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Minecraft Trails & Tales update patch notes: Archaeology, Sniffer, Camel & more

Minecraft 1.20 Trails & Tales brings archaeology, new biomes, armor trims and the Sniffer mob

  • 8c77a5 Published on 2026-04-01
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Minecraft 1.20 Trails & Tales brings archaeology, new biomes, armor trims and the Sniffer mob

Introduction to Trails & Tales Update

The long-awaited Minecraft 1.20 update has officially arrived, introducing an extensive collection of new gameplay mechanics and content for players to explore. This comprehensive guide breaks down all the significant additions from the patch notes, providing practical insights to help you maximize your experience with the Trails & Tales expansion.

Minecraft’s major 1.20 Trails & Tales update delivers on years of player anticipation with groundbreaking archaeology systems, beautiful new biomes, and extensive customization options that transform core gameplay mechanics.

Following its initial reveal during Minecraft Live 2022, the development team has gradually unveiled features ranging from community-voted mobs to revolutionary archaeology mechanics that fundamentally change how players interact with ancient structures.

As of June 7, 2023, the complete Trails & Tales experience is available to all players, transitioning from experimental snapshots to a fully integrated game update. This detailed analysis covers every significant addition documented in the official patch notes.

Archaeology and Ancient Discoveries

The archaeology system represents one of the most substantial gameplay additions, introducing new mechanics for uncovering hidden historical artifacts throughout the world.

  • Players can now craft a Brush tool specifically designed for archaeological excavation
  • Added Suspicious Sand and Suspicious Gravel blocks that conceal ancient treasures
    • Suspicious Sand generates in Desert Temples, Desert Wells and Warm Ocean Ruins
    • Suspicious Gravel appears in Cold Ocean Ruins and Trail Ruins
    • These delicate blocks blend with their surroundings and break easily, requiring careful excavation techniques
    • Using a Brush on Suspicious Sand or Suspicious Gravel reveals long-buried objects and artifacts
  • Professional Tip: Always approach suspicious blocks from the side to avoid accidental destruction, and consider using feather falling boots to prevent breaking them when landing nearby
  • The new Trail Ruins structure represents buried remnants of a lost civilization
    • Four distinct Armor Trim Templates can be discovered here: Wayfinder, Raiser, Shaper, and Host
    • Trail Ruins generate in Taigas, Snowy Taigas, all Old Growth forest biomes, and Jungles
    • Brushing suspicious blocks within these ruins may yield a unique music disc
      • When played in a Jukebox, “Relic” by Aaron Cherof provides ambient musical accompaniment
  • Common Mistake: Many players waste time searching for Trail Ruins in incorrect biomes – focus your exploration on the specified forest types for successful discovery
  • Pottery Sherds introduce decorative archaeological finds
    • Each Pottery Sherd features unique pictorial designs
    • Twenty distinct sherd types distribute across five archaeological sites: Desert Wells, Desert Temples, Cold Ocean Ruins, Warm Ocean Ruins, and Trail Ruins
    • These artifacts cannot be crafted and only obtain through brushing Suspicious Sand or Suspicious Gravel
  • Combining four Pottery Sherds creates a Decorated Pot displaying images on each side
  • Brick items can substitute for Pottery Sherds in Decorated Pot recipes
    • Sides constructed with Brick items remain blank without decorative patterns
  • Breaking Decorated Pots with standard block-breaking tools returns the constituent Pottery Sherds
    • Using bare hands, silk touch tools, or other items drops an intact pot instead of components
  • Decorated Pots featuring at least one pattern display hover tooltips showing their Sherd and Brick composition
  • Optimization Tip: Create a dedicated archaeology base near multiple ruin types to efficiently collect all Pottery Sherd variants without excessive travel

    • New Biomes and Building Materials

    Trails & Tales significantly expands world generation and construction possibilities with visually stunning new biomes and comprehensive building material sets.

