The Sniffer is a unique, passive mob brought back to life after disappearing in the prehistoric past of the game. It looks like a herbivorous dinosaur with traits of a turtle and a fluffy grub, featuring a large, bulky body and a big yellow nose. It definitely stands out among other mobs, as it has six legs, moves slowly and gently, and emits adorable sounds. Unlike most creatures, the Sniffer doesn’t spawn naturally. It doesn’t live in the world on its own – players must revive it by finding its egg and hatching it in-game. These eggs can be found only in suspicious sand located within warm ocean ruins, making that the sole place where you can obtain one.
What does a Sniffer do
The Sniffer serves a unique function that no other mob in Minecraft has – it can locate and dig up ancient plant seeds that are completely unobtainable in any other way. After hatching from an egg and reaching adulthood, the Sniffer starts moving slowly across the ground, occasionally stopping to sniff the surface intensely. When it finds a suitable block, it begins the digging process, and after a few seconds, it uncovers one of two possible items: Torchflower Seeds or Pitcher Pods.
For the Sniffer to be able to dig, it must walk on specific types of blocks. These are:
- Dirt
- Grass Block
- Podzol
- Coarse Dirt
- Rooted Dirt
- Moss Block
- Mud
- Muddy Mangrove Roots
How to get a Sniffer egg in Minecraft
The Sniffer Egg is an item that can only be obtained manually through world exploration and the use of the archaeology mechanic. You won’t find it in chests, it doesn’t drop from mobs, and it can’t be crafted. The only place where you can find it is in Warm Ocean Ruins, where Suspicious Sand generates. These are underwater structures where, alongside regular sand, you’ll find Suspicious Sand – a block that looks very similar to normal sand but reacts to a brush. By using a brush on it, you can uncover various artifacts, including the Sniffer Egg.
Once you’ve obtained the egg, the next step is to hatch it. The egg can be placed anywhere, but the best choice is the Moss Block. Only on this block will the egg begin to develop faster, eventually cracking and hatching into a baby Sniffer, known as a Snifflet.
Ancient Seeds and how to use them
Just one “sniff” is enough to uncover one of two ancient seeds. Both of these plants are completely unique and serve as decorative elements or for breeding more Snifflets.
Torchflower Seeds
Torchflower Seeds can be planted directly on dirt. Once planted, they grow into a Torchflower – a bright orange flower. It is used to breed Sniffers, to create orange dye, and to craft Suspicious Stew (which gives the player the Night Vision effect).
Pitcher Pod and Pitcher Plant
Unlike Torchflower, Pitcher Pods cannot be planted on regular dirt – they require farmland. After planting, the Pitcher Pod goes through several growth stages before becoming a Pitcher Plant – a tall, purple flower that resembles a pitcher plant. While it doesn’t have any major functional uses, it can still serve as a decorative plant in gardens or builds.
