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The explorer’s fieldbookTerrariaGUIDES

Terraria Ores & Bars: Tiers and Pickaxe Power

Every ore and bar in progression order, with the world-generation alternative it can be swapped for, the pickaxe power needed to mine it and where it is found.

Version: Desktop 1.4.5 (Bigger and Boulder, January 27, 2026). Console and mobile are on 1.4.4.9.

Pre-Hardmode

OreBarAlternativePickaxe powerWhere / notes
Copper OreCopper BarTin OreAnySurface, Underground and Cavern layersFirst tier metal. Any pickaxe can mine it.
Tin OreTin BarCopper OreAnySurface, Underground and Cavern layersSwaps with Copper. Tin gear is slightly stronger. Any pickaxe can mine it.
Iron OreIron BarLead OreAnySurface, Underground and Cavern layersNeeded for the first anvil. Any pickaxe can mine it.
Lead OreLead BarIron OreAnySurface, Underground and Cavern layersSwaps with Iron and makes the Lead Anvil. Any pickaxe can mine it.
Silver OreSilver BarTungsten OreAnyUnderground, Cavern and Floating Islands, rarely near the surfaceAny pickaxe can mine it.
Tungsten OreTungsten BarSilver OreAnyUnderground, Cavern and Floating Islands, rarely near the surfaceSwaps with Silver. Any pickaxe can mine it.
Gold OreGold BarPlatinum OreAnyUnderground, Cavern and Floating Islands, very rarely near the surfaceGold Pickaxe can mine Demonite, Crimtane, Obsidian and Meteorite.
Platinum OrePlatinum BarGold OreAnyUnderground, Cavern and Floating Islands, very rarely near the surfaceSwaps with Gold. Platinum gear is slightly stronger.
MeteoriteMeteorite Bar–50%Meteorite crash sites on the surfaceStarts landing once the Eater of Worlds or Brain of Cthulhu is beaten. Hot to touch without protection.
Demonite OreDemonite BarCrimtane Ore55%Corruption worlds: underground, and dropped by the Eye of Cthulhu and Eater of WorldsAny pickaxe works above the surface line; 55% is needed below it.
Crimtane OreCrimtane BarDemonite Ore55%Crimson worlds: underground, and dropped by the Eye of Cthulhu and Brain of CthulhuAny pickaxe works above the surface line; 55% is needed below it.
Obsidian––55%Made where water meets lavaHas no bar. Used with Hellstone to make Hellstone Bars.
HellstoneHellstone Bar–65%The UnderworldNeeds a Nightmare or Deathbringer Pickaxe. Bars need Obsidian and a Hellforge.

Hardmode

OreBarAlternativePickaxe powerWhere / notes
Cobalt OreCobalt BarPalladium Ore100%Underground and Cavern layersAppears when altars are smashed with a Pwnhammer. Molten Pickaxe can mine it.
Palladium OrePalladium BarCobalt Ore100%Underground and Cavern layersSwaps with Cobalt. Altars must be smashed first.
Mythril OreMythril BarOrichalcum Ore110%Cavern layerAltars must be smashed. Bars make the Mythril Anvil.
Orichalcum OreOrichalcum BarMythril Ore110%Cavern layerSwaps with Mythril. Bars make the Orichalcum Anvil.
Adamantite OreAdamantite BarTitanium Ore150%Deep Cavern layer, around lava depthAltars must be smashed. Bars need an Adamantite Forge.
Titanium OreTitanium BarAdamantite Ore150%Deep Cavern layer, around lava depthSwaps with Adamantite. Bars need a Titanium Forge.
–Hallowed Bar–AnyDropped by the mechanical bossesHas no ore. Used for Hallowed gear, the Pickaxe Axe and the Drax.
Chlorophyte OreChlorophyte Bar–200%Underground JungleGrows on its own in Hardmode. Needs a Pickaxe Axe or Drax, so all three mechanical bosses come first.
–Shroomite Bar–AnyCrafted at the AutohammerHas no ore. Made from Chlorophyte Bars and Glowing Mushrooms after Plantera.
–Spectre Bar–AnyCrafted from Chlorophyte Bars and EctoplasmHas no ore. Ectoplasm drops from Dungeon Spirits after Plantera.
LuminiteLuminite Bar–AnyDropped by the Moon LordDoes not form in the world. Bars are smelted at the Ancient Manipulator.

FAQ

How do you get Hardmode ores?

Smash Demon or Crimson Altars with a Pwnhammer after the Wall of Flesh. Each of the first three altars you break adds the next tier (Cobalt or Palladium, then Mythril or Orichalcum, then Adamantite or Titanium); after that the cycle repeats and adds more of the same ores.

What pickaxe do you need for Hellstone?

Pickaxe power 65 or more: the Nightmare Pickaxe or Deathbringer Pickaxe, made from Demonite or Crimtane, will do.

When can you mine Chlorophyte?

It grows in the Underground Jungle in Hardmode and needs 200% pickaxe power, such as the Pickaxe Axe or Drax, which are made from Hallowed Bars and the souls of all three mechanical bosses.

Sources & picture credits

Guide text is original retrogameindex writing, checked against the Terraria Wiki. Boss statistics and drop rates are the game values shown in the Terraria Wiki’s infoboxes. Sprites and artwork © Re-Logic; local copies archived from Terraria Wiki file pages (listed on the image gallery).