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Desert temples, or desert pyramids[Java Edition only], are structures found in deserts that resemble Egyptian pyramids.

Generation

Desert temples naturally generate in desert biomes. Desert temples always generate with their floor at y=64. This may cause the desert temple to be partially buried.

Structure

Desert Temple Interior

Inside view of a desert temple.

Desert temples are constructed from sandstone (all 3 variants), orange and blue terracotta, sandstone slabs, and sandstone stairs.

In the center of the temple's ground floor is a single block of blue terracotta. Underneath this terracotta is a 'booby-trapped' hidden chamber with four chests that can each contain very valuable loot. The trap consists of a stone pressure plate (located directly under the blue terracotta), connected to a 3x3x1 grid of TNT.

The four chests with the TNT trap

Preview of the 4 hidden chests with the TNT Trap under the desert temple.

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

Loot

See also: Chest loot

In Java Edition, each desert pyramid chest contains items drawn from 3 pools, with the following distribution:

Item Stack Size [A] Weight [B] Chance [C] Avg.
per chest
[D]
Avg. # chests
to search
[E]
2–4× 2–4×
Nothing[F] 11152326788.3%1.0511.1
Bone 4–61–825232105070.8%5.2161.4
Rotten Flesh 3–71–825232105070.8%5.2161.4
Gunpowder 1–8105059.0%3.6001.7
Sand 1–8105059.0%3.6001.7
String 1–8105059.0%3.6001.7
Spider Eye 1–32523228.7%0.6473.5
Enchanted Book[G] 12023223.5%0.2594.3
Saddle 12023223.5%0.2594.3
Golden Apple 12023223.5%0.2594.3
Gold Ingot 2–71523218.0%0.8735.5
Iron Ingot 1–51523218.0%0.5825.5
Emerald 1–31523218.0%0.3885.5
Iron Horse Armor 11523218.0%0.1945.5
Dune Armor Trim Smithing Template 21714.3%0.2867.0
Golden Horse Armor 11023212.3%0.1298.1
Diamond 1–352326.3%0.12915.8
Diamond Horse Armor 152326.3%0.06515.8
Enchanted Golden Apple 122322.6%0.02639.0

In Java Edition 1.20.2, each desert pyramid chest contains items drawn from 3 pools, with the following distribution:

Item Stack Size [A] Weight [B] Chance [C] Avg.
per chest
[D]
Avg. # chests
to search
[E]
2–4× 2–4×
Bone 4–61–825232105070.8%5.2161.4
Rotten Flesh 3–71–825232105070.8%5.2161.4
Nothing[F] 11152324764.9%0.7651.5
Gunpowder 1–8105059.0%3.6001.7
Sand 1–8105059.0%3.6001.7
String 1–8105059.0%3.6001.7
Spider Eye 1–32523228.7%0.6473.5
Enchanted Book[H] 12728.6%0.2863.5
Enchanted Book[G] 12023223.5%0.2594.3
Saddle 12023223.5%0.2594.3
Golden Apple 12023223.5%0.2594.3
Gold Ingot 2–71523218.0%0.8735.5
Iron Ingot 1–51523218.0%0.5825.5
Emerald 1–31523218.0%0.3885.5
Iron Horse Armor 11523218.0%0.1945.5
Dune Armor Trim Smithing Template 21714.3%0.2867.0
Golden Horse Armor 11023212.3%0.1298.1
Diamond 1–352326.3%0.12915.8
Diamond Horse Armor 152326.3%0.06515.8
Enchanted Golden Apple 122322.6%0.02639.0

In Bedrock Edition, each desert pyramid chest contains items drawn from 3 pools, with the following distribution:

