How to Get Snowballs in Minecraft

Guide Java Bedrock

What you need

• Shovel (no Silk Touch)

Step by step

1. Find snow in a snowy biome and carry a shovel. Do not use Silk Touch.
2. Break a snow block with the shovel to get 4 snowballs.
3. Break snow layers with the shovel: each layer gives one snowball, 1-8 in total.
4. Alternatively kill a snow golem for 0-15 snowballs, unaffected by Looting.
5. Use snowballs to craft snow blocks, to knock mobs back when thrown, or to feed ghastlings and attract happy ghasts.

Java vs Bedrock

In Bedrock Edition, you can also use a shovel on snow layers (even with Silk Touch) for 1-4 snowballs, and ravagers destroying snow layers drop snowballs.

Versions: In Bedrock Edition, a block or piston pushed into snow layers destroys them: 1-3 layers drop 1 snowball, 4-5 drop 2, 6-7 drop 3 and 8 drop 4.

Frequently asked questions

Related:How to Make a Snow Golem in MinecraftHow to Make a Snow Block in Minecraft