Armor stands in Minecraft are more than just decorative items; they are essential for showcasing your hard-earned armor sets, adding a touch of personality to your builds, and even for practical organization. Whether you’re aiming to display your best diamond armor or create a knightly guard for your castle, knowing how to craft and use an armor stand is a valuable skill for any Minecraft player.
This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know about making an armor stand in Minecraft. We’ll cover the crafting process step-by-step, explore where to find them in Creative Mode, and even delve into advanced techniques like using commands to obtain them instantly. By the end of this article, you’ll be an expert in all things armor stand related!
What is an Armor Stand and Why You Need One?
An armor stand is a non-living entity in Minecraft designed to hold and display armor. Think of it as a mannequin for your virtual wardrobe. But their usefulness extends beyond mere aesthetics. Here’s why armor stands are a fantastic addition to your Minecraft world:
- Armor Display: The primary function, of course, is to proudly exhibit your armor sets. Whether it’s a full set of Netherite armor or a collection of themed outfits, armor stands provide a visually appealing way to showcase your achievements and gear.
- Decorative Element: Armor stands themselves can add character to your bases. Place them in hallways, bedrooms, armories, or even outdoors to enhance the ambiance of your builds. They can be posed and customized to fit various themes and styles.
- Organization and Quick Access: Instead of rummaging through chests, you can quickly equip your armor by simply right-clicking on an armor stand. This is incredibly convenient when switching between different armor sets for various tasks like mining, combat, or exploration.
- Creative Storytelling: In adventure maps or role-playing scenarios, armor stands can be used to represent characters, guards, statues, or even inanimate objects. Their poseability (in some versions) adds another layer of creative potential.
An armor stand showcasing a full set of gleaming diamond armor, ready for adventure.
Gathering the Necessary Materials
Before you can craft an armor stand, you’ll need to gather the required materials. Thankfully, they are relatively easy to obtain early in your Minecraft journey. You will need:
- 6 Sticks: Sticks are a fundamental crafting ingredient in Minecraft. You can easily make them from planks of wood. Any type of wood plank will work (Oak, Spruce, Birch, Jungle, Acacia, Dark Oak, Mangrove, Cherry, Bamboo). Simply place planks in your crafting grid to produce sticks.
- 1 Smooth Stone Slab: A smooth stone slab is crafted from smooth stone. To get smooth stone, you first need to smelt stone in a furnace to create smooth stone blocks. Then, place smooth stone blocks in a crafting grid to craft smooth stone slabs.
Sticks are crafted from wooden planks and are a common crafting ingredient.
Smooth stone slabs are made from smooth stone, which is obtained by smelting stone blocks.
Step-by-Step Guide: Crafting Your Armor Stand
Once you have your 6 sticks and 1 smooth stone slab, you’re ready to craft your armor stand. Follow these simple steps:
Step 1: Open Your Crafting Table
First, you need to access a crafting table. If you don’t have one yet, craft a crafting table using wooden planks. Place the crafting table in your desired location and interact with it to open the 3×3 crafting grid.
The 3×3 crafting grid provided by the crafting table is essential for creating more complex items like armor stands.
Step 2: Arrange the Materials in the Crafting Grid
In the 3×3 crafting grid, place the sticks and the smooth stone slab in the exact pattern shown below. Accuracy is key for crafting recipes in Minecraft!
- Row 1: Place 3 sticks in each of the three slots.
- Row 2: Place 1 stick in the middle slot.
- Row 3: Place 1 stick in the first slot, 1 smooth stone slab in the middle slot, and 1 stick in the third slot.
The precise arrangement of materials in the crafting grid is crucial for successfully crafting an armor stand.
Step 3: Move the Armor Stand to Your Inventory
If you have placed the materials correctly, an armor stand will appear in the output box to the right of the crafting grid. Simply drag the armor stand from the output box into your inventory.
The completed armor stand icon in the crafting output, ready to be added to your inventory for use.
Congratulations! You have successfully crafted an armor stand in Minecraft. You can now place it anywhere in your world and start displaying your armor.
