Desert pyramid

A desert pyramid is a sandstone structure generated in deserts. Each pyramid has a hidden chamber containing loot that is protected by a TNT trap.

Generation
Desert pyramids generate uncommonly in deserts.The floor is always at Y-coordinate 64, sometimes causing the temple to be partially buried in sand. In Bedrock, the temples also generate in desert hills.

Structure


Desert pyramids are constructed with normal, chiseled and cut sandstone, orange and blue terracotta, sandstone slabs and sandstone stairs. There is one main entrance at the ground floor level and two more entrances on the left and right sides near the top of the pyramid. Their is also a one block wide entrance at the top of the desert pyramid.

In the center of the pyramid's 21×21 ground floor is a checkerboard pattern of terracotta and sandstone, with a block of blue terracotta in the center. Underneath this terracotta is a chamber containing four chests, which are rigged by a stone pressure plate directly under the blue terracotta block. The pressure plate is connected to a 3×3 grid of TNT, which means that if a player or mob unintentionally steps on the plate, it sets off the TNT, which destroys the chests and their loot.

Desert pyramids appear yellow on maps similar to sand and sandstone, but with a distinctive shape.

How to loot a desert pyramid
In order to loot a desert pyramid safely, you must make sure no mobs spawn in the desert pyramid as well as the loot chamber. You will first need find the entrance and quickly rush inside and light it up throughly. This is to make sure no mobs drop down from above and accidentally set of the tnt trap. Creepers are the worst as they could instantly blow everything up so you don't want that happening. Next, dig straight down on a block adjacent to the 4 middle pillars to reach the chamber inside as quickly as possible. Make sure to check that the loot hasn't already been exploded by some mob that has spawned in. Once you are at the bottom, quickly remove the pressure plate as well as the tnt. Finally, you can loot the chests!

Trivia

 * The orange symbols on the outside is the Ancient Egyptian symbol for life, an Ankh.
 * As there is no light in the lower chamber, mobs sometimes spawn inside and trigger the TNT trap, destroying the chests and loot before any player can reach it. Rarely a lava lake might generate next to TNT, also potentially setting off the trap.
 * A desert pyramid does not generate fully if generated partially on lakes.
 * The top of the pyramid's ceiling is almost always above ground, so a buried temple is accessible, but fall damage is likely.
 * When a desert pyramid generates above a canyon, it has a deeper foundation like the village houses prior to the Village and Pillage update.
 * The loot chances above are per chest, and there are four chests. For example, each chest has a 2.6% chance of an enchanted golden apple, but with four chests, each temple has a 10% chance of having at least one.
 * A fully powered beacon can fit within the upper level of the Desert Temple with the beacon’s beam perfectly being placed in the hole at the top.
 * Prior to Java Edition 1.8, Desert Temples generates with Wool instead of Terracotta.