Desert Pyramid

Desert Pyramid

Biomes	Desert Desert Hills‌[BE only]
Generates in existing chunks	No
Consists of	Blue Terracotta Chest Chiseled Sandstone Cut Sandstone Orange Terracotta Sand Sandstone Sandstone Slab Sandstone Stairs Stone Pressure Plate Suspicious Sand TNT

{
    "title": "Desert Pyramid",
    "rows": [
        {
            "field": "<span class=\"nowrap\"><span class=\"sprite-file\" style=\"\">(link to File:BiomeSprite desert.png article, displayed as 16x16px|link=Desert|alt=|class=pixel-image|)</span>(link to Desert article, displayed as <span class=\"sprite-text\">Desert</span>)</span><br><span class=\"nowrap\"><span class=\"sprite-file\" style=\"\">(link to File:BiomeSprite desert-hills.png article, displayed as 16x16px|link=Desert Hills|alt=|class=pixel-image|)</span>(link to Desert Hills article, displayed as <span class=\"sprite-text\">Desert Hills</span>)</span>‌<sup class=\" nowrap Inline-Template \" title=\"\">[<i><span title=\"This statement only applies to Bedrock Edition\">(link to Bedrock Edition article, displayed as BE)  only</span></i>]</sup>",
            "label": "(link to Biome article, displayed as Biomes)"
        },
        {
            "field": "No",
            "label": "Generates in<br>existing chunks  "
        },
        {
            "field": "(values exceeds 1000 characters...)",
            "label": "Consists of"
        }
    ],
    "invimages": [],
    "images": [
        "Desert pyramid.png"
    ]
}

A desert pyramid or desert temple is an uncommon above ground structure found in desert biomes built mostly of sandstone and terracotta. The desert pyramid contains four loot chests hidden under the floor in the center, which are protected by a TNT trap, and a secret buried room to the side where archaeology can be performed by brushing the generated suspicious sand with a brush.

Generation

Desert pyramids generate in desert biomes. Desert pyramids have a lower generation frequency in Java Edition than in Bedrock Edition.

Desert pyramids can be located with desert pyramid explorer maps, which are found in secret chests in abandoned camps.

Structure

Desert pyramids are constructed with normal, smooth, chiseled, and cut sandstone, as well as orange and blue terracotta, sandstone slabs, and sandstone stairs.

The inside view of a desert pyramid’s central room

The pattern of orange terracotta on the towers of desert pyramids resembles an Ankh, the ancient Egyptian symbol for life and the Nile key. There is one main entrance in the front, two more entrances in the back on both the left and right sides near the top of the pyramid, and a one-block wide window at the top. Even if the rest of the pyramid generates mostly buried by sand, the top of the pyramid is almost always above ground. A mostly buried pyramid can still be accessed by the window in the top if necessary, though fall damage is likely. In the center of the pyramid's 21×21 ground floor is a checkerboard pattern of terracotta and sandstone in a wind rose symbol, with a block of blue terracotta in the center.

A preview of the four hidden chests with the TNT trap under the desert pyramid

Underneath this terracotta is a secret fosse containing four chests, which are rigged by a stone pressure plate directly under the blue terracotta block. The pressure plate is connected to a 3×3 grid of TNT, which means that if a player or mob unintentionally steps on the plate, it sets off the nine TNT blocks, which destroy the chests and their loot and can kill the player. As there is no light in the chest room, mobs sometimes spawn inside it and trigger the TNT trap, destroying the chests and loot before any player can reach it.

View of an excavated cellar room, showing position of the collapsed stairs

Desert pyramids also generate with a lower room situated in the back (either on the left or right), and buried in sand. Six to eight of these sand blocks generate as suspicious sand. This room is 5×5 blocks, has another instance of the sandstone wind rose pattern on the ground, and is connected to the main floor with collapsed stairs.

When a desert pyramid generates above a ravine, the foundation extends downward until it reaches the bottom.

Loot

In Java Edition and Bedrock Edition, each desert pyramid chest contains items drawn from 3 pools, with the following distribution:

Item	Stack Size			Weight			Chance	Avg. per chest	Avg. # chests to search
	2–4×	4×	1×	2–4×	4×	1×
Nothing	1	—	1	15⁄247	—	6⁄7	88.1%	1.039	1.1
Bone	4–6	1–8	—	25⁄247	10⁄50	—	70.1%	5.118	1.4
Rotten Flesh	3–7	1–8	—	25⁄247	10⁄50	—	70.1%	5.118	1.4
Gunpowder	—	1–8	—	—	10⁄50	—	59.0%	3.600	1.7
Sand	—	1–8	—	—	10⁄50	—	59.0%	3.600	1.7
String	—	1–8	—	—	10⁄50	—	59.0%	3.600	1.7
Spider Eye	1–3	—	—	25⁄247	—	—	27.1%	0.607	3.7
Leather	1–5	—	—	20⁄247	—	—	22.2%	0.729	4.5
Enchanted Book	1	—	—	20⁄247	—	—	22.2%	0.243	4.5
Golden Apple	1	—	—	20⁄247	—	—	22.2%	0.243	4.5
Gold Ingot	2–7	—	—	15⁄247	—	—	17.0%	0.820	5.9
Iron Ingot	1–5	—	—	15⁄247	—	—	17.0%	0.547	5.9
Emerald	1–3	—	—	15⁄247	—	—	17.0%	0.364	5.9
Copper Horse Armor	1	—	—	15⁄247	—	—	17.0%	0.182	5.9
Iron Horse Armor	1	—	—	15⁄247	—	—	17.0%	0.182	5.9
Dune Armor Trim	—	—	2	—	—	1⁄7	14.3%	0.286	7.0
Golden Horse Armor	1	—	—	10⁄247	—	—	11.6%	0.121	8.6
Diamond	1–3	—	—	5⁄247	—	—	5.9%	0.121	16.8
Diamond Horse Armor	1	—	—	5⁄247	—	—	5.9%	0.061	16.8
Enchanted Golden Apple	1	—	—	2⁄247	—	—	2.4%	0.024	41.5

