In the enchanting world of Palia, gathering resources is essential for crafting, building, and progressing through the game. Among the most critical resources is wood, which you’ll need for constructing your home, crafting furniture, and creating various tools. To efficiently collect wood, you’ll need to upgrade your axe as you progress. This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know about how to upgrade your axe in Palia, from obtaining your first makeshift axe to crafting the powerful exquisite version.
Understanding the Axe and Foraging in Palia
The axe is one of the primary tools in Palia, directly tied to the Foraging skill. Before diving into the upgrade process, it’s important to understand how axes function within the game’s mechanics.
The Role of the Axe in Palia
The axe serves as your primary tool for:
- Chopping down trees to collect various types of wood
- Clearing bushes to obtain fiber and occasionally tree seeds
- Removing wooden debris from your housing plot
- Contributing to your Foraging skill progression
Each type of axe has different capabilities regarding the size of trees it can cut down. As noted on MMO Wiki, “The Axe is your best friend for chopping trees! You’ll need to upgrade it if you want to cut down the bigger trees that can be found in Bahari Bay.”
The Foraging Skill and Progression
The Foraging skill is governed by Ashura, the Foraging Guild Leader, who can typically be found in Ormuu’s Horn at Kilima Village’s Inn. Increasing your Foraging level is essential for unlocking axe upgrades, and you can level up this skill by:
- Chopping down trees and bushes
- Gathering wild plants throughout the world
- Completing Foraging-related quests and challenges
Axe Tiers and Upgrade Path
In Palia, all tools (including the axe) have four distinct tiers: Makeshift, Standard, Fine, and Exquisite. Each tier offers improved performance and capabilities.
Axe Tier Progression Table
| Tier | Foraging Level Required | Purchase Cost | Capabilities |
|---|---|---|---|
| Makeshift Axe | Starting Tool | Free (Quest Reward) | Can only cut small bushes and saplings |
| Standard Axe | Level 3 | 500 Gold for Recipe | Can cut small and medium trees |
| Fine Axe | Level 6 | 1,500 Gold for Recipe | Can cut small, medium, and large trees |
| Exquisite Axe | Level 9 | 3,000 Gold for Recipe | Cuts all trees faster, better damage |
Obtaining Your First Axe
Your journey with axes in Palia begins during the introductory quest called “Welcome to Palia.”
Meeting Ashura
As part of the main storyline:
- Follow the initial quest markers to locate Ashura in Kilima Village
- Speak with Ashura to receive your first Makeshift Axe
- She will guide you through basic foraging mechanics
- After receiving your axe, you’ll be directed to speak with Hodari next
Your Makeshift Axe is perfect for beginners, allowing you to cut down small bushes and gather basic wood resources. However, you’ll quickly discover its limitations when encountering larger trees.
How to Upgrade Your Axe in Palia
Upgrading your axe follows a consistent pattern through each tier. Let’s break down the process step-by-step.
Step 1: Level Up Your Foraging Skill
The first requirement for any axe upgrade is reaching the appropriate Foraging skill level:
- Standard Axe: Requires Foraging Level 3
- Fine Axe: Requires Foraging Level 6
- Exquisite Axe: Requires Foraging Level 9
The fastest way to level up Foraging is to actively chop trees and collect wild plants whenever possible. Focus on chopping the largest trees your current axe can handle for maximum experience gain.
Step 2: Purchase the Upgrade Recipe
Once you’ve reached the required Foraging level, you need to purchase the recipe for the next tier:
- Visit Ashura at the Foraging Guild (typically found in Ormuu’s Horn Inn at Kilima Village)
- Open her shop menu
- Purchase the appropriate axe recipe:
- Standard Axe Recipe: 500 Gold
- Fine Axe Recipe: 1,500 Gold
- Exquisite Axe Recipe: 3,000 Gold
Step 3: Gather the Required Materials
Each axe upgrade requires specific materials:
Standard Axe Materials
- 1 Makeshift Axe (your current axe)
- 5 Sapwood Planks (processed from Sapwood at a Sawmill)
- 2 Copper Bars (smelted from Copper Ore)
Fine Axe Materials
- 1 Standard Axe (your current axe)
- 10 Heartwood Planks (processed from Heartwood at a Sawmill)
- 5 Iron Bars (smelted from Iron Ore)
Exquisite Axe Materials
- 1 Fine Axe (your current axe)
- 15 Ironwood Planks (processed from Ironwood at a Sawmill)
- 5 Palium Bars (smelted from Palium Ore)
Step 4: Craft Your Upgraded Axe
With the recipe and materials in hand, it’s time to craft:
- Go to your Worktable at your housing plot
- Open the crafting menu
- Select the appropriate axe recipe
- Confirm the crafting process
- Your new axe will automatically replace the previous version in your inventory
As Guided News explains, “At your workbench, you will do the axe improvement. However, you’d better remember that you need to repair your axe regularly after the improvements.”
Understanding Axe Durability and Repairs
Unlike the Makeshift Axe, all upgraded axes (Standard, Fine, and Exquisite) have a durability meter that depletes with use.
The Durability System
After upgrading your axe past the Makeshift tier, you’ll notice a circular bar around the axe icon in your inventory. This represents your tool’s durability:
- The bar appears yellow-green when full
- It gradually turns orange to red as durability decreases
- When the bar depletes completely, your axe will downgrade to the previous tier
According to the Palia Wiki, “When the bar is fully depleted, the tool downgrades to the previous tier and must be re-upgraded at the Worktable.”
