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Minecraft smithing templates are single-use items that control Netherite upgrades and armor-trim patterns. Find them in specific generated structures, archaeology sites, or Trial Chamber vaults, then duplicate each template before using it. The standard duplication recipe is seven diamonds, one block of the template’s defining material, and one copy of the template, producing two copies.
This guide covers the locations documented for Minecraft 1.20 and the Bolt and Flow additions in 1.21. Loot presentation can differ between Java and Bedrock, so check your edition and version when a chest, vault, or guarantee matters.
What a smithing template does
A Smithing Template is an ingredient for a Smithing Table. Templates are consumed when used to upgrade an item, so a template found in a chest disappears after one operation. That rule applies both to Netherite Upgrade templates and to Armor Trim templates.
A Netherite Upgrade template changes a diamond item into its Netherite version when combined with a Netherite ingot. An Armor Trim template supplies a decorative pattern for a helmet, chestplate, leggings, or boots. Trims are purely visual: they do not increase armor, durability, protection, speed, or any other gameplay statistic.
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For trims, the template determines the shape of the pattern and a separate material determines its color. The armor piece, template, and color material are placed together in the Smithing Table.
Every template: location, acquisition and duplication material
The table uses the structure and acquisition information documented for the 1.20 template set plus the 1.21 Trial Chamber additions. “Chest” means a structure-generated chest; archaeology and vault entries use their distinct mechanics.
| Template | Where to find it | How it is acquired | Duplication material | Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Netherite Upgrade | Bastion Remnant | Chest; every Treasure Room Bastion contains two | Netherrack block | Netherite upgrade |
| Sentry | Pillager Outpost | Chest | Cobblestone | Armor trim |
| Dune | Desert Pyramid | Chest | Sandstone | Armor trim |
| Coast | Shipwreck | Chest | Cobblestone | Armor trim |
| Wild | Jungle Temple | Chest | Mossy Cobblestone | Armor trim |
| Tide | Ocean Monument | Monument loot or an Elder Guardian | Prismarine | Armor trim |
| Ward | Ancient City | Chest | Cobbled Deepslate | Armor trim |
| Silence | Ancient City | Chest | Cobbled Deepslate | Armor trim |
| Vex | Woodland Mansion | Chest | Cobblestone | Armor trim |
| Rib | Nether Fortress | Chest | Netherrack | Armor trim |
| Snout | Bastion Remnant | Chest | Blackstone | Armor trim |
| Eye | Stronghold | Library chest; one is guaranteed per library chest under the 23w05a loot change | End Stone | Armor trim |
| Spire | End City | Chest | Purpur Block | Armor trim |
| Wayfinder | Trail Ruins | Brush suspicious gravel | Terracotta | Armor trim |
| Raiser | Trail Ruins | Brush suspicious gravel | Terracotta | Armor trim |
| Shaper | Trail Ruins | Brush suspicious gravel | Terracotta | Armor trim |
| Host | Trail Ruins | Brush suspicious gravel | Terracotta | Armor trim |
| Bolt | Trial Chamber | Vault | Copper Block or Waxed Copper | Armor trim |
| Flow | Trial Chamber | Ominous Vault | Breeze Rod | Armor trim |
The exact defining-material recipe is version data. If you are playing an edition or release with changed recipe data, verify the template’s in-game recipe before spending diamonds.
Where to find the Netherite Upgrade template
Bastion Remnants and Treasure Rooms
Netherite Upgrade templates generate in Bastion Remnant chests. A Treasure Room Bastion contains two guaranteed Netherite Upgrade templates, making that variant the most reliable target when you can identify the Treasure Room layout. Other Bastion sections do not provide the same stated guarantee.
Bastions are dangerous Nether structures populated by hostile piglins and, in many layouts, piglin brutes. Bring fire resistance, blocks for cover, food, and a plan for opening chests without being trapped. Once you obtain one template, duplicate it immediately with a Netherrack block and seven diamonds. Keeping the original unused protects your ability to make more copies later.
Where to find the 1.20 armor trims
Overworld structures
- Sentry: search Pillager Outpost chests.
- Dune: search Desert Pyramid chests.
- Coast: search Shipwreck chests.
- Wild: search Jungle Temple chests.
- Tide: search Ocean Monument loot. Elder Guardians can also drop a Tide template, giving you a combat-based alternative to monument chests.
- Ward and Silence: search Ancient City chests. These are separate templates, and both use Cobbled Deepslate for duplication.
- Vex: search Woodland Mansion chests.
- Eye: search Stronghold library chests. Following the 23w05a loot change, one Eye template is guaranteed in every Stronghold library chest.
- Spire: search End City chests.
Nether structures
- Rib: search Nether Fortress chests.
- Snout: search Bastion Remnant chests. Snout is an armor trim; the Netherite Upgrade is a separate template found in the same broad structure type.
