Whether you want to get explosive TNTs, a flight boost for Elytra, or throwable potions, you need gunpowder in Minecraft. This unsuspecting item can define how fast your progress on the best Minecraft SMP servers and also keep the enemies at bay. Unfortunately, obtaining gunpowder can be quite a challenge due to its lack of a crafting recipe. But, fear not! We're here to lend a helping hand with not just one, but four distinct solutions to obtain this valuable item. So, without further ado, let's discover how to get gunpowder in Minecraft and unlock a new adventure for you.
How to Get Gunpowder in Minecraft (2023)
There are four main methods to get gunpowder in Minecraft. You can explore each of them through their dedicated section to find the one that suits your needs.
What is Gunpowder in Minecraft
Gunpowder is a common crafting ingredient in Minecraft that allows you to make a bunch of explosive items in the game. While it may not hold much value by itself, this versatile item serves as a key component in crafting powerful items and enhancing potions.
It is one of the few useful items in the game that can't be crafted or smelted into existence. Instead, you have to rely upon natural loot and various Minecraft mobs to collect gunpowder in your world.
How to Get Gunpowder in Minecraft
Keeping mob loot for a later part of the guide, here are three unique ways to obtain gunpowder in Minecraft.
Chest Loot
The easiest way to obtain gunpowder in Minecraft is by looting chests in the following structures:
- Dungeon
- Desert Temple
- Shipwreck
- Woodland Mansion
All of these structures, except shipwreck, have more than a 57% chance of spawning with gunpowder. Not to forget, make sure to also keep an eye out for the rare armor trims that generate in each of these structures. They will ensure that you look your best while basting off your enemies.
Archaeology
Thanks to Minecraft 1.20's archaeological features, you can also find gunpowder inside the suspicious sand blocks of desert temples. These blocks spawn on the surface of the hallways of the temple and can be uncovered using a brush.
Within each suspicious sand block, you have an enticing 12.5% chance of discovering a valuable piece of gunpowder. But, be careful not to break the sand block while trying to uncover it. Though, if you don't end up with it, you still have a high chance of walking away with a pottery sherd.
Trading
If structure hunting doesn't go as planned, you can also purchase gunpowder from wandering traders for an emerald. They have a 1/6 chance of selling this item. As for finding these traders, you just have to go about your day and wait for them to spawn near you.
Wandering traders spawn within a radius of 48 blocks around you during each in-game day. But remember that they cannot spawn underground. So, while you are trying to find emeralds in Minecraft, make it a habit to periodically visit the surface and look for the trader.
Get Gunpowder in Minecraft by Killing Mobs
There are three dangerous mobs in Minecraft that drop gunpowder on dying. Here's go over the process of defeating each of them to take your chances to the highest.
Creeper
Creepers are one of the most common hostile mobs that spawn in the overworld of Minecraft. You can find them wandering around your world during the day but they are more common at night. When a Creeper gets close to you, it explodes and deals you some damage while killing itself.
However, if you kill the Creeper before it explodes, it drops 0-2 pieces of gunpowder on dying. Most players stick with using a bow in Minecraft to kill these mobs while keeping themselves safe. Though, you can also use a diamond sword of stronger to quickly take down the Creeper from a closer distance.
Ghast
Ghasts are floating hostile mobs that spawn in the Nether dimension. You have to create a Nether portal in Minecraft to visit their hometown. Unlike Creepers, the Ghasts don't get close to the players to attack them. Instead, they shoot fireballs at you which deal damage on impact.
Luckily, the game allows you to hit the fireball to send it back to the Ghast. It typically takes two successful deflections to defeat this towering mob. Upon defeat, a Ghast drops 0-2 pieces of gunpowder. However, prefer a less risky approach, arming yourself with a trusty crossbow serves as a worthy alternative.
Witch
Witches are another hostile mob that spawns in the overworld. They are common in swamp biomes but can spawn in other areas including villages, caves, and more. Furthermore, if a lightning strike hits a villager it also turns into a witch.
You can easily kill a witch using any weapon to take it down and get 0-6 pieces of gunpowder. However, make sure to take it down before the witch uses a Potion of Healing to restore its health or a Potion of Poison to attack you. They might not be good at combat but their brewing abilities definitely make them a challenging enemy.
Uses of Gunpowder
Now that you know how to get gunpowder in Minecraft, here's how to use it:
- Crafting fire charge and TNT
- Building various types of firework stars and firework rockets (adding more gunpowder increases the duration of the rocket)
- Making colorful firework stars with dying ingredients (Bedrock only)
- Transforming regular potions into throwable splash potions
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you make gunpowder in Minecraft?
Gunpowders are one of the very items that don't have a crafting recipe in Minecraft. You can only obtain it by killing mobs, looting chests, and trading.
Can Piglins drop gunpowder?
The only mobs that drop gunpowder in Minecraft are Creepers, witches, and Ghasts.
Where do you farm gunpowder in Minecraft?
You can farm gunpowder in Minecraft by creating a mob farm that only spawns Creepers. To prevent other hostile mobs from spawning, you have to add a trapdoor on top of your 2-block high mob hallways in such a farm.
Get and Use Gunpowder in Minecraft
Our guide is here to help you learn how to get gunpowder in Minecraft within no time. However, when it comes to using it, it's your creativity that defines everything. So, just pick one of the best Minecraft survival seeds, find some gunpowder, and start your explosive journey. Though, if you want to push gunpowder to its limit then some of the best Minecraft mods might come in handy. Many of them add a bunch of new weapons and items that are craftable with gunpowder. With that out of the gate, which method are you going to rely upon for your gunpowder needs? Share your pick on the Discord server!