How Many Armor Trims Are There in Minecraft?
- Feb 15
- 9 min read
Updated: Feb 22
Tired of your netherite armor looking just like everyone else's on the server? For years, endgame gear has meant a uniform look, but the Trails & Tales update introduced a powerful system for personalization: Armor Trims. These are purely cosmetic patterns you can apply to your armor, giving you a way to finally create a signature style without affecting your gear's stats. This is the ultimate guide to Minecraft armor customization, showing you how to stand out from the crowd. If you're wondering how many armor trims are there in Minecraft, you'll find the exact count, where to get them, and how to use them below.

The entire system revolves around finding rare items called Smithing Templates. Think of a template as a stencil for your armor; each one contains a unique pattern, like the Vex-inspired design from a Woodland Mansion or the Spire design from an End City. Once you have a template, you can take it to a Smithing Table with a piece of armor and a material like gold, emerald, or amethyst to dye the pattern. The pattern is determined by the template, while the color comes from the material you use.
Discover where to find every Smithing Template, how to use them to create thousands of different looks, and the specific structures you need to explore. We'll also cover the materials that produce each color and the essential secret to duplicating templates so you never have to worry about "wasting" a rare find.
How to Apply Your First Armor Trim: The Basic Recipe
Ready to give your armor a fresh look? You'll need just three items: the piece of armor you want to decorate, the Smithing Template for the pattern, and a special material that acts as the color. This third ingredient is what makes the system so versatile; using a diamond will create a light blue trim, while a gold ingot will result in a familiar golden hue. Experimenting with these materials is half the fun.
With your items gathered, simply open a Smithing Table. The interface has three slots waiting for you. Place the Smithing Template in the far-left slot, your armor piece next to it, and your chosen coloring material (like an emerald or amethyst shard) in the third slot. If you've placed everything correctly, you'll immediately see a preview of your brand-new armor piece on the right.
To finish the job, just take the newly trimmed armor from the output slot. This process consumes the material and your original armor piece, which is replaced by the decorated version. Crucially, it also consumes the Smithing Template. But don't panic if you just used your one-of-a-kind template---there's a clever way to duplicate them before you run out, which is essential for collecting every style. Tip: Before you commit rare resources, a minecraft armor trims generator can help you preview different patterns and colors on various armor types.
The Ultimate Checklist: Where to Find All 18 Armor Trim Templates
You know how to use a Smithing Template, but the real adventure is finding one in the first place. This isn't a matter of random luck; each of the 18 unique patterns is tied to a specific structure, turning your world exploration into a grand treasure hunt. Finding the full list of armor trim patterns means revisiting forgotten ruins and conquering dangerous fortresses. Here is a definitive guide to all armor trim locations, broken down by dimension—use it as your quick-reference for minecraft all armor trims.
Your journey will likely start in the Overworld, which holds the vast majority of templates. Some are relatively common, while others are incredibly rare finds that will test your patience. Pay close attention to the source---most are in chests, but some require a bit of archaeology or defeating a powerful boss.
Coast Armor Trim: Found in Shipwreck chests (16.7% chance).
Dune Armor Trim: Found in Desert Temple chests (14.3% chance).
Eye Armor Trim: Found in Stronghold chests (10% chance in libraries, 100% in altar rooms).
Sentry Armor Trim: Found in Pillager Outpost chests (25% chance).
Tide Armor Trim: Drops from an Elder Guardian upon defeat (20% chance).
Vex Armor Trim: Found in Woodland Mansion chests (50% chance).
Ward Armor Trim: Found in Ancient City chests (5% chance).
Wild Armor Trim: Found in Jungle Temple chests (33.3% chance).
Wayfinder, Raiser, Shaper, and Host Armor Trims: Found by brushing Suspicious Gravel in Trail Ruins (8.3% chance each).
Silence Armor Trim: The rarest of all, found in Ancient City chests (1.2% chance). Finding the Silence Armor Trim is a true mark of a dedicated explorer.
Once you've built a Nether portal, two more exclusive patterns become available. These trims can only be found within the fiery depths of the Nether, rewarding players who brave its hostile environment. One is located in the crumbling Nether Fortresses, while the other is hidden within the gold-filled halls of Bastion Remnants.
Rib Armor Trim: Found in Nether Fortress chests (6.7% chance).
Snout Armor Trim: Found in Bastion Remnant chests (8.3% chance).
Finally, for the last and most otherworldly design, you must travel to The End. This single, elegant pattern gives you a fantastic new reason to hunt for End Cities beyond just searching for an Elytra. Its rarity makes it a stylish trophy for defeating the Ender Dragon and venturing into the void.
Spire Armor Trim: Found in End City chests (6.7% chance).
The chances of finding these templates vary wildly. You might find a chest full of Vex trims in a Woodland Mansion, but discovering the Silence trim could take several expeditions. With this complete map in hand, you can plan your adventures to collect your favorite styles. But a pattern is only half of the equation; the next step is choosing your color.
The 10 Official Colors: A Guide to Trim Materials
Finding the perfect pattern is a great start, but the real customization comes from choosing your color. Once you have a Smithing Template, you need to provide one final ingredient at the Smithing Table: the material that defines the trim's color. Think of these ten gems and ingots as your official paint palette for armor. Each one produces a distinct and vibrant hue, allowing you to create a look that's uniquely yours.
