Hardwood Planks are one of those materials in Hytale that you don’t realize you need until suddenly every recipe requires them. Whether you’re upgrading your storage with Iron Chests, building a cozy base with decorative furniture, or just want your structures to look more refined than basic wooden planks, Hardwood is the way to go.
The problem? Not all wood counts as Hardwood, and if you’re chopping down the wrong trees, you’ll end up with regular logs that won’t help you craft what you need.
Let me show you exactly where to find the right trees, how to craft Hardwood Planks, and all the awesome stuff you can build with them.
Where to Find Hardwood: Oak and Ash Trees in Hytale
Hardwood in Hytale comes from two specific tree types: Oak and Ash. These aren’t the same as basic wooden logs or specialty woods like Darkwood or Lightwood, so you need to know what you’re looking for.
How to Identify Ash Trees
Ash trees are pretty distinctive once you know what to look for:
- Thick, reddish-brown trunks
- Deep green leaves
When you chop them down, they drop Ash Logs, which are one of the two materials used to craft Hardwood Planks. Ash trees tend to grow in temperate forest areas, so explore grassy biomes and woodland regions to find them.
How to Identify Oak Trees in Hytale
Oak trees have a different appearance:
- Dark chocolate-colored trunks (almost black-brown)
- Yellowish-orange leaves
Chopping down Oak trees gives you Oak Logs, the other source of Hardwood. Oak trees are also commonly found in temperate zones, often growing alongside Ash trees in the same forests.
Pro Tip: Look for Mixed Forests
Both Oak and Ash trees frequently spawn together in the same biomes, so once you find one, you’ll usually find the other nearby. Stock up on both while you’re there—they’re interchangeable for crafting Hardwood Planks.
How to Craft Hardwood Planks
Once you’ve gathered Oak Logs or Ash Logs, crafting Hardwood Planks is straightforward:
- Go to your Builder’s Workbench
- Place a stack of Oak Logs or Ash Logs in the crafting slot
- Select the Hardwood Plank recipe (you’ll also unlock Decorative and Ornate versions for building)
That’s it. The Builder’s Workbench converts your logs into usable Hardwood Planks, which you can then use for various crafting recipes.
Decorative and Ornate Variants
When you craft Hardwood at the Builder’s Workbench, you’ll notice Decorative and Ornate versions available. These are purely aesthetic variants used for structure building—they don’t affect functionality, but they look way better for detailed builds.
If you’re serious about making your base look polished, these variants are worth the extra effort.
What You Need to Build with Hardwood: The Furniture Workbench
To unlock the full potential of Hardwood Planks, you’ll need to craft a Furniture Workbench. This is where most Hardwood-based items are created.
How to Craft a Furniture Workbench
You’ll need:
- 6 Stone blocks (any stone type works)
- 6 Tree Trunks (any wood type)
Craft it at your regular Workbench, then place it in your base.
IMPORTANT: Make sure your Furniture Workbench is placed:
- In the same room as your storage chests
- On the same flooring material as your chests
If the flooring is different (e.g., workbench on stone tiles, chest on wood tiles), the workbench won’t detect materials in your chests. This is the same issue that affects building bigger chests, so keep your crafting area on uniform flooring.
