Brush
Brush reveals archaeology loot from suspicious sand and gravel using feather, copper, and stick.
Description
Players search desert temples, desert wells, trail ruins, ocean ruins, and other structures for brushable blocks. Loot can include pottery sherds, armor trim templates, emeralds, dyes, and location-specific rewards. The slow animation makes digging feel deliberate rather than instant mining. It also gives copper a practical early-game use beyond decoration and spyglasses.
Java & Bedrock Guide
How to use a Brush in Minecraft
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1
Craft the brush
Place a feather on top, a copper ingot in the middle, and a stick at the bottom of the crafting grid to make one Brush.
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2
Find suspicious blocks
Locate suspicious sand or suspicious gravel inside desert temples, desert wells, trail ruins, and warm ocean ruins.
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3
Brush the block
Hold the use button on the suspicious block; the Brush slowly clears it over a few seconds and reveals the buried item.
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4
Collect the artifact
Pick up the item once it pops out, then keep brushing nearby blocks before the deposit fully crumbles away.
Never mine suspicious sand or gravel with a tool or your hand — breaking it normally destroys the hidden loot. Only the Brush extracts the item safely.
How to craft this block
Frequently asked questions
How do you craft a Brush in Minecraft?
Stack a feather on top, a copper ingot in the middle, and a stick at the bottom of the crafting grid. This vertical recipe yields one Brush.
What is a Brush used for?
Brush is the archaeology tool used to excavate suspicious sand and suspicious gravel, releasing buried items such as pottery sherds and armor trim templates.
Where do you find suspicious sand and gravel?
Suspicious sand appears in desert temples, desert wells, and trail ruins, while suspicious gravel is found in trail ruins and cold ocean ruins.
How many uses does a Brush have?
A Brush has 64 durability, so it can clear up to 64 suspicious blocks before it breaks and must be crafted again.
What version added the Brush?
The Brush was added in Minecraft 1.20 Trails & Tales as the core tool of the archaeology system, alongside suspicious sand and gravel.
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