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Snowball — Minecraft block

Snowball — Minecraft block

Snowball

Snowball is a stackable throwable item dropped when you dig snow with a shovel — the throwable that damages only Blaze and the core ingredient for snow blocks.

Block ID minecraft:snowball
Mod Vanilla
Game versions
1.21

Description

Snowball is a throwable item collected by digging snow layers or snow blocks with any shovel in Minecraft — a shovel without Silk Touch breaks a full snow block into four snowballs. Snowball generates in snowy plains, grove, snowy taiga, and frozen peaks, and it is fully renewable because Snow Golems leave a trail of snow wherever they walk in cold biomes. Snowball stacks to only 16 per slot, far less than the usual 64, so a snow farm fills inventory space quickly.

Snowball is thrown to knock back mobs and deals 3 damage per hit to Blaze, the only mob that actually takes damage; every other entity, including the Ender Dragon, gets knockback only. Four snowballs arranged in a 2x2 grid craft one snow block, the core ingredient for snow-themed builds, snow golem construction, and decorative igloos. Stockpile Snowball before a Nether fortress trip, because a stack of snowballs is a cheap, renewable weapon against Blaze that costs no iron or arrows.

Block properties

Item ID minecraft:snowball
/give command /give @p minecraft:snowball
Stackable Yes (16)
Renewable Yes

Gathering Guide

How to get Snowballs in Minecraft

  1. 1

    Craft a shovel

    Place one plank, iron ingot, or diamond above two sticks in a vertical line to craft a shovel — the only tool that drops snowballs from snow.

  2. 2

    Travel to a snowy biome

    Head to snowy plains, grove, snowy taiga, or snowy slopes where snow layers and snow blocks cover the ground.

  3. 3

    Dig the snow

    Hit snow layers or snow blocks with the shovel; a full snow block without Silk Touch drops four snowballs each.

  4. 4

    Build a snow golem farm

    Stack two snow blocks topped with a carved pumpkin to make a Snow Golem that leaves a renewable snow trail you can harvest endlessly.

Cold biomes only

Snow Golems take damage and melt in the Nether, deserts, and other warm biomes, so build snow farms only in cold or temperate areas, or place them on a non-flammable floor.

Used in crafts

Related blocks

Frequently asked questions

Can you craft a snowball in Minecraft?

No. Snowballs cannot be crafted; you obtain them by digging snow layers or snow blocks with a shovel, which drops up to four snowballs per block.

What does a snowball damage in Minecraft?

Snowballs deal 3 damage per hit only to Blazes. Every other mob, including the Ender Dragon, takes knockback but no damage.

How many snowballs make a snow block?

Four snowballs placed in a 2x2 crafting grid create one snow block.

Are snowballs renewable?

Yes. Snow Golems leave a trail of snow as they walk through cold biomes, so a snow golem farm provides an endless supply of snowballs.

How high do snowballs stack?

Snowballs stack to 16 per inventory slot, unlike most items that stack to 64.