Minecraft armor trims: how to find smithing templates and customize armor ?

Armor trims in Minecraft are a way to customize the design of armor via smithing templates (for design) and a material (for colour) added in the Minecraft 1.20 update. It also allows you to create Netherite armour from diamond armour in a smithing table.

What are armor trims ?

An armor trims has two properties: a pattern and a material. Both are purely aesthetic and work like this:

  • The pattern is defined by the smithing template used to apply the ornament, and represents the visual pattern.
  • The material is defined by the ingredient you used to apply the ornament, and represents the color.

They can only be applied to helmets, chestplate, leggings and boots. All ornament patterns are visually the same on the armor item icon, but the color changes depending on the material of the ornament.

To check the ornament pattern of a piece of armor, you can hover over it in the inventory.

How armor trims work in Minecraft in video.

How to apply an armor trimming ?

In order to apply armor trims, you need a smithing table. You will notice, when you interact with the smithing table user interface and enter it, that a new slot has been added. First, place the smithing template you have, then the piece of armor you wish to modify. Finally, insert an activatable material to dictate the color you want to give the ornament:

how to upgrade gear armor trim
Interface of the smithing table to make an armor trims: on the left the smithing template, in the middle the armor piece and on the right the material.

Once this is done, you can take the modified and decorated armor from the rightmost slot and equip it, or display it on an armor stand if you prefer.

Smithing templates to change the design

The smithing templates allow you to apply a unique style depending on the biome or structure in which you find it.

Netherite upgrade smithing template

To find out how to make Netherite armor or any other equipment with the new system, check out our dedicated article: How to make Netherite armor in Minecraft ?

Netherite upgrade smithing template
A Netherite upgrade smithing template found in the Bastion remnant of the Nether.

Sentry smithing template

Sentry smithing template
Sentry smithing template that can be found in Pillager Outpost.

Dune smithing template

Dune smithing template
Dune smithing template that can be found in the desert temple.

Coast smithing template

Coast smithing template
Coastal smithing template found in shipwrecks.

Wild smithing template

Wild smithing template
Wild smithing template found in jungle temples

Tide smithing template

Tide smithing template
Tide smithing template that can be found by killing an elder guardian in an oceant monument.

Ward smithing template

Ward smithing template
Deep Dark (Ward) smithing template found in Ancient City.

Vex smithing template

Vex smithing template
Vex smithing template from the Vex found in Woodland mansion

Rib smithing template

Rib smithing template
Rib smithing template found in the Nether fortress.

Snout smithing template

Snout smithing template
Snout smithing template found in the Bastion remnant of the Nether.

Eye smithing template

Eye smithing template
Eye smithing template found in strongholds, structures that house an End portal.

Spire smithing template

Spire smithing template
Spire smithing template that can be found in an End city.

Location of smithing templates

They can be obtained from randomly generated chests in Minecraft structures with a few exceptions:

  • Although randomly generated in other rooms, a Netherite upgrade smithing template is also guaranteed in every treasure room of a bastion remnant.
  • A single smithing template of tide armor trims is sometimes left behind by the elder guardians upon their death.

The models available, the location of chests where you can find them and the percentage chance of finding one in one are as follows :

Smithing templateStructure% Chance
Netherite Upgrade Smithing TemplateBastion remnantTreasure chest : 100%
All the other chests : 3,2%
Sentry Armor Trim Smithing TemplatePillager Outpost20%
Dune Armor Trim Smithing TemplateDesert temple14.3%
Coast Armor Trim Smithing TemplateShipwreck16.7%
Wild Armor Trim Smithing TemplateJungle temple33.3%
Tide Armor Trim Smithing TemplateKilling an elder guardian in an oceant monument20%
Ward Armor Trim Smithing TemplateAncient City5%
Vex Armor Trim Smithing TemplateWoodland Mansion50%
Rib Armor Trim Smithing TemplateNether Fortress6.7%
Snout Armor Trim Smithing TemplateBastion remnant8.3%
Eye Armor Trim Smithing TemplateStrongholdAltar chest : 10%
Other chest : 100%
Spire Armor Trim Smithing TemplateEnd City6.7%

Styles and design of smithing templates

All smithing template designs on a Netherite armour with diamond colour.
All smithing template designs on a Netherite armour with diamond colour.

Duplicating a smithing template

It is not possible to create a smithing template directly, but you can duplicate the ones you have in a workbench:

  • 7 U-shaped diamonds.
  • 1 block of material from which the model is made, placed in the central slot.
Duplicating a smithing template
The craft for duplicating a smithing template. In this example with a Coastal smithing template and a cobblestone

Here are the materials corresponding to the smithing templates to be used to duplicate them:

  • Netherite enhancement smithing template: netherrack
  • Sentry smithing template: Cobblestone
  • Dune smithing template: Sandstone
  • Coast smithing template: Stone
  • Wild smithing template: Mossy Cobblestone
  • Tide smithing template: Prismarine
  • Ward smithing template: Cobbled deepslate
  • Vex Smithing Template: Cobblestone
  • Rib Forge Template: Netherrack
  • Snout Smithing Template: Blackstone
  • Eye smithing template: End Stone
  • Spire smithing template: Purpur block

Ingredients for changing the colour

Armour can be made of the same material as the one it is made of as an ornament. So you can put a diamond material on a diamond armour.

Here are the materials and colours they apply to armor trims:

  • Amethyst Shard: purple
  • Copper ingot: copper orange
  • Diamond: diamond blue
  • Emerald: emerald green
  • Gold ingot: golden
  • Iron ingot: grey
  • Lapis Lazuli: lapis blue
  • Nether Quartz: white
  • Netherite Ingot: black
  • Redstone Dust: red
Ingredients for changing the colour on armor trim
All armour colours according to the different materials on all designs.

Infographic armor trims

Infographic armor trims
An infographic that summarises all the smithing template designs, colours and locations for armor trims.
5 / 5 - (2 votes)

Leave a Comment