How to Get Ghast Tears in Minecraft

Guide Java Bedrock

Quick answer: Kill ghasts in the Nether: each drops 0-1 ghast tears, up to 4 with Looting III. The catch is making the tear fall on land, not into lava - fight ghasts over netherrack or deflect their fireballs back. Tears brew Regeneration potions and craft end crystals and dried ghasts.

What you need

Bow with arrows (or perfect fireball timing)
Looting III sword (optional)
Fire resistance potion recommended
Blocks to build cover in open Nether

Step by step

Find ghasts: they spawn in nether wastes, soul sand valleys and basalt deltas, floating high in open areas. Soul sand valleys have the highest ghast density.
Fight over land: ghast tears drop where the ghast dies, and ghasts love hovering over lava lakes. Lure them over solid ground or a basalt delta before landing the kill, or the tear falls into lava.
Use a bow or their own fireballs: shoot the ghast with a Power bow, or left-click its fireball to deflect it back - a reflected fireball kills a ghast in one hit. A Looting III sword kill raises the drop to up to 4 tears.
Bonus drop: a ghast killed by its own deflected fireball also drops the 'Tears' music disc (since 1.21.6), plus the usual 0-2 gunpowder.
Farm them: a ghast farm built at high altitude in a soul sand valley (or over a lava ocean with a collection floor) automates tears, gunpowder and XP.
Brew Regeneration: ghast tear + awkward potion in a brewing stand makes a Potion of Regeneration (0:45, extendable with redstone, tier II with glowstone).
Craft with tears: 7 glass + 1 eye of ender + 1 ghast tear make an end crystal (respawning or re-fighting the dragon); since 1.21.6, 8 ghast tears around soul sand craft a dried ghast - the start of your own happy ghast.

Java vs Bedrock

Drop rates and uses are identical in Java and Bedrock: 0-1 tears per ghast, +1 per Looting level to a maximum of 4. Ghast spawn rates differ slightly by biome in both editions, with soul sand valleys the densest.

Versions: Ghast tears were added in Java Edition 1.0.0 (Beta 1.9 Prerelease) and Pocket Edition v0.12.1. The dried ghast crafting recipe and the Tears music disc arrived in 1.21.6.

Frequently asked questions

How many ghast tears does a ghast drop?

0-1 tears normally, plus 1 more per Looting level, up to 0-4 with Looting III. Each ghast also drops 0-2 gunpowder.

Why can't I find the tear after killing a ghast?

It probably fell into lava. Ghasts hover over lava lakes, and drops land where the ghast dies - always try to fight them over solid ground or netherrack platforms.

What is a ghast tear used for?

Brewing Potions of Regeneration, crafting end crystals (7 glass + eye of ender + tear) to respawn the ender dragon, and since 1.21.6 crafting dried ghasts (8 tears + soul sand) to grow a happy ghast.

How do you get the Tears music disc?

Kill a ghast with its own fireball: left-click the incoming fireball to deflect it back. A ghast killed by its reflected fireball drops the Tears music disc (added in 1.21.6).