Fields of Mistria How to Upgrade Tools
Forge better tools at March's anvil or buy upgrades with Tesserae once you know material routes.
Tool upgrades in Fields of Mistria split into two paths: craft at March’s blacksmith anvil using ingots and ores, or purchase upgraded tools with Tesserae when shop stock rotates. Higher tiers widen charged tool areas, reduce stamina per swing, and gate deeper mine floors. Blacksmithing skill rises with each anvil craft, feeding essence for best early perks on the farm Caldarus shrine.
Where upgrades happen
March’s blacksmith in town hosts the anvil once story quests restore the shop. Interact with the anvil while March is available (check schedule boards). Crafting consumes ingots smelted from ore — ore comes from The Mines after Town Rank Stone unlock.
General Store and festival vendors sometimes sell pre-forged upgrades for Tesserae. Buying saves time if you are rich and impatient; crafting saves Tesserae if you already farm ore stacks.
Upgrade order for year one
Recommended priority:
- Pickaxe — mine progression and greenhouse materials (greenhouse guide).
- Watering can — field size grows before automation statues.
- Hoe — till speed matters less once fields stabilize.
- Weapon — combat floors after pickaxe tier two.
- Axe — bridge wood farming (bridge repairs).
Adjust if you combat-rush: weapon before hoe.
Materials and smelting loop
Mine ore → smelt ingots at furnace (blacksmith quest unlock) → anvil craft. Higher tiers ask for mixed ingots (copper, iron, gold equivalents per game naming). Stockpile ore during double-request weeks instead of shipping raw if an upgrade is one ingot away.
Blacksmithing perks that refund materials or shorten craft time pay for themselves — buy on farm shrine before crafting three tiers in one day.
Tesserae purchase path
When shop inventory shows upgraded tool:
- Compare price to ore opportunity cost — selling raw ore might fund purchase faster than another mine day.
- Ensure you still afford bag upgrade (1000 Tesserae) and fishing rod if missing.
Tesserae path skips blacksmithing XP — bad if you want essence, good if you hate mine grinds temporarily.
Tool Use (Charged) synergy
Upgraded pickaxes rely on charged swings for big rocks. Bind Tool Use (Charged) separately from interact before testing new pickaxe tiers on floor ten.
Watering can upgrades pair with Tool Use (Repeated) for large berry fields planned in crop planner.
Relationship to magic and ranch tools
Magic unlocks (how to unlock magic) do not replace physical tool tiers — spells supplement light or growth but not pickaxe gate checks on sealed rocks. Ranch items use separate crafting benches once barns unlock.
Failure cases
Anvil grayed out: Missing ingots, wrong NPC schedule, or story gate — finish blacksmith intro quests.
Upgrade not appearing in shop: Town Rank or season lock — raise renown via guides hub links.
Ran out of stamina mid-craft: Crafts are instant but mining ore is not — eat meals from cooking skill.
After tier three pickaxe, schedule obsidian and crystal runs for greenhouse quest materials and revisit tips and tricks for seasonal mine day planning.
Seasonal upgrade cadence
Spring: tier-one pickaxe if mines open late season. Summer: watering can tier-two before berry expansion. Fall: weapon tier before deep tablet runs for magic. Winter: axe tier for bridge wood stockpiles in bridge guide. Track ingot counts in a chest tab labeled by metal type — mixing copper and iron stacks causes anvil recipe mistakes that waste mine days. March’s schedule closes on festival evenings; queue crafts before holiday mornings so you do not lose a forge window during Town Rank push weeks.
Quick reference
| Tool | Primary benefit | Material source |
|---|---|---|
| Pickaxe | Mine depth | Copper → iron → gold ore chains |
| Watering can | Field size stamina | Same ingot loop |
| Weapon | Combat floors | Ingots + optional shop buy |
| Axe | Bridge wood stacks | Ingots + surface wood |
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the most common questions.
Where do I upgrade tools?
At March blacksmith anvil with ingots, or occasionally by purchasing upgrades with Tesserae from shops.
Which tool should I upgrade first?
Most players upgrade pickaxe first for mine depth, then watering can for larger fields.
Do tool upgrades require blacksmithing skill?
Crafting at the anvil raises blacksmithing skill. Buying from shops may skip that XP.
What ores do upgrades need?
Higher tiers need ingots smelted from mine ore. Exact recipes vary by tool tier and patch.