Gunpowder
Gunpowder is the renewable explosive ingredient dropped by creepers and used to craft TNT, fireworks, and splash potions in Minecraft.
1.21
Description
Gunpowder is a renewable crafting item in Minecraft and the explosive component behind TNT and fireworks. Creepers are the most common source, dropping 0-2 gunpowder when killed, while ghasts and witches also drop it. You can obtain gunpowder by bartering with piglins and find it in dungeon, desert temple, and woodland mansion chests. Its main use is crafting TNT, where five gunpowder and four sand are arranged in an alternating checkerboard pattern in the crafting grid. Gunpowder also turns a regular potion into a splash potion when added in a brewing stand, making it essential for combat potions. One to three gunpowder combined with paper creates a firework rocket, where the amount of gunpowder sets the flight duration, and gunpowder with dye crafts a firework star. It is also a component of fire charges alongside blaze powder and coal. Because creepers spawn in the dark, gunpowder is fully renewable and easy to farm with mob traps. The Looting enchantment increases the amount of gunpowder dropped.
Java & Bedrock Guide
How to get and use Gunpowder in Minecraft
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1
Hunt creepers for gunpowder
Kill creepers to collect 0-2 gunpowder each; a sword with Looting III raises the maximum drop to five per creeper.
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2
Open more sources
Defeat ghasts in the Nether and witches, barter with piglins using gold ingots, and loot dungeon and desert temple chests for extra gunpowder.
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3
Craft TNT
Place five gunpowder and four sand in an alternating checkerboard pattern in the crafting grid to make one block of TNT.
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4
Brew splash potions
Add gunpowder to a finished potion in a brewing stand to convert it into a throwable splash potion.
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5
Build fireworks
Combine one to three gunpowder with paper to craft a firework rocket; more gunpowder means a longer, higher flight.
Renewable resource
Because creepers spawn in low light, gunpowder can be farmed indefinitely with spawners or dark spawning platforms — useful for automated TNT cannons and large firework shows.
How to craft this block
Crafting
Gunpowder
3
Used in crafts
- TNT
- Firework Star
- Firework Rocket
- Fire Charge
Related blocks
Frequently asked questions
How do you get gunpowder in Minecraft?
Gunpowder is most commonly dropped by creepers (0-2 each), and also by ghasts and witches; you can find it in chests or barter for it with piglins.
What is gunpowder used for?
Gunpowder crafts TNT, firework rockets, firework stars, and fire charges, and it converts brewed potions into splash potions.
How much gunpowder do you need for TNT?
One block of TNT requires five gunpowder and four sand arranged in an alternating pattern in the 3x3 crafting grid.
Is gunpowder renewable?
Yes. Creepers, ghasts, and witches respawn, so gunpowder can be farmed endlessly with mob traps.
Does Looting increase gunpowder drops?
Yes. A sword enchanted with Looting raises the maximum gunpowder dropped per creeper from two up to five.
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