EvilCraft Basics: Resources, Early Crafting, and the Dark Temple
Getting Started with Basic Resources
In EvilCraft, your first priority is securing a steady supply of 
Dark Gems and the materials needed to work with them. The mod introduces a distinct resource loop centered on these gems, which are the foundation for most of its early tools and blocks.
The primary crafting material is the Dark Gem. You will use these gems to create storage blocks and tool components. To make a 
Dark Block, arrange nine Dark Gems in a full crafting grid. This block is useful for compact storage and as a decorative building material. Conversely, you can break a Dark Block back down into nine Dark Gems using a shapeless recipe, which is handy when you need to free up inventory space.
For tool handles and other structural pieces, you will need 
Dark Sticks. These are crafted with one Dark Gem and two 
Undead Planks arranged vertically in a crafting table. The Undead Planks come from wood found in the mod's specific structures or biomes, so gather them when you encounter them.
Another early combat or utility item is the 
Spike. To craft a single Spike, combine one Dark Gem with one 
Iron Ingot in a shaped pattern. This item can be placed to damage mobs or players that step on it, making it useful for base defense.
Exploring the Environment
The world generation in EvilCraft includes a specific structure called the Dark Temple. These temples are the main source of rare loot and the Undead Planks you need for crafting Dark Sticks. Temples generate in biomes that are part of the `#evilcraft:has_structure/dark_temple` tag. The placement is not random everywhere; the game attempts to generate one temple per 40x40 chunk region, and each temple must be at least 16 chunks away from another. This means you will need to travel a fair distance to find multiple temples, but they are not excessively rare.
When you enter a Dark Temple, be prepared for combat. The interior is typically dark and may contain hostile mobs. The structure's layout often includes corridors and chambers with chests holding valuable resources, including Dark Gems and other EvilCraft-specific items. The walls themselves may be made of materials you can harvest, but the primary goal is to reach the central loot room.
Early Progression Tips
Start by surface-mining or caving to find your first Dark Gems. They are not overly common in the overworld, so prioritize any veins you find. Once you have a few, craft a Dark Block for storage if you have surplus, or immediately make Dark Sticks and a Spike for protection.
Your first trip to a Dark Temple should happen after you have basic iron armor and weapons. The structure can be dangerous, but the reward is access to Undead Planks and potentially more Dark Gems than you would find by mining. Bring a pickaxe to break any Dark Blocks you find inside, and be ready to retreat if overwhelmed.
The mod's environment is temperate with no rain, so you do not need to worry about weather affecting your travels. Hostile mobs you will encounter include spiders, zombies, zombie villagers, skeletons, creepers, and slimes. Rabbits are the only passive creature you will see in these areas, so food from passive hunting is limited.
In summary, your early game loop is: mine for Dark Gems, craft essential tools and blocks, then locate a Dark Temple for advanced materials. Use Spikes around your base to deter night-time mobs, and always keep a stock of Dark Gems for future crafting. The Dark Temple is your gateway to the mod's deeper content, so explore it carefully and thoroughly.
Covers the mod’s in-game guide topics: Degraded Dark Temple Dark Gem Dark Block Dark Stick Spike