  • The Cherry Grove biome introduces picturesque cherry blossom trees
    • This biome generates in mountainous regions, typically in locations similar to Meadows
  • Complete Cherry wood set provides all standard wooden construction variants
  • Cherry Leaves produce distinctive pink particle effects
  • Pink Petals blocks create ground-level floral arrangements
    • Each Pink Petal block accommodates up to four individual petals
    • Applying Bone Meal increases petal count
    • Adding Pink Petals to existing blocks increments their petal quantity
    • Mining drops the precise number of petals contained within the block
    • Seed selection interface now includes Cherry Grove as a biome option
  • Common Mistake: Players often overlook that Pink Petals must be placed on solid blocks – they cannot float in air like flowers
  • Bamboo receives a comprehensive wood set with all standard wooden item variants
  • Block of Bamboo crafts from nine Bamboo units and can be stripped similarly to traditional logs
  • Bamboo Planks produce only two planks per Block of Bamboo compared to four from wood logs
  • Bamboo Mosaic introduces a unique plank variant exclusive to bamboo
    • Craft using 1×2 Bamboo Slabs arranged vertically
    • Stair and Slab variants available for Bamboo Mosaic
    • While usable as fuel, Bamboo Mosaic blocks cannot substitute for other wooden blocks in crafting recipes
  • Bamboo Raft and Bamboo Chest Raft offer unique aquatic transportation
    • These craft like standard boats but require Bamboo Planks
    • Functionality matches ordinary boats with distinctive visual appearance
  • Professional Tip: Bamboo farms become significantly more valuable with the new wood set – consider expanding your bamboo production for both building and fuel purposes

    • Signs and Display Systems

    Sign systems receive substantial upgrades with new placement options, editing capabilities, and decorative possibilities.

  • Hanging Signs provide a premium alternative to standard Signs
    • Craft using 2 chains and 6 stripped logs of preferred wood type
    • Recipe yields 6 Hanging Signs
  • Hanging Signs support multiple mounting configurations:
    • Beneath center-supported blocks like full blocks or fences
    • Attached to solid block sides
    • Connected to other Hanging Signs from side or underneath
  • Unlike standard Signs, Hanging Signs cannot ground-place without side or overhead support
    • Hanging Signs featuring horizontal bars remain intact when supporting blocks remove
  • Sign text now editable after placement through interaction
  • Signs containing non-text chat components cannot modify
  • Dual-sided Signs enable separate text and colors on each face
    • Initial placement prompts front-side text input
    • Rear-side text requires approaching the opposite face and interacting
  • Waxing Signs with Honeycomb permanently prevents further text edits
  • Ink Sac, Glow Ink Sac, or Dyes cannot apply to empty Sign text (MCPE-133778)
  • Common Mistake: Players frequently attempt to edit waxed signs – remember that waxing is permanent and prevents all future modifications
  • Chiseled Bookshelf introduces decorative storage solution
    • Crafts from 6 Planks and 3 Wooden Slabs
    • Stores Books, Book and Quills, and Enchanted Books
    • Capacity limited to 6 books total
    • Provides secure storage for world stories and lore
    • Enables specific slot management for book placement and removal
  • Comparators detect the most recently placed or removed book
    • Ideal for creating hidden mechanisms in library builds
  • Shields now compatible with Banners for pattern application
    • Banner consumes during application
    • Shields only accept Banner patterns if no previous pattern exists
  • Optimization Tip: Use chiseled bookshelves with comparators to create sophisticated redstone security systems for your base entrances

    • New Mobs and Creature Mechanics

    The Sniffer mob and Camel additions introduce new wildlife interactions and transportation options with unique behavioral characteristics.