Trail Ruins archaeology
Wayfinder, Raiser, Shaper, and Host templates come from suspicious gravel in Trail Ruins. Equip a brush and carefully excavate the suspicious blocks; breaking them normally destroys the archaeology opportunity. All four Trail Ruins templates use Terracotta for duplication.
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How Bolt and Flow work in Minecraft 1.21
Bolt in Vaults
Minecraft 1.21 adds the Bolt Armor Trim and its Smithing Template to Trial Chamber Vaults. After obtaining Bolt, duplicate it with seven diamonds and either a Copper Block or Waxed Copper, plus the original Bolt template.
Flow in Ominous Vaults
Flow is the 1.21 trim associated with Trial Chamber Ominous Vaults. Its duplication material is a Breeze Rod. The Ominous Vault requirement matters: a normal Vault is not the listed source for Flow.
Because Bolt and Flow were added in 1.21, a world or server running an earlier release will not have these templates. Confirm that the world has generated Trial Chambers under a release that includes them before searching.
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How to duplicate a smithing template
Duplication is done in a Crafting Table, not at the Smithing Table. The general recipe is always seven diamonds surrounding one template and one block of that template’s defining material. The result is two copies of the same template, so your net gain is one additional copy.
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- Open a Crafting Table.
- Place seven diamonds in the crafting grid, leaving the center position and one other position arranged for the template-and-material pair according to the recipe.
- Place one copy of the template in the recipe.
- Place one block of its defining material: for example, Netherrack for Netherite Upgrade, Prismarine for Tide, Cobbled Deepslate for Ward or Silence, Copper Block or Waxed Copper for Bolt, and Breeze Rod for Flow.
- Collect the output of two identical templates.
- Repeat the process before using templates for multiple armor pieces or upgrades.
Do not assume that two templates with similar names share a recipe. Ward and Silence both use Cobbled Deepslate, while Sentry, Coast, and Vex use Cobblestone; each still requires its own original template in the recipe. The defining-material values in the table reflect the documented version; recipes can change between editions or releases.
How to apply an armor trim
- Place a Smithing Table and open its interface.
- Put the armor piece in the armor slot. Trims apply to helmets, chestplates, leggings, and boots.
- Put the matching Armor Trim template in the template slot. A Netherite Upgrade template is not interchangeable with a trim template.
- Put one color material in the material slot.
- Inspect the preview, then take the trimmed armor from the output slot.
The template creates the pattern; the material creates the visible color. Documented viable materials include iron, copper, gold, lapis lazuli, emerald, diamond, netherite, redstone, amethyst, and quartz. The armor’s base material and the trim material are independent, so a diamond chestplate can receive a gold, copper, quartz, or other supported color accent.
Applying a trim does not add an enchantment, armor points, durability, or a special effect. It is a customization choice for appearance and for distinguishing equipment sets.
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Duplicate before upgrading or decorating
Since the Smithing Table consumes templates, use the first copy as a source for duplication rather than immediately spending it. This is especially important for rare finds such as Silence, Netherite Upgrade, and templates obtained from a long expedition.
Carry the right duplication block
Store the required block with the template in your base so a missing ingredient does not lead to accidental use of the original. Common mistakes include using ordinary stone instead of Cobblestone, or bringing Netherrack for a Snout template, which requires Blackstone.
Separate structure searches by dimension
Use the structure name to choose your search strategy: ocean travel for Shipwrecks and Ocean Monuments, underground exploration for Ancient Cities and Strongholds, Nether travel for Fortresses and Bastions, End exploration for End Cities, and archaeology in Trail Ruins. Trial Chamber searches belong to the 1.21 content set and distinguish normal Vaults from Ominous Vaults.
Version and edition cautions
The original armor-trim set is associated with Minecraft 1.20, while Bolt and Flow are 1.21 additions. Java and Bedrock documentation can present loot rules differently, and a server may run a custom or older version. Before publishing a map-specific checklist or committing resources, check the exact edition and release shown on the title screen or server information.
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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsGuaranteed figures should not be generalized into drop percentages. The documented guarantees are two Netherite Upgrade templates in every Treasure Room Bastion and one Eye template per Stronghold library chest under the 23w05a change. Other entries are structure sources without a universal probability stated here.
Quick Recap
Quick troubleshooting
- The template will not appear in the Smithing Table: confirm that it is the matching template for the operation. Armor Trim templates cannot perform Netherite upgrades, and Netherite Upgrade cannot create a trim.
- The duplication recipe is empty: check that you have seven diamonds, the original template, and the correct defining material block or item for your version.
- The trim color looks wrong: the material slot controls color; replace the material rather than searching for a different pattern template.
- You cannot find Bolt or Flow: verify that the world is running Minecraft 1.21 or later and distinguish a Vault from an Ominous Vault.
- An archaeology template disappeared: suspicious gravel must be brushed. Breaking it with another tool removes the chance to recover its contents.
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