How to Get Gunpowder in Minecraft

Gunpowder is that one late-game resource in Minecraft that you couldn’t care less about until you start brewing potions, making TNT, or planning your next Elytra adventure. The good news is that learning how to get gunpowder in Minecraft is fairly straightforward. So, in this guide, we state the best ways to get gunpowder and what you would do if you’re playing in Peaceful mode.

All Ways to Get Gunpowder in Minecraft: Quick Overview

Gunpowder is used in a ton of Minecraft potions, making fireworks, and other items. Although there are several ways to learn how to get gunpowder in Minecraft, some are considerably more efficient than others.

That said, here is a brief about all the ways of how to get gunpowder in Minecraft:

Method	Gunpowder obtained	Best For
Creepers	0-2, up to 5 with Looting 3	Early-game and regular farming
Ghasts	0-2, up to 5 with Looting 3	Players exploring the Nether
Witches	0-6, up to 15 with Looting 3	Witch farms
Loot Chests	1-8	Players who like to explore
Wandering Traders	4	Minecraft Peaceful mode

How to Get Gunpowder From Minecraft Mobs

If someone asks you what the fastest method to get gunpowder in Minecraft is, Creepers are the only answer. While hunting down individual creepers among all other mobs in Minecraft can be considered the easiest option for beginners, making farms is a much better option.

You can check our detailed guide on how to make a Creeper farm in Minecraft and then have an unlimited source of Gunpowder in the game. Normally, the mob will drop 0-2 gunpowder, but if you kill it with a sword having the looting enchantment in Minecraft, the number can go up to 5 gunpowder at once.

The number of gunpowder dropped by a Ghast is the same as a Creeper; however, due to its flying nature and difficult spawn biome, the mob is difficult to tackle.

Although Witches can drop 0-6 gunpowder, and with Looting 3, it can be up to 15, there’s a small catch. Gunpowder is one of the several possible Witch drops, so it makes the mob a less dependable source for the item.

How to Get Gunpowder From Loot Chests

Not every answer to how to get gunpowder in Minecraft should involve killing mobs. There are several structures across some of our best Minecraft seeds that contain gunpowder as a loot item inside the chests.

Here’s a list of areas where you can find gunpowder along with the quantity that they appear in:

Structure	Where to Find	Quantity
Monster Room	Chests	1-8
Desert Pyramid	Suspicious Sand (1) and Chests	1-8
Shipwreck	Supply Chests	1-5
Woodland Mansion	Chests	1-8
Abandoned Camp	Common Chest	2-4

How to Get Gunpowder From Trading

Wandering Traders are another great answer for how to get gunpowder in Minecraft Peaceful mode. Although this Minecraft villager job offers a limited amount of gunpowder, getting four of them at the cost of 1 Emerald is a steal deal in my opinion.

However, the trade isn’t guaranteed because Wandering Traders have randomly selected offers. This method is particularly used for players who are exploring the game in Peaceful mode. Since the hostile mobs don’t spawn in this mode, you can’t go Creeper hunting or make any other mob farms.

All Uses of Gunpowder in Minecraft

Once you have learned how to get Gunpowder in Minecraft, you will quickly discover that this small item has an impressive list of applications. Most of them revolve around explosions, fireworks, or throwing potions. So, here are the main things you can make with gunpowder in Minecraft:

• Craft TNT: Combining gunpowder with sand or red sand will help you make TNT in Minecraft. This allows you to make controlled explosions for mining, clearing terrain, traps, and more.
• Firework Rockets: Gunpowder combined with paper can help you make fireworks in Minecraft. Using three gunpowder is a must, while more can help increase the duration of the rocket.
• Firework Stars: Firework Stars give color to the firework rockets. You can make them using gunpowder, any Minecraft color dye, and some additional ingredients to add visual effects.
• Fire Charges: Gunpowder can be combined with Blaze Powder and Coal or Charcoal to create 3x Fire Charges. It can be later used to ignite blocks or create a Firework Star.
• Splash Potions: One of the most useful applications is adding gunpowder to a regular potion on a Minecraft brewing stand to turn it into a splash potion. Instead of drinking it, you can now throw it to apply the effect on impact.

That is all you need to know about how to get gunpowder in Minecraft. So, what are you going to do with this item now? Let us know in the comments below.