{ "chestNames": [ "desert-temple" ], "gameVersion": "Java", "loot": { "desert-temple": { "poolsJava": [ { "items": { "empty": [ 1, 1, 15 ], "diamond": [ 1, 3, 5 ], "copper-horse-armor": [ 1, 1, 15 ], "rotten-flesh": [ 3, 7, 25 ], "enchanted-book-rnd": [ 1, 1, 20 ], "golden-horse-armor": [ 1, 1, 10 ], "gold-ingot": [ 2, 7, 15 ], "golden-apple": [ 1, 1, 20 ], "leather": [ 1, 5, 20 ], "diamond-horse-armor": [ 1, 1, 5 ], "iron-horse-armor": [ 1, 1, 15 ], "bone": [ 4, 6, 25 ], "enchanted-golden-apple": [ 1, 1, 2 ], "iron-ingot": [ 1, 5, 15 ], "spider-eye": [ 1, 3, 25 ], "emerald": [ 1, 3, 15 ] }, "rolls": [ 2, 4 ], "totalweight": 247 }, { "items": { "string": [ 1, 8, 10 ], "bone": [ 1, 8, 10 ], "sand": [ 1, 8, 10 ], "rotten-flesh": [ 1, 8, 10 ], "gunpowder": [ 1, 8, 10 ] }, "rolls": [ 4, 4 ], "totalweight": 50 }, { "items": { "empty": [ 1, 1, 6 ], "dune-armor-trim": [ 2, 2, 1 ] }, "rolls": [ 1, 1 ], "totalweight": 7 } ], "poolsBedrockUpcoming": [], "itemDataJava": { "string": { "sortsize": [ 0, 4.5, 0 ], "weights": [ "—", "<sup>10</sup>&frasl;<sub>50</sub>", "—" ], "chanceany": 0.5904, "sizes": [ "—", "1–8", "—" ], "sortweight": [ 0, 10, 0 ], "armor": 0, "material": 0, "avgamount": 3.6, "itemname": "string" }, "diamond-horse-armor": { "itemname": "diamond-horse-armor", "sizes": [ 1, "—", "—" ], "sortsize": [ 1, 0, 0 ], "sortweight": [ 5, 0, 0 ], "weights": [ "<sup>5</sup>&frasl;<sub>247</sub>", "—", "—" ], "avgamount": 0.06072874493927125, "chanceany": 0.05937659536561424 }, "rotten-flesh": { "sortsize": [ 5, 4.5, 0 ], "weights": [ "<sup>25</sup>&frasl;<sub>247</sub>", "<sup>10</sup>&frasl;<sub>50</sub>", "—" ], "chanceany": 0.7014789779212162, "sizes": [ "3–7", "1–8", "—" ], "sortweight": [ 25, 10, 0 ], "armor": 0, "material": 0, "avgamount": 5.1182186234817815, "itemname": "rotten-flesh" }, "gold-ingot": { "itemname": "gold-ingot", "sizes": [ "2–7", "—", "—" ], "sortsize": [ 4.5, 0, 0 ], "sortweight": [ 15, 0, 0 ], "weights": [ "<sup>15</sup>&frasl;<sub>247</sub>", "—", "—" ], "avgamount": 0.819838056680162, "chanceany": 0.17026171025287384 }, "iron-horse-armor": { "sortsize": [ 1, 0, 0 ], "weights": [ "<sup>15</sup>&frasl;<sub>247</sub>", "—", "—" ], "chanceany": 0.17026171025287384, "sizes": [ 1, "—", "—" ], "sortweight": [ 15, 0, 0 ], "armor": 0, "material": 2, "avgamount": 0.18218623481781376, "itemname": "iron-horse-armor" }, "bone": { "sortsize": [ 5, 4.5, 0 ], "weights": [ "<sup>25</sup>&frasl;<sub>247</sub>", "<sup>10</sup>&frasl;<sub>50</sub>", "—" ], "chanceany": 0.7014789779212162, "sizes": [ "4–6", "1–8", "—" ], "sortweight": [ 25, 10, 0 ], "armor": 0, "material": 0, "avgamount": 5.1182186234817815, "itemname": "bone" }, "enchanted-golden-apple": { "itemname": "enchanted-golden-apple", "sizes": [ 1, "—", "—" ], "sortsize": [ 1, 0, 0 ], "sortweight": [ 2, 0, 0 ], "weights": [ "<sup>2</sup>&frasl;<sub>247</sub>", "—", "—" ], "avgamount": 0.024291497975708502, "chanceany": 0.02407383435811905 }, "empty": { "itemname": "empty", "sizes": [ 1, "—", 1 ], "sortsize": [ 1, 0, 1 ], "sortweight": [ 15, 0, 6 ], "weights": [ "<sup>15</sup>&frasl;<sub>247</sub>", "—", "<sup>6</sup>&frasl;<sub>7</sub>" ], "avgamount": 1.0393290919606708, "chanceany": 0.8814659586075535 }, "diamond": { "itemname": "diamond", "sizes": [ "1–3", "—", "—" ], "sortsize": [ 2, 0, 0 ], "sortweight": [ 5, 0, 0 ], "weights": [ "<sup>5</sup>&frasl;<sub>247</sub>", "—", "—" ], "avgamount": 0.1214574898785425, "chanceany": 0.05937659536561424 }, "copper-horse-armor": { "sortsize": [ 1, 0, 0 ], "weights": [ "<sup>15</sup>&frasl;<sub>247</sub>", "—", "—" ], "chanceany": 0.17026171025287384, "sizes": [ 1, "—", "—" ], "sortweight": [ 15, 0, 0 ], "armor": 0, "material": 0, "avgamount": 0.18218623481781376, "itemname": "copper-horse-armor" }, "enchanted-book-rnd": { "sortsize": [ 1, 0, 0 ], "weights": [ "<sup>20</sup>&frasl;<sub>247</sub>", "—", "—" ], "chanceany": 0.22193075751639946, "sizes": [ 1, "—", "—" ], "sortweight": [ 20, 0, 0 ], "armor": 0, "material": 0, "avgamount": 0.242914979757085, "itemname": "enchanted-book-rnd" }, "golden-apple": { "sortsize": [ 1, 0, 0 ], "weights": [ "<sup>20</sup>&frasl;<sub>247</sub>", "—", "—" ], "chanceany": 0.22193075751639946, "sizes": [ 1, "—", "—" ], "sortweight": [ 20, 0, 0 ], "armor": 0, "material": 3, "avgamount": 0.242914979757085, "itemname": "golden-apple" }, "leather": { "itemname": "leather", "sizes": [ "1–5", "—", "—" ], "sortsize": [ 3, 0, 0 ], "sortweight": [ 20, 0, 0 ], "weights": [ "<sup>20</sup>&frasl;<sub>247</sub>", "—", "—" ], "avgamount": 0.728744939271255, "chanceany": 0.22193075751639946 }, "dune-armor-trim": { "itemname": "dune-armor-trim", "sizes": [ "—", "—", 2 ], "sortsize": [ 0, 0, 2 ], "sortweight": [ 0, 0, 1 ], "weights": [ "—", "—", "<sup>1</sup>&frasl;<sub>7</sub>" ], "avgamount": 0.2857142857142857, "chanceany": 0.1428571428571429 }, "gunpowder": { "sortsize": [ 0, 4.5, 0 ], "weights": [ "—", "<sup>10</sup>&frasl;<sub>50</sub>", "—" ], "chanceany": 0.5904, "sizes": [ "—", "1–8", "—" ], "sortweight": [ 0, 10, 0 ], "armor": 0, "material": 0, "avgamount": 3.6, "itemname": "gunpowder" }, "spider-eye": { "itemname": "spider-eye", "sizes": [ "1–3", "—", "—" ], "sortsize": [ 2, 0, 0 ], "sortweight": [ 25, 0, 0 ], "weights": [ "<sup>25</sup>&frasl;<sub>247</sub>", "—", "—" ], "avgamount": 0.6072874493927125, "chanceany": 0.27118891094046904 }, "sand": { "sortsize": [ 0, 4.5, 0 ], "weights": [ "—", "<sup>10</sup>&frasl;<sub>50</sub>", "—" ], "chanceany": 0.5904, "sizes": [ "—", "1–8", "—" ], "sortweight": [ 0, 10, 0 ], "armor": 0, "material": 0, "avgamount": 3.6, "itemname": "sand" }, "golden-horse-armor": { "itemname": "golden-horse-armor", "sizes": [ 1, "—", "—" ], "sortsize": [ 1, 0, 0 ], "sortweight": [ 10, 0, 0 ], "weights": [ "<sup>10</sup>&frasl;<sub>247</sub>", "—", "—" ], "avgamount": 0.1214574898785425, "chanceany": 0.11610352027152815 }, "emerald": { "itemname": "emerald", "sizes": [ "1–3", "—", "—" ], "sortsize": [ 2, 0, 0 ], "sortweight": [ 15, 0, 0 ], "weights": [ "<sup>15</sup>&frasl;<sub>247</sub>", "—", "—" ], "avgamount": 0.3643724696356275, "chanceany": 0.17026171025287384 }, "iron-ingot": { "itemname": "iron-ingot", "sizes": [ "1–5", "—", "—" ], "sortsize": [ 3, 0, 0 ], "sortweight": [ 15, 0, 0 ], "weights": [ "<sup>15</sup>&frasl;<sub>247</sub>", "—", "—" ], "avgamount": 0.5465587044534413, "chanceany": 0.17026171025287384 } }, "structID": "desert-temple", "poolsJavaUpcoming": [], "structure": "Desert