Updated 25 October 2026. Facts on this page come from minecraft.wiki, minecraft.net and the live Artemis PvP server; sources are listed at the bottom.
Desert Wells in Minecraft: Hidden Loot
A desert well is a small sandstone well with a water source, found in deserts. About 1 chunk in 1,000 has one on Java (1 in 500 on Bedrock). Under the water are two suspicious sand blocks: brush them for pottery sherds such as Arms Up and Brewer, or emeralds, bricks, sticks or suspicious stew.
How do you find a desert well?
Walk across deserts; wells are small and stand out on flat sand. They need flat sand on solid ground, so they sometimes even form around a cactus. Wells are small, so exploring flat desert is the usual way to find one. Biome: deserts.
What loot is in a desert well?
| Item | Notes |
|---|---|
| Arms Up pottery sherd | Only from desert wells |
| Brewer pottery sherd | Only from desert wells |
| Emerald | One |
| Brick, stick | Junk |
| Suspicious stew | With a random effect; see suspicious stew |
One suspicious sand sits right under the water and another below it. Each gives one item.
How do you get the loot out?
Scoop up or block off the water first, then brush the suspicious sand; breaking it with a tool destroys the loot. Brushes are made from a feather, a copper ingot and a stick; see archaeology. Use the sherds on decorated pots.
Is the well water useful?
Yes: it is a free water source in a dry biome, handy for a desert base or a quick farm. You can make it infinite by adding a second source; see infinite water.
Frequently asked questions
Do desert wells have loot?
Yes, 2 suspicious sand blocks under the water.
Sources
Every fact on this page was checked against these pages; the wording is ours.