Better Ice Axe
by GreyDesh
Better Ice Axe gives players a climbing tool with its own mechanics, letting them scale walls, hook into blocks and slide down cliff faces and underground shafts.
What it does
The ice axe is held in both hands to climb, with the right mouse button pressed alternately to pull up. A hook block can be placed by pressing Shift and the right mouse button, and once a hook is set the player can stand on it. Descending works differently: releasing the Shift key lets the character fall, while holding the axe in one hand at a ledge edge and the right mouse button lets the player slide down while facing the wall.
The mod is aimed at exploring, mining and diving underground, where routine travel along familiar routes gets replaced by slower, more deliberate descents. Its author describes the climbing as a change in how the game feels rather than a new set of items. Installation covers Forge and NeoForge across nine release versions, 1.20.1 – 1.21.8. A server running it needs every connecting player to have it too. The mod is not open source, and it is released under All rights reserved, with public links for the source code.
Key features
Ice axe climbing
The ice axe climbs walls by alternating presses of the right mouse button while held in both hands.
Hook blocks
Hook blocks are placed with Shift and right click, and the player can stand on one to rest or reposition.
Controlled descent
Holding the axe in one hand at a ledge lets the character slide down while facing the wall, instead of falling.
Underground exploration
The climbing mechanics are built around diving into mines and caves, changing how familiar underground routes feel.
Gallery
Compatibility
Latest build for each game version and loader.
1.21.x8 of 8 versions with builds
1.20.x1 of 1 version with builds
Only full game releases are shown. This mod publishes no snapshot builds.
Use cases
Who it’s for: Players who want climbing and descent to be a core part of exploring caves and mines, and server owners who run exploration or adventure worlds.
How it compares
Ice And Fire Addon is a Forge and NeoForge addon for 1.20.1 – 1.21.1, under All rights reserved and not open source, and it is a client and server mod. Simply Ice Caves! is a Forge and NeoForge mod for 1.20.1 – 1.21.1 under the MIT License, also client and server and not open source. Better Ice Axe targets 1.20.1 – 1.21.8 and focuses on climbing and descent rather than ice-themed content.
| Mod | Loaders | Game versions | Environment | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Better Ice Axe | Forge and NeoForge | 1.20.1 – 1.21.8 | Client and server | 2025-09-02 |
| Ice And Fire Addon | Forge and NeoForge | 1.20.1 – 1.21.1 | Client and server | 2026-08-11 |
| Simply Ice Caves! | Forge and NeoForge | 1.20.1 – 1.21.1 | Client and server | 2025-01-25 |
Questions
Which loaders does Better Ice Axe support?
Does Better Ice Axe have to be installed on the server?
Which game versions have files?
In the catalog
Better Ice Axe is one of 17,631 Equipment mods on ModsFinder, and one of 9,216 Equipment mods for Forge. 17,695 mods support Minecraft 1.21.8.
Similar mods
What the author says
Better Ice Axe is a mod that can radically change your gaming experience, adding new sensations to exploring the world and diving into mines. Now traveling will cease to be a routine: familiar routes will seem fresher and more exciting, and each descent underground will give you additional emotions and new challenges.
Official listing
- Modrinth page
- modrinth.com/mod/better-ice-axe
- Owner
- GreyDesh
- Published
- 2025-09-01
- Updated on Modrinth
- 2025-09-02
- Facts verified
- 2026-10-15