How Minecraft could benefit from copper gear and weapons

Minecraft has a simple gameplay that encourages creativity and exploration, but the progression system has lost a bit of its spark. Once, finding iron or diamonds felt like a huge achievement, but now these resources are so easy to get that they don’t feel as special.

Mojang tried to bring back some of that excitement by adding netherite, the strongest material in the game, but obtaining it has become tedious due to the addition of Smithing Templates. Instead of making the netherite harder to get, a better solution might be to add a new step in the progression system: copper tools, weapons, and armor.

This would make Minecraft's early-game progression more rewarding. Players have a reason to use copper beyond building or decoration. Copper could act as an intermediate between stone, and iron. Introducing copper gear could also help make iron, diamond, and netherite feel special again.

Note: This article is subjective and solely reflects the writer's opinion.

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Copper as an intermediate ore

You would need a copper pickaxe to collect iron. (Image via Mojang Studios)

Players would have to work their way up rather than jumping straight to iron. Copper tools could have durability and strength somewhere between stone and iron. For example, they might last longer than stone tools but break faster than iron ones. Copper weapons could deal slightly more damage than stone swords but less than iron swords.

This would give them more reason to use copper while still encouraging them to upgrade to iron when they’re ready. Instead of rushing to iron and skipping over copper, players would have to take their time and explore more. These new copper items and gear could also introduce new mechanics. A resistance to lightning strikes when enchanted could be added to these items.

During thunderstorms, players could intentionally be hit by lightning causing damage to enemy mobs. These features would make copper items stand out from other materials and give players a reason to use them even after obtaining iron.

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Balancing high-tier Minecraft items

Netherite should be easier to obtain in Minecraft (Image via Mojang Studios)

Another benefit of introducing copper gear is that it could make higher-tier items feel more valuable again. Right now, iron and diamond are so easy to get that they’ve lost some of their uniqueness. By requiring players to use copper before iron, Mojang could make iron and diamond tools feel like true upgrades.

This would also make netherite feel even more rewarding to obtain. To balance this system, Mojang could remove the Smithing Template requirement for upgrading to netherite. Ancient debris is already rare and challenging to find in Minecraft, so adding more steps to the process feels unnecessary.

By making the early game of Minecraft more grind-heavy with copper and simplifying netherite upgrades, the progression system would feel fairer and more enjoyable.

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By making these changes to Minecraft, Mojang could create a more balanced and rewarding experience for players.