Repairing Your Axe
There are two primary methods to repair your axe:
Method 1: Using the Blacksmith’s Repair Station
- Visit Sifuu’s Blacksmith shop in Kilima Village
- Interact with the Anvil (Repair Station)
- Choose to repair your axe using either:
- Gold (cost varies based on durability lost)
- Repair Kits (if you have them in your inventory)
Method 2: Using Your Own Repair Station
For more convenient repairs:
- Reach Mining Level 4
- Purchase the Repair Station recipe from Hodari for 500 Gold
- Craft the Repair Station using:
- 10 Copper Bars
- 6 Stone Bricks
- Place the Repair Station at your housing plot
- Interact with it to repair your axe using Repair Kits
Crafting Repair Kits
Repair Kits are essential for maintaining your tools, especially if you prefer not to spend Gold on repairs:
- The Repair Kit recipe unlocks automatically when you craft any Standard tool
- Craft them at your Worktable using:
- 5 Sapwood Planks
- 1 Copper Bar
- Each craft yields 20 Repair Kits
- Higher tier tool upgrades unlock recipes for larger bundles of Repair Kits:
- Standard tools: 20 Repair Kits per craft
- Fine tools: 40 Repair Kits per craft
- Exquisite tools: 60 Repair Kits per craft
GINX TV advises, “If you wish to spare your Gold for something more valuable, like a recipe or items you desperately need, you must obtain the recipe for the Repair Kit.”
Benefits of Upgrading Your Axe
Investing time and resources into upgrading your axe offers several advantages:
1. Access to Larger Trees
Each axe tier allows you to cut down progressively larger trees:
- Makeshift Axe: Small bushes and saplings only
- Standard Axe: Small and medium trees
- Fine Axe: Small, medium, and large trees
- Exquisite Axe: All tree sizes, including faster cutting
2. Improved Damage and Efficiency
Higher-tier axes deal more damage per swing, making the wood-gathering process significantly faster and more efficient.
3. Housing Plot Clearing
Some housing plots have large trees that can only be removed with upgraded axes. Clearing these obstacles allows for more building space and creative freedom.
4. Access to Special Trees
According to Guided News, the Exquisite Axe helps with magical trees: “When it comes to the magic trees, we have found that you can only manage the medium-sized ones. However, you should have no problems chopping a large magical tree with two people.”
Foraging Tips for Faster Axe Upgrades
To expedite your axe upgrade journey, consider these foraging tips:
Focus on Efficient Leveling
- Target dense forest areas with multiple trees
- Prioritize gathering plants while moving between tree locations
- Complete Foraging-related quests for additional experience
- Set up routes that allow you to harvest respawned resources efficiently
Material Gathering Strategy
- Establish a dedicated storage area for upgrade materials
- Process wood into planks regularly to avoid inventory overflow
- Mine copper, iron, and palium whenever possible to prepare for future upgrades
- Consider creating a checklist for each upgrade’s requirements
Durability Management
- Monitor your axe’s durability closely
- Repair before the meter drops too low
- Craft Repair Kits in bulk to always have them available
- Consider setting up your own Repair Station early to save trips to the village
Prioritizing Tool Upgrades
While upgrading all tools is important, deciding which to upgrade first can impact your efficiency. According to The Gamer, “The axe is one of the first tools you will get in Palia, and with it, you can cut down small bushes and saplings. Upgrading this tool allows you to chop down much bigger, thicker trees and wood, which otherwise are stuck where they are.”
When choosing between tool upgrades, consider:
- Housing Plot Needs: If large trees are blocking your building plans, prioritize axe upgrades
- Crafting Requirements: If you need specific materials from larger trees for important projects, focus on the axe
- Resource Availability: Balance your upgrades based on available materials
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get my first axe in Palia?
You receive your first Makeshift Axe from Ashura during the introductory quest “Welcome to Palia.” Simply follow the main storyline until you’re directed to speak with her at Kilima Village.
Can I skip axe tiers when upgrading?
No, you must upgrade your axe sequentially from Makeshift to Standard, Standard to Fine, and Fine to Exquisite. Each upgrade recipe requires the previous tier’s axe as a crafting material.
What happens if my axe breaks completely?
If your axe’s durability reaches zero, it will revert to the previous tier. For example, if your Fine Axe breaks, it will become a Standard Axe, and you’ll need to craft the Fine Axe again using the required materials.
Can I repair my axe without visiting the blacksmith?
Yes, once you craft your own Repair Station (available after reaching Mining Level 4), you can repair your axe at your housing plot using Repair Kits.
Are there any limited edition or special axes in Palia?
While the base game includes the four standard axe tiers, Palia offers cosmetic Tool Skins that can be purchased from the Premium Store using Palia Coins. These change the appearance of your axe without affecting its functionality.
Conclusion
Upgrading your axe in Palia is a gradual but rewarding process that significantly enhances your resource-gathering capabilities. By following this guide, you now have a clear path from your initial Makeshift Axe all the way to the powerful Exquisite Axe. Remember to balance your focus between leveling your Foraging skill, gathering the necessary upgrade materials, and maintaining your axe’s durability.
With each upgrade, you’ll gain access to larger trees, more efficient harvesting, and ultimately more resources to fuel your creative endeavors in Palia. Happy foraging, and may your axe always be sharp and ready!
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