Tools

Tools are progression multipliers. Better durability matters when gathering starts taking more time than building, and the Build Hammer is also a traversal tool.

Tool	Use
Axe	Cuts trees and bushes; built structures can also be dismantled with an axe or pickaxe.
Pickaxe	Mines stone, destroys rocks and small stones, and supports ore gathering.
Stone Axe	Early axe tier.
Stone Pickaxe	Early pickaxe tier.
Hoe	Tills fields; tilling can reveal random seeds and saplings.
Build Hammer	Builds houses, stairs, bridges, and structure pieces.
Water Can	Waters plants before sprinklers or rain handle it.
Wooden Water Can	Wooden water-can variant.
Fishing Rod	Fishing tool with a later iron rod and magnetic fishing research path.
Repair Kit	Repair item unlocked through research.
Iron Axe	Iron tool upgrade with better durability.
Iron Pickaxe	Iron pickaxe upgrade with better durability.
Iron Hoe	Iron hoe upgrade.
Diamond Axe	Diamond-tier axe with very high durability.
Diamond Pickaxe	Diamond-tier pickaxe with very high durability.
Diamond Hoe	Diamond-tier hoe upgrade.
Loot Chest Detector	Detector item from the energy workbench path.
Detector	Late research item tied to the loot chest detector path.
Drill	Late research machine/tool path.

Related

Beginner Guide, Building, Crafting, Resources, Research Unlocks