A renewable resource (as opposed to a non-renewable, or finite resource) is a resource that can be recreated indefinitely in survival without exploiting glitches or using cheat commands. While running completely out of resources isn't likely to be a factor in normal worlds due to the massive size of a Minecraft map, only some resources can be produced over and over without having to explore more terrain. Running out of resources can be a bigger issue on superflat worlds, where resources are less plentiful, in PvP maps, where one would like to obtain resources without having to conquer more land, or simply if the map size is limited.
The listed fully renewable craftable items are items that can be crafted, smelted, or brewed using only renewable resources. For example, cookies are renewable as they require only wheat and cocoa beans which can be regrown infinitely.
Anything that is dropped by an animal or most monsters, is renewable because more mobs of the same kind can spawn and be killed again for more loot. The exceptions are the wither, which requires non-renewable soul sand to spawn and certain enemies that spawn just once with the generation of specific structures; elder guardians (three spawn with each ocean monument) and shulkers (in end cities). Hostile monster drops are not renewable on peaceful difficulty, as the monsters won't spawn.
Introduction to methods of renewably obtaining items
Many resources are renewably obtainable using certain main methods, such as farming. Others are obtainable by unusual item-specific methods, which can vary from building a cobblestone generator to harvesting obsidian from portals to collecting dragon breath into a bottle. The renewable method to obtain an item isn't necessarily the easiest, fastest or safest.
The most common methods for renewably obtaining items, ordered by roughly increasing effort are:
- Farming - grow it on the dirt or farmland block, breed using renewable resources, etc.
- Crafting/Smelting/Brewing using only renewable resource(s)
- Common drops from dead mobs.
- Trading with villagers
- Fishing
- Rare mob drops.
The first three methods are often the most practical ways to obtain the items which can be obtained by using them.
Most items obtainable by the fourth and fifth methods are obtainable in some other way, which may be easier or of comparable difficulty, but may not be renewable, they are especially worth using when the player wants to avoid the risk of mining, such as while playing in hardcore mode.
Grinding for rare drops isn't feasible unless there is no other option, as the player will have to kill many mobs to obtain the desired drops.
Renewable
These are items which can be renewably obtained through methods other than trading or rare drops.
| Resource | Renewable products | Renewable sources
TradableThese items are either only renewable through trading with villagers or additionally as rare drops from mobs.
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