Minecraft 1.20
Decorated Pots
Pottery Sherds

How to Get Pottery Sherds in Minecraft 1.20

The upcoming major Minecraft update is all about self-expression, and what better way to express yourself than display your favorite Minecraft elements as symbols? The new pottery sherds offer just that. Whether you want to personalize your base on the best Minecraft survival servers or unlock a new building block, this is the item you need. So, let's dive in and learn how to make pottery sherds in Minecraft, and unlock a new level of creativity!

Pottery Sherds in Minecraft

Our guide relies on the pottery sherd mechanics of Minecraft Snapshot 23w14a. All the tutorials, images, and functions are subject to change with the final release.

What is a Pottery Sherd or Pottery Shard in Minecraft

The pottery sherds are a set of decorative crafting ingredients in Minecraft that allow you to create decorated pots. Each pottery sherd has a unique symbol engraved on itself that reflects some activity or element from Minecraft.

It's worth noting that the item was originally referred to as "pottery shards," but the developers changed the name before the release date of Minecraft 1.20 to its current name, "pottery sherds." Irrespective of what you call it, this item aligns with the game's focus on self-expression, just like armor trims.

Types of Pottery Sherds in Minecraft

At the moment, there are a total of 20 pottery sherds in Minecraft. Here is a complete list of them along with the locations where they spawn:

  • Angler Pottery Sherd - Warm Ocean Ruins (suspicious sand)
  • Archer Pottery Sherd - Desert temple (suspicious sand)
  • Arms Up Pottery Sherd - Desert well (suspicious sand)
  • Blade Pottery Sherd - Cold Ocean ruins (cold ruins suspicious gravel)
  • Brewer Pottery Sherd - Desert well (suspicious sand)
  • Burn Pottery Sherd - Trail ruins (suspicious gravel)
  • Danger Pottery Sherd - Trail ruins (suspicious gravel)
  • Explorer Pottery Sherd - Cold Ocean ruins (cold ruins suspicious gravel)
  • Friend Pottery Sherd - Trail ruins (suspicious gravel)
  • Heart Pottery Sherd - Trail ruins (suspicious gravel)
  • Heartbreak Pottery Sherd - Trail ruins (suspicious gravel)
  • Howl Pottery Sherd - Trail ruins (suspicious gravel)
  • Miner Pottery Sherd - Desert temple (suspicious sand)
  • Mourner Pottery Sherd - Cold Ocean ruins (cold ruins suspicious gravel)
  • Plenty Pottery Sherd - Cold Ocean ruins (cold ruins suspicious gravel)
  • Prize Pottery Sherd - Desert temple (suspicious sand)
  • Sheaf Pottery Sherd - Trail ruins (suspicious gravel)
  • Shelter Pottery Sherd - Warm Ocean ruins (warm ruins suspicious sand)
  • Skull Pottery Sherd - Desert temple (suspicious sand)
  • Snort Pottery Sherd - Warm Ocean ruins (warm ruins suspicious sand)

Out of these, the desert wells have the highest chances of spawning suspicious blocks that contain a pottery sherd. But, you will have to travel to the dedicated structure to find the particular type of sherd you want.

How to Get Pottery Sherds in Minecraft

Now that you know your design options, it's time to explore the world and get these amazing items. Follow these steps to find and collect pottery sherds in Minecraft:

1. First, locate ocean ruins, trail ruins, desert well, or desert temple structures. If you plan to go for an oceanic location, make sure to create a Potion of Water Breathing to keep yourself safe.

2. Then, create a brush in Minecraft by combining a feather and a stick with a copper ingot on the crafting table. You can use our Minecraft 1.20 ore distribution guide to easily find copper in no time.

3. Next, look for suspicious gravel or suspicious sand blocks in your selected structure. They look quite similar to the regular sand and gravel blocks but have a grainer texture.

4. Once you find a suspicious block, use the brush to uncover a pottery shard from that block. Keep in mind that you may need to try multiple blocks before finding pottery sherds.

How to Make a Decorated Pot

Pottery sherds may seem useless on their own, but when combined, they end up creating a beautiful pot. When you combine four pottery sherds on a crafting table, they turn into decorated pots in Minecraft.

Each shard contributes to the design on the face of the pot, making this item highly customizable. But if you prefer a plain pot face, you can even use clay bricks instead. The design on each face of the pot depends upon the placement of the shard or brick in the crafting recipe.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is pottery a shard or a sherd?

While you can use both of these terms interchangeably, "pottery sherd" is the official term in Minecraft. Furthermore, "sherd" is also the term that archaeologists prefer in the real world.

Is pottery coming to Minecraft?

With decorated pots and pottery sherds in Minecraft, you can now create unique pots to express yourself.

Can you put plants in the decorated pots of Minecraft?

Unfortunately, there is no collision or opening at the top of the decorated pots so you can't place flowers or plants in it. However, you can make a flower pot in Minecraft to store all your vegetation and decorate your house.

Find and Use Pottery Sherds in Minecraft 1.20

Now that you have access to pottery sherds in Minecraft, it's time to redecorate your entire home. But, only a new accessory-like item might not be enough for the job. So, you should also get blocks like bamboo wood or some stone bricks to renovate the entire building. Once you are done with the exterior, you can build a bunk bed in Minecraft along with other furniture options to revamp the interior. Having said that, which pottery sherd design is your favorite? Drop your choice on the Discord server!


Udayveer Singh

Udayveer Singh is a contributor to our news feed here at Servers-Minecraft and is passionate about all things Minecraft!