Snowball
Snowball is a stackable throwable item dropped when you dig snow with a shovel — the only ammo that damages Blaze and the core ingredient for snow blocks.
Description
Snowball is thrown to knock back mobs and deals 3 damage per hit to Blaze and the Ender Dragon, the only entities Snowball actually harms. Four snowballs arranged in a 2x2 grid craft one snow block, making Snowball 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.
Gathering Guide
How to get Snowballs in Minecraft
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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.
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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.
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3
Dig the snow
Hit snow layers or snow blocks with the shovel; a full snow block without Silk Touch drops four snowballs each.
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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.
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
- Chilling
- Snow Block
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 Blaze and the Ender Dragon. Against all other mobs snowballs cause 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.
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