Understand Netherite Hoe
Useful when…
- Prepare farmland and convert coarse or rooted dirt.
- Harvest blocks the hoe mines efficiently.
- Upgrade a frequently used diamond hoe when its added durability and speed justify a netherite ingot and smithing template.
What does it do?
Using the hoe on grass blocks or dirt turns them into farmland, provided the targeted block has clear space above it. Coarse dirt becomes regular dirt, while rooted dirt becomes normal dirt and yields hanging roots. Mycelium and podzol cannot be tilled directly; turn them into dirt paths with a shovel first. Tilling is effectively instantaneous and costs one durability. Breaking a block costs zero durability if it breaks instantly by hand, or one otherwise. The tool component lists speed 9 for blocks in the hoe-mineable category and marks other blocks as incorrect for netherite-tool drops.
When is the upgrade useful?
A diamond hoe can be upgraded with one netherite ingot and one Netherite Upgrade Smithing Template. The hoe has 2,031 durability, and netherite improves durability and mining efficiency over diamond. Consider the cost when you regularly till or harvest hoe-effective blocks; a rarely used hoe may not warrant spending those materials. Netherite hoes can be repaired with netherite ingots, or by combining damaged hoes. Applicable enchantments include Efficiency, Fortune or Silk Touch, Unbreaking, and Mending. Fortune and Silk Touch are mutually exclusive.
Limitations and care
The targeted soil cannot be tilled when a block such as a torch or snow layer occupies the space above it. A plant on top also prevents tilling. In Java Edition, the hoe deals only 1 HP per attack and consumes durability when used as a weapon, so reserve it for tool work. Anvil repairs with netherite ingots preserve enchantments; combining hoes in a crafting grid or grindstone adds durability but does not promise to preserve them.
Limitations and tradeoffs
- The smithing upgrade costs a netherite ingot and template for better durability and mining speed; its value depends on how often the hoe is used.
- Fortune and Silk Touch cannot be applied together.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Trying to till mycelium or podzol directly; convert it to a dirt path with a shovel first.
- Leaving a block or plant above the targeted soil and expecting it to till.
- Using the hoe as a Java combat weapon or overlooking durability spent on tilling.