Ancient tools are a new group of tools added to Tinkers’ Construct 3. They cannot be crafted unlike other tools, and are instead found in loot in the world. Since you have less control over their materials and they are harder to obtain, they tend to be a bit stronger on average, though are often geared towards a hybrid functionality.

Core Mechanics

Ancient tools are found from loot. They are typically a hybrid between two functionalities, mixing material stats from both tool classes. Ancient tools start with unique traits and abilities, but can still be modified like regular tools, notably receving stronger bonuses from the rebalanced modifier.

Sources

Wandering trader selling an ancient battle sign.

All ancient tools can be found equipped by monsters in the world. Like monsters spawning with vanilla weapons and armor, monsters with ancient tools are not guaranteed to drop them on death. The chance is typically 8.5%, though that chance can be increased using looting or the lucky modifier. Alternatively, you can sometimes convince the monster to part with the item by dropping a better item in front of them.

In addition, ancient tools can often be found in loot chests. Some ancient tools have additional loot sources such as fishing or bartering.

Finally, all ancient tools have a chance of appearing as a wandering trader trade. The emerald cost of the tool will be higher if it has a large number of high tier materials.

Materials

Slimesuits made out of most slime options with a variety of mob parts.

Ancient tools found in loot always have randomized materials. Based on the part of the tool the material is found on determines which stats and traits it provides. For example, on a battle sign iron may grant either its standard trait of magnetic or its armor trait of projectile protection based on the part. They also have the ability to spawn with the special loot exclusive material ancient, which grants it an extra ability slot at the cost of some stats.

Ancient tool materials cannot be changed through normal part swapping, but you can swap them by sacrificing another copy of the ancient tool with the desired material. The material that is swapped is based on the slot you place the sacrifice in the tinker station or anvil.

Recycling

Recycling a war pick to get a pickaxe head.

If you decide the ancient tool isn’t for you, you have the option to recycle it in a part builder using some venom. This will return the chosen tool part, plus has a chance of returning a second random part based on the tool’s durability. Note that once recycled, the ancient tool cannot be recreated, and the tool parts can only be used for standard tools.

War Picks

Illagers fighting with war picks.

War picks are a hybrid between a pickaxe and a crossbow. They have the unique functionality of building up a velocity bonus over time as you mine blocks while they are loaded with an arrow.

War picks can be found in the hands of illagers or zombie villagers. They are additionally found in mineshaft or pillager outpost loot chests, and weaponsmith villagers may give you a war pick upon saving them from a raid.

Melting Pans

Using a melting pan to mine an ore.

Melting pans are a hybrid between a staff and a mining tool. They have a small fluid tank, and can mine any meltable block effectively, storing the melting result in the internal tank. When mining ores, they produce additional output over the rate of a melter or smeltery.

Melting pans can be found in dungeon or igloo chests. They are additionally found in the hands of any zombie variant, and can be given as a gift from armorsmith villagers after saving them from a raid.

Swashers

A drowned holding a swasher.

Swashers are a hybrid melee and ranged weapon. They have a fluid tank which is used both to boost the damage of melee attacks and to create fluid projectiles for ranged attacks. The fluid can be refilled by clicking the tool onto a fluid tank or a fluid in a Tinkers UI like the smeltery.

Different fluids will have different effects and apply different amounts of extra damage. A full listing of fluids is found in the encyclopedia.

Swashers can be found in shipwreck chests, or in the hands of drowned or wither skeletons. They additionally can be obtained rarely from fishing.

Battle Signs

A zombified piglin holding a battle sign.

Battle signs are the classic zisteauian weapon, acting as a hybrid meleee weapon and shield. They provide passive defense when held, and upon releasing block will trigger a knockback attack to keep enemies at bay.

Battle signs can be found in the hands of any form of piglin, who notably may drop it to trade for a golden item if you are lucky. Piglins will also somtimes give battle signs from bartering, and battle signs can be found in bastion loot chests.

More to Explore

There is a ton more to explore in Tinkers’ Construct. For a full guide on the mod, check out the in game books, which are also available online. It is also recommended to install Just Enough Items to make it easier to look up recipes in game.