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.
Nether Wart in Minecraft: How to Find and Farm It
Nether wart is the red fungus behind almost every potion: water bottle plus Nether wart makes the Awkward potion that other ingredients build on. It grows only on soul sand, in any dimension and in any light, and a ripe crop drops 2-4 wart (more with Fortune). Find your first wart in Nether fortress gardens and bastion courtyards.
Where do you find Nether wart?
- Nether fortresses: soul sand gardens beside the stairwells, and sometimes in chests; see Nether fortresses.
- Bastion remnants: the courtyards of housing units.
- Cleric villagers buy it at higher levels, so a farm becomes emeralds too.
How do you farm Nether wart?
- Place soul sand (not soul soil) anywhere, even in the Overworld, and plant the wart on it.
- It grows through 4 stages with no need for light or water, and bone meal does not speed it up.
- Break it when fully grown and red for 2-4 wart; Fortune adds up to 3 more.
- Soul sand comes from soul sand valleys; see soul sand valleys.
Why do you need Nether wart for potions?
It turns a water bottle into the Awkward potion, the base for nearly every potion. Weakness is the only one that can skip it. Full recipes: brewing potions and every potion.
What else is Nether wart used for?
9 wart make a Nether wart block (a decoration, not a good way to compost it), and with Nether brick it makes red Nether bricks. It composts with a 65% chance. Do not confuse it with the warped wart block from warped forests.
Are potions sold on ArtemisPvP?
Frequently asked questions
Can Nether wart grow in the Overworld?
Yes, on soul sand, in any dimension.
Does bone meal work on Nether wart?
No.
Sources
Every fact on this page was checked against these pages; the wording is ours.