Pyramid", "container": "", "itemDataJavaUpcoming": [], "allRollsJavaUpcoming": [], "itemDataBedrock": { "string": { "sortsize": [ 0, 4.5, 0 ], "weights": [ "—", "<sup>10</sup>&frasl;<sub>50</sub>", "—" ], "chanceany": 0.5904, "sizes": [ "—", "1–8", "—" ], "sortweight": [ 0, 10, 0 ], "armor": 0, "material": 0, "avgamount": 3.6, "itemname": "string" }, "diamond-horse-armor": { "itemname": "diamond-horse-armor", "sizes": [ 1, "—", "—" ], "sortsize": [ 1, 0, 0 ], "sortweight": [ 5, 0, 0 ], "weights": [ "<sup>5</sup>&frasl;<sub>247</sub>", "—", "—" ], "avgamount": 0.06072874493927125, "chanceany": 0.05937659536561424 }, "rotten-flesh": { "sortsize": [ 5, 4.5, 0 ], "weights": [ "<sup>25</sup>&frasl;<sub>247</sub>", "<sup>10</sup>&frasl;<sub>50</sub>", "—" ], "chanceany": 0.7014789779212162, "sizes": [ "3–7", "1–8", "—" ], "sortweight": [ 25, 10, 0 ], "armor": 0, "material": 0, "avgamount": 5.1182186234817815, "itemname": "rotten-flesh" }, "gold-ingot": { "itemname": "gold-ingot", "sizes": [ "2–7", "—", "—" ], "sortsize": [ 4.5, 0, 0 ], "sortweight": [ 15, 0, 0 ], "weights": [ "<sup>15</sup>&frasl;<sub>247</sub>", "—", "—" ], "avgamount": 0.819838056680162, "chanceany": 0.17026171025287384 }, "iron-horse-armor": { "sortsize": [ 1, 0, 0 ], "weights": [ "<sup>15</sup>&frasl;<sub>247</sub>", "—", "—" ], "chanceany": 0.17026171025287384, "sizes": [ 1, "—", "—" ], "sortweight": [ 15, 0, 0 ], "armor": 0, "material": 2, "avgamount": 0.18218623481781376, "itemname": "iron-horse-armor" }, "bone": { "sortsize": [ 5, 4.5, 0 ], "weights": [ "<sup>25</sup>&frasl;<sub>247</sub>", "<sup>10</sup>&frasl;<sub>50</sub>", "—" ], "chanceany": 0.7014789779212162, "sizes": [ "4–6", "1–8", "—" ], "sortweight": [ 25, 10, 0 ], "armor": 0, "material": 0, "avgamount": 5.1182186234817815, "itemname": "bone" }, "enchanted-golden-apple": { "itemname": "enchanted-golden-apple", "sizes": [ 1, "—", "—" ], "sortsize": [ 1, 0, 0 ], "sortweight": [ 2, 0, 0 ], "weights": [ "<sup>2</sup>&frasl;<sub>247</sub>", "—", "—" ], "avgamount": 0.024291497975708502, "chanceany": 0.02407383435811905 }, "empty": { "itemname": "empty", "sizes": [ 1, "—", 1 ], "sortsize": [ 1, 0, 1 ], "sortweight": [ 15, 0, 6 ], "weights": [ "<sup>15</sup>&frasl;<sub>247</sub>", "—", "<sup>6</sup>&frasl;<sub>7</sub>" ], "avgamount": 1.0393290919606708, "chanceany": 0.8814659586075535 }, "diamond": { "itemname": "diamond", "sizes": [ "1–3", "—", "—" ], "sortsize": [ 2, 0, 0 ], "sortweight": [ 5, 0, 0 ], "weights": [ "<sup>5</sup>&frasl;<sub>247</sub>", "—", "—" ], "avgamount": 0.1214574898785425, "chanceany": 0.05937659536561424 }, "copper-horse-armor": { "sortsize": [ 1, 0, 0 ], "weights": [ "<sup>15</sup>&frasl;<sub>247</sub>", "—", "—" ], "chanceany": 0.17026171025287384, "sizes": [ 1, "—", "—" ], "sortweight": [ 15, 0, 0 ], "armor": 0, "material": 0, "avgamount": 0.18218623481781376, "itemname": "copper-horse-armor" }, "enchanted-book-rnd": { "sortsize": [ 1, 0, 0 ], "weights": [ "<sup>20</sup>&frasl;<sub>247</sub>", "—", "—" ], "chanceany": 0.22193075751639946, "sizes": [ 1, "—", "—" ], "sortweight": [ 20, 0, 0 ], "armor": 0, "material": 0, "avgamount": 0.242914979757085, "itemname": "enchanted-book-rnd" }, "golden-apple": { "sortsize": [ 1, 0, 0 ], "weights": [ "<sup>20</sup>&frasl;<sub>247</sub>", "—", "—" ], "chanceany": 