Minecraft used to have a bit of a "uniform" problem. You’d spend dozens of hours grinding for Netherite, only to stand next to your friends and realize everyone looked exactly the same—sort of like a group of dark-gray, rectangular clones. That changed when Mojang introduced all armor trims in Minecraft via the Trails & Tales update. Honestly, it's one of those features that seems simple on the surface but adds a ridiculous amount of depth once you're actually trying to track down every single pattern.
It isn't just about looking cool, though that's clearly the main draw. It’s about the hunt. Some of these Smithing Templates are tucked away in the most miserable places in the game, like the heart of a Woodland Mansion or the bottom of an ocean monument. If you’ve ever tried to find the Silence trim, you know exactly what I’m talking about. It’s a grind. But it's a grind that finally gives us a reason to go back to structures we haven't visited in years.
Why Armor Trims Are the End-Game Flex You Need
Basically, an armor trim is a visual overlay. It doesn't change your defense stats. It doesn't make you faster. It just looks awesome. You take a Smithing Template, a piece of armor, and a material—like gold, emerald, or even netherite—and combine them at a Smithing Table.
The beauty of the system is the sheer number of combinations. You have 16 different trim patterns and 10 different colors (materials). When you do the math, that’s hundreds of ways to customize your kit. You can make a set of Netherite armor with glowing Diamond trim, or maybe you want to go for that "Royal Guard" look with Iron and Gold. Most players stick to one color, but the real experts mix and match.
The Rarity Factor
Not all trims are created equal. Some, like the Sentry or Coast trims, are pretty common. You’ll find them in Shipwrecks or Pillager Outposts without much effort. Others are essentially the "shiny Pokémon" of the Minecraft world. If you walk into a server wearing a full set of Silence-trimmed armor, people know you’ve put in the work. Or that you got incredibly lucky in an Ancient City.
Tracking Down the Overworld Trims
The Overworld is where you'll start your collection. It's home to some of the most iconic designs, but also some of the most tedious to find.
The Sentry Armor Trim
This one is located in Pillager Outposts. You’ve probably seen these towers a thousand times. The trim has a high spawn rate in the chests at the top, so it’s usually the first one people find. It’s got a very "soldier" vibe—very clean, very structured.
The Vex Armor Trim
You’ll have to head to a Woodland Mansion for this. Honestly, Mansions are a pain. They’re thousands of blocks away from spawn usually, and the Evokers are no joke. The Vex trim is subtle but sharp, mimicking the look of the Vex mobs that haunt those halls.
The Wild Armor Trim
Found in Jungle Temples. Remember those? The ones with the dispensers and the tripwires? Yeah, they actually have a use now. The Wild trim has a rugged, overgrown look that looks incredible when paired with Emerald or Copper.
The Wayfinder, Raiser, Shaper, and Host Trims
These four are unique because you don't find them in chests. You have to use the brush tool on Suspicious Gravel in Trail Ruins. It’s a bit of a mini-game. You’re basically an archaeologist. It’s slow work, and the ruins are often buried, so you’ll be doing a lot of digging.
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Dealing with the Hard Stuff: Ocean and Ancient City Trims
This is where the frustration starts for most players looking for all armor trims in Minecraft.
The Tide Armor Trim is a nightmare for anyone who hates Elder Guardians. You don't find this in a chest. It’s a drop. You have to kill an Elder Guardian in an Ocean Monument, and even then, it’s not a guaranteed drop. It’s a 20% chance. Given there are only three Elder Guardians per monument, you might have to raid three or four monuments just to get one template.
Then there’s the Silence Armor Trim.
Let's talk about the Silence trim for a second. It is the rarest template in the game. It’s found in Ancient Cities, inside those "ice box" chests or the general loot chests. The spawn rate is a measly 1.25%. That is brutal. Most players will explore multiple Ancient Cities—dodging the Warden the whole time—and still come up empty-handed. It covers more of the armor than any other trim, giving it a heavy, plated look that is undeniably the best in the game.
The Nether and The End: The Final Frontier
If you’ve survived the Warden, you still have the dimensions to deal with.
- Nether Outposts (Bastions): This is where you find the Snout trim. It’s got a Piglin-inspired design. If you’re raiding Bastions, you’re also looking for the Netherite Upgrade template, so you’ll likely find a few of these while you’re at it.
