Once the sun goes down, the light levels fall dramatically. It’s hard to see if you walk around outside, and monsters can spawn almost anywhere. Zombies are the most common, and they’re easy to outrun. They moan frequently and are easy to hear or spot. But Creepers are quiet and very deadly. They explode if they sneak up on you, dealing potentially lethal damage and destroying anything nearby. Until you have weapons, armor, and more practice, you’re better off hiding during the nighttime hours.
If you check your clock, the evening lasts 10 minutes. Later, you can craft a Clock in-game to tell time more accurately.
As evening passes, be productive. Carve down into the earth and gather more Stone. You’re going to need many, many pieces throughout your career. And while mining, you might find Coal, Flint (in Gravel), or Iron. Iron is the best of the resources to find in the earth’s upper layers. To spot this metal, look for Stone blocks that have a lightish metal embedded inside them. Once mined, refine these in your Furnace to get Iron Ingots, which are quite useful. Make Pickaxes with them so you can harvest Gold, Redstone, Diamond, and other rare materials in the deeper levels of the world.
Goal #8: Forging a Sword
Take a break from your mining at some point during the night. Use your Crafting Table to make a weapon for yourself. One Stick and two pieces of Wood, Stone, or Metal make a Sword. For now, a Stone Sword is perfectly adequate, but an Iron Sword will be much better later on. Always keep your Sword in the same slot on your hotbar so you get used to switching to it quickly. Monsters can jump you while you’re wandering outside, mining, or whenever. Even when you think you’re safe, there are sometimes moments when you get surprised. Practice switching to your blade quickly and comfortably. The better you get with it, the longer you’ll live.
Expand your home and your mines until morning. Look through the holes in your Door to see if it’s light outside, or gently wander outside if you’re feeling brave. Just be ready to head back through the door if you see trouble coming.