Renewable resource

A renewable resource (as opposed to a non-renewable resource, or finite resource) is a resource that can be recreated indefinitely in survival without exploiting glitches or using cheat commands. While running completely out of resources is unlikely to be a factor in normal worlds due to the massive size of a Minecraft map, only some resources can be produced over and over without having to explore more terrain. Running out of resources can be a bigger issue on superflat worlds, where resources are less plentiful, in PvP maps, where one would like to obtain resources without having to conquer more land, or simply if the accessible portion of the map is limited.

The listed fully renewable craftable items are items that can be crafted, smelted, or brewed using only renewable resources. For example, cookies are renewable as they require only wheat and cocoa beans, both of which can be regrown infinitely.

Most items dropped by animals or monsters are renewable because more mobs of the same kind can spawn and be killed again for more loot. The exceptions are drops of enemies that spawn just once with the generation of specific structures, such as elder guardians (three spawn with each ocean monument). Drops of hostile mobs, with the exception of those obtainable by other means, are not renewable on peaceful difficulty because the monsters do not spawn.

Renewably obtaining items[]

Many resources are renewably obtainable using certain main methods, such as farming. Others are obtainable by unusual item-specific methods, which can vary from building a cobblestone generator to harvesting obsidian from portals to collecting dragon breath into a bottle. The renewable method to obtain an item is not necessarily the easiest, fastest or safest, and may in some cases be highly impractical.

The most common methods for renewably obtaining items, ordered roughly by increasing effort are:

Farming and plant growth - grow it on the dirt or farmland etc using renewable resources
Breeding and harvesting certain mobs
Crafting, smelting, brewing etc using only renewable resource(s)
Common drops from killing mobs
Fishing
Trading with villagers
Trading with wandering traders
Bartering with piglins
Rare mob drops
Receiving gifts from villagers after defeating a raid
Receiving gifts from cats
Constructing item and mob farms for resource drops
Taking advantage of various other mechanics that generate blocks and items, such as cobblestone generation and freezing ice

The first three methods are often the most practical ways to obtain items that can be obtained by using them.

Most items obtainable by fishing and trading are obtainable in some other way, which may be easier or of comparable difficulty, but may not be renewable. They are especially worth using when the player wants to avoid the risk of mining, such as while playing in hardcore mode.

Grinding for rare drops is rarely practical unless there is no other option, as the player must kill many mobs to obtain the desired drops.

Renewable[]

Tradable[]

These items are renewable only through trading with villagers or wandering traders, and not by any other method.

Resource	Renewable products	Renewable sources
Bell	—	Obtained by trading with an armorer, toolsmith or weaponsmith villager.
Bottle o' Enchanting		Obtained by trading with a cleric villager.
Brick		Obtained by trading with a mason villager. Obtained by smelting renewable clay ball.‌^{[Java Edition only]}
Coral Blocks		Obtained by trading with a wandering trader.
Diamond gear	—	Obtained by trading with an armorer, toolsmith or weaponsmith villager. Diamond armor can also be obtained as a rare drop from extremely rare zombies and skeletons, which spawn with them.
Glass		Obtained by trading with a librarian villager. Obtained by smelting renewable sand.
Lapis Lazuli		Obtained by trading with a cleric villager or a wandering trader‌^{[Bedrock Edition only]}. Gifted by cleric villagers once the player gains Hero of the Village.‌^{[Java Edition only]}
Podzol		Obtained by trading with a wandering trader. Using renewable gravel, the player can obtain dirt renewably by crafting and tilling coarse dirt. This can be converted to podzol by having grass spread to it, planting a 2x2 spruce tree, and collecting the new podzol with Silk Touch.
Rooted Dirt		Obtained by trading with a wandering trader. Using renewable gravel, the player can obtain dirt renewably by crafting and tilling coarse dirt. This can be converted to rooted dirt by planting an azalea tree and collecting the blocks with Silk Touch.
Sand		Obtained by trading with a wandering trader.
Small Dripleaf		Obtained by trading with a wandering trader.
Stained Terracotta		Obtained by trading with a mason villager. Crafted with renewable terracotta and dyes.‌^{[Java Edition only]}

Rare drops[]

These items are considered rare drops or are obtained by a mob dying in a unique way. For some of these items, this is the only way to obtain them; otherwise, this is the only renewable way to obtain them. Rare drops do not include any item the mob picked up after spawning. Mob farms are an option for obtaining rare drops more easily.

Resource	Renewable products	Renewable sources
Mob Heads		Wither skeleton skulls are rarely dropped by wither skeletons when killed by a player. Dropped by wither skeletons, skeletons, zombies, or creepers when killed by a charged creeper, but at most one head drops in each explosion. Dragon head is currently not renewable.
Music Discs	—	Dropped by creepers when a skeleton or stray deals the final blow. Pigstep is currently not renewable.
Trident	—	Rarely dropped by drowned.

All status effects which can be legitimately obtained in Survival are also renewable.

Java Edition[]

Most resources are as renewable in Java Edition, as they are in Bedrock Edition. The resources, which are renewable in Java Edition, but aren't in Bedrock are listed here, for the ones which are non-renewable in Java Edition, but renewable in Bedrock, see the Non-renewable resource page. The product list include only renewable products that aren't renewable in other editions.

Resource	Renewable products	Renewable sources
Banner Pattern "Globe"	—	Obtained by trading with a cartographer villager.
Clay		Gifted by mason villagers once the player gains Hero of the Village.

Bedrock Edition[]

Most resources are as renewable in Bedrock Edition as they are in Java Edition. The resources which are renewable in Bedrock Edition, but not in Java, are listed here. For the ones which are non-renewable in Bedrock Edition, but renewable in Java, see the Non-renewable resource page.

Resource	Renewable products	Renewable sources
Arrow of Decay	—	Obtained by trading with fletcher villagers.
Banner Patterns	—	Crafted from paper and bricks or vines. Obtained by trading with a cartographer villager.
Dirt Path	—	In Bedrock Edition, dirt paths drop themselves when mined with Silk Touch.
Netherrack		The platform generated when a nether portal is generated in the air contains netherrack in addition to the obsidian that would be there normally in the Bedrock edition. It is possible to break all the blocks of that portal, and go back through on the nether end, and it generates another platform, making the netherrack there renewable.

Upcoming[]

These items are renewable in Bedrock Edition beta versions. They either do not exist, or are non-renewable in the latest release.

Resource	Renewable products	Renewable sources
Goat Horn	—	Dropped by goats when they ram into a solid block.

Video[]

Trivia[]

Using certain glitches, most non-renewable items can be obtained indefinitely; see Tutorials/Block and item duplication. However, the use of such glitches are not considered a renewable method.
In addition to the items listed, experience and all status effects and enchantments that can be obtained in survival are also renewable.
In Minecraft Earth, all items are renewable, since tappables and adventures regenerate indefinitely. Items that cannot be obtained directly through these means can be crafted, smelted, or otherwise obtained using only renewable resources. Adventure Chests are also renewable.

Gameplay