Finding Armor Stands in Creative Mode
If you are playing in Creative Mode, crafting isn’t necessary. Armor stands are readily available in the Creative Inventory. Here’s where to find them depending on your Minecraft Edition:
Minecraft Java Edition (PC/Mac)
| Version(s) | Creative Menu Location |
|---|---|
| 1.8 – 1.19 | Decoration Blocks |
| 1.19.3 – 1.21.1 | Functional Blocks |
| 1.19.3 – 1.21.1 | Redstone Blocks |
Minecraft Pocket Edition (PE)
| Version(s) | Creative Menu Location |
|---|---|
| 1.2 – 1.21.0 | Items |
Minecraft Xbox Editions
| Platform | Version(s) | Creative Menu Location |
|---|---|---|
| Xbox 360 | TU35 – TU69 | Tools, Weapons and Armor |
| Xbox One | CU23 – CU43 | Tools, Weapons and Armor |
| Xbox One | 1.2.5 – 1.21.0 | Items |
Minecraft PS Editions
| Platform | Version(s) | Creative Menu Location |
|---|---|---|
| PS3 | 1.26 – 1.76 | Tools, Weapons and Armor |
| PS4 | 1.26 – 1.91 | Tools, Weapons and Armor |
| PS4 | 1.14.0 – 1.21.0 | Items |
Minecraft Nintendo
| Platform | Version(s) | Creative Menu Location |
|---|---|---|
| Wii U | Patch 3 – Patch 38 | Tools, Weapons and Armor |
| Nintendo Switch | 1.04 – 1.11 | Tools, Weapons and Armor |
| Nintendo Switch | 1.5.0 – 1.21.0 | Items |
Minecraft Windows 10 Edition (Bedrock Edition)
| Version(s) | Creative Menu Location |
|---|---|
| 1.2 – 1.21.0 | Items |
Minecraft Education Edition
| Version(s) | Creative Menu Location |
|---|---|
| 1.0.21 – 1.21.03 | Items |
Simply navigate to the specified Creative Menu Location in your inventory to find and select the armor stand.
Using Game Commands to Obtain Armor Stands Instantly
For advanced players or those who want to quickly obtain armor stands, Minecraft commands offer a convenient solution. The /give command allows you to directly add items to your inventory.
Here are the /give commands for armor stands across different Minecraft Editions and versions:
Minecraft Java Edition (PC/Mac)
- 1.13 – 1.21.1:
/give @p armor_stand 1 - 1.8 – 1.12:
/give @p armor_stand 1 0
Minecraft Pocket Edition (PE), Xbox One, PS4, Nintendo Switch, Windows 10 Edition, Education Edition (Bedrock Edition)
/give @p armor_stand 1 0(for versions listed in the original article)
Explanation of the Command:
/give: This is the base command to give items to players.@p: This is the target selector,@pspecifically targets the nearest player (which is usually you in single-player mode).armor_stand: This is the Minecraft ID name for the armor stand item.1: This specifies the quantity of armor stands you want to receive (in this case, one).0(in some versions): This is the data value, which is sometimes required for older versions to specify the default variant of the item.
To use these commands, open your chat window (usually by pressing ‘T’ or ‘/’) and type in the command exactly as shown, then press Enter. An armor stand will instantly appear in your inventory.
What Can You Do With Armor Stands? Unleashing the Potential
Once you have your armor stands, the fun truly begins! Here are some of the many things you can do with them:
- Display Armor Sets: Equip your armor stands by right-clicking on them while holding armor pieces. You can equip helmets, chestplates, leggings, and boots.
- Pose Armor Stands (Java & Bedrock Editions): In newer versions of Minecraft (Java and Bedrock), you can further customize armor stands by making them poseable! This allows for dynamic displays and more creative setups. You can pose their arms and bodies using specific commands or by interacting with them in certain ways depending on the version. Explore commands like
/data modify entity @e[type=armor_stand,limit=1,sort=nearest] data.Pose.RightArm set value [0f,0f,45f](Java Edition example) to experiment with poses. - Create Decorative Scenes: Use armor stands as statues, mannequins in shops, guards in castles, or even as part of larger decorative builds. Their presence can significantly enhance the visual storytelling in your Minecraft creations.
- Organize Armor and Equipment: Place armor stands near your crafting areas or bases to keep your frequently used armor sets readily accessible and visually organized.
Advanced customization of armor stands, including posing and equipping with weapons, opens up a world of creative possibilities.
Armor stands are a versatile and valuable item in Minecraft. Whether you craft them for practical purposes or to enhance your builds aesthetically, mastering the art of making and using armor stands will undoubtedly enrich your Minecraft experience. So go ahead, craft some armor stands, and bring your Minecraft creations to life!
