Amethyst shards are a new item added in Minecraft 1.17 that can be obtained from amethyst geodes found in the overworld. Amethyst shards have a few different uses and can be crafted into decorative blocks, tools, and even respawn anchors.
Finding Amethyst Shards
Amethyst shards generate naturally as part of amethyst geodes, which are large mineral formations found underground in the overworld. Amethyst geodes contain budding amethyst blocks, which you can break to obtain amethyst shards.
Each budding amethyst block drops between 2-8 amethyst shards when broken. You can tell where an amethyst geode is located underground by spotting small clusters of amethyst blocks exposed on the surface above the geode.
Once you dig down and find an amethyst geode, simply mine the budding amethyst blocks with a pickaxe to collect the amethyst shards. Fortune enchantments on your pickaxe will increase the shard drops when breaking budding amethyst blocks.
Crafting with Amethyst Shards
Here are some of the items you can craft using amethyst shards in Minecraft:
Amethyst Block
Amethyst blocks are decorative blocks that can be crafted with 4 amethyst shards. They emit a soft purple glowing light, which makes them great aesthetic additions for builds.
Budding Amethyst
Budding amethyst is the block that amethyst shards generate on in geodes. You can craft budding amethyst by placing an amethyst shard in any direction on a block of amethyst.
Amethyst Cluster
Amethyst clusters are large decorative crystals that can be placed in any direction on budding amethyst blocks. They require 4 amethyst shards and 1 budding amethyst to craft.
Tinted Glass
Combining an amethyst shard with a piece of glass in a crafting table makes tinted glass, which has a soft purple tint. This decorative glass block takes 4 amethyst shards and 1 glass to craft.
Spyglass
The spyglass is a new utility item that lets you zoom in on distant objects. Crafting a spyglass takes 2 copper ingots and 1 amethyst shard placed vertically in the crafting grid.
Amethyst Torch
Amethyst torches give off a purple torch flame and prevent hostile mob spawns in a range around them. They can be crafted with 1 torch and 1 amethyst shard.
Respawn Anchor
Respawn anchors allow you to set your respawn point in the Nether. They are crafted with 6 crying obsidian, 3 glowstone, and 1 amethyst shard.
Decorating with Amethyst
Here are some ideas for using amethyst blocks and crystals to decorate your builds and bases in Minecraft:
- Line the walls of your base with amethyst blocks as a pretty purple accent wall
- Place amethyst clusters inside or outside your home as decorative crystals
- Build an amethyst themed fountain, waterfall, or pool using budding amethyst and amethyst clusters
- Construct an amethyst geode in your base using budding amethyst and amethyst clusters
- Use tinted glass for amethyst-tinged windows, walkways, and greenhouses
- Incorporate amethyst torches into hidden lighting setups to eliminate spawnable spaces
The glowing purple hues of amethyst blocks and crystals make for very attractive decorative additions to builds and bases. Their shades of purple stand out and complement other commonly used blocks like quartz, prismarine, and purpur blocks.
Other Uses
Here are a few other uses for amethyst shards in Minecraft:
- Trading with mason villagers – Masons accept amethyst shards as one of their trades
- Selling to wandering traders – Wandering traders will buy 12 amethyst shards for one emerald
- Crafting spyglass – The spyglass requires amethyst shards to craft and can zoom in on distant objects
- Respawn anchors in the Nether – An amethyst shard is needed to craft respawn anchors, which set your respawn point in the Nether
- Potions – Amethyst shards can be used to craft Tinted Glass Bottles at a Brewing Stand, which are used to make potions of invisibility
Farming Amethyst Shards
Since amethyst geodes are the only natural source of amethyst shards, you’ll have to seek out geodes and mine the shards if you want to collect large quantities. Here are some tips for farming amethyst shards:
- Search for exposed amethyst on the surface – This indicates a geode below
- Dig down above the geode and mine it out to collect all the budding amethyst blocks
- Use Fortune III on your pickaxe to maximize shard drops
- You can regenerate the budding amethyst by placing amethyst shards on any side of the cleared blocks
- Create an automated shard farming system using pistons or flying machines to break and replace the budding amethyst
Amethyst geodes regenerate the budding amethyst blocks over time so you can create renewable shard farms above them. Just be sure to clear out the geode fully each time so the amethyst has room to regrow.
Amethyst Shard Farm Designs
Here are some example designs for automated amethyst shard farming systems in Minecraft:
Flying Machine Farms
Use a flying machine with pistons on the face to break the budding amethyst and collect shards. Have the machine sweep back and forth over the geode on rails or slime blocks.
Piston Harvester Farms
Pistons can be set up to repeatedly extend and break the budding amethyst, with hoppers below to gather shards. Have the pistons sweep vertically or horizontally across the geode.
Water Harvesting Farms
Break the budding amethyst with pistons or by hand, then flush the shards into water streams that carry them to a collect point.
TNT Duplicator Farms
Use TNT duplicators to automatically detonate and break the budding amethyst. Hopper minecarts below pick up the shard drops.
Storing Amethyst Shards
Here are some tips for effectively storing your collected amethyst shards:
- Chests – Simple unsorted storage, but requires manually moving items
- Barrels – Can store more shards per block than chests
- Shulker Boxes – Great for transporting shards and enable stacked storage
- Item Sorters – Sort shards into dedicated storage with hopper/dropper item filters
- Storage Minecarts – Use chest or hopper minecarts that can move shards where needed
Some key things to consider when storing amethyst shards:
- Make storage accessible from your shard farm and base
- Expand storage as your supply grows
- Implement item sorting to enable finding/using shards easily
Most Effective Way to Collect Amethyst Shards
Based on the shard collecting methods and farms covered, here is what is likely the most effective overall approach:
- Locate surface amethyst clusters and dig down to find geodes
- Clear out the geode fully to mine all budding amethyst blocks
- Set up flying machine harvester on rails/slime to sweep across geode and collect shards
- Transport shards immediately into storage system with item sorting
- Expand storage capabilities as more shards accumulate
- Use Fortune III pickaxe for increased yield
- Let geode regrow and repeat harvesting process
The combination of clearing the entire geode, using a sweeping flying machine harvester, and an item sorting storage system enables high rates of automated amethyst shard farming. You can acquire stacks of shards relatively quickly this way.
Conclusion
Amethyst shards have a variety of uses in Minecraft, ranging from crafting decorative blocks like amethyst clusters to functional items like the spyglass. The easiest way to obtain amethyst shards is by finding and mining amethyst geodes in the overworld.
Once you have some shards collected, you can create beautiful, glowing purple decorations with amethyst blocks. Shards are also used to craft useful items like spyglasses, tinted glass, and respawn anchors. For larger shard collecting, you can create automated farming systems above amethyst geodes.
Effective farms use flying machines, pistons, water streams, or TNT duplicators to harvest the renewable budding amethyst blocks. Storing shards with item sorters and expandable storage helps manage your supply. With an efficient geode mining and farm setup, you’ll be able to accumulate endless amethyst shards for all your crafting needs and aesthetic desires.
