How to Use the Smithing Table in Minecraft
Complete guide to the Minecraft smithing table, netherite upgrades, armor trim templates, material slots and all trim patterns listed.
The smithing table serves two critical functions in modern Minecraft: upgrading diamond gear to netherite and applying decorative armor trims. Since the 1.20 update overhauled the interface to a three-slot system, understanding how templates, base items and additions work together is essential. This guide covers everything from crafting the table to finding every trim pattern.
Crafting a smithing table
Place two iron ingots on top and four planks (any wood type) below them in a 2x3 crafting grid. Smithing tables also generate naturally in village toolsmith houses, where you can pick them up for free. They have no fuel or power requirement, just right-click to open the interface.
The three-slot interface
Since 1.20, the smithing table has three input slots:
- Template slot (left), accepts smithing templates. These are non-stackable items that determine what operation you are performing.
- Base item slot (center), the gear piece you want to upgrade or trim.
- Addition slot (right), the material consumed in the operation (netherite ingot for upgrades, a trim material for trims).
Place all three items and the output slot shows the result. Click the output to complete the operation, consuming the template, the addition material and applying changes to the base item. The base item's enchantments, durability and custom name are preserved.
Upgrading diamond to netherite
To upgrade any diamond tool, weapon or armor piece to netherite:
- Template: Netherite Upgrade smithing template. Found in bastion remnant chests in the Nether. Each bastion type has a chance to contain one. The template is consumed on use, so you need one per item.
- Base item: Any diamond tool, sword, or armor piece.
- Addition: One netherite ingot. Crafted from four netherite scraps (smelted from ancient debris) and four gold ingots.
Netherite gear has higher durability, deals more damage, mines faster, and survives lava and fire. The items also have innate knockback resistance on armor pieces. A full set requires four netherite ingots and four netherite upgrade templates.
Duplicating the netherite upgrade template
Because the template is consumed, finding only one feels punishing. You can duplicate it:
Place one netherite upgrade template in the center of a crafting table, surround it with eight diamonds, and place a netherrack block behind it (center-bottom slot). This yields two copies of the template, letting you multiply your supply before upgrading all four armor pieces and your tools.
Armor trims
Armor trims are purely cosmetic patterns applied to helmets, chestplates, leggings and boots. They do not affect stats. Each trim requires:
- Template: A specific armor trim smithing template, each with a unique pattern.
- Base item: Any armor piece (leather, iron, gold, diamond, netherite, chainmail).
- Addition: A trim material that determines the color. Options include iron, copper, gold, lapis lazuli, emerald, diamond, netherite, redstone, amethyst and quartz. Each produces a different color overlay.
All trim templates and where to find them
- Coast, shipwrecks
- Dune, desert temples
- Eye, strongholds
- Host, trail ruins
- Raiser, trail ruins
- Rib, Nether fortresses
- Sentry, pillager outposts
- Shaper, trail ruins
- Silence, ancient cities (rarest)
- Snout, bastion remnants
- Spire, end cities
- Tide, ocean monuments
- Vex, woodland mansions
- Ward, ancient cities
- Wayfinder, trail ruins
- Wild, jungle temples
- Flow, trial chambers
- Bolt, trial chambers
Duplicating trim templates
Every armor trim template can be duplicated in the crafting table using seven diamonds, the template itself and one block of the structure material associated with that trim. For example, the Dune trim uses sandstone, the Rib trim uses netherrack, and the Spire trim uses purpur block. Each recipe yields two copies of the template.
Villager job site
The smithing table also functions as the toolsmith villager job site block. Placing one near an unemployed villager converts them to a toolsmith, who trades diamond axes, pickaxes, shovels and hoes at high levels. This has no effect on the smithing table's crafting functionality.
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