0.22193075751639946, "sizes": [ 1, "—", "—" ], "sortweight": [ 20, 0, 0 ], "armor": 0, "material": 3, "avgamount": 0.242914979757085, "itemname": "golden-apple" }, "leather": { "itemname": "leather", "sizes": [ "1–5", "—", "—" ], "sortsize": [ 3, 0, 0 ], "sortweight": [ 20, 0, 0 ], "weights": [ "<sup>20</sup>&frasl;<sub>247</sub>", "—", "—" ], "avgamount": 0.728744939271255, "chanceany": 0.22193075751639946 }, "dune-armor-trim": { "itemname": "dune-armor-trim", "sizes": [ "—", "—", 2 ], "sortsize": [ 0, 0, 2 ], "sortweight": [ 0, 0, 1 ], "weights": [ "—", "—", "<sup>1</sup>&frasl;<sub>7</sub>" ], "avgamount": 0.2857142857142857, "chanceany": 0.1428571428571429 }, "gunpowder": { "sortsize": [ 0, 4.5, 0 ], "weights": [ "—", "<sup>10</sup>&frasl;<sub>50</sub>", "—" ], "chanceany": 0.5904, "sizes": [ "—", "1–8", "—" ], "sortweight": [ 0, 10, 0 ], "armor": 0, "material": 0, "avgamount": 3.6, "itemname": "gunpowder" }, "spider-eye": { "itemname": "spider-eye", "sizes": [ "1–3", "—", "—" ], "sortsize": [ 2, 0, 0 ], "sortweight": [ 25, 0, 0 ], "weights": [ "<sup>25</sup>&frasl;<sub>247</sub>", "—", "—" ], "avgamount": 0.6072874493927125, "chanceany": 0.27118891094046904 }, "sand": { "sortsize": [ 0, 4.5, 0 ], "weights": [ "—", "<sup>10</sup>&frasl;<sub>50</sub>", "—" ], "chanceany": 0.5904, "sizes": [ "—", "1–8", "—" ], "sortweight": [ 0, 10, 0 ], "armor": 0, "material": 0, "avgamount": 3.6, "itemname": "sand" }, "golden-horse-armor": { "itemname": "golden-horse-armor", "sizes": [ 1, "—", "—" ], "sortsize": [ 1, 0, 0 ], "sortweight": [ 10, 0, 0 ], "weights": [ "<sup>10</sup>&frasl;<sub>247</sub>", "—", "—" ], "avgamount": 0.1214574898785425, "chanceany": 0.11610352027152815 }, "emerald": { "itemname": "emerald", "sizes": [ "1–3", "—", "—" ], "sortsize": [ 2, 0, 0 ], "sortweight": [ 15, 0, 0 ], "weights": [ "<sup>15</sup>&frasl;<sub>247</sub>", "—", "—" ], "avgamount": 0.3643724696356275, "chanceany": 0.17026171025287384 }, "iron-ingot": { "itemname": "iron-ingot", "sizes": [ "1–5", "—", "—" ], "sortsize": [ 3, 0, 0 ], "sortweight": [ 15, 0, 0 ], "weights": [ "<sup>15</sup>&frasl;<sub>247</sub>", "—", "—" ], "avgamount": 0.5465587044534413, "chanceany": 0.17026171025287384 } }, "poolsBedrock": [ { "items": { "empty": [ 1, 1, 15 ], "diamond": [ 1, 3, 5 ], "copper-horse-armor": [ 1, 1, 15 ], "rotten-flesh": [ 3, 7, 25 ], "enchanted-book-rnd": [ 1, 1, 20 ], "golden-horse-armor": [ 1, 1, 10 ], "gold-ingot": [ 2, 7, 15 ], "golden-apple": [ 1, 1, 20 ], "leather": [ 1, 5, 20 ], "diamond-horse-armor": [ 1, 1, 5 ], "iron-horse-armor": [ 1, 1, 15 ], "bone": [ 4, 6, 25 ], "enchanted-golden-apple": [ 1, 1, 2 ], "iron-ingot": [ 1, 5, 15 ], "spider-eye": [ 1, 3, 25 ], "emerald": [ 1, 3, 15 ] }, "rolls": [ 2, 4 ], "totalweight": 247 }, { "items": { "string": [ 1, 8, 10 ], "bone": [ 1, 8, 10 ], "sand": [ 1, 8, 10 ], "rotten-flesh": [ 1, 8, 10 ], "gunpowder": [ 1, 8, 10 ] }, "rolls": [ 4, 4 ], "totalweight": 50 }, { "items": { "empty": [ 1, 1, 6 ], "dune-armor-trim": [ 2, 2, 1 ] }, "rolls": [ 1, 1 ], "totalweight": 7 } ], "allRollsBedrockUpcoming": [], "allRollsBedrock": [ "2–4", 4, 1 ], "itemDataBedrockUpcoming": [], "header": "[[Desert Pyramid]]", "display": "desert pyramid chest", "allRollsJava": [ "2–4", 4, 1 ] } } }

