Minecraft Pottery Sherds Guide: How to Find and Use Them for Decorated Pots

Pottery sherds are one of the more unique collectibles in Minecraft, introduced with the 1.20 “Trails & Tales” update (formerly called The Wild update). With a total of 23 pottery sherds available, players can discover them across different structures and excavation spots.

If you’re new or returning to Minecraft, this guide will help you understand exactly how to find pottery sherds and how to use pottery sherds in decorated pots.

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How to Find Pottery Sherds in Minecraft

There are two main ways to obtain pottery sherds:

1. From Suspicious Sand and Gravel

   • Found in structures like:

     • Ocean Ruins

     • Desert Temples

     • Desert Wells

     • Trail Ruins

   • Look for blocks that appear slightly different from normal sand or gravel—these are suspicious sand or suspicious gravel.

   • Using a brush, you can excavate these blocks to reveal hidden items, with pottery sherds being one of the possible drops.

   • Drop chances range from 25% to 6.7%, depending on the rarity of the specific sherd.

2. From Decorated Pots in Structures

• In Trial Chambers and other generated structures, you may find decorated pots already crafted with pottery sherds.

• Breaking these pots will drop the pottery sherds used to make them, allowing you to collect different designs.

How to Use Pottery Sherds in Minecraft

The primary use of pottery sherds is to craft decorated pots. Here’s how it works:

• Combine four pottery sherds or bricks to create a decorated pot.
• Each pottery sherd used will display its design on one side of the pot.
• If you only have one pottery sherd, you can still craft a pot by combining it with three bricks—this will result in a pot with the design showing on just one side.

This makes decorated pots not only functional but also highly customizable for building and interior design in Minecraft.

Minecraft pottery sherds add a unique layer of creativity and exploration to the game. Whether you’re digging through suspicious sand in desert ruins or salvaging designs from decorated pots, these items are essential for making your base feel personalized.

So, before moving on to your next adventure, take the time to collect and use pottery sherds—they’re a small detail that can make your builds stand out.