Gunpowder is a useful crafting ingredient in Minecraft and it is used to craft elements like TNT, Fire Charge, Firework Rocket, Firework Star, and Splash Portions. However, obtaining gunpowder in Minecraft is a bit more difficult than the other ingredients. You can get gunpowder by killing hostile mobs and several other specific gameplay methods help to get gunpowder in Minecraft. If you too want to have gunpowder to create some other elements this comprehensive guidance helps you to obtain gunpowder from different sources in Minecraft.
How to get gunpowder in Minecraft
There are several ways to get gunpowder in Minecraft. These include killing mobs, trading, and chest loot. This section aims to describe these methods.
Obtaining gunpowder from creepers
This is the most common way to get gunpowder. If you defeat a creeper, it will drop 0-2 gunpowder pieces. Using looting enchantment of the swords you can increase this to about 5 gunpowder pieces. You can find creepers all over the Minecraft biomes. They spawn at night and are active at night. Plus, you can also find creepers in dark caves and underground.
When you are fighting with creepers using an arrow and bow is safe as it can be used at a distance. Make sure to avoid explosions because creepers like to explore when they get closer to you and this explosion will not leave gunpowder pieces. Other than bow and arrow you can also use enchanted swords as well. However, being more active and energetic than creepers is needed here.
Creeper farm creation is a nice method to have more creepers. You can create a spawn place on your own. This has to be in a dark place. You can also place this spawn area in oceans as well. the doors have to be trap doors to avoid other mobs spawning. To collect the gunpowder pieces dropped you can place hoppers and chests below the spawning area.
Obtaining gunpowder from ghasts
Ghasts are large, floating mobs. You can find them in the Netherlands. They are strong mobs and difficult to defeat as they can shoot fireballs at you. However, if you killed a ghast you can collect 0-2 pieces of gunpowder.
You can find ghasts in open spaces above larva lakes in the Netherlands. When fighting with this mob type you can use a bow and the arrows or else swords. Also, you can use fire resistance portions as well.
Obtaining gunpowder from witches
This is the other type of hostile mob which drops gunpowder when killed. They are found here and there in the overworld. Mostly near swap biomes and dark areas. You can collect 0-6 gunpowder pieces by killing this mob.
Normally when fighting witches, you have to be careful about the harmful portions they throw. So, be prepared for that. You can use different portions to fight back.
Obtaining gunpowder from loot chests
This is the other possible method to obtain gunpowder in Minecraft. You can loot chests to find this treasure. Some of the loot chests you can find with gunpowder are dungeon chests, mineshaft chests, desert temple chests, and bastion remnants. Explore these chests and find the needed gunpowder among the other treasures. Here you can find about 1-8 gunpowder pieces.
Trading with villagers
This is also another common way to obtain gunpowder. You can find these traders around the overworld of Minecraft. Normally they spawn in villages near claimed bells or players. But the chance of trading with these wandering traders is one in a six chance. They exchange gunpowder for emeralds.
Tips to make gunpowder obtaining more efficient
Here are some of the useful tips to use when obtaining gunpowder by using the above-mentioned methods. Following these tips will help you to make your gunpowder hunting process a much easier and quicker process.
Use looting enchantment
If you equip your sword or any other with looting enchantment it can increase the number of gunpowder pieces dropping when killing hostile mobs like creepers, ghasts, and witches. This surely can increase the gunpowder drop rate.
Efficient farm design
Creeper farms can give more gunpowder much more easily than other methods. Because here you do not have to wander here and there to find the creepers and ghasts. Make sure to build your farm efficiently by maintaining accurate standards to avoid other mobs spawning in the farm. Here you can set trapdoors to prevent spawning of other mobs. You have to place your trapdoors in a 2-block high ceiling. This can prevent mobs like zombies and skeletons from spawning in the same area.
Regular exploration of Minecraft world
Regularly exploring the mobs spawning areas like caves, nethers, underground, lava lakes, etc. is also important to maintain consistent hunting methods. This can give you more gunpowder.
Use potions and enchantments
Creepers, ghasts and witches are hostile mobs that are difficult to fight with. A better preparation is needed before going to the battle. Make sure to equip yourself with the necessary weapons and armor to prevent any damage. Also using potions of strength, potions to enhance night vision and fire resistance potions are important here. These enchantments can give you more gunpowder pieces upon defeating a mob and you can collect more gunpowder pieces.
Final words
Gunpowder is a valuable resource to use in Minecraft gameplay. It is an ingredient for more powerful elements like TNT, Fire charges, Firework rockets, and Firework stars and also for brewing some useful splash potions. If you want to obtain gunpowder then the most common method involved here is killing hostile mobs like creepers, ghasts, and witches. Creepers and ghasts drop 0-2 pieces of gunpowder on their death and for witches it is 0-6 pieces of gunpowder.
Maintaining a creeper farm is also a good method to have more gunpowder. Also, you can trade emeralds with wandering traders to have gunpowder. Plus, some loot chests also include gunpowder among the other treasures. Using necessary enchanted weapons and different potions will make it easier to kill the mobs.