Tools and the physics arsenal
Every Bean carries a physics-based tool belt. Here is what each documented tool does.
The main tools
| Tool | What it does | Source level |
|---|---|---|
| Nail gun | Fires nails that bind two objects or fix an object to a surface — the core building verb | Official (store + reviews) |
| Sledgehammer | Destroys builds — the demolition tool, used to rework failed paths | Published review |
| Deployable mattress | Deploys a platform that breaks long falls for Beans below | Published review |
| Bullhorn (item) | Amplifies your voice to a comically large degree (proximity-chat toy) | Published review |
| Battery (objective item) | Hotel Job pickup; discharges electric charge on intervals while carried | Published review |
Materials and consumables
Anything not bolted down is a building material — the official description calls it a “physics-based arsenal … of construction tools, wacky consumables, and makeshift building materials.” In practice: planks, tables, chairs, refrigerators — whatever is loose. Handling a carried object always costs you grab/rotate/throw input.
Tool unlocks: unknown
No official source documents whether tools unlock by progression, by Job, or all-at-once in the HQ. If a tool shows up in your belt differently from another player's, that progression order is probably locale neutral — we will not guess it.
Related certification hooks
- Nailed It — 100 nail-gun uses.
- Screw Loose — 100 unnailed objects.
- Cannonbean — the mattress is the possible fall-breaker, unverified for that cert.
FAQ
Common questions about this topic.
What tools are in Dumb Ways to Build?
Officially a physics tool belt; documented entries include the nail gun (build), the sledgehammer (destroy), the deployable mattress (fall safety) and items like the bullhorn.
How does the nail gun work?
Fired nails join two objects or pin an object to a surface — every bridge, ramp and platform you make starts with one.
Do tools unlock over time?
Not documented; official material does not publish tool progression rules.
What are consumables used for?
Wacky consumables are part of the tool belt per official copy; specific effects beyond comedy are not itemized publicly.