivs/knives double as lock-prying tools; high-quality locks chew through durability fast, so carry a spare.
FAQ
Why can't I mine this boulder? Check the icon: red = wrong tier or wrong tool. Coal needs flint tier; iron needs scrap/copper tier; moon rock needs quality.
Is the refined flint tier worth it? It's a cheap durability upgrade on the way to scrap — worth it if you're flint-rich, skippable if you're rushing the scrap tool set.
Related: Flint locations · Copper mining and smelting · Workbench
Related guides
- Permafrost Flint: Where to Find It and What It's ForFlint comes from flint boulders mined with any pickaxe — the bone cave is the first reliable source. It unlocks the entire flint tool tier.
- Permafrost Copper: Mining, Smelting and WireCopper boulders need a flint pickaxe. Smelt 3 ore + 5 coal into an ingot, turn ingots into wire, and build the radio station to progress the story.
- Permafrost Workbench: How to Build and Use ItBuild a workbench for 10 wood under a roof. It crafts flint tools, wire, bandages and heaters — but items land on the bench and chests don't count.
- Permafrost Beginner Guide: Survive Your First DaysA practical opening route: pick a background, craft stone tools, master campfire discipline, rescue your dog, build a first cabin, and learn how blueprint points and saving actually work.