A Minecraft smithing table is the essential utility block for upgrading diamond gear to netherite and applying armor trims, and it also serves as the job site block for toolsmith villagers. Mastering the Minecraft smithing table lets you forge the strongest equipment in the game and customize your look with unique armor patterns.
What is a Minecraft smithing table?
A smithing table is a utility block used to upgrade diamond gear to netherite and to apply armor trims; it is also a toolsmith job-site block. Its sides display pixelated smithing tools, and its interface provides three input slots plus one output slot in modern Minecraft. The smithing table was originally just a villager job-changer block when first added in Version 1.14, and only gained gear upgrading in Version 1.16.
How to craft a smithing table
The recipe requires 2 iron ingots and 4 wood planks of any type. Place the two iron ingots on the top row of a crafting table, then fill the two rows below with the four planks. Alternatively, you can find a smithing table already placed in a village toolsmith house. Iron ore is usually found four to ten blocks deep in the ground. Iron ingots can be sourced from fortresses, pillager outposts, dungeons, temples, shipwrecks, cities, mansions, chests, or by defeating mobs wearing iron armor. A smithing table cannot spawn in the Netherworld.
How to use a smithing table to upgrade diamond gear to netherite
Open the smithing table to see three input slots plus one output slot. Place a Netherite Upgrade smithing template in the left slot, the diamond item in the middle slot, and one netherite ingot in the right slot. The resulting netherite gear keeps all enchantments from the original diamond piece.
How to obtain a netherite ingot
- Go to the Nether and mine ancient debris using a diamond or netherite pickaxe. Ancient debris is a brownish cube ore with white veins.
- Smelt the ancient debris into netherite scraps.
- Combine 4 netherite scraps with 4 gold ingots at a crafting table to make one netherite ingot.
Complete netherite gear and stats
Every diamond tool, weapon, or armor piece can be upgraded to netherite using the smithing table. Netherite gear floats on lava and provides increased durability and attack damage.
| Gear | Recipe | Durability boost | Attack damage boost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Netherite Helmet | Diamond Helmet + Netherite Ingot | 407 (from 363) | , |
| Netherite Chestplate | Diamond Chestplate + Netherite Ingot | 592 (from 528) | , |
| Netherite Leggings | Diamond Leggings + Netherite Ingot | 555 (from 495) | , |
| Netherite Boots | Diamond Boots + Netherite Ingot | 481 (from 429) | , |
| Netherite Sword | Diamond Sword + Netherite Ingot | 2031 (from 1561) | 10 (from 6) |
| Netherite Axe | Diamond Axe + Netherite Ingot | 2031 (from 1561) | 10 (from 6) |
| Netherite Pickaxe | Diamond Pickaxe + Netherite Ingot | 2031 (from 1561) | 6 (from 5) |
| Netherite Shovel | Diamond Shovel + Netherite Ingot | 2031 (from 1561) | 6.5 (from 4) |
| Netherite Hoe | Diamond Hoe + Netherite Ingot | 2031 (from 1561) | , |
How to use a smithing table to apply armor trims
The smithing table is the only way to obtain trimmed armor. Combine a smithing template, an armor piece, and a colored material in the three input slots to apply a cosmetic pattern. This does not change the armor's stats but lets you personalize your look, just as you might customize a canvas in a Procreate digital art app, you can customize your gear with unique designs. A smithing table can be used as fuel in a furnace, smelting one and a half items. A smithing table can be placed under a note block to produce a low drum-like sound. The smithing table's top texture resembles stone, allowing it to be used as flooring, and its side textures with tools can decorate walls.
How to turn a villager into a toolsmith
Destroy the villager's current job site block, then place a smithing table within a 48-block horizontal radius. The villager will claim the smithing table and become a toolsmith. Nitwits (green-clothed villagers) cannot take any job, and villagers who have already traded cannot change professions. Destroying a villager's job site block makes them angry, disrupting activities and raising trading prices until you move away for a while. A villager who has traded cannot switch professions, and their job expertise level depends on how many trades you did with them.
| Villager occupation | Job site block |
|---|---|
| Farmer | Composter |
| Shepherd | Loom |
| Fisherman | Barrel |
| Weaponsmith | Grindstone |
| Stonemason | Stonecutter |
| Leatherworker | Cauldron |
| Cleric | Brewing stand |
| Fletcher | Fletching table |
| Butcher | Smoker |
| Librarian | Lectern |
| Cartographer | Cartography table |
| Toolsmith | Smithing table |
How to get diamond gear from a toolsmith villager
Trade with a toolsmith villager to raise their level from Novice to Master. Master toolsmiths offer diamond gear in exchange for emeralds, giving you a renewable source of high-tier equipment without mining.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you use a smithing table to repair gear?
No, the smithing table does not repair items. Use an anvil or grindstone to repair damaged equipment.
Does the smithing table work on enchanted diamond gear?
Yes, enchanted diamond gear can be upgraded to netherite in the smithing table, and all enchantments are preserved.
How many smithing templates do I need for netherite upgrades?
Each netherite upgrade requires one Netherite Upgrade smithing template. The template is consumed during the process.
Can you remove armor trims after applying them?
No, once an armor trim is applied, it cannot be removed. You would need to craft a new armor piece to change the trim.
What happens if you break a smithing table?
Breaking a smithing table drops itself as an item, which you can pick up and place again. The villager assigned to it will lose their job site block.
Related reading: Minecraft Enchanting Table: How to Create and Use It, Minecraft Grindstone: How to Make and Use This Precious Item, and How to Make Fireworks in Minecraft (Recipe and Crafting Guide).