The loot chances above are per chest. As each chest has a 2.4% chance to contain an enchanted golden apple for example, with four chests, each pyramid has about a 9% chance overall of having at least one.

Archaeological loot

In Java Edition and Bedrock Edition, each desert pyramid suspicious sand contains 1 item stack, with the following distribution:

Item	Stack Size	Weight	Chance	Avg. per block	Avg. # blocks to brush
Archer Pottery Sherd	1	1⁄8	12.5%	0.125	8.0
Emerald	1	1⁄8	12.5%	0.125	8.0
Gunpowder	1	1⁄8	12.5%	0.125	8.0
Miner Pottery Sherd	1	1⁄8	12.5%	0.125	8.0
Prize Pottery Sherd	1	1⁄8	12.5%	0.125	8.0
Skull Pottery Sherd	1	1⁄8	12.5%	0.125	8.0
TNT	1	1⁄8	12.5%	0.125	8.0
Diamond	1	1⁄8	12.5%	0.125	8.0

{ "chestNames": [ "brushable-desert-temple" ], "gameVersion": "Java", "loot": { "brushable-desert-temple": { "poolsJava": [ { "items": { "emerald": [ 1, 1, 1 ], "diamond": [ 1, 1, 1 ], "prize-pottery-sherd": [ 1, 1, 1 ], "gunpowder": [ 1, 1, 1 ], "tnt": [ 1, 1, 1 ], "miner-pottery-sherd": [ 1, 1, 1 ], "archer-pottery-sherd": [ 1, 1, 1 ], "skull-pottery-sherd": [ 1, 1, 1 ] }, "rolls": [ 1, 1 ], "totalweight": 8 } ], "poolsBedrockUpcoming": [], "itemDataJava": { "tnt": { "sortsize": [ 1 ], "weights": [ "<sup>1</sup>&frasl;<sub>8</sub>" ], "chanceany": 0.125, "sizes": [ 1 ], "sortweight": [ 1 ], "armor": 0, "material": 0, "avgamount": 0.125, "itemname": "tnt" }, "diamond": { "sortsize": [ 1 ], "weights": [ "<sup>1</sup>&frasl;<sub>8</sub>" ], "chanceany": 0.125, "sizes": [ 1 ], "sortweight": [ 1 ], "armor": 0, "material": 4, "avgamount": 0.125, "itemname": "diamond" }, "prize-pottery-sherd": { "sortsize": [ 1 ], "weights": [ "<sup>1</sup>&frasl;<sub>8</sub>" ], "chanceany": 0.125, "sizes": [ 1 ], "sortweight": [ 1 ], "armor": 0, "material": 0, "avgamount": 0.125, "itemname": "prize-pottery-sherd" }, "gunpowder": { "sortsize": [ 1 ], "weights": [ "<sup>1</sup>&frasl;<sub>8</sub>" ], "chanceany": 0.125, "sizes": [ 1 ], "sortweight": [ 1 ], "armor": 0, "material": 0, "avgamount": 0.125, "itemname": "gunpowder" }, "miner-pottery-sherd": { "sortsize": [ 1 ], "weights": [ "<sup>1</sup>&frasl;<sub>8</sub>" ], "chanceany": 0.125, "sizes": [ 1 ], "sortweight": [ 1 ], "armor": 0, "material": 0, "avgamount": 0.125, "itemname": "miner-pottery-sherd" }, "emerald": { "sortsize": [ 1 ], "weights": [ "<sup>1</sup>&frasl;<sub>8</sub>" ], "chanceany": 0.125, "sizes": [ 1 ], "sortweight": [ 1 ], "armor": 0, "material": 0, "avgamount": 0.125, "itemname": "emerald" }, "archer-pottery-sherd": { "sortsize": [ 1 ], "weights": [ "<sup>1</sup>&frasl;<sub>8</sub>" ], "chanceany": 0.125, "sizes": [ 1 ], "sortweight": [ 1 ], "armor": 0, "material": 0, "avgamount": 0.125, "itemname": "archer-pottery-sherd" }, "skull-pottery-sherd": { "sortsize": [ 