  • The Sniffer represents the Minecraft Live 2022 mob vote winner
  • Sniffers behave as passive, friendly creatures
  • These mobs periodically sniff the air and excavate seeds, producing Torchflower Seeds or Pitcher Pod items
  • Sniffers exclusively dig grass and dirt-like blocks
  • Torchflower Seeds attract and breed Sniffers
  • Find Sniffers by brushing Suspicious Sand in Warm Ocean Ruins
  • Sniffer breeding produces Sniffer Eggs rather than immediate offspring
  • Placed Sniffer Eggs hatch over time
    • Moss placement reduces hatch time to approximately 10 minutes
    • Other blocks require approximately 20 minutes for hatching
  • Sniffers occasionally discover Torchflower seeds used for breeding
  • Torchflower seeds plant on Farmland and mature into Torchflowers
  • Mature Torchflowers harvest and replant
  • Torchflowers craft into Orange Dye
  • Sniffers may uncover Pitcher Pod items during excavation
  • Pitcher Pods plant on Farmland and grow through five developmental stages
  • Fully matured Pitcher Crops harvest into two-block-tall Pitcher Plants
  • Pitcher Plants craft into Cyan Dye
  • Professional Tip: Create a moss-covered incubation area near your farm to significantly reduce Sniffer egg hatching time
  • Camels introduce two-player transportation with unique mobility traits
  • Equip Camels with Saddles for riding by two players simultaneously
  • Camels naturally spawn during Desert Village generation
  • Holding Cactus attracts Camels
  • Feed Cactus to Camels to initiate breeding
  • Camels feature significant height advantages
    • Most hostile mobs cannot reach players mounted on Camels
    • Camels traverse Fences and Walls with ease
  • Camels periodically sit down
    • Seated Camels prove difficult to motivate for movement
  • Camels alternate between slow walking and rapid sprinting
  • Dashing forward temporarily depletes Camel stamina
  • Common Mistake: Players often struggle with seated camels – carrying cactus helps encourage movement when they become stubborn

    • Smithing System Overhaul

    The smithing table undergoes complete redesign, transforming into dedicated equipment modification workstation with new template requirements and customization options.

  • Smithing Tables now specialize in physical equipment upgrades and modifications
  • New Smithing Template slot becomes mandatory alongside equipment and material slots
  • Smithing Templates define upgrade types and valid customization ingredients
    • Templates specify compatible equipment types and acceptable upgrade ingredients
    • Current template categories include Armor Trim and Netherite Upgrade
  • Smithing Templates consume during item upgrade processes
  • Duplicate Smithing Templates through crafting: 7 diamonds + 1 template material block + 1 smithing template yields 2 identical templates
  • Armor trimming enables extensive visual customization without gameplay benefits
  • Apply armor trims to Helmets, Chestplates, Leggings and Boots
    • Trim patterns appear identical on armor icons but colors vary by material
    • Inventory hover displays reveal specific trim patterns on equipped armor
  • Armor Trim Smithing Templates distribute throughout world structures:
    • Trail Ruins: Wayfinder, Raiser, Shaper, and Host Armor Trims
    • Pillager Outpost: Sentry Armor Trim
    • Desert Pyramid: Dune Armor Trim
    • Shipwreck: Coast Armor Trim
    • Jungle Temple: Wild Armor Trim
    • Ocean Monument: Tide Armor Trim
    • Ancient City: Ward and Silence Armor Trims
    • Woodland Mansion: Vex Armor Trim
    • Nether Fortress: Rib Armor Trim
    • Bastion Remnant: Snout Armor Trim
    • Stronghold: Eye Armor Trim
    • End City: Spire Armor Trim
  • Smithing Templates typically found in structure chests
    • Trail Ruins lack chests – instead brush Suspicious Gravel for templates
    • Ocean Monuments contain no chests – Elder Guardians occasionally drop templates
  • Armor Trim Smithing Templates vary in rarity
  • Armor trims feature two distinct properties: pattern and material
    • Pattern determined by Smithing Template used
    • Material defined by application ingredient controls trim color
  • Valid trim color ingredients include:
    • Iron, Copper, Gold, Lapis, Emerald, Diamond, Netherite, Redstone, Amethyst, Quartz
  • Netherite equipment crafting now requires Netherite Upgrade Smithing Template
  • Netherite Upgrade Smithing Templates randomly appear in Bastion Remnant chests
    • Treasure Room Bastion Remnants contain 2 guaranteed templates
  • These changes implemented for multiple design reasons:
    • Extend Diamond equipment usage period before Netherite progression
    • Enhance Netherite equipment achievement significance
    • Integrate Netherite naturally into revised Smithing Table system
  • Optimization Tip: Focus on Bastion Remnants for Netherite templates and create template duplication stations near your smithing area to conserve resources

    • Technical Improvements and Redstone

    Advanced technical players benefit from refined redstone mechanics, vibration systems, and sculk sensor enhancements that enable more sophisticated contraptions.

