Minecraft: How To Get (& Use) Mud Blocks

Minecraft Mud can be used in a variety of ways, ranging from decorative building blocks to converting Dirt Blocks into Clay, a source of Terracotta.

Mud is a natural block in Minecraft that commonly spawns within a Mangrove Swamp, a Swamp Biome variant that generates in warmer regions, typically next to deserts and jungles. Mud can also be intentionally created using a Water Bottle on a Dirt Block. This also applies to Dirt variants such as Coarse Dirt and Rooted Dirt. To harvest a Mud Block in Minecraft, players can simply use their bare hands; however, using a Shovel will make the process much quicker.

Another unique feature of the Mud Block in Minecraft is that entities will partially sink into the block, similar to Soul Sand. However, Mud will not decrease the movement speed of anything or anyone atop it. Additionally, Mud is not registered as a "full block," meaning that items can pass through a Mud Block into a Hopper placed beneath it. For instance, if players were to throw Seeds or Saplings on top of a Mud Block sitting on a Hopper, all the items would drain directly into the Hopper's inventory.

Related: Minecraft: How to Get (& Use) Moss Blocks

One of the main appeals of Mud is that it can be used for decorative building in Minecraft with its building block variant, the Mud Brick. To craft Mud Bricks, adventurers must place a Mud Block with Wheat on a Crafting Table to create Packed Mud. After producing Packed Mud ×4, put them in a 2×2 shape onto the Crafting Menu again to generate Mud Bricks ×4.

Minecraft fans can use a Stonecutter to convert Mud Bricks into correlating Slabs, Stairs, and Walls. Keep in mind that these three block types can also be made on a Crafting Bench, albeit with less efficiency. Placing any of these blocks on a surface produces a unique noise, imitating what a real-life brick of mud would sound like.

The last utility that Minecraft Mud can offer is being able to be converted into Clay. Typically, Clay Blocks will spawn in shallow water wherever Dirt and Sand are present. Clay can be collected and smelted into Terracotta, one of the most versatile decorative blocks in terms of color choice. Yet, Clay does not respawn, making it a somewhat rare resource, depending on the player's location. However, thanks to Mud, players can now create renewable Clay as long as they have a source of Dirt Blocks. This process can be performed by putting Mud directly above any block with Pointed Dripstone beneath it. Eventually, the Mud will change into Clay.

Next: Minecraft: How to Create New Villager Types (& Which Are Best)

Minecraft is available on PC, Android, iOS, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch.

Ethan is an American from California and holds a double-major degree in Business Admin. and Media & Comm. While adept in writing a variety of articles, he currently focuses on writing game guides for Screen Rant. He has a lifelong purpose of conquering his Steam backlog someday.