Item Stack Size [A] Weight [B] Chance [C] Avg.
per chest
[D]
Avg. # chests
to search
[E]
2–4× 2–4×
Nothing[F] 11152326788.3%1.0511.1
Bone 4–61–825232105070.8%5.2161.4
Rotten Flesh 3–71–825232105070.8%5.2161.4
Gunpowder 1–8105059.0%3.6001.7
Sand 1–8105059.0%3.6001.7
String 1–8105059.0%3.6001.7
Spider Eye 1–32523228.7%0.6473.5
Enchanted Book[G] 12023223.5%0.2594.3
Saddle 12023223.5%0.2594.3
Golden Apple 12023223.5%0.2594.3
Gold Ingot 2–71523218.0%0.8735.5
Iron Ingot 1–51523218.0%0.5825.5
Emerald 1–31523218.0%0.3885.5
Iron Horse Armor 11523218.0%0.1945.5
Dune Armor Trim Smithing Template 21714.3%0.2867.0
Golden Horse Armor 11023212.3%0.1298.1
Diamond 1–352326.3%0.12915.8
Diamond Horse Armor 152326.3%0.06515.8
Enchanted Golden Apple 122322.6%0.02639.0
  1. a b c The size of stacks (or for unstackable items, number) of this item on any given roll.
  2. a b c The weight of this item relative to other items in the pool.
  3. a b c The odds of finding any of this item in a single chest.
  4. a b c The number of items expected per chest, averaged over a large number of chests.
  5. a b c The average number of chests the player should expect to search to find any of this item.
  6. a b c 'Nothing' does not refer to the chance of an empty chest. Instead, it refers to the chance that the random loot generator does not add any loot on a single roll.
  7. a b c All enchantments are equally probable, including treasure enchantments (except Soul Speed, and Swift Sneak), and any level of the enchantment is equally probable.
  8. Enchanted with a random level of Unbreaking.


Blocks

Block Amount
Sandstone 3078
Cut Sandstone 189
Orange Terracotta 59
Chiseled Sandstone 34
Sandstone Stairs 16
TNT 60
Chest 4
Sandstone Slab 2
Blue Terracotta 1
Stone Pressure Plate 1

Video

Note: The video was made before 1.8, as desert temples now generate with terracotta instead of wool.

Desert pyramid/video

History

Java Edition
1.3.112w21aAdded desert temples.
1.4.612w50aEnchanted books now generate in desert temple chests.
1.814w03aDesert temples now generate with terracotta (at that time called "hardened clay") instead of wool.
1.915w44aChest loot is changed.
Added gunpowder, sand, string, spider eye, and normal and enchanted golden apples.
Average yields of diamonds, gold ingots and iron ingots are decreased.
Average yields of horse armor, enchanted books, rotten flesh, saddles and emeralds are increased.
1.1318w06aDesert temples are renamed to desert pyramids.
Pocket Edition Alpha
0.13.0build 1Added desert temples.
0.15.0build 1Enchanted books now generate in desert temple chests.
Legacy Console Edition
TU14CU1 1.05 Patch 1Patch s1Added desert temples.
TU31CU19 1.22 Patch 3Desert temples now generate with terracotta instead of wool.
New Nintendo 3DS Edition
0.1.0Added Desert temples.

Issues

Issues relating to "Desert pyramid" are maintained on the bug tracker. Report issues there.

Trivia

  • The desert temple's basement is 21 blocks by 21 blocks.
  • The orange symbols on the outside resemble the Ancient Egyptian symbol for Life,[1] an Ankh.[2]
  • Desert temples have a rare chance of generating improperly causing some blocks to be lost or added.
  • As there is no light in the lower chamber, mobs can spawn inside and trigger the TNT trap, destroying the chests and loot before any player can reach it. Also, rarely a lava lake might generate next to TNT, potentially setting the trap off as well.
  • A desert temple will not generate fully if generated partially on water. When generated on lakes, they are only half-generated.
  • The top hole in the temple's ceiling is almost always generated above ground, so buried temples will be accessible, but fall damage is likely.
  • When a desert temple generates above a ravine, it will have a deeper foundation like the Village houses.

Gallery

See also

References


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