Unearthing Treasures: A Comprehensive Guide to Excavating Suspicious Sand in Minecraft
The ancient art of archeology has arrived in Minecraft, breathing new life into the game with the 1.20 Trails & Tales update. At the heart of this thrilling feature lies suspicious sand, a unique block concealing valuable artifacts and new discoveries. Forget your trusty shovel; you’ll need a more delicate approach.
To obtain items from suspicious sand, you must craft and use a brush. Breaking suspicious sand with any tool, even one enchanted with Silk Touch, will yield nothing. Instead, meticulously brush the block to reveal its hidden contents.
The Art of the Brush: Crafting Your Excavation Tool
The key to unlocking the secrets of suspicious sand is the brush. This essential tool is crafted with three readily available ingredients:
- Feather: Obtained from chickens.
- Copper Ingot: Smelted from raw copper ore found underground.
- Stick: Crafted from wood planks.
Arrange these ingredients in a vertical line on a crafting table: feather on top, copper ingot in the middle, and stick at the bottom. This will produce a single brush, ready for your archeological adventures.
Excavating Treasures: The Brushing Technique
Armed with your brush, locate suspicious sand blocks. These blocks can be found in specific locations such as desert temples, desert wells, and warm ocean ruins. Equip the brush and right-click on the suspicious sand block. Your character will begin carefully brushing the sand away.
Observe the progress bar that appears as you brush. Once the bar is full, the suspicious sand block will break, revealing a randomly selected item. The items you can find depend on the location of the suspicious sand block. Be patient and persistent; the rewards are well worth the effort.
Understanding the Loot Table: What Treasures Await?
The rewards from brushing suspicious sand are determined by a loot table, which varies depending on the structure where the suspicious sand is found. Some of the most exciting items you can uncover include:
- Pottery Sherds: These fragments can be combined to create decorated pots, adding a personal touch to your builds.
- Sniffer Eggs: Hatch these eggs to welcome the adorable Sniffer to your world.
- Tools and Weapons: Stone tools, arrowheads and other relics.
- Building Blocks: Terracotta and other structural blocks.
- Diamonds: Extremely rare diamonds.
Remember, the thrill of archeology lies in the anticipation of the unknown. Each suspicious sand block holds the potential for a unique and valuable discovery.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some common questions about suspicious sand and the archeology system:
How do I find Suspicious Sand?
Suspicious sand can be found in specific structures:
- Desert Temples: Look for suspicious sand near the trap mechanism.
- Desert Wells: Check the bottom of the well for suspicious sand blocks.
- Warm Ocean Ruins: These ruins are a prime location for finding suspicious sand, especially those with sandy terrain.
Can I use any other tool besides a brush?
No. Using any other tool, even one enchanted with Silk Touch, will simply break the block without yielding any items. The brush is the only tool that will excavate the block and reveal its contents.
Does Fortune enchantment affect the drops from Suspicious Sand?
No, the Fortune enchantment has no effect on the loot obtained from suspicious sand. The loot table is pre-defined and not influenced by fortune.
Is there a faster way to brush Suspicious Sand?
Unfortunately, there is no way to speed up the brushing process. The speed is fixed, encouraging a deliberate and careful approach to excavation.
Can I automate brushing Suspicious Sand?
Currently, there is no known method to fully automate the brushing of suspicious sand using redstone or other mechanisms. Brushing requires player interaction.
What is the difference between Suspicious Sand and Suspicious Gravel?
The primary difference is the location where they are found and, consequently, the loot tables associated with them. Suspicious sand is typically found in desert and ocean structures, while suspicious gravel is found in colder biomes.
How do I get Sniffer Eggs from Suspicious Sand?
Sniffer Eggs have a chance to be found in suspicious sand blocks located in warm ocean ruins. It may take some time and exploration to find one, as the drop rate is relatively low. Each block of Suspicious Sand here that the player Brushes will have a 6.7% chance to drop a Sniffer Egg.
What are Pottery Sherds used for?
Pottery sherds are used to create decorated pots. You need four pottery sherds to craft a decorated pot. The pattern on the pot depends on the pottery sherds you use.
Can I find diamonds in Suspicious Sand?
Yes, it is possible to find diamonds in suspicious sand, but they are extremely rare. The chances of finding one are very low, making it a highly rewarding discovery.
What biomes generate warm ocean ruins?
Warm ocean ruins can generate in warm ocean biomes, and sometimes in beaches. These ruins are often buried and require exploration to uncover.
Are Sniffers useful?
Sniffers will sniff the ground, and seek out plants and seeds, digging them up for you to collect. The Sniffer can even help discover seeds for brand new decorative plants.
What are the rarest forms of sand?
Green sand is the rarest color of sand in the entire world. It’s caused by a special type of volcanic eruption in which olivine crystals (which are green) are brought to the surface of the earth.
Can you tame a sniffer in Minecraft?
There is no way to “tame” Sniffers, however, they are passive mobs that will never attack you, and won’t even look at you unless you’re holding food they like.
What light level do torches give off?
Torches give off a light level of 14. Torches also melt snow layers within 2 blocks and ice within 3 blocks (taxicab distance). Soul torches give off a light level of 10. Due to their lower light level, soul torches do not melt snow or ice.
What can I make with sand?
You can use sand to create concrete for walkways, edging, outdoor patios, and much more. Of course, sand is also a popular choice to create play areas like a sandbox.
The archeology system and suspicious sand add a new layer of depth and exploration to Minecraft. So grab your brush, embark on an adventure, and uncover the treasures hidden beneath the sand! And as you explore the educational possibilities within Minecraft, consider checking out the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org for resources and research on game-based learning.