Coral in Minecraft adds a vibrant touch to the game’s underwater world, but it’s easy to miss its unique qualities if not handled with care. Introduced in July 2018, coral brings both color and a bit of extra life to the game’s ocean biomes, though its uses are specific and require a bit of know-how.
Five main coral types—tube, fire, horn, bubble, and brain—along with their fanned versions, can be found in warm ocean biomes. These coral formations create stunning reefs, but they depend on being submerged in water to stay alive. If removed from water, coral quickly loses its color and becomes dead coral, turning a dull gray.
Gathering Coral: Tips for Safe Collection
To harvest coral, players need a tool enchanted with Silk Touch. Unlike some materials that take time to mine, coral breaks instantly, making the process much easier—especially since you’ll be diving underwater. Occasionally, traveling merchants known as Wandering Traders might offer coral blocks in exchange for emeralds, giving players another way to get their hands on these colorful items.
Once collected, coral doesn’t serve much purpose beyond decoration. It can’t be crafted into other items, so its main value is aesthetic.
Creative Uses for Coral in Your World
With coral safely harvested, players can use it to brighten up lakes, rivers, or aquariums at their base, providing a colorful habitat for fish. But what if you want to display coral on land?
Coral can survive outside of water as long as it’s adjacent to a water source. This means creative builders can incorporate coral into their outdoor designs, provided they set up a system to keep it watered—whether that’s a visible irrigation setup or something more subtle.
For those looking to decorate with coral fans, placing sand blocks and waterlogging them is a clever trick. Simply pour water onto the sand, then add your coral fans on top. This keeps them alive and colorful anywhere in your world, as long as the supporting block is waterlogged.