Block of the Month: Frosted Ice

There are actually quite a lot of ice and snow-related blocks in Minecraft. We have ice, snow, blue ice, powder snow, and packed ice, all living alongside today’s featured block – frosted ice. The difference between this block and the rest of them is that you won’t find any frosted ice generated naturally out there in the Overworld no matter how long you search. That’s because it melts.

So how do you find it? Well, you’re gonna need a pair of boots, and not just any pair of boots – one with a Frost Walker enchantment on it. This might be a tricky task –  you won’t be able to do it using an enchanting table because the skills to create Frost Walker enchantments have been lost to the mists of time. Instead, you’ll need to find a book that has the enchantment on it. 

You have a few options here. Players have reported finding Frost Walker enchantments in the chests in jungle temples and strongholds. Some players have managed to fish the right book up from the bottom of the ocean. And some librarian villagers have a copy that they might be willing to part with for a large number of emeralds. Found one? Great. Combine it with your favorite boots using an anvil.

Then put the boots on your feet and approach a body of water. Take a deep breath, and step forward. You’ll find that instead of getting soggy socks, you instead step onto firm ground made up of Frosted Ice. You found it! 

But don’t just stand there, because that ice isn’t going to last long. The magic can only sustain it for a short while. The sunshine will cause it to crack and melt, and before long you’ll get those aforementioned soggy socks after all. To stay on top of the water, you either need to keep moving and forming new ice, or go a-wandering at night or in a cave instead – so that the sun can’t reach and melt the water. 

I know what you’re thinking, smartypants – if these boots form ice on water, could they be a way to walk across magma blocks or lava lakes? Well I’ve got good and bad news. The Frost Walker enchantment will indeed prevent you from taking damage when walking on magma blocks (or campfires). But lava is just too hot – the ice that the boots create melts instantly. 

So here’s my advice – don’t go strolling on a lava lake. If you do, your socks (and you) will be incinerated faster than you can say “gosh, my toes are feeling toasty.”