1 ], "weights": [ "<sup>1</sup>&frasl;<sub>8</sub>" ], "chanceany": 0.125, "sizes": [ 1 ], "sortweight": [ 1 ], "armor": 0, "material": 0, "avgamount": 0.125, "itemname": "skull-pottery-sherd" } }, "structID": "desert-temple", "poolsJavaUpcoming": [], "structure": "Desert Pyramid", "container": "Suspicious sand", "itemDataJavaUpcoming": [], "allRollsJavaUpcoming": [], "itemDataBedrock": { "emerald": { "sortsize": [ 1 ], "weights": [ "<sup>1</sup>&frasl;<sub>8</sub>" ], "chanceany": 0.125, "sizes": [ 1 ], "sortweight": [ 1 ], "armor": 0, "material": 0, "avgamount": 0.125, "itemname": "emerald" }, "diamond": { "sortsize": [ 1 ], "weights": [ "<sup>1</sup>&frasl;<sub>8</sub>" ], "chanceany": 0.125, "sizes": [ 1 ], "sortweight": [ 1 ], "armor": 0, "material": 4, "avgamount": 0.125, "itemname": "diamond" }, "prize-pottery-sherd": { "sortsize": [ 1 ], "weights": [ "<sup>1</sup>&frasl;<sub>8</sub>" ], "chanceany": 0.125, "sizes": [ 1 ], "sortweight": [ 1 ], "armor": 0, "material": 0, "avgamount": 0.125, "itemname": "prize-pottery-sherd" }, "gunpowder": { "sortsize": [ 1 ], "weights": [ "<sup>1</sup>&frasl;<sub>8</sub>" ], "chanceany": 0.125, "sizes": [ 1 ], "sortweight": [ 1 ], "armor": 0, "material": 0, "avgamount": 0.125, "itemname": "gunpowder" }, "miner-pottery-sherd": { "sortsize": [ 1 ], "weights": [ "<sup>1</sup>&frasl;<sub>8</sub>" ], "chanceany": 0.125, "sizes": [ 1 ], "sortweight": [ 1 ], "armor": 0, "material": 0, "avgamount": 0.125, "itemname": "miner-pottery-sherd" }, "tnt": { "sortsize": [ 1 ], "weights": [ "<sup>1</sup>&frasl;<sub>8</sub>" ], "chanceany": 0.125, "sizes": [ 1 ], "sortweight": [ 1 ], "armor": 0, "material": 0, "avgamount": 0.125, "itemname": "tnt" }, "archer-pottery-sherd": { "sortsize": [ 1 ], "weights": [ "<sup>1</sup>&frasl;<sub>8</sub>" ], "chanceany": 0.125, "sizes": [ 1 ], "sortweight": [ 1 ], "armor": 0, "material": 0, "avgamount": 0.125, "itemname": "archer-pottery-sherd" }, "skull-pottery-sherd": { "sortsize": [ 1 ], "weights": [ "<sup>1</sup>&frasl;<sub>8</sub>" ], "chanceany": 0.125, "sizes": [ 1 ], "sortweight": [ 1 ], "armor": 0, "material": 0, "avgamount": 0.125, "itemname": "skull-pottery-sherd" } }, "poolsBedrock": [ { "items": { "tnt": [ 1, 1, 1 ], "diamond": [ 1, 1, 1 ], "prize-pottery-sherd": [ 1, 1, 1 ], "gunpowder": [ 1, 1, 1 ], "emerald": [ 1, 1, 1 ], "miner-pottery-sherd": [ 1, 1, 1 ], "archer-pottery-sherd": [ 1, 1, 1 ], "skull-pottery-sherd": [ 1, 1, 1 ] }, "rolls": [ 1, 1 ], "totalweight": 8 } ], "allRollsBedrockUpcoming": [], "allRollsBedrock": [ 1 ], "itemDataBedrockUpcoming": [], "chest_type": "suspicious block", "header": "[[Desert Pyramid]]", "display": "desert pyramid suspicious sand", "allRollsJava": [ 1 ] } } }

