You've spent hours mining ancient debris. You finally have a full set of Netherite. It looks powerful, sure, but it also looks exactly like every other player’s set on the server. That’s where the Minecraft snout armor trim comes in. It’s arguably one of the most aggressive, "get out of my way" designs in the 1.20 Trails & Tales update. But honestly? It’s a nightmare to find if you aren't prepared for the Nether’s most chaotic structures.
The snout armor trim isn't just a pattern. It’s a trophy. It’s a way to tell everyone you raided a Bastion Remnant and lived to tell the tale. Most people think armor trims are just a late-game resource sink, but for those of us who care about the "drip," the snout pattern is a mandatory grab.
What is the Snout Armor Trim anyway?
Basically, it’s a Smithing Template. Added in the 1.20 update, these templates allow you to overlay patterns onto your gear using different materials like gold, emeralds, or even netherite ingots. The snout pattern specifically features a heavy, nose-like shape on the helmet—hence the name—and bold, broad strokes across the chestplate and leggings. It looks like a Piglin. That’s the point. It’s a cultural artifact of the Piglin civilization found deep within the Nether.
If you use a gold ingot as your material, the trim glows with a rich, yellow hue that pops against the dark purple of Netherite. Using quartz gives it a bone-like, skeletal vibe. You have options. But before you start dreaming of your new look, you actually have to survive the hunt.
Tracking Down the Bastion Remnant
You won't find the Minecraft snout armor trim in a shipwreck or a cozy village. No. You have to go to a Bastion Remnant. These massive, crumbling blackstone fortresses are home to Piglins, Piglin Brutes, and Hoglins. They are easily the most dangerous structures in the game right now, mostly because Piglin Brutes do not care if you’re wearing gold. They will axe you in the face regardless.
Bastions come in four flavors:
- Bridge
- Hoglin Stables
- Housing Units
- Treasure Room
Here is the kicker: the snout trim can spawn in chests within any of these types. However, your odds aren't great. You’re looking at roughly an 8.3% chance per chest. Because Bastions are packed with loot—magma cream, golden carrots, ancient debris—the RNG can be frustrating. You might clear an entire Housing Unit and come up empty-handed.
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Surviving the Raid
Don't be a hero. Bring fire resistance potions. If you fall into the lava lakes surrounding a Bastion without a potion active, your journey ends there. Also, remember that opening a chest in a Bastion makes every nearby Piglin go ballistic. Even the "friendly" ones. Pro tip: Dig a hole under the chest and hop in, or use a hopper to drain the chest's contents into a separate container. This keeps the Piglins from realizing you're "borrowing" their heritage.
The Math Behind the Smithing Table
Once you finally get your hands on one snout trim, do not—I repeat, do not—immediately use it on your helmet. If you do, the template is consumed. It's gone. To get another one, you’d have to find another Bastion.
Instead, you need to duplicate it. This is where the game gets expensive. To clone a Minecraft snout armor trim, you need:
- The original Snout Smithing Template.
- 7 Diamonds.
- One block of Blackstone.
Blackstone is easy to find; it’s everywhere in the Nether. But those seven diamonds? That’s a steep price. If you want a full set of trimmed armor, you’re looking at 28 diamonds just for the cloning process. This is why the snout trim is such a flex. It represents a massive investment of both time and rare minerals.
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Choosing Your Colors
The trim looks different depending on the ingot or crystal you use at the Smithing Table. While gold is the "lore-accurate" choice for a Piglin-themed trim, many players are moving toward unconventional combos.
- Silence and Snout: Some players mix the Snout helmet with the Silence chestplate (from Ancient Cities) for a heavy-metal aesthetic.
- Redstone on Netherite: Provides a "high-tech" glowing wire look.
- Amethyst: Gives a regal, purple-on-purple shimmer that is surprisingly subtle.
Why the Snout Trim is Controversial
Some builders and "fashion" experts in the Minecraft community think the snout trim is too bulky. It definitely changes the silhouette of the helmet more than the "Vex" or "Wayfinder" trims do. It adds a visual weight to the face. If you like the sleek, minimalist look, this isn't for you.
But if you want to look like a Nether warlord? It’s perfect.
There is also the debate about the 8.3% drop rate. Compared to the "Silence" trim (which is a miserable 1.2%), the snout feels common. Yet, when you're being chased by three Brutes and a stray Ghast is shooting at you, that 8.3% feels like zero. It’s a test of patience.
Step-by-Step Implementation
Ready to actually do this? Here is the workflow.
First, gear up. You need a Shield. Shields are the only thing that will save you from a Piglin Brute’s initial strike. Grab a stack of gold ingots to distract the regular Piglins.
Second, find a Bastion. Use a Strider to navigate the lava lakes faster. Once inside, look for "generic" chests. These are the ones tucked into corners or behind cracked blackstone bricks. These have the snout trim.
Third, get out. Seriously. Once you see that template in your inventory, your priority is survival. Ender pearl away if you have to.
Fourth, head to a Smithing Table. Place your armor piece in the first slot, the snout template in the second, and your chosen material (like a Diamond or Emerald) in the third. Check the preview. If you like it, commit.
Actionable Next Steps for the Best Look
Stop wearing plain armor. It’s boring. If you really want to maximize the impact of the Minecraft snout armor trim, follow these steps:
- Farm Diamonds First: Do not start the hunt until you have at least 32 diamonds in a chest at home. This covers the 7 for duplication plus a few extra for gear repairs.
- The Blackstone Trick: Keep a stack of Blackstone on you. If you find the trim, you can craft the duplicates immediately if you brought a crafting table, ensuring you don't lose the "source" template if you die on the way home.
- Color Contrast: If you wear Diamond armor, use Netherite ingots for the trim. The black-on-blue contrast is striking. If you wear Netherite, use Copper or Gold.
- Don't ignore the Stables: Many players only check the "Treasure" room with the gold blocks. The Hoglin Stables often have more chests overall, increasing your literal rolls of the dice for the snout pattern.
The snout trim is a statement. It says you've mastered the Nether's most hostile environments. Go get it, clone it, and make your gear look like it actually belongs to a champion.