The Ultimate Guide to Crafting Stunning Banners in Minecraft

In Minecraft, fans are well aware that the possibilities for creating incredible builds are virtually limitless. One way players enhance and personalize their constructions is by utilizing decorative items.

One particular item, banners, can significantly elevate the appearance of any base. These tall blocks offer a wide range of customization options, allowing players to make their structures truly unique. Additionally, banners can also be used to customize shields. By combining a completed banner with a shield at a crafting table, players can add an extra touch of personalization to their protective gear. While it is possible to find some banners scattered throughout chests and villages in the Minecraft world, the simplest method of obtaining a banner is through crafting.

Gather Wool

Jake Fillery updated on August 11, 2023: Banners have become an integral part of self-expression in Minecraft. With the latest updates, players can embark on thrilling adventures across diverse dimensions and biomes. The concept of Banners allows players to leave their mark on the virtual world, even in long-forgotten landscapes. However, many players find themselves wondering how to create Banners in Minecraft and which Banner patterns are the rarest. This article provides the answers to these questions, along with a guide on the elusive Banners that cannot be crafted but are instead discovered within the vast Minecraft world, away from crafting tables or Looms.

To craft a banner, players will need to gather wool (six blocks of the same color). Wool blocks can be harvested from sheep and can be dyed any color.

Finding wool can be a challenge for new players, as it depends on the frequency of sheep spawning near their base. In Minecraft, sheep are a commonly found passive mob, predominantly in grassland biomes.

Upon locating a sheep, players might consider constructing a fence to ensure it remains in one place and can be utilized for wool farming. Once the sheep is safely contained, players can then use shears to gather a single block of wool.

Having multiple sheep makes this process quicker; using one sheep will require the player to wait for the sheep to eat grass to regrow their wool after each sheering.

Gather Sticks

Sticks are one of the most common materials to find in Minecraft, especially early on. Players can gather sticks by destroying leaf blocks on trees.

Harvesting the blocks that form the tree trunk is an efficient method to gather a large number of sticks rapidly. After removing the tree trunk, any floating blocks will gradually disappear, yielding sticks, saplings, and apples.

Such an approach not only minimizes the risk of fall damage in survival mode but also enables players to swiftly fell numerous trees in just a few minutes, without the need to break each individual leaf block.

Combine Materials

To create a banner, players need one stick and six blocks of wool. First, they must obtain a crafting table. If they don't already have one, they can gather three blocks of wood and craft wooden planks to make a crafting table.

To craft a banner, players should place the six blocks of wool in the top section of the crafting table and the stick in the center bottom block. The recipe for the banner may appear in the player's known recipe list after obtaining the first block of wool, depending on the gameplay settings.

Customizing Banners

During the crafting process, you can personalize banners by dyeing the wool blocks in any color, resulting in the banner appearing in that particular hue.

With a wide selection of patterns, players have the opportunity to create numerous unique designs. A single banner has the ability to display up to six different patterns. By utilizing console commands, this limit can be expanded to sixteen.

In Minecraft's Java Edition, patterns can be crafted on a loom, while in the Bedrock Edition, patterns can be created on both the loom and crafting table. To create a loom, you need two strings and two wooden planks.

The loom features three slots for the banner, dye, and an additional optional banner pattern item. Optional pattern items can be made by combining a piece of paper with one of the items listed below:

Enchanted Golden Apple - Former Mojang Studios logo

Wither Skeleton Skull - Skeleton skull and crossbones

Creeper Head - Creeper face

Oxeye Daisy - Daisy

Bricks - Brick pattern (Bedrock Edition)

Vines - Vine pattern (Bedrock Edition)

The optional pattern items can be combined with the available patterns to create various effects.

Illager Banners

An alternative way to acquire Banners in Minecraft is by encountering Illagers, the malevolent counterparts of Villagers. Illagers harbor animosity towards players and Villagers, so it is advisable to arm oneself with a sword and armor, as they are often found in groups and exhibit aggressive behavior. However, players might come across an Illager bearing a Banner on its back, known as an Illager Captain. By vanquishing the Illager Captain, players have the opportunity to obtain an Ominous Banner as a reward.

The Illager Banner is exclusive to Minecraft, and its design cannot be duplicated using a Loom. Illager Banners can be obtained from Illager Captains or found in Pillager Outpost Watchtowers. Although displaying one does not repel Illagers, it can serve as a powerful trophy to showcase dominance over these troublesome adversaries.

Woodland Mansion Banners

Woodland Mansions in Minecraft are an infrequent find, harboring numerous perilous challenges that players should equip themselves for before undertaking this exhilarating journey through an Illager stronghold. Nevertheless, for the valiant ones who dare to venture, there are several desirable rewards in the form of Banners to be discovered.

Exploring a Woodland Mansion offers players the opportunity to discover various Banners. While a few of these can be crafted using a Loom, it is valuable to be aware of the Banners that can be found in the wild:

Gray Banner, Light Gray Banner, Ominous Banner, and Black Banner.

Magenta Banner

There is an additional Banner located outside of Minecraft's usual biomes. Once players have successfully reached The End, they will uncover the expansive End Cities and the hidden treasures within them. Within these cities, there is a distinct Magenta Banner that showcases a civilization yet undiscovered by Minecraft players.

Minecraft is currently available on Mobile, PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One.