Choose a usable tool for the job, then build the material, research and charging support needed for the next tier.
Reviewed build: 0.1.190.146 FULL FIXED R4 · October 26, 2026. Built against RimWorld 1.6.4871. DLC requirements are listed below.
Progression at a glance
| Tier | Practical role |
|---|---|
| Stone and bone | Early recipes at the Crafting Spot or primitive bench |
| Wrought iron | Optional intermediate tier when smelting is enabled |
| Steel | Later tools, including recipes at the machining table |
| Plasteel | Advanced material progression where its recipe is available |
| Electric | Powered work tools with battery charge and wear |
At equal quality and maker skill, the documented base tool-speed comparison is 1.0 for stone/bone, 1.1 for iron and 1.25 for steel. These are tool values, not guarantees for final pawn work speed.
What counts as an available tool
- Require tools for supported work defaults ON. Turning it OFF preserves the explicit player choice.
- A nearby floor tool does not count until carried. An exhausted electric tool needs charging or a usable manual fallback.
- Small-plant hand-work exceptions do not extend to trees. Check the job and the actual missing-tool message.
Equipped tools, carried inventory and the contents of a worn toolbelt count. A nearby floor tool must be collected before it satisfies the requirement. An exhausted electric tool needs charging or a usable carried manual alternative.
Start a reliable supply
- Begin with stone or bone tools at the Crafting Spot or the appropriate primitive bench.
- Carry a usable pickaxe or mining drill for mining, and an axe or chainsaw for tree work. Equipment, inventory and worn-toolbelt contents count.
- Use a toolbelt and enable automatic fetching if you want workers to collect suitable available tools.
- Research Complex Furniture for tool cabinets and their storage.
- Enable optional iron smelting if you want the wrought-iron step before steel.
The iron chain does not replace every later recipe. A stone or bone hammer can make the first iron hammer at a smithy, while steel-tool recipes remain at the machining table.
Diagnose a refusal to work
Read the actual missing-tool message, then check the selected pawn’s carried equipment, tool category, charge, durability and work assignment. Small-plant hand-work exceptions do not extend to trees. Enabling automatic fetching cannot make a forbidden or unreachable tool available.
Related references
- Electric tools and charging
- Iron smelting
- Storage and hauling
- Full development update
- Individual build notes
- Release and compatibility notes
Source builds: .109, .110, .114-.118 and .142. These references describe packaged beta behavior; focused tests do not establish complete live-game validation.
These references describe the reviewed beta build. Check the installed package and later release notes for changed recipes, values, dependencies and compatibility. A documented fix is not a substitute for live colony testing.