Minecraft is a constantly evolving game that frequently adds new content and features. One highly anticipated addition is the 1.20 update, also referred to as the Trails and Tales update. This update will introduce a new feature called archeology that will enable players to explore and uncover the secrets of the past by digging up and brushing away suspicious blocks. Additionally, a new type of structure called trail ruins will be included in the game.

The goal of this article is to give readers a thorough understanding of trail ruins, including information on their look, location, and loot. Additionally, it will discuss how to use them and what to anticipate from them. Continue reading if you want to learn more about this intriguing new feature in the most recent update to Minecraft.

1. What are trail ruins?

Trail ruins have a majority of their structure concealed beneath the ground, with only a small part visible above the surface. They resemble abandoned, ancient communities that have been buried over time. They are made up of various blocks, such as cobblestone, stone, terracotta, stone bricks, glazed terracotta, dirt, mud bricks, coarse dirt, gravel, and suspicious gravel.

Suspicious gravel is a unique block found at trail ruins and other archeological sites. It appears to be regular gravel, but it has the potential to contain hidden items that can be discovered by using a brush on it. These items can range from pottery shards, copper coins, emeralds, diamonds, or even rare artifacts.

Trail ruins are related to the latest archeology feature introduced in Minecraft's 1.20 update. This feature allows players to uncover secrets of the past by digging up and brushing suspicious blocks. Players can also produce pottery from clay and decorate it with different patterns using pottery shards.

2. Where can you find trail ruins?

Trail ruins are located in various Minecraft biomes that have a cold, snowy or temperate climate. These biomes include Jungle, Old Growth Birch Forest, Old Growth Pine Taiga, Old Growth Spruce Taiga, Snowy Taiga, and Taiga.

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The trail ruins are underground structures with only the tip above the ground

Trail ruins can be discovered either on land or underwater, often in proximity to a river, aquifer, or ocean. They are relatively rare and may necessitate some exploration to locate them.

3. How do trail ruins look like?

Trail ruins possess a distinct appearance that distinguishes them from other structures in Minecraft. The main road, which links various small buildings and a central tower, is built from cobblestone, stone, and stone bricks. The tower, made of terracotta and glazed terracotta, is the most noticeable aspect of the structure, as it is typically visible above the ground level.

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The full structure of trail ruins

The adjacent small buildings, made of mud bricks and terracotta, have a variety of shapes and sizes, such as square, rectangular, or L-shaped. Some of them also have roofs constructed from stairs or slabs.

Most of the structure is concealed beneath gravel, dirt, coarse dirt, and suspicious gravel. These blocks can be excavated or brushed away to expose additional parts of the structure or concealed items. In the Bedrock Edition of Minecraft, trail ruins are significantly more exposed on the surface than in the Java Edition.

4) What can you get from trail ruins?

Trail ruins offer an excellent opportunity to discover rare and valuable items that can improve your Minecraft experience. In addition to the items that can be found in suspicious gravel, such as pottery shards, coins, or artifacts, trail ruins contain four unique armor trim smithing templates that can be utilized to enhance your armor via a smithing table.

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Use a brush on suspicious gravel to get shards and items

These templates include:

  • Wayfinder Armor Trim Smithing Template
  • Shaper Armor Trim Smithing Template
  • Host Armor Trim Smithing Template
  • Raiser Armor Trim Smithing Template

These templates are exclusively found in trail ruins and cannot be obtained from any other location. They can add distinctive styles and designs to your armor.

5. How can you access trail ruins?

Trail ruins are still being developed and are subject to change in future updates. They were initially introduced in the 23w12a snapshot for Java Edition and require enabling experimental gameplay in Bedrock Edition. Some bugs or issues may need to be addressed.

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Trail ruins are the only source of naturally spawning mud bricks

To access trail ruins in Java Edition, you must download and install the latest snapshot from the Minecraft launcher. After that, you need to create a new world or load an existing one with the snapshot version selected.

To access trail ruins in Bedrock Edition, you must enable experimental gameplay in the game settings menu. After that, you must create a new world or load an existing one with experimental gameplay enabled.

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