The chisel is probably the most popular tool among carvers. They come with either a flat or skewed edge depending on the type. Chisels are less common in woodcarving than other types as the flat edge tends to bite into the soft wood, giving a rough-hewn effect.
Gouges are one of the most common tools in the carving arena. A gouge is similar to a chisel, although the end of a gouge is turned up to scoop or carve ridges in your medium. There are several types of gouges depending on what type of effect you are trying to create. These include, but are not limited to, U-gouges, V-gouges, bent gouges and spoon gouges.
A mallet is what is referred to in the carving world as a driving tool. This is because heavy, usually wooden, mallets are used to tap the end of your carving tool for the purpose of driving it into your medium. Most experts recommend a wooden mallet as steel hammers eventually ruin the ends of your carving tools.