The Only 17 Nodes You Need to Build Anything in n8n (real examples)

In this video I break down the 17 core n8n nodes that I use in almost every automation I build. After creating more than 200 workflows for real clients, my own AI automation business, and even for YouTube videos, these are the nodes that consistently show up across every use case. I walk through each node with real examples and explain why mastering this short list gives you the power to build almost anything in n8n. If you learn these 17, you can move fast, build confidently, and handle almost any automation project you run into. This is your n8n Cheat Sheet for 2026. 00:00 Why Trust Me? 00:45 1) Schedule Trigger 01:42 2) Event Triggers 02:22 3) Subworkflows 03:17 4) Split Out 04:49 5) Aggregate 05:31 6) Edit Fields (Set Node) 07:14 7) IF Node 08:50 8) Switch Node 09:29 9) Code Node 11:52 10) HTTP Request 12:51 11) Loop 16:08 12) & 13) Webhook & Response 17:11 14) AI Agent 18:02 15) AI Tools 19:24 16) Structured Output Parser 20:37 17) Google Sheets