- Fortresses: The Rib trim is found here. It’s a skeleton-like pattern that looks particularly menacing in Quartz or Redstone.
- Nether Outposts (Bridge/Hoglin Stables): You might also stumble upon the Ward trim.
- End Cities: The Spire trim. After you’ve got your Elytra, keep checking those chests. The Spire trim has a very "alien" and geometric feel, which fits the End perfectly.
The Economy of Templates: Don't Waste Them
Here is the thing a lot of people mess up: they find one template, use it, and then realize they need it for the rest of their armor pieces.
Do not use your last template. You can craft a copy of any template using a specific recipe:
- The Template itself.
- 7 Diamonds.
- A block of the material the template is "made" of (like Cobblestone for Sentry, or Netherrack for Rib).
It is expensive. 7 Diamonds per copy means a full set of trimmed armor will cost you 28 Diamonds just for the templates, plus whatever you spent on the armor itself. It’s a massive diamond sink, which is actually great for the long-term economy of a survival world. It gives diamonds value again after you've already got your maxed-out gear.
Which Materials Should You Use?
Honestly, it depends on your armor base.
- On Netherite: Silence with Emerald or Gold looks incredible. The contrast is sharp.
- On Diamond: Amethyst or Quartz provides a nice, subtle shift.
- On Iron: Copper or Redstone gives it a "steampunk" or "worn-out" look.
Copper is underrated. Since it's so cheap, you can experiment with it easily. However, keep in mind that the trim color doesn't oxidize. It stays that bright orange forever.
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Complexity and Nuance: The Trim Compatibility
One thing that isn't immediately obvious is that you can't trim armor with the same material it's made of. You can't put a Diamond trim on Diamond armor. Well, you can, but it won't show up properly because the colors are identical. The game usually blocks this or makes it virtually invisible.
Also, consider the "visual weight." Trims like Silence and Vex are very busy. They cover a lot of surface area. Trims like Coast or Sentry are much more minimalist. If you're wearing an Elytra, remember that the chestplate trim won't be visible most of the time, so focus your "expensive" materials on the helmet and leggings.
Actionable Steps for Your Collection
If you're serious about gathering all armor trims in Minecraft, don't just wander aimlessly. You need a plan.
First, get yourself a high-level brush. You'll need it for the Trail Ruins. Second, stock up on Diamonds. You’re going to need hundreds of them if you plan on duplicating these templates for multiple sets of armor.
Start with the Pillager Outposts and Shipwrecks. They are low-risk and high-reward. Once you have a few basic trims, head to the Nether. The Rib trim is arguably one of the coolest looking and isn't too hard to find if you have a decent bow for the Blazes. Save the Ancient Cities for last. You’ll want full Enchanted Golden Apples and Swift Sneak III before you even think about hunting for that Silence trim.
When you finally get a template, head straight back to your base. Do not pass go. Do not fight a Creeper. Put that template in a chest and craft a copy immediately. There is nothing worse than losing a 1% drop because you fell into a lava pit on the way home.
Check your map for Jungle biomes and Ocean Monuments early on. These are fixed points that won't move, and having them marked will save you hours of boating across empty oceans. The search for every trim is essentially a tour of the entire Minecraft world. By the time you’re done, you won't just have cool armor—you'll have a map that covers thousands of blocks and a base full of trophies.
Make sure you have a Smithing Table placed near your Diamond storage. You'll be spending a lot of time there. If you're on a multiplayer server, these templates are also incredible trading items. A Silence trim can easily fetch a stack of Diamond blocks from the right buyer.
Happy hunting. It’s a long road, but seeing that custom-trimmed Netherite set in the armor stand makes every single death in an Ancient City worth it.
Next Steps for Your Survival World:
- Locate a Trail Ruin: Use a map or explore cold biomes (Taiga, Snowy Plains) to find the "top" of a ruin poking out of the ground.
- Diamond Mining: Start a dedicated mining session at Y -59 to prepare for the duplication costs of the templates you find.
- Inventory Management: Carry an Ender Chest when hunting for rare trims like Silence or Tide to ensure the template is safe even if you die.