How do I craft a pickaxe axe in Terraria?

To craft a Pickaxe Axe in Terraria, you need to follow a specific progression path and gather the necessary materials. The Pickaxe Axe is a powerful tool that combines the functions of a pickaxe and an axe, making it highly efficient for both mining and chopping down trees. It is a hardmode item, meaning you must defeat the Wall of Flesh to unlock hardmode before you can craft it. Here is a detailed guide on how to craft the Pickaxe Axe, including mechanics, strategies, and tips.

First, you need to understand the materials required to craft the Pickaxe Axe. The recipe calls for 18 Hallowed Bars and 1 Soul of Fright, Soul of Might, and Soul of Sight. Hallowed Bars are obtained by defeating the mechanical bosses: The Twins, The Destroyer, and Skeletron Prime. Each of these bosses drops a specific soul: The Twins drop Souls of Sight, The Destroyer drops Souls of Might, and Skeletron Prime drops Souls of Fright. You will need to defeat these bosses multiple times to gather enough materials, as each mechanical boss drops around 20-30 Hallowed Bars and 15-30 souls per defeat.

To prepare for the mechanical bosses, you should focus on upgrading your gear. In pre-hardmode, gather ores like Hellstone to craft Molten Armor, which provides strong defense. Once in hardmode, mine Cobalt or Palladium, Mythril or Orichalcum, and Adamantite or Titanium to craft better armor and weapons. For melee players, the Adamantite or Titanium armor sets are excellent choices. Ranged players should consider the Frost Armor, which provides a bonus to ranged damage. Mages can use the Forbidden Armor, and summoners can opt for the Spider Armor. Each class has its own progression, so choose gear that suits your playstyle.

Next, you need to craft a Mythril or Orichalcum Anvil. These anvils are essential for crafting hardmode items, including the Pickaxe Axe. To craft a Mythril Anvil, you need 10 Mythril Bars, which are made from 40 Mythril Ore. For an Orichalcum Anvil, you need 12 Orichalcum Bars, made from 48 Orichalcum Ore. Both ores are found in hardmode and can be mined with a Cobalt or Palladium Pickaxe or better. Once you have the anvil, place it in your crafting area.

Now, you need to defeat the mechanical bosses to gather the required souls and Hallowed Bars. Each boss has unique attack patterns, so prepare accordingly. For The Twins, focus on dodging their laser and flame attacks while dealing damage. The Destroyer is a massive worm with multiple segments, so weapons that deal area damage, like the Daedalus Stormbow with Holy Arrows, are effective. Skeletron Prime has spinning arms and a skull that shoots projectiles, so prioritize dodging and attacking when there is an opening. Use potions like Ironskin, Regeneration, and Swiftness to boost your survivability and mobility during these fights.

After defeating the mechanical bosses, gather the Hallowed Bars and souls. Return to your Mythril or Orichalcum Anvil and craft the Pickaxe Axe. The Pickaxe Axe has 200% pickaxe power and 110% axe power, making it one of the best tools for mining and chopping in hardmode. It can mine Chlorophyte Ore, which is essential for crafting endgame gear.

Common mistakes to avoid include not preparing adequately for the mechanical bosses. Ensure you have strong armor, weapons, and potions before attempting these fights. Another mistake is not having a proper arena. Build platforms with campfires and heart lanterns to increase health regeneration and mobility during boss fights. Additionally, avoid using the Pickaxe Axe on blocks that require higher pickaxe power, as it will not work. For example, it cannot mine Lihzahrd Bricks, which require a Picksaw or better.

Advanced techniques include creating farms for the mechanical bosses to gather more Hallowed Bars and souls efficiently. Use teleporters, traps, and platforms to automate the process. You can also use the Pickaxe Axe to create hellevators or mine large areas quickly, saving time during exploration.

In summary, crafting the Pickaxe Axe requires defeating the mechanical bosses, gathering Hallowed Bars and souls, and using a Mythril or Orichalcum Anvil. Prepare with strong gear, potions, and an arena to increase your chances of success. Avoid common mistakes like inadequate preparation and using the Pickaxe Axe on blocks it cannot mine. Advanced techniques include boss farming and efficient mining strategies. With the Pickaxe Axe, you can progress further in hardmode and gather resources more efficiently.