Nether Wart

Nether wart is a plant grown in the Nether.

Natural generation
Nether wart sometimes generates naturally in nether fortresses as a plant, in patches near stairwells.

Obtaining
Nether wart can be mined with or without any tool.

Farming
When planted on soul sand, nether wart grows through four stages, though the middle two stages have almost the same appearance (the difference is that stage 3 is one pixel taller). The exact age can be seen using the debug screen, and the ages range from 0–3. The duration of each stage is random, with no upper or lower limit, but the average duration is about 3 minutes and 30 seconds. The growth rate is not affected by light or any other environmental factors. Bone meal cannot be used on the nether wart.

Nether wart can be planted only on soul sand. It grows in any dimension.

Nether wart is ready to harvest when it reaches its fourth stage (age:3). Breaking a fully grown nether wart yields 2 to 4 nether wart, while an immature one yields only a single nether wart. Using a tool enchanted with fortune increases the maximum number of nether wart dropped by 1 per level.

Nether wart must be directly planted on the top of a soul sand block; unlike most blocks, targeting the side of a block which would result in it being placed on top of soul sand does not allow it to be placed.

Brewing ingredient
Nether wart’s primary purpose is to brew the awkward potion, the base for all potions, but optional for Weakness.

Trading
Master-level cleric villagers buy 22 nether wart for an emerald as part of their trades.

Block data
In Bedrock Edition, nether wart uses the following data values:

Trivia

 * Disregarding color, nether wart bears a strong resemblance to warted puffball, a type of fungi.
 * Nether wart’s stage changes cannot be detected by a BUD, except the Observer block.