My inventory is already packed. I will carry spare antler picks, but after that, only room for 1. I get the idea, and agree with it, if your playstyle has room for it. I just hate managing my inventory (probably a result of ADD ... was going mining but found a tree to chop, oh wait, i left my axe... hey look, a deer, oops left my bow and arrows...)

Upgrade all the long lasting tools like hammer and hoe to max.

Pickaxes I usually upgrade to 2 since that fills up my inventory before they break.

Originally posted by Sound:

Originally posted by Zep Tepi:

I don't ever upgrade my tools. Two pick axes last longer than a single upgraded one if you're worried about durability.

Sounds like a good way to lose all of your inventory space

When I'm mining ore I ht the weight limit long before I run out of inventory slots.

Originally posted by deadshooter:

this affects only durability. For pickaxes uprades are kinda nonsensical, because it's cheaper to get this amount of durability by making a new tool than upgrading to max level.

I assume you play with mods that let you cheat the inventory restrictions?

Originally posted by Rhapsody:

Upgrades for most tools do increase damage dealt to resource nodes. It's especially important for pickaxes, but also for chopping axes. The difference between base iron pickaxe and fully upgraded one is +50% more pickaxe damage, for example. But whether this is worthwhile investment or not depends.

Scrap piles for example have low durability/HP, so fully upgrading iron picks for that purpose would be a waste: It'd be better to get more pickaxes instead. Silver veins, ancient giant armor and swords, and black marble on the other hand are much more durable, but it may be more desirable to move on and progress until you get the blackmetal pick and upgrade that instead.

Like most tools and weapons, pickaxes have cleave penalty, so their damage is reduced when striking multiple chunks/nodes at the same time. Whether or not the pickaxe damage increase (together with your skill level effects) helps depends on how many objects you strike at once.

Adding on to what Rhapsody is saying, remember that when you combine the +50% more PIckaxe Damage, with the Increased Durability, the two effects Feed into one another, greatly increasing the lifespan of your tool.

If you double the durability, but you need 50% fewer strikes to destroy resource nodes, you've effectively Tripled the tool's lifespan.

Originally posted by Hobo Misanthropus:

I assume you play with mods that let you cheat the inventory restrictions?

No, only wisplight modded to triple range.

Originally posted by Hobo Misanthropus:

Adding on to what Rhapsody is saying, remember that when you combine the +50% more PIckaxe Damage, with the Increased Durability, the two effects Feed into one another, greatly increasing the lifespan of your tool.

If you double the durability, but you need 50% fewer strikes to destroy resource nodes, you've effectively Tripled the tool's lifespan.

Well, at some point I've made some tests in Crypts - fully upgraded pickaxe destroys piles in the same amount of time as not upgraded at all. So upgrading only for additional durability looks pointless, while spare tool is cheaper to make. Of course, something can be changed during all those updates. Maybe, this thing requires additional testing.

Upgrades for most tools do increase damage dealt to resource nodes. It's especially important for pickaxes, but also for chopping axes. The difference between base iron pickaxe and fully upgraded one is +50% more pickaxe damage, for example. But whether this is worthwhile investment or not depends.

Scrap piles for example have low durability/HP, so fully upgrading iron picks for that purpose would be a waste: It'd be better to get more pickaxes instead. Silver veins, ancient giant armor and swords, and black marble on the other hand are much more durable, but it may be more desirable to move on and progress until you get the blackmetal pick and upgrade that instead.

Like most tools and weapons, pickaxes have cleave penalty, so their damage is reduced when striking multiple chunks/nodes at the same time. Whether or not the pickaxe damage increase (together with your skill level effects) helps depends on how many objects you strike at once.

I upgrade them for durability, in general.
Look at the BM pick, for example. If you are a normal player, you have 5000 black metal from furby attacks anyway. All it takes to max it out is the basically free material & one tree's worth of Y wood. Why would you not?

this affects only durability. For pickaxes uprades are kinda nonsensical, because it's cheaper to get this amount of durability by making a new tool than upgrading to max level.

higher level = last longer

T2 upgrades are usually worth it, but more for durability. Pick damage increase is somewhat noticable but not really that "worth". Axes afaik have fixed chop damage so not only upgrade levels but also better materials dont really improve them much (especially since stamina cost increases, so bronze axe is best for almost all wood). They are a good sidearm so worth upgrading for that purpose, as well as durability.

Some low durability tools like cultivator i often upgrade to max, but otherwise if you are tight on resource, unupgraded tool is absolutely fine.

If you have abundant resources then you might as well. Otherwise, only if you really need the extra durability.

Originally posted by Zep Tepi:

I don't ever upgrade my tools. Two pick axes last longer than a single upgraded one if you're worried about durability.

Sounds like a good way to lose all of your inventory space

I upgrade everything to T2 only.. including tools it is nice to have the extra durability.. but they do not break things faster really.

Upgrading to a higher level gives more durability, and I believe more damage to rock, so fewer hits.

I don't ever upgrade my tools. Two pick axes last longer than a single upgraded one if you're worried about durability.