Hytale: Hidden features and tips the game doesn’t tell you

As Hytale has only been out for a short while, there are plenty of features that aren’t widely known yet. Some of them aren’t immediately obvious either, making them even harder to discover. We’ve dug up several of these features for you and summarised them here. If you’re still looking for beginner tips, we’ve got the right guide for you too (Hytale beginner tips: 8 tricks for your perfect start) . Also keep in mind that Hytale is still in active development, so many details may change over time.

Hytale tip: Show block outline for precise building

A genuinely helpful trick for anyone who loves building. In the settings, search for “Block Placement Preview” and set it to “All” to always see the outline of the block in your hand. Give this setting a try to see if you prefer it. Of course, you can switch it back if you don’t. We find it’s a massive aid to building and makes placing blocks much easier.

Hytale food placement: decorate with food items

Once you enable this setting, you’ll probably notice an outline when you’re holding food too. That’s for a reason: you can place food items as decorations. Crouch and click the spot where you want to place the food. Later, you can pick it back up to put it in your bag. It’s a neat way to make your kitchen feel authentic.

Hytale Builder’s Workbench: Hidden options and material variants

At the Builder’s Workbench, you can convert materials into decorative options such as slabs, stairs, ornaments or columns. But this workbench hides a few functions that aren’t obvious at first glance.

Take cobblestone as an example, which you get from mining stone. You can turn it back into normal stone. Unlike Minecraft, you don’t need a furnace; you do it directly at the Builder’s Workbench. When you place cobblestone in the left slot, you can cycle between different versions in that field. This isn’t immediately noticeable because you’re likely focused on the slot to the right. You can also switch between variants for other materials, such as wood.

Hytale shovel: remove soil faster and level ground

Since you can currently only craft a shovel from iron, some players may overlook it. But you should definitely make one if you want to clear soil quickly. The shovel lets you break several blocks at once. Don’t miss this feature if you plan to dig out a large hill or level an area. You can later turn dirt into grass using fibres at the Farmer’s Workbench, although it’s already been announced that grass will grow naturally in a future update.

Hytale loot: smash crates and barrels for valuable items

In camps, abandoned ruins and other points of interest, you’ve probably noticed crates and barrels tucked into corners. They look decorative at first glance, but they’re not just for show. Smash them with your sword and you’ll find some great loot inside.

Alongside apples and berries, there are more valuable items you should definitely grab. You’ll often find pelts in these containers, and salt is stored there too. So to stock up, break every crate and every barrel you come across.

Hytale salt blocks: how to get them via fish traps

Speaking of salt, you’ve likely seen the recipe at the cooking station that converts one salt block into 5 salt. But where do you get salt blocks? You probably haven’t found them while travelling. That’s because you can currently only obtain salt blocks from fish traps.

Craft a fish trap at the Farmer’s Workbench, place it in a deep body of water, and wait roughly a day for a catch. Using bait increases your chance of catching fish. You have about a 27% chance per catch to get salt blocks. You can then turn one block into five salt and use it to make tasty popcorn or a Caesar salad.

Hytale biomes: more variety beyond the main island

You can currently find four different zones in Hytale, which we’ve already covered (Hytale zones explained: biomes, ores and mobs) . They have an interesting generation pattern that many players might miss.

In general, Hytale has a main island where you first spawn. In the centre is Zone 1, with lush green forests. Zone 3 lies to the north, and Zone 2 to the south. All around are the dark islands of Zone 4. You can, of course, explore beyond that, where biomes start to blend together. If you’re chasing diverse biomes, you’ll need to travel a long way.

Hytale oceans: ruins, coral reefs and sunken ships

On your journey, you’ll come across oceans that are currently hard to explore because you’ll run out of breath. But once you dive below the surface, a whole new world opens up. There will likely be better ways to dive later on, but even now Hytale’s waters are worth a look. You’ll find ruins, coral reefs and even sunken ships. At the moment, the ocean is especially good for farming plenty of gold.

Hytale mushroom farming: exploit spread for tasty skewers

Crops like maize aren’t the only things you can farm. Mushrooms also have a hidden mechanic you might recognise from Minecraft. Place a mushroom on grass and, after a while, you’ll notice it spreading. This lets you turn one mushroom into many and use them in various recipes, such as skewers.

Conclusion: Use Hytale’s hidden features cleverly

Because Hytale is still very new, there are plenty of hidden functions that not everyone knows about. Hopefully, we’ve been able to highlight a few of these and help make your life in Hytale a bit easier. Remember, though, that updates can change things at any time. Hytale is constantly evolving, and there’s surely much more to come.

If you want to stay on top of the game’s ongoing development, rent one of our Hytale servers and be ready for every new update. You might even be among the first to discover brand-new mechanics!