Data values

ID

Java Edition:

Structure type	Identifier
Desert Pyramid	desert_pyramid

Structure	Identifier
Desert Pyramid	desert_pyramid

Bedrock Edition:

Structure	Identifier	Translation key
Temple	temple	feature.temple

Config

Java Edition:

• [NBT Compound / JSON Object] Structure configuration
  • [String] type: minecraft:desert_pyramid
  • Fields common to all structures see Template:Nbt inherit/structure/template

History

Java Edition

Java Edition
1.3.1			12w21a				Added desert pyramids. A desert pyramid does not generate fully if generated partially on lakes.
							Desert pyramids always generate their floors at Y=65, causing the pyramids to get buried under certain terrain configurations.
1.4.6			12w50a				Enchanted books now may generate in desert pyramid chests.
1.6.1			13w18a				Added horse armor to the chest's loot.
1.8			14w03a				Desert pyramids now generate with stained clay instead of wool.
1.9			15w44a				The chest loot is changed.
							Added gunpowder, sand, string, spider eyes and normal and enchanted golden apples.
							Average yields of diamonds, gold ingots and iron ingots were very decreased.
							Average yields of horse armor, enchanted books, rotten flesh, saddles and emeralds are a little increased.
1.13			18w06a				Desert pyramids are first officially named.
							The structure ID of desert pyramids have been changed from temple to desert_pyramid, allowing them to be located independently via the /locate command.
							Changed generation locations of desert pyramids.
1.14			18w50a				The textures of desert pyramids has been changed.
1.18			Experimental Snapshot 1				Due to deserts becoming rarer, desert pyramids are now less common.
			experimental snapshot 3				Desert pyramids now always spawn on the surface rather than at a fixed Y-level.
							Previously, their sandstone and terracotta floor was at Y=65.
			experimental snapshot 4				Desert pyramids now tend to generate partially buried.
							Desert pyramids are no longer able to generate above water sources.
1.19.4 Experiment Update 1.20			23w04a				The dune armor trim may now be found in the desert pyramid chests.
			23w05a				Increased the chance of dune armor trims from 11.1% to 14.3%.
							The dune armor trims now always generate two templates in a desert pyramid chest when found.
			23w07a				The desert temple now includes a new room filled with sand and suspicious sand.
							Some sand and suspicious sand appear exposed and can be found at the same height as the blue terracotta.
							The suspicious sand may contain archer, prize, and skull pottery shard; gunpowder, TNT, diamond, and emerald.
1.20			23w12a				The loot of the suspicious sand in desert pyramid has been changed.
							Miner pottery shards now spawn in desert well with the probability of 1/8.
							The probability of all items spawn in desert pyramid is now 1/8.
			23w14a				A suspicious sand is now visible on the top layer of the newly added room in desert pyramids.
1.20.2 Experiment Villager Trade Rebalance			1.20.2 Pre-release 1				Unbreaking enchanted books now have a higher chance of generating in desert pyramid chest loot.
1.21.6			25w20a				Saddles have been replaced with stacks of 1-5 leather in desert pyramid chests.
1.21.9			25w31a				Copper horse armor now generates in desert pyramid chests.
26.3			snap7				Added explorer maps that lead to desert pyramids that are found in abandoned camp secret chests.

Bedrock Edition

Pocket Edition Alpha
v0.13.0			build 1				Added desert pyramids. They could also be found in the desert hills biomes.
v0.15.0			build 1				Enchanted books and horse armor now generate in desert pyramid chests.
Bedrock Edition
1.19.70 Experiment Next Major Update			Preview 1.19.70.23				Now includes a new room filled with sand and suspicious sand.
							Some sand appears exposed and can be found at the same height as the blue terracotta.
1.19.80 Experiment Next Major Update			Preview 1.19.80.21				The dune armor trim may be found in the desert pyramid chest now.
1.20.40 Experiment Villager Trade Rebalancing			Preview 1.20.40.20				Unbreaking enchanted books now have a higher chance of generating in desert pyramid chest loot.
1.21.90			Preview 1.21.90.25				Saddles have been replaced with stacks of 1-5 leather in desert pyramid chests.
26.50			Preview 26.50.24				Added explorer maps that lead to desert pyramids that are found in abandoned camp secret chests.

Legacy Console Edition

Legacy Console Edition
Xbox 360	Xbox One	PS3	PS4	PS Vita	Wii U	Switch
TU14	CU1	1.04	1.00	1.00	Patch 1	1.0.1	Added desert pyramids.
TU19	CU7	1.12	1.12	1.12			Added horse armor and enchanted books to the chest's loot.
TU31	CU19	1.22	1.22	1.22	Patch 3		Desert pyramids now generate with stained clay instead of wool.
			1.88				Desert pyramids now generate with smooth sandstone instead of cut sandstone.

New Nintendo 3DS Edition

New Nintendo 3DS Edition
0.1.0							Added desert pyramids.

Issues

Issues relating to "Desert pyramid" or "Desert temple" are maintained on the bug tracker. Issues should be reported and viewed there.

Gallery

Screenshots

• 
  View of a desert pyramid
• 
  The front of the structure
• 
  A buried desert pyramid
• 
  The archaeology room with most sand removed
• 
  Inside in one of the two towers
• 
  The chamber from the top floor
• 
  The nine TNT rigged under the stone pressure plate
• 
  A desert pyramid in water near a mangrove swamp
• 
  A village, pillager outpost, and desert pyramid in the same place
• 
  A pyramid on an island with a pillager outpost
• 
  A reconstructed pyramid with the shaft extending below it
• 
  Zuri approaching the structure
• 
  Makena excavating in the pyramid

Historical screenshots

• 
  The main room of a desert pyramid from older versions, where dyed wool could be found
• 
  A desert pyramid on the thin desert border that used to generate around badlands

Mojang images

• 
  The interior of a desert pyramid
• 
  Noor excavating an emerald in the archeological room
• 
  A lot of desert pyramids
• 
  Many desert temples on the horizon
• 
  A pyramid half buried in the sand

In other media

• 
  Ari outside a desert pyramid
• 
  Part of a desert pyramid is seen in the background of this image
• 
  Sunny excavating a pottery sherd near a desert pyramid
• 
  A desert pyramid as it appears in Catastrophic Pandamonium
• 
  A makeshift desert pyramid, used to house the minigame The Floor Is Lava in Realms Celebration
• 
  A desert pyramid as it appears in 15 Year Journey
• 
  The Desert Temple as it appears in Minecraft Dungeons
• 
  A prototype of a LEGO Minecraft desert pyramid

See also

• Jungle pyramid
• Beacon
• Brick pyramid

External links

• "Building Blocks: Desert Pyramid" by Duncan Geere – Minecraft.net, May 29, 2025.