Start Crafting Without Wasting Materials
Crafting matters in Clover Time because tools unlock the resources needed for better weapons, armor, consumables, and utility items. Your first priority is not chasing rare gear—it is getting the basic gathering tools and learning which materials must be refined before they can be used.
The crafting loop is straightforward: complete starter quests, collect raw resources, process ores at the smelter, then bring the finished materials to a crafting table. Quests are especially valuable early because they provide tools that would otherwise block your gathering progress.
| Early tool | How to get it | What it unlocks |
|---|---|---|
| Rake | Complete Lily's quest near the church | Harvest potatoes |
| Axe | Speak with the Lumberjack to the right of Lily | Gather wood |
| Pickaxe | Complete the “Stone for Pip” quest | Mine ores and stone |
| Fishing rod | Craft one at a crafting table | Catch fish and fishing materials |
Begin with Lily near the church. Her quest rewards a rake, which lets you harvest potatoes from crop spots. Potatoes are more useful than they first appear: they support early crafting and can be turned into Mana Crystals through the Hage crafting bench.
Next, visit the Lumberjack near Lily to get an axe. Use it on trees to build a supply of wood. Wood is a common ingredient for utility items and fishing equipment, so collect more than you immediately need.
The pickaxe comes from the “Stone for Pip” quest. Open the quest menu and track it if you are unsure where to go. Once you have the pickaxe, mining becomes available and you can gather stone ore and metal ore for refinement.
Gather the Right Materials First
Do not head to the crafting table with only one material type. Most useful recipes require a mix of gathered, hunted, and refined resources. Build a small reserve before deciding what to make.
| Material | Where to get it | Typical crafting use |
|---|---|---|
| Potatoes | Harvest with a rake | Mana Crystal crafting |
| Wood | Chop trees with an axe | Tools, rods, and other gear |
| Stone ore | Mine with a pickaxe | Stone bricks after smelting |
| Metal ore | Mine with a pickaxe | Metal bars after smelting |
| Coal | Gather while progressing and mining | Smelter fuel |
| Meat | Defeat boars | Consumables and progression materials |
| Leather | Defeat boars | Gear-related crafting materials |
| Wolf fangs | Defeat mana wolves | Higher-tier crafting materials |
| Copper bracelets | Complete Craven raid objectives | Equipment-related materials |
For a smooth early route, gather wood and potatoes first, then complete the pickaxe quest and begin mining. This prevents the common problem of reaching a recipe with no way to make its metal components.
Boars are another reliable stop once you are ready for combat. They provide meat and leather, giving you materials that mining alone cannot supply. Mana wolves can provide wolf fangs and mana wolf fangs, but they are stronger enemies, so save that farming route until your character can handle the fight comfortably.
The Craven raid is worth tracking if you need copper bracelets. Talk to Craven Master Hugo, follow the quest marker, and defeat the required NPC enemies. Treat this as a targeted farm rather than something to do before you know which recipe needs the bracelets.
A useful early gathering order is:
- Finish Lily’s rake quest and harvest potatoes.
- Get the axe from the Lumberjack and stockpile wood.
- Complete “Stone for Pip” for the pickaxe.
- Mine stone ore, metal ore, and coal.
- Hunt boars for meat and leather when you need animal materials.
- Process your ore before checking weapon or armor recipes.
Refine Ore at the Church Smelter
Raw ore is not always a finished crafting ingredient. Near the church, beside Lily’s area, you can use a smelter to convert mined materials into components needed for gear.
The smelter requires the appropriate ore and fuel. Coal is used as fuel, so do not discard it or overlook it while mining. Select the material you want to process, add fuel, and collect the refined result when the smelt is complete.
| Raw input | Refined output | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Stone ore | Stone bricks | Used for crafted structures and gear recipes |
| Metal ore | Metal bars | Needed for metal-based equipment and tools |
| Coal | Smelter fuel | Powers ore refinement |
Refine only what you expect to use soon when your inventory space is limited. However, keeping a small stack of stone bricks and metal bars is practical because many recipes are easier to complete once the processing step is already done.
If a recipe calls for metal bars, mining more metal ore will not solve the problem by itself. You must return to the church smelter and turn the ore into bars. The same principle applies to stone bricks.
This is the main distinction many new players miss when learning how to craft: gathering gives you raw inputs, while smelting creates the usable building blocks for higher-value items.
Use the Crafting Table for Gear and Utility Items
Crafting tables are where you create weapons, fishing rods, tools, clothing, consumables, raw materials, and other equipment. Interact with the table to see the available recipes and their current ingredient requirements.
Because recipes may be added or adjusted during beta updates, always check the recipe panel in-game before committing rare materials. The table shows exactly what your current version requires.
| Crafting goal | Materials to prepare | Helpful note |
|---|---|---|
| Fishing rod | Wood plus recipe-listed stone or metal materials | Craft one when you want fish for money or materials |
| Weapons | Refined bars, wood, and recipe-specific drops | Smelt ores before attempting weapon recipes |
| Armor or clothing | Crafted components and special drops | Save leather and raid materials |
| Consumables | Recipe-specific gathered materials | Keep basic food and drops on hand |
| Mana Crystal | 5 potatoes and 10 fragments at the Hage bench | Used for Grimoire Tower rolls |
Mana Crystals deserve special attention even though they are not weapon materials. At the Hage bench, five potatoes and ten fragments can be crafted into one Mana Crystal. Each crystal can fund a Grimoire Tower roll, making potato farming useful for long-term character progression.
Use crafting to support the build you are actually playing. A player focused on combat should prioritize weapon ingredients and survivability gear. A player who needs money may benefit from crafting a fishing rod and selling catches. If you are short on a single ingredient, track its source instead of farming every activity at random.
Keep these habits in mind:
- Check the in-game recipe before spending refined bars or rare drops.
- Save a portion of wood, stone bricks, and metal bars for future recipes.
- Use the smelter before assuming a recipe is unavailable.
- Complete quests for free starter tools before trying to replace them.
- Gather while traveling between quests so crafting does not become a separate grind.
FAQ
What does “clover time how to craft” mean for a new player?
It usually means learning the full production loop: obtain gathering tools through quests, collect raw materials, smelt ores near the church, and use a crafting table or the Hage bench for the appropriate recipe.
Where do I craft weapons in Clover Time?
Use a crafting table. Bring the recipe’s required materials, including refined ingredients such as metal bars when needed. The crafting interface lists the available weapon recipes and their costs.
How do I get metal bars?
Mine metal ore with a pickaxe, gather coal for fuel, then use the smelter near the church to refine the ore into metal bars.
How do I get a pickaxe?
Track and complete the “Stone for Pip” quest from the quest menu. The reward gives you the pickaxe needed to mine ores.
Can I craft Mana Crystals?
Yes. At the Hage bench, combine five potatoes and ten fragments to craft one Mana Crystal. Mana Crystals are used for Grimoire Tower rolls, not for rerolling race, Social Class, or Trait.