    Calibrated Sculk Sensors

  • Calibrated Sculk Sensors enable vibration frequency filtering
  • These do not generate naturally – craft using 1 Sculk Sensor and 3 Amethyst Shards
  • Calibrated Sculk Sensors accept redstone signal input on one side
    • Signal strength determines the specific vibration frequency detected
  • Combined active and cooldown phases last 20 game ticks
    • Redstone signal outputs during first 10 game ticks
  • Detection range extends to 16 blocks
  • Sculk Sensors and Calibrated Sculk Sensors now feature three operational phases: Inactive, Active, and Cooldown
  • Default Inactive phase continues indefinitely until vibration detection
    • This phase allows continuous vibration monitoring until scheduling occurs
  • Scheduled vibrations trigger Active phase
    • Sculk Sensors remain active for 30 game ticks, Calibrated for 10 game ticks
    • During activation, tendrils wiggle while emitting Redstone signal and light, vibration listening ceases
  • Active phase completion initiates Cooldown phase
    • This 10-game-tick phase continues tendril movement without Redstone or light emission
    • Phase conclusion returns block to Inactive state
  • Previous phase timing differed significantly:
    • Sculk Sensors active for 40 game ticks, Calibrated for 20 game ticks
    • No Cooldown phase existed previously
  • Timing adjustments reduce recursive activation frequency in sculk-powered contraptions
  • Amethyst Blocks exhibit new behavior near Sculk Sensors
    • Sculk Sensor vibrations cause adjacent Amethyst Blocks to re-emit frequencies from their location
  • This Vibration Resonance mechanic enables long-distance frequency transmission without natural vibration recreation

    • Vibration Frequencies

  • Calibrated Sculk Sensors introduction simplified vibration frequencies to prevent interference
  • Frequency categories and corresponding events:
    • Movement through any medium (land, liquid or air)
    • Surface landing (land or liquid)
    • Item interactions
    • Elytra gliding or unique mob actions (Ravager roaring, Wolf shaking, etc.)
    • Equipment changes
    • Mob interactions
    • Damage to mobs and players
    • Item consumption (eating and drinking)
    • Block deactivation (Door closing, Chest closing, Button release, etc.)
    • Block activation (Door opening, Chest opening, Button pressing, etc.)
    • Block state changes (Cauldron filling, Campfire fueling, etc.)
    • Block destruction
    • Block placement
    • Mob and player spawning
    • Mob/player death or explosions
  • Mob Heads on Note Blocks play corresponding mob ambient sounds when activated by players or redstone
  • Mob Heads place on Note Blocks without sneaking requirement
  • Charged Creeper kills cause Piglins to drop their heads
  • Piglin heads on Note Blocks play Piglin ambient sounds
  • Piglin heads feature ear animation during redstone activation or player movement when worn
  • Professional Tip: Use calibrated sculk sensors with amethyst blocks to create sophisticated security systems that detect specific player actions at distance

    • Achievements and Progression

    New advancement system provides structured goals for exploring Trails & Tales content and mastering the update’s signature features.

  • Smithing with Style – Apply these smithing templates at least once: Spire, Snout, Rib, Ward, Silence, Vex, Tide, Wayfinder
  • Planting the Past – Plant any Sniffer seed
  • Careful Restoration – Create Decorated Pot using 4 Pottery Sherds
     
  • Optimization Tip: Focus on the Smithing with Style achievement first as it guides you through multiple structure explorations and template collection

    • No reproduction without permission：SeeYouSoon Game Club » Minecraft Trails & Tales update patch notes: Archaeology, Sniffer, Camel & more Minecraft 1.20 Trails & Tales brings archaeology, new biomes, armor trims and the Sniffer mob

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