Almost all players use gunpowder to make TNT, although this material can also be used for fireworks and splash potions. The easiest way to find this material is to hunt down creepers. The other methods are more difficult, but there's a chance that you can get more valuable loot.
Step
Method 1 of 4: Killing the Creeper
Step 1. Understand how to get gunpowder from a creeper
Each creeper you kill before the creature explodes will drop 0, 1, or 2 units of gunpowder. Once you know the basics, keep reading for some ways to kill him without damaging the valuables he carries.
The steps below are organized according to the equipment required. The methods at the bottom of the list are easier and faster, but require more sophisticated items
Step 2. Place the cactus on the creeper's path
One way to kill a creeper is to place a cactus block behind you when you are being chased by a creeper. Creeper will get injured when walking through cactus. This will be much faster if the creeper is seriously injured so you just have to finish it with one swipe of the sword.
- Creeper will be killed with thirteen strokes of the cactus and one swipe of the iron sword.
- Creeper will be killed with twelve cactus strokes and one diamond sword swipe.
- One cactus can sometimes hit a creeper more than once. The creeper will make a sound every time the creature is hit so you can count the number of hits the cactus takes.
Step 3. Fight against creepers in the water
You can't get hurt if you get hit by an explosion in the water. Lure the creeper to dive into the water at a depth that can completely submerge you. When you are in the water, kill the creeper with your sword.
Keep in mind that to get gunpowder, you must kill the creeper before it explodes. Water is a safe place if something goes wrong
Step 4. Kill creepers in direct combat
You can kill creepers without using sophisticated tactics. Of course, this is a dangerous situation. Store all the valuables in the chest, then take the diamond or iron sword. You can perform a deadly attack in the following ways:
- Lure creepers into exposed areas.
- Double tap the forward button to start running. (You must be using version 0.12.1+ in Pocket Edition.)
- While running, attack the creeper with your sword to knock it back. This will abort the blast countdown.
- Back off immediately to get enough distance between you and the creeper.
- Repeat the steps above. After three hits using a diamond sword or an ordinary iron sword, the creeper will die.
Step 5. Lure the creeper to the burned area
Bring chert and steel. Have the creepers hunt you over planks, grass, or other flammable materials. Run backwards and burn the ground in front of you. Creeper will be trapped in the fire, then slowly burn to death. This will not cause an explosion, so you can still pick up gunpowder dropped by a creeper.
Step 6. Shoot the creepers using a bow and arrow
This is one of the easiest ways to kill creepers, especially if you're doing it from a high place. Here's how to get a bow and arrow:
- Each skeleton that dies has a chance of dropping a bow and/or 0 to 2 arrows.
- If you want to make a bow, join three sticks with three strings. You can get ropes by killing spiders or breaking cobwebs with your sword.
- You can make arrows by combining one stick, one chert, and one feather. Although difficult, you can get chert from pebbles. Feathers can be obtained from chickens.
Step 7. Tame the ocelot
Ocelots are cat-like animals that spawn in the forest, and are in all versions of Minecraft. (If using Pocket Edition, you may need to update to version 0.12.1.) Creepers don't like being around ocelots. So, it will be easier for you to get gunpowder by bringing this animal. Here's how to tame an ocelot:
- Collect as many fish as possible, which you can usually get by fishing.
- Approach the ocelot (preferably in an open area). It's best if you do it silently. Hold the fish.
- Stay still and wait for the ocelot to see you and walk over.
- Give the fish to the ocelot. Use the left directional key or the L2 key if you are using a console. Hold down the right mouse button on the PC.
- Keep feeding the fish until the ocelot turns into a cat. This animal will follow you now.
Method 2 of 4: Killing the Witch
Step 1. Check your Minecraft version
Wizards have appeared on the PC edition since version 1.4.2, and on the console edition since December 2014. Wizards are not in Minecraft Pocket Edition.
Some players (probably only on Windows 7) discovered a bug in the PC edition version 1.8, which prevented wizards from spawning in wizard huts. As of November 2015, there is no explanation as to whether this will be fixed in version 1.9 or not
Step 2. Know the opportunities
Each mage that dies only gives a 16% chance of dropping gunpowder, compared to a 66% chance of killing a creeper. However, wizards can drop up to six objects, and it's possible to drop other items such as spider eyes or glowstones. This can be more profitable if you want to have some extra items.
