Dark tones in Minecraft can bring atmosphere and depth to any build, armor set, or decoration. Whether you’re dreaming of a gothic castle, a haunting banner, or a sleek and stylish bed – or simply looking to give your base a fresh, bold look – you’ll need a dye that delivers deep, intense black.
Many players associate getting this shade with hunting down squids, and while that’s a reliable method, it’s far from the only one. The game also features a rare and slightly eerie plant capable of turning death itself into a valuable coloring resource – especially useful if you’re aiming to gather large amounts.
In this guide, we’ll show you two tried-and-true paths to obtaining dark pigment: one more traditional, and the other far more dangerous. You’ll learn how to collect the necessary materials, where to find them, how to process them, and why risking an explosion might just be worth it – all in the pursuit of something that seems as simple as a bit of color.
How to make Black Dye in Minecraft using Squid Ink Sac
Black dye is one of the basic colors in Minecraft, useful for dyeing armor, beds, wool, and much more. The easiest and fastest way to obtain it is by using an Ink Sac, which drops from squids. Squids are aquatic mobs that naturally spawn in oceans, rivers, and lakes – most commonly in biomes like Ocean and River. They can appear both during the day and at night, and when killed, they drop between 1 and 3 Ink Sacs.
Once you’ve gathered enough Ink Sacs, open a Crafting Table and place them inside. You’ll instantly receive the black dye you’re looking for.
How to make Black Dye in Minecraft using Wither Rose
In Minecraft, there is a unique and somewhat dark item called the Wither Rose — a flower born from death. It’s not only a rare decorative plant, but also a material that can be used to create black dye. It’s a great alternative if you don’t feel like hunting squids for Ink Sacs.
How to summon Wither
The Wither is one of the bosses in Minecraft and also one of the most difficult enemies in the game. It doesn’t spawn naturally, but you can summon it yourself. What do you need to do it?
- 4 blocks of Soul Sand or Soul Soil
- 3 Wither Skeleton Skulls
From these materials, you build a T-shaped structure:
- Place 3 blocks horizontally, and 1 block vertically beneath the middle block.
- Then, place the 3 Wither Skeleton Skulls on top of the horizontal row.
The moment you place the final skull, mob will be summoned and, after a few seconds, it will explode – becoming a deadly threat to most mobs and players without proper gear.
When does the Wither Rose drop
Rose does not drop randomly – you won’t find it in chests, and it doesn’t generate naturally in the world. It can only be obtained when the deadly boss kills another living mob, such as a cow, sheep, or creeper. The rose will appear exactly at the spot where the mob died.
If you want to collect a large number of these dark resources, you can organize a group of mobs near the location where you summon the Wither to increase the chances of multiple roses dropping.
Once you’ve obtained this rare item, place it in any slot of the Crafting Table. You’ll instantly receive black dye.