Everything You Can Craft with Hardwood Planks
Hardwood Planks unlock a ton of useful and decorative items. Here’s the full list of what you can build:
Storage & Functional Items
Small Iron Chest (and Large Iron Chest)
- Materials: Hardwood Plank + Iron Ingot
- Why it’s useful: More durable than regular chests, and when paired together, you can create larger double chests with 36 storage slots
Tankard and Other Decorations
- Materials: Hardwood Plank + Iron Ingot
- Why it’s useful: Perfect for building tavern-themed areas or adding cozy touches to your base
Furniture & Decorative Items
Lumberjack Bed
- Materials: Hardwood Plank + Plant Fiber + Heavy Hide + White Cloth
- Why it’s useful: Sets your spawn point and adds a rustic aesthetic to bedrooms
Lumberjack Lamp
- Materials: Hardwood Plank + Candle + Iron Ingot
- Why it’s useful: Functional lighting with a warm, homey vibe
Wooden Walls (Various Patterns and Colors)
- Materials: Hardwood Plank + Clay (mix different petals with clay for colored clay)
- Why it’s useful: Create patterned, colored walls for custom interior design—perfect when playing with friends and everyone wants unique home decor
Building Components (Crafted Directly from Oak/Ash Logs)*
These items use Oak Logs or Ash Logs directly at the Builder’s Workbench, not Hardwood Planks:
- Hardwood Stairs
- Hardwood Half-Slab
- Hardwood Beam
- Simple Wooden Platform
- Hardwood Roof (multiple variants: Flat, Shallow, Steep)
- Hardwood Fence
- Hardwood Gate
These building components are essential if you want to create detailed structures with slopes, railings, and architectural variety.
Why Hardwood Is Worth Farming in Hytale
1. Better Storage Solutions
The Small Iron Chest is arguably the most valuable Hardwood item. It’s more durable than regular wooden chests, making it ideal for long-term storage. Plus, when you place two side-by-side, you get a Large Iron Chest with doubled capacity—perfect for hoarding Cobalt, Thorium, and other valuable materials.
2. Aesthetic Appeal
Hardwood has a rich, warm visual that regular logs just don’t match. If you’re building a cozy cottage, medieval tavern, or rustic homestead, Hardwood gives your base that polished, lived-in look.
3. Customization with Colored Walls
Combining Hardwood Planks with Colored Clay (made by mixing petals with clay) lets you create patterned wooden walls in various colors. This is fantastic for interior decorating and makes each player’s home feel unique when playing multiplayer.
4. Late-Game Building Flexibility
Hardwood components (stairs, slabs, roofs, fences) give you way more architectural options than basic blocks. If you’re serious about building, Hardwood is essential for creating varied, detailed structures.
Tips for Farming Hardwood Efficiently
Mark Oak and Ash Forests on Your Map
Once you find a good forest with Oak and Ash trees, drop a waypoint so you can return easily. Hardwood is used in so many recipes that you’ll be coming back for more.
Bring a Good Axe
Higher-tier axes chop trees faster. If you’re planning a bulk farming session, upgrade your axe first—it’ll save you tons of time.
Combine Resource Runs
While you’re out gathering Hardwood, also grab:
This maximizes efficiency and reduces trips.
Upgrade Your Backpack
If you’re hauling large quantities of logs, craft a backpack upgrade to carry more per trip.
Replant for Sustainability
If you plan to farm the same forest repeatedly, replant Oak and Ash saplings so your resource spot regenerates.
Testing Hardwood Builds in Creative Mode
If you want to experiment with Hardwood furniture and building designs before committing resources, use Creative Mode console commands:
/give [username] Oak_Log --quantity=64
/give [username] Ash_Log --quantity=64This lets you prototype builds and test recipes without grinding for materials first.
FAQs About Hardwood Planks in Hytale
Can I use any wood to craft Hardwood Planks?
No. Only Oak Logs and Ash Logs can be converted into Hardwood Planks. Regular logs, Darkwood, Lightwood, and other wood types won’t work for Hardwood recipes.
Where do Oak and Ash trees spawn?
Both Oak and Ash trees spawn in temperate forest biomes—grassy, woodland areas typically found in the Emerald Wilds (Zone 1). Look for mixed forests where both tree types grow together.
What’s the difference between Hardwood Planks and Decorative/Ornate Hardwood?
Functionally, they’re the same. Decorative and Ornate versions are purely aesthetic variants for builders who want more visual variety in their structures. Use them for detailed builds where appearance matters.
Why won’t my Furniture Workbench detect materials in my chests?
Two common issues: (1) The workbench and chests are on different floor tile materials, or (2) the chests are stacked above ground level. Make sure everything is on the same flooring and at ground level for auto-detection to work.
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