How To Get Snowballs in Minecraft (Java & Bedrock)

Snowballs are more than just throwable snow chunks in Minecraft — they’re essential for snow farms, crafting snow blocks, and even distracting blazes. Here’s how to get snowballs in Survival Mode, across both Java and Bedrock Edition.

---

🛠️ Tools You Need

To collect snowballs, you must use a shovel (any type, as long as it doesn’t have Silk Touch). Otherwise, the snow breaks but drops nothing.

Tool	Drops Snowballs	Notes
Shovel	✅ Yes	Best tool. Required for snowball drops
Hand/Other	❌ No	Snow is destroyed without drops
Silk Touch	❌ No	Drops full snow blocks, not balls

---

❄️ Methods to Get Snowballs

🧹 1. Shoveling Snow Layers or Snow Blocks

• Snow Layers: Drop 1 snowball per layer.
• Snow Blocks: Drop 4 snowballs each (only if mined without Silk Touch).
• Found in snowy biomes, like:
• Snowy Plains
• Snowy Taiga
• Jagged Peaks
• Grove

🧠 Tip: Use a shovel with Efficiency to clear snow faster!

---

🧨 2. Explosions

• TNT and creeper blasts break snow and drop snowballs.
• Works the same as using a shovel.
• Useful for mass-harvesting snow layers.

---

🤖 3. Snow Golems (All Editions)

• Build a Snow Golem with:

[ Carved Pumpkin ]
[ Snow Block ]
[ Snow Block ]

• The Golem creates snow wherever it walks.
• Use a shovel to collect snowballs from the snow trails it leaves behind.

⚠️ Keep Snow Golems in cold biomes or shaded areas — they melt in warm areas!

---

⚙️ 4. Pistons (Bedrock Edition Only)

• Pistons can push and break snow layers, dropping snowballs.
• Drop amount depends on snow thickness:
• 1–3 layers → 1 ball
• 4–5 layers → 2 balls
• 6–7 layers → 3 balls
• 8 layers → 4 balls

---

🐃 5. Ravagers (Bedrock Only)

• Ravagers destroy snow layers during raids.
• The snow layer breaks drop snowballs.
• Fun trick during village defense!

---

💥 6. Snow Layer Falling (Bedrock Only)

• When a snow layer falls due to gravity, it drops 1 snowball.
• Break the block under snow to trigger this drop.

---

💀 7. Killing Snow Golems

• Drops 0–15 snowballs.
• Works in both Java and Bedrock.
• No effect from Looting enchantment.

---

🎁 8. Chest Loot

• Snowy Village Chests: 1–7 snowballs (~66% chance).
• Ancient City (Ice Box): 2–6 snowballs (~97% chance).

---

🏗️ Farming Strategy

You can build a Snowball Farm using a Snow Golem:

1. Trap the Snow Golem between two glass panes or blocks.
2. Make sure it’s standing on solid blocks in a cold biome.
3. Shovel the snow it constantly generates.

💡 In Bedrock Edition, combine pistons + hoppers for an automated snowball farm!

---

⚠️ Can You Craft Snowballs?

No. You can’t craft snowballs. But you can craft:

• 4 snowballs → 1 snow block
• ❌ You can’t reverse this (snow block → snowballs)

---

✅ Summary Table

Method	Works in Java	Works in Bedrock	Notes
Shovel Snow Layers	✅	✅	Main method
Shovel Snow Blocks	✅	✅	Yields 4 snowballs
Explosions (TNT/Creeper)	✅	✅	Break snow, drop balls
Snow Golem Trails	✅	✅	Snow trails are shovelable
Snow Golem Death Drops	✅	✅	Drops up to 15 snowballs
Pistons	❌	✅	Break layers, auto-farmable
Ravagers	❌	✅	Break layers during raids
Chest Loot	✅	✅	Found in villages and ancient city
Falling Snow Layer	❌	✅	Drops 1 snowball

---

Want to build an awesome snowy world or automate your snowball farming? Do it all lag-free with your own private Minecraft server — get 30% OFF at GGServers.com with code KB30!

❄️ Go gather those snowballs and let it snow!

---

You can contact our 24/7 GGServers support anytime at: https://ggservers.com/billing/submitticket.php