How to Make an Axe in Minecraft

Guide Java Bedrock

Quick answer: Craft an axe with 3 of your material (planks, cobblestone, iron, gold or diamond) and 2 sticks: two material pieces in the top-left and top-middle, one below them in the middle-left, and sticks down the center column.

What you need

3 of one material (planks, cobblestone, copper, iron, gold or diamonds)
2 sticks

Step by step

Craft 2 sticks from planks.
Gather 3 of your material: planks, cobblestone, copper, iron, gold or diamonds.
Open a crafting table.
Place 2 material pieces in the top-left and top-middle slots.
Place the third piece in the middle-left slot.
Place 2 sticks down the center column (middle-center and bottom-center).
Take the axe. It chops wood fast, strips logs with right-click, and is a hard-hitting weapon in Java.

Java vs Bedrock

The axe recipe is the same in Java and Bedrock for all tiers, and netherite axes come from upgrading a diamond axe at a smithing table. Right-clicking a log with an axe strips its bark, and right-clicking copper blocks scrapes off oxidation or wax. In Java an axe is a serious weapon: higher single-hit damage than a sword and it can disable a shield for 5 seconds, though it swings slower. In Bedrock swords stay the better weapon. Efficiency V on a diamond or netherite axe chops wood almost instantly.

Versions: javabedrock

Frequently asked questions

Is an axe better than a sword in Minecraft?

In Java, for single hits: axes hit harder and can disable shields with a sprint attack, but they swing slower, so swords win in long fights. In Bedrock the sword is strictly better as a weapon; axes there are just tools.

How do you strip logs in Minecraft?

Hold any axe and right-click a log, stem or wood block. Stripped wood is a popular building texture, and the same action scrapes oxidation off copper blocks and removes wax.

How do you make a netherite axe?

Upgrade a diamond axe at a smithing table with 1 netherite ingot and 1 Netherite Upgrade smithing template from a bastion remnant. Enchantments carry over at no experience cost.