You've finally got that full set of netherite. It took hours of strip mining at Y-level 15, dodging lava pockets, and probably losing your mind a little bit. But then you hop onto a multiplayer server and realize everyone else looks exactly like you. Dark gray blobs running around. Boring. Honestly, the 1.20 "Trails & Tales" update changed the game because it finally gave us a reason to care about aesthetic progression. It isn't just about the templates, though. It’s about the armor trim colors.
Choosing the right material to tint your trim is basically the endgame of Minecraft fashion. You have ten different materials to choose from, each providing a distinct palette. Some are cheap. Some are ridiculously expensive. Some make you look like a god, and others make you look like you’re wearing copper wiring.
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The Ten Materials That Actually Matter
Most players think they’re stuck with just gold or iron. Not true. You can use ten different items to color your armor trims: Iron, Copper, Gold, Lapis, Emerald, Diamond, Netherite, Redstone, Amethyst, and Quartz.
If you're rocking a full set of diamond armor, using a diamond to color your trim is... well, it’s subtle. Mojang added a "darker" offset so the trim still shows up on the same material, but it's barely there. It’s more of a flex than a fashion statement. On the flip side, putting Amethyst Shards on netherite creates a vibrant purple contrast that honestly looks better than almost anything else in the game. It pops.
Iron and Quartz: The Clean Look
Iron Ingots give you a greyish-white finish. It’s fine. It’s professional. If you’re going for a "Royal Guard" vibe on turtle shells or leather armor, it works. But if you want a true, blinding white, you need Quartz. Quartz is significantly brighter. It’s the difference between a cloudy day and fresh snow. A lot of players overlook Quartz because they’re so used to building with it, but as a trim color, it's top-tier for high-contrast designs.
Gold and Copper: The Warm Palette
Gold Ingots provide that classic yellow sheen. It’s the "look at me, I’m rich" color. However, don't sleep on Copper. Since copper doesn't oxidize on armor (thank goodness), it stays that bright, metallic orange-brown. It’s actually one of the most unique colors in the game because nothing else has that specific earthy warmth. If you’re wearing netherite, copper trims make it look like you’ve got steampunk machinery built into your chestplate.
Why Redstone and Lapis Are the Secret MVPs
If you want a vibrant primary color, you’re looking at Redstone or Lapis Lazuli.
Redstone is tricky. It’s a very aggressive, saturated red. It looks incredible on Iron armor because of the "Medic" or "Rescue" aesthetic. But be careful—on Netherite, it can look a bit "edgy teen" if you aren't careful with the template choice. The Silence Armor Trim with Redstone? Terrifying. The Wayfinder trim with Redstone? Actually quite sophisticated.
Lapis is your deep blue. It’s much more refined than the bright cyan you get from Diamond. It has a regal, almost velvet-like quality. When you pair Lapis with the Ward or Spire templates, you end up looking like ancient Minecraft royalty. It's also incredibly cheap. You probably have chests full of Lapis from your enchanting sessions, so it's the easiest way to color-coordinate a whole faction of players on a server.
Emeralds and The "Villager" Vibe
Emeralds give you a sharp, lime green. It’s the only way to get green on your armor. It’s bright. It’s bold. It’s also the color of "I trade with fletchers for five hours a day." Using Emerald trims on Chainmail armor is a niche look, but it makes you look like a forest ranger or a woodland scout.
The High-Stakes Flex: Diamond and Netherite
Using a Diamond to color your trim is expensive, but using a Netherite Ingot? That’s just showing off.
Netherite trims provide a dark, metallic charcoal color. On Diamond armor, it looks heavy and industrial. It adds a weight to the visual model that other colors lack. But let’s be real: if you are using Netherite Ingots to trim your armor, you’ve probably already conquered the Wither, the Warden, and the Ender Dragon twice over. You aren't doing it for the color; you're doing it because you can.
Surprising Combinations You Haven't Tried
Everyone goes for the high-contrast looks, like Gold on Netherite. It's the "Black and Gold" classic. But have you tried Amethyst on Iron?
Amethyst shards were basically useless for years unless you wanted tinted glass or a spyglass. Now? They are arguably the best trim material. The purple is soft but luminous. It has a magical quality that fits the "fantasy" aspect of Minecraft better than the metallic ores do.
Another weirdly good one is Copper on Diamond. The orange and cyan are complementary colors on the color wheel. It creates a visual vibration that makes the armor look much more "alive" than the standard blue-on-blue.
The Logistics of Coloring
You can’t just dye your armor. You need the Smithing Table.
- The Template: You need the specific Smithing Template (like Sentry, Vex, or Snout).
- The Armor: Any piece of armor (except leather, which you dye in a cauldron).
- The Color Material: One of the ten items mentioned above.
Each time you apply a color, the template is consumed. Unless you’re duplicating templates with diamonds and cobblestone (or terracotta/netherrack depending on the template), you need to be very sure about your color choice.
What the Pros Use for Stealth vs. Show
In the PVP community, armor trim colors actually have a tactical layer.
Darker colors like Netherite or Lapis on Netherite armor make you harder to spot in dark caves or at night. If you’re trying to sneak up on someone in a Factions server, turning yourself into a glowing gold Christmas tree is a bad idea.
However, in organized team fights, teams will often use Redstone vs. Lapis to identify friend from foe. It’s the classic Red vs. Blue. Because the trims are distinct but not overwhelming, you can still see the tier of armor your teammate is wearing while knowing they're on your side.
Nuance in the 1.21 and 1.22 Meta
With the introduction of Trial Chambers and new decorative blocks, the "vibe" of Minecraft is shifting toward a more "reclaimed ancient tech" look. Using Copper and Iron trims fits this new aesthetic perfectly. We're seeing a move away from the "maximalist" look of enchanted glowing purple armor toward more grounded, matte finishes.
Quartz is seeing a massive resurgence here. Because Trial Chambers are so dark and filled with Copper and Tuff, a high-visibility Quartz trim helps your teammates keep track of you during a chaotic Breeze fight.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Set
Before you waste your last Diamond or Netherite Ingot on a color you might hate, do these three things:
- Test in Creative First: Open a flat world, grab a chest of armor and all ten materials. See how the colors look under different lighting—Sunlight, Torchlight, and End-light are all different.
- Consider the Glow: Remember that enchanted armor has a purple glint. This glint will "wash out" some of the lighter colors like Iron and Quartz. If you want your trim to be the star, consider using a darker color like Lapis or Redstone that cuts through the enchantment sheen.
- Match Your Cape: If you have an Elytra or a cape (like the Migrator or Vanilla capes), choose a trim color that matches. A red cape with Lapis trim looks clashing; a red cape with Redstone or Gold trim looks like a cohesive outfit.
Don't settle for the default look. The materials are sitting in your chests anyway. Go to a Smithing Table, burn a few Amethyst shards, and finally stop looking like a generic Steve.