There are exactly ten materials you can use for your armor trim color, ranging from common ingots to precious gems. The material you choose has no impact on your armor's stats---it is purely for looks. Want a bold, fiery look? You'll need some Redstone Dust for that classic redstone trim color. Planning a royal purple set? Amethyst Shards are your go-to. Here is the complete list of all armor trim color materials:
Iron Ingot: A subtle, silvery-grey
Copper Ingot: A bright, metallic orange
Gold Ingot: The classic, vibrant yellow
Lapis Lazuli: A deep, rich blue
Emerald: A brilliant, sharp green
Diamond: A bright, cyan-like light blue
Netherite Ingot: A dark, imposing charcoal grey
Redstone Dust: A striking, bold red
Amethyst Shard: A regal, eye-catching purple
Quartz: A clean, crisp white
A great tip for customizing on a budget is that the material's rarity doesn't have to match your armor's. You can apply an inexpensive Iron or Copper trim to your priceless Netherite armor for a cool, cost-effective look. This lets you experiment freely without burning through your diamonds. Now that you know how to color your armor, you might be wondering what happens if you use your one-and-only Silence template. Fortunately, the answer is no.
Why You Should Never Worry About "Wasting" a Rare Trim
That feeling of finding your first Ward or Spire template is amazing, but it often comes with a bit of anxiety. Do you use it on your current armor, or save it for a future Netherite set? Luckily, Minecraft has a built-in way to copy any Smithing Template you find, so you never have to make that tough choice. Your rare finds are not one-time-use items.
To duplicate a template, you'll need a Crafting Table and three key ingredients: the original template, seven diamonds, and a specific "base block" that matches the template's origin. For example, since the Spire Armor Trim is found in End Cities, its base block is Purpur Block. To craft a copy, simply place the template in the center slot of the crafting grid, its corresponding base block directly below it, and then arrange the seven diamonds around them. This recipe consumes the ingredients and outputs two of that same template, effectively giving you your original back plus one new copy.
While seven diamonds is a significant price, it guarantees that a single lucky find can be turned into a full matching set of armor---or even a lifetime supply. This system empowers you to use your favorite trims as soon as you find them without the fear of them being gone forever.
The Final Count: How Many Armor Trims Are ACTUALLY Possible?
To figure out how many unique armor trim combinations are possible, we just need to look at the two core ingredients you bring to the Smithing Table. The first piece of the puzzle is the pattern itself. Across the Overworld, Nether, and End, there are a total of 18 different Smithing Templates you can find and collect, each offering its own distinct design.
On top of the pattern, you also have your choice of color material. From the rich purple of Amethyst to the stark black of Netherite, there are 10 different materials you can use for trimming. This means for any single pattern you choose, you have ten unique colorways available, giving you plenty of options for matching a theme or creating a bold contrast.
The true scale of customization becomes clear when you combine these options. For any single piece of armor, you can choose from 18 unique patterns and 10 available colors. This simple multiplication brings us to an incredible final tally: 180 unique trim styles for any helmet, chestplate, leggings, or boots. This huge number of armor trim combinations ensures that you can create a look that is truly your own.
Popular Questions About Armor Trims, Answered
With 180 different styles to choose from, you probably have a few practical questions. One of the most common is whether trims offer any gameplay advantages. Given that you use valuable materials like diamonds or netherite ingots to create them, it's natural to wonder, do armor trims provide buffs? The answer is a clear and simple no. Armor trims are a purely cosmetic feature, designed to let you express your personal style. They won't make you run faster or take less damage, but they will make you stand out.
Another frequent concern revolves around end-game gear. You've spent hours gathering the resources for the best armor in the game, so can you put trims on netherite armor? Absolutely. The system is designed to work with every type of armor, from leather all the way up to netherite. Applying a trim to your prized netherite set is one of the best ways to give your character a signature look without sacrificing any protection.
Once you know the rules, the fun of finding the best armor trim combinations begins. The right pairing of pattern, color, and armor material can create a powerful theme for your character. Looking for inspiration from the community? The best armor trims Minecraft players rave about often pair high contrast colors with intricate patterns.
Take, for example, the popular pairing of a full Netherite set with the Ward armor trim and a Diamond material. The stark black of the netherite provides a perfect canvas for the intricate, ancient pattern of the Ward trim, while the diamond adds an ethereal, ghostly blue highlight. In contrast, you might prefer the classic look of a Diamond armor set trimmed with the Vex armor trim and a Gold Ingot. The sweeping, wing-like patterns of the Vex trim, rendered in brilliant gold, give the iconic blue armor a regal and almost celestial feel.
These examples are just a launching point for your creativity. The true beauty of the armor trim system is the freedom it gives you to experiment and discover a look that's perfect for you. Mixing and matching patterns, colors, and armor sets can lead to thousands of unique outcomes.
Your First Custom Armor: A 3-Step Action Plan
Armor is no longer just about protection; it is a canvas. With this knowledge, you can transform a standard set of diamond or netherite into a personalized suit that tells your story.
Your first step is to choose a target. To get started, consider aiming for an accessible pattern. Hunting down a Sentry Trim from a Pillager Outpost is a perfect initial mission that lets you practice the process without a long and dangerous journey.
Next, gather your other two ingredients: the armor piece you want to customize and the material for your chosen color, like a Lapis Lazuli for blue or an Iron Ingot for a clean silver. Take these three items to a Smithing Table, and in a single click, you'll craft your first unique piece of gear.
Every time you explore a shipwreck or conquer a bastion, you'll no longer just be looking for loot---you'll be hunting for style. You have the tools to begin your journey from a survivor to a unique artisan. What amazing armor combination will you create first?



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