Step 3. Find the witch's hut
Witches can be found anywhere, but are usually in the vicinity of a witch's hut. This wooden stilt house can only spawn in the swamp biome, which is a watery area that is overgrown with trees.
You can have a hard time finding the witch's hut. Try using a map mod like AMIDST
Step 4. Dig a trap in front of the witch's house (optional)
Dig a small hole in front of the witch's hut door. In a not too far away, make a hill or a small tower. Make sure your view is unobstructed to shoot an arrow from this high place into the hole. Also create a barrier to hide behind it, because the magician will throw a destructive potion.
Warning: there may be witches in the hut. Get ready for a fair fight before you set a trap
Step 5. Shoot the witches as they spawn
The easiest way to kill a witch is with a bow and arrow. You can shoot three arrows at once by pulling the bow all the way through.
You may need extra arrows because wizards can drink healing potions
Step 6. Kill the witch using the sword
Alternatively, run towards the witch and kill the witch with the sword. This is not a difficult thing if you already know how witch potions work.
- Magicians can slow your movements if you are seen by them from more than 8 blocks away. To prevent this from happening, ambush the magician from behind a tree or barrier.
- Witch will poison you. Indeed poison can not kill you, but your life will be reduced by one. Bring healing items to recover after the fight.
- Each subsequent potion will deal 6 damage. You can definitely survive if you have good armor and can kill wizards quickly.
Method 3 of 4: Killing Ghast
Step 1. Decide if you want to hunt down the ghast
Ghast is a very dangerous enemy because it can shoot fireballs from a distance of sixteen blocks. This creature drops the same amount of gunpowder as creepers. The main advantage is that they can also drop ghast tears, which are special items that can be used to brew beer.
Step 2. Create a nether portal
Follow the instructions given in the link of this article to create a nether portal using api and obsidian.
Step 3. Make armor and bow
Until you have diamond armor and bow and arrows, you shouldn't go into the Nether.
- Ideally, you should cast a spell on your equipment to have better abilities. Fire-resistant equipment will be very useful.
- Diamond swords are useful for killing other types of enemies in the Nether, but not very useful against agile, flying ghasts.
Step 4. Go on a hunt for ghasts
Look for ghasts in wide open spaces, anywhere in the Nether. Ghast is a giant white monster that can fly with short tentacles hanging down.
Step 5. Create a barrier (optional)
The fireballs the ghast throws have great damage, but the ghasts can't shoot through solid blocks. A glass barrier is a great place to hide between gunfire while keeping an eye on the ghast.
Step 6. Shoot the ghasts using a bow and arrow
Depending on how hard you draw your bow, the ghast can be killed with a three-dart shot. Hide behind barriers during gunfights, or shoot while running to avoid fireballs.
Be careful not to fight with the ghasts on the lava. If gunpowder falls into the lava, you won't be able to pick it up
Step 7. Turn the fireball
The fireball moves slowly. Of course you can drop the fireball using a sword or arrow. Hit the fireball away from you, and try to hit the fireball back toward the ghast.
Method 4 of 4: Loot Chests
Step 1. Know the opportunities
This method does not guarantee that you will get gunpowder. Gunpowder can be randomly found in a chest, and is one of the many items that may be contained in it. But at least you'll get something else as a result of your hard work, though not gunpowder!
Step 2. Look for the dungeon
A dungeon is a small underground structure made of cobblestone or mossy rock. These dungeons only spawn within dense blocks, so a more effective way to find them is to mine instead of doing a quest in a cave.
In the upcoming 1.9 for PC edition, gunpowder can also be found in chests inside the desert temple
Step 3. Place the torch on the monster spawner
Each dungeon has a spawner monster that produces mobs continuously. Walk towards the spawner and place a torch there so no more monsters come out of it.
Step 4. Or dig through the wall
If you want to avoid the spawner, dig at the side of the dungeon to get to the chest. Chests are usually located around dungeon walls, so you can get in and out quickly if you access them from the side.
Step 5. Destroy the chest
This is the fastest way to get loot and chests. Your hard work will pay off if there is gunpowder in it!
Tips
- Back off as fast as you can after you beat a creeper in battle.
- Gunpowder can also be produced by a mob grinder. Although it requires more effort, gunpowder poses no danger once it is made.
- You can still get gunpowder by killing creepers or ghasts on Xbox.
- Gunpowder can also be picked up using the "Too Many Items" mod.
- In the early days of the game's development, gunpowder was known as sulfur.
