Have you ever explored the snowy biomes of Minecraft only to get lost in the snow? You have no source of food, no place to space and every step can get you trapped in powdered snow. That’s where the igloos in Minecraft come into the picture. They are the hub of resources and also a great place to create a permanent base. On competitive Minecraft survival servers, they can be the difference between life and death. But, it all begins with locating these structures. Let's explore how to find igloos in Minecraft and discover the best methods to find them.
Igloos in Minecraft
Our guide goes over the basics of igloos in Minecraft before going over the ways to find them. If you are already familiar with the igloos, please feel free to skip ahead.
What are Igloos in Minecraft
Igloos are hut-like structures, made of snow blocks, that spawn in the snowy biomes of Minecraft. Complete with a bed, crafting table, and a furnace, they are a perfect shelter to endure the harsh climate. But, most players only use them to get a bunch of amazing loot early on in the game.
Types of Igloos
There are two types of igloos in Minecraft. They look the same from the outside but distinguish heavily when you dig beneath them. In half of all igloos, you'll find a hidden trapdoor beneath the carpet on the floor.
This door leads to an underground basement where you can find a villager as well as a zombie villager. Within this hidden chamber, you'll also find a Brewing Stand, a splash Potion of Weakness, and a chest with some valuable loot.
Where Do Igloos Spawn
Igloos usually spawn in the following biomes of Minecraft:
- Snowy Plains
- Snowy Slopes
- Snowy Taigas
But, at times, this structure can also spawn in neighboring biomes due to an overlap of terrain. So, if you want to find igloos covered with pink petals, don't forget to try the best Minecraft cherry grove seeds.
Can Igloos Spawn Inside Villages
Since igloos generate with a bed, a villager, and a job site block (Brewing Stand), the game puts them in the same category as a village. Due to this, it becomes extremely rare for an igloo to spawn inside a village. It is as likely as two villages spawning next to each other.
Furthermore, due to this unique mechanic, you can also initiate raids on igloos. They work in the same as village raids but you get fewer resources and no Iron Golems to support you,
How to Find Igloos in Minecraft
From wandering around your world to using commands, there are a bunch of ways to locate igloos in Minecraft. Let's go over all the best methods to find the one that fits your playstyle.
Exploration (Method 1)
Exploring the world is the most common method that players use to find igloos in Minecraft. While this approach may not be the fastest, it allows you to immerse yourself in the game. But, if you want to speed up the search, here are some tips you can rely upon:
- Texture Packs: It can often be challenging to spot igloos in snowy or powdered snow biomes because they are made up of the same blocks. But, you can try the best Minecraft texture packs to create a distinction between the two.
- Clear Snow: The floor of snow biomes in Minecraft is often covered with layers of powdered snow. If you step into it, the snow will slowly pull you in and freeze you to death. To avoid such a brutal fate, make sure to carry a bucket or a shovel to clear the snow.
- Camel: While it might seem counterintuitive, you can use a camel in Minecraft as your vehicle in the snowy biomes. The height of your seat at the camel's back not only protects you from the snow but also gives you a better view of the area.
- Water: You can place water on top of mountains to get rid of powdered snow. Doing so not only makes the area safer to explore but also makes it easier to spot igloos.
- Food: Snow biomes are infamous for their lack of mobs and food supplies. So, don't forget to create items like bread or pumpkin pie for your adventure.
Village Explorer Maps (Method 2)
If exploring aimlessly isn't going well, it's time to get a map of your destination. With the Minecraft 1.20.2 update, you can buy village maps from cartographer villagers. These maps show the location of nearby snowy villages while also revealing other aspects of the terrain.
You can acquire snowy village maps from cartographers in taiga and swamp villages. But since swamp biomes don't have dedicated villages yet, you will have to transport and breed villagers to get swamp cartographers. So, it's best to stick with the taiga villages.
Locate Command (Method 3)
Commands are the best and most reliable way to find igloos in Minecraft. All you have to do is run the following command in your chatbox:
/locate structure igloo (Java only)
Upon executing the command, the game will display the coordinates of the nearest igloo. But, keep in mind that this command only works in worlds that have cheats enabled in them. So, if you are playing on the Minecraft survival servers, it's likely that this command won't work. Moreover, using it can also get you banned from the server.
Spawn An Igloo (Method 4)
While the "locate" command can help you find an igloo in Minecraft, it still doesn't solve the issue of traveling to it. Luckily, instead of going to the igloo, you can spawn one right at your feet. To do so, simply execute the following command:
/place structure minecraft:igloo ~ ~-2 ~2 (Java only)
As soon as you execute this command, an igloo will appear right beneath your feet. Similar to natural igloos, it will contain its chest loot and the trapped mobs in its basement.
Best Igloo Seeds for Minecraft (Method 5)
As you know at this point, searching for an igloo in Minecraft is not an easy feat. But, sometimes it's not your skills but rather the world you're exploring that's the challenge. Fortunately, you can use the best Minecraft snow biome seeds to counter that quite easily.
Simply use the custom seed while creating a new world and you can find your igloo as soon as you spawn. Here are two seeds that you can try in Minecraft 1.20 or later:
- Java Seed: 56170
- Bedrock Seed: 2056807939
Uses of Igloos
Now that you know how to find igloos in Minecraft, it's time to make the most out of these structures. Let's go over all the blocks and items you can get from them to make your quest worth the effort.
Blocks and Loot
You can get the following set of items/blocks from an Igloo in Minecraft:
- Snow, andesite, and ice blocks
- Red, white, and light gray carpets
- Crafting Table, furnace, Brewing Stand, cauldron and chest
- Red bed
- Oak trapdoor
- Torch and Redstone torch
- Various stone bricks
- Ladders and stairs
- Cobweb, sign, slab, Cactus in a flower pot
Furthermore, the igloos with a basement also spawn with a chest in them. It contains a variety of items including coal, apple, golden apple, wheat, gold nuggets, rotten flesh, stone axe, and emeralds.
Cure a Zombie Villager
If you want to cure zombie villagers in Minecraft then look no further than an igloo with a basement. From the golden apple to the Potion of Weakness, it contains everything you need under the same roof.
Plus, you don't have to search for zombie villagers because one is usually trapped in the basement. Though, it's best to cure a zombie villager next to a village in Minecraft. This action unlocks highly cheap trades in the game, making it a valuable strategy for players.
Find and Make Igloos in Minecraft
With that, you are ready to discover and conquer the best snowy structures in Minecraft. But, the snowy areas can be treacherous until you reach the igloo. So, make sure to keep a bucket or a shovel handy to avoid getting stuck in the snow. Alternatively, if you are on the best Minecraft desert seeds, you can also get a camel to avoid dangerous terrain altogether. Having said that, which method are you going to choose to find igloos in Minecraft? Share your pick on our Discord server and discover amazing tips from other players.