Updated 23 October 2026. Facts on this page come from minecraft.wiki, minecraft.net and the live Artemis PvP server; sources are listed at the bottom.
Creeper Farm: How to Farm Gunpowder in Minecraft
A creeper farm is the most reliable way to get large amounts of gunpowder. On Java, trapdoors on the ceiling of a 2-block-high spawning floor lower the gap to 1 13/16 blocks: tall enough for creepers but too short for zombies and skeletons, so only creepers spawn. Cats or a snow golem push them into a killing chamber, where campfires or a Looting III sword finish them.
How does a creeper-only farm work?
- Build dark spawning floors with a 2-block gap and trapdoors on the ceiling. The gap drops to 1 13/16 blocks, which only creepers fit (Java only; this trick does not work on Bedrock).
- Remove 3x3 patches of floor, for example with carpets, so spiders cannot spawn.
- Move the creepers: cats scare creepers away, so cats at one end drive them toward water streams at the other. A snow golem also works, kept at least 7 blocks from every creeper or they explode on it.
- Kill them with campfires or by hand with a Looting III sword, which multiplies the drops.
minecraft.wiki suggests building the spawning platform over an ocean, or adding a high AFK spot, to raise the spawn rate. See mob spawning.
Which creeper farm designs are popular?
| Design | Idea | Rate given by minecraft.wiki |
|---|---|---|
| Chapman's design | Hourglass shape with 2 cats, trapdoor roof, high AFK spot | About 700 gunpowder an hour |
| Namiature's design | Cold ocean build, cats instead of a redstone timer, carpets instead of glass pillars | Not stated |
| SB737's version | Water pushes creepers into a Nether portal and a glass tube to the killing chamber | Over 10 stacks in 5 minutes from 11 layers, with Looting III |
How do you get charged creepers?
Lightning must strike within a 4x4 area of a creeper. The easy way is a Channeling trident thrown at a creeper under open sky during a thunderstorm. Older designs keep creepers in cells in a 'creeper field' or store them in minecarts, since riding mobs do not despawn on Java 1.16 and later. Charged creepers are how you get mob heads; see mob heads.
What is gunpowder for?
TNT, firework rockets for elytra flight, and splash and lingering potions all need gunpowder, which is why creeper farms matter. See creepers.
Does ArtemisPvP have custom creepers?
Frequently asked questions
How do you make a creeper-only farm?
On Java, put trapdoors on a 2-block-high ceiling; only creepers fit in the 1 13/16 gap.
How do you charge a creeper?
Throw a Channeling trident at it during a thunderstorm.
Sources
Every fact on this page was checked against these pages; the wording is ours.