Amethyst shards are a unique resource in Minecraft, introduced with the 1.17 Caves and Cliffs update. These shards are used in crafting a few special items, such as the Spyglass and Tinted Glass. But how do you get your hands on them? Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you collect amethyst shards effectively.
1. Locate an Amethyst Geode
The first step in collecting amethyst shards is finding an Amethyst Geode. These are spherical structures that typically form underground between Y levels -64 and 30. They are often encased in a layer of smooth basalt and calcite. While mining, keep an eye out for these distinctive blocks, which can also sometimes be spotted in caves or underwater.
Once you find a geode, break through the outer basalt and calcite layers. Inside, you’ll discover a core made up of different amethyst blocks, which hold the key to farming amethyst shards.
2. Understand Amethyst Growth Stages
Inside the geode, you’ll find two primary types of amethyst blocks: Budding Amethyst and Amethyst Clusters. Understanding the growth stages of amethyst is essential for harvesting shards effectively. Budding Amethyst blocks have a distinctive cross-shaped pattern on their sides and serve as the base for amethyst clusters to grow. These blocks can’t be mined, but they continuously spawn amethyst buds.
Amethyst buds progress through three stages of growth before becoming fully developed amethyst clusters. The smallest buds don’t drop anything when mined, so patience is necessary to let them mature fully.
3. Mine Fully Grown Amethyst Clusters
The key to obtaining amethyst shards is mining fully grown amethyst clusters. These clusters, the final growth stage of amethyst, will drop shards when broken. You can mine them using any pickaxe, but an iron pickaxe or better is recommended to ensure efficiency. When mined, a cluster typically drops four shards. If you’re using a pickaxe with the Fortune enchantment, you can increase your shard yield significantly, with the maximum drop being up to 16 shards.
For those looking to preserve the clusters for decoration or future shard farming, using a Silk Touch-enchanted pickaxe will allow you to collect the entire cluster intact.
4. Maximize Shard Farming with Enchantments
To maximize your shard yield, it’s advisable to use the Fortune enchantment on your pickaxe. This enchantment increases the number of shards that drop from each cluster. At the highest level, Fortune III, you can collect significantly more shards per mining attempt. Additionally, using Silk Touch to move clusters or to harvest them without breaking is a useful strategy if you’re planning on setting up an amethyst farm in a specific area.
5. What to Craft with Amethyst Shards
Now that you’ve gathered your amethyst shards, you can use them to craft some useful and decorative items. The most common recipes are:
- Spyglass: Combine one amethyst shard with two copper ingots to craft a spyglass. This tool allows you to zoom in on distant objects, making it easier to scout ahead or admire your surroundings from a distance.
- Tinted Glass: You can create tinted glass by combining one glass block with four amethyst shards. Tinted glass blocks light while remaining transparent, allowing for creative lighting setups without fully blocking visibility.
- Amethyst Block: If you’re into building, you can also use four amethyst shards to craft a decorative block of amethyst. While it doesn’t serve any functional purpose, it adds a stylish, crystalline aesthetic to your structures.
6. Tips for Farming
If you want to set up an amethyst shard farm, keep revisiting the geode where you found budding amethyst blocks. Since the buds regenerate over time, you can continue to harvest clusters from the same location without needing to search for new geodes. This makes it a sustainable resource for future projects.
