Dig Obsidian Shovel Guide: How to Get It

This guide explains how to obtain the Dig Obsidian Shovel in Minecraft, including the exact crafting recipe, required materials, and how to use it effectively. You’ll learn the step-by-step process, common mistakes to avoid, and answers to frequently asked questions about this tool.

What Is the Dig Obsidian Shovel?

The Dig Obsidian Shovel is a custom tool often found in Minecraft modpacks or data packs, not in the vanilla game. It is designed to mine obsidian faster than a standard diamond or netherite shovel, which normally cannot mine obsidian at all. The shovel is typically added by mods like Extra Tools or Simple Ores, or by custom map makers who want to give players a specialized digging tool.

Because it is not part of the base game, the exact recipe and behavior vary depending on the mod or pack you are playing. Always check the mod’s documentation or the pack’s quest book for the precise crafting recipe and tool stats.

How to Craft a Dig Obsidian Shovel

In most mods that add this shovel, the recipe follows a pattern similar to a standard shovel but uses obsidian as the head material. Here is the typical crafting grid layout (3×3):

• Top row: empty, obsidian, empty
• Middle row: empty, stick, empty
• Bottom row: empty, stick, empty

This produces one Dig Obsidian Shovel. Some mods may require a handle made of a different material, like a reinforced stick or a diamond rod, so verify the recipe in your specific mod’s guide (JEI or NEI).

Where to Find the Dig Obsidian Shovel

If you are not crafting it, you might find the shovel in generated chests, as a mob drop, or as a reward from quests. Common locations include:

• Dungeon chests
• Village toolsmith chests
• End city chests
• Boss drops (e.g., Wither or Ender Dragon if the mod adds such loot)

However, these sources are entirely dependent on the mod’s configuration. The most reliable method is always crafting it yourself.

How to Use the Dig Obsidian Shovel

Using the shovel is straightforward: equip it and left-click on obsidian blocks. The shovel will break obsidian instantly or very quickly, depending on its enchantments and the mod’s balance. It works on both natural obsidian and player-placed obsidian.

To maximize efficiency:

1. Enchant it with Efficiency V to increase mining speed further.
2. Add Unbreaking III to reduce durability loss.
3. Use a Mending book to repair it with experience orbs.
4. Carry a silk touch pickaxe if you want to collect the obsidian blocks intact for building.

Common Problems and Fixes

Players often encounter issues when trying to craft or use the shovel. Here are the most frequent problems and their solutions:

• Recipe not working: Double-check the mod’s recipe using JEI (Just Enough Items) or NEI. The pattern might require a different handle or a specific type of obsidian (e.g., crying obsidian).
• Shovel won’t mine obsidian: Some mods restrict the shovel to only mine obsidian when it has a certain enchantment, like a special “Obsidian Miner” enchant. Check the tooltip.
• Durability drops too fast: Obsidian is a tough block, so the shovel may have lower durability than a diamond pick. Use Unbreaking and Mending to extend its life.
• Can’t find the shovel in creative menu: Search for “obsidian shovel” in the creative inventory search bar. If it doesn’t appear, the mod may not be installed correctly.

Dig Obsidian Shovel vs. Diamond Pickaxe

Many players wonder why they should use a shovel when a diamond pickaxe can already mine obsidian. The key differences are:

• Mining speed: The shovel is usually much faster than a pickaxe, especially with Efficiency enchantments.
• Tool type: Shovels are typically used for dirt, sand, and gravel, so this shovel fills a niche for obsidian mining.
• Durability: Diamond pickaxes have 1561 uses, while the obsidian shovel may have fewer (often around 250-500) but can be repaired.
• Enchantments: Shovel-specific enchantments like “Soul Speed” do not apply, but general ones like Efficiency and Unbreaking do.

If you are mining large amounts of obsidian for a nether portal or a wither cage, the shovel is a game-changer. For general mining, stick with a pickaxe.

Cost and Material Requirements

The cost to craft a Dig Obsidian Shovel is relatively low compared to a full diamond pickaxe. Typically, you need:

• 1 obsidian block (for the head)
• 2 sticks (for the handle)

That’s it. In some mods, you might also need a diamond or an iron ingot to reinforce the handle, but the base cost is just one obsidian. Obsidian is obtained by pouring water over lava source blocks, then mining it with a diamond or netherite pickaxe.

Safety and Best Practices

When mining obsidian, always be aware of your surroundings:

• Obsidian often generates near lava, so bring fire resistance potions or a water bucket.
• Wear at least iron armor to protect against fall damage if you are mining in a ravine.
• Carry a few torches to light up the area and prevent mob spawns.
• If you are using the shovel in the Nether, be extra cautious of ghasts and lava lakes.

Also, remember that obsidian takes a long time to break with a pickaxe, so the shovel saves time but still requires you to be careful.

Alternatives to the Dig Obsidian Shovel

If you don’t have access to this modded shovel, here are alternative ways to mine obsidian faster:

• Diamond or Netherite Pickaxe with Efficiency V: This is the fastest vanilla method, breaking obsidian in about 0.3 seconds.
• Beacon with Haste II: A beacon with the Haste effect increases mining speed significantly.
• TNT or beds: In the Nether, beds explode and can destroy obsidian, but this is risky and not efficient.
• Use a mod like Tinkers’ Construct: This mod allows you to create custom tools with obsidian parts and modifiers for even faster mining.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can the Dig Obsidian Shovel mine other blocks?

In most mods, the shovel is specifically designed for obsidian only. It may be able to mine other blocks at a normal shovel speed (like dirt or sand), but its main purpose is obsidian. Check the tooltip in-game for the exact block list.

Does the shovel work on crying obsidian?

It depends on the mod. Some mods treat crying obsidian as a separate block, so the shovel may not be able to mine it. Others allow it. Test it on a crying obsidian block to see if it breaks.

Can I enchant the Dig Obsidian Shovel with Silk Touch?

Yes, if the mod allows it. Silk Touch will make the shovel drop the obsidian block itself instead of breaking it into nothing (obsidian normally drops itself when mined with a pickaxe, so Silk Touch is not needed for that, but it might be useful for other blocks).

Why does my shovel break so fast?

Obsidian is a very hard block, so the shovel’s durability depletes quickly. Use Unbreaking III and Mending to reduce the rate of durability loss and repair it automatically. Also, avoid using it on other blocks unless necessary.

Is the Dig Obsidian Shovel worth it?

If you regularly mine large quantities of obsidian, yes. It saves time and is cheap to craft. If you only need a few blocks occasionally, a diamond pickaxe is sufficient.

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in t | Time (minutes) | min | 10 | 0
out pace | Obsidian mined per minute | blocks/min | 60 / t | 2