So you're building bookshelves for that enchanting table, or maybe trying to craft fireworks to light up the night sky? Whatever your reason, you're searching for how to get paper in Minecraft, and I've been there too. Honestly, it's one of those basic items that suddenly becomes crucial when you need it. I remember spending hours wandering riverbanks before I figured out the sugarcane trick – total facepalm moment.
Sugarcane Farming: Your Paper Factory
This is the bread-and-butter method. Sugarcane grows near water and looks like tall green stalks. Finding it early game can be tricky though. Personally, I've had best luck exploring riverbanks and swamp biomes.
The Step-by-Step Process
First, punch those sugarcane plants (no tools needed!). Each block gives 1 sugarcane. Now here's where new players often stumble: you don't craft paper directly from sugarcane. Head to your crafting table and arrange three sugarcanes horizontally in a row. Boom – three papers pop out. Easy, right?
But wait. What if sugarcane seems scarce? Happened to me on my desert spawn world. I almost quit until I found oasis patches. Pro tip: collect at least two sugarcanes initially – one to replant, one to craft.
| Action | Input | Output | Time Required |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harvest Sugarcane | 1 Sugarcane Plant | 1-4 Sugarcane | Instant |
| Craft Paper | 3 Sugarcane | 3 Paper | 5 seconds |
| Grow Sugarcane (from scratch) |
1 Sugarcane + Sand/Dirt + Water | First harvest in 18-30 min | Real-time growth |
Building Your Sugarcane Farm
Manual harvesting gets old fast. Here's how I automate:
- Location: Dig 1-block deep trench, fill with water source blocks
- Planting: Place sand/dirt beside water, plant sugarcane on top
- Spacing Sugarcane needs adjacent water or hydrated farmland
- Growth Boost Light level 9+ speeds growth (use torches)
The real magic? Zero-tick farms using pistons. Redstone newbies might find this overwhelming though. My first attempt flooded my base... twice.
Treasure Hunting Alternative Methods
Sometimes you need paper NOW and sugarcane won't grow fast enough. That's when looting comes in clutch.
Village Raiding
Cartographer houses are paper goldmines. Check their chests – usually 2-12 papers per chest. But villages generate differently across biomes:
| Village Type | Paper Success Rate | Average Paper Found | Special Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plains Village | High (90%) | 6-10 papers | Multiple cartographer houses |
| Desert Village | Medium (65%) | 4-7 papers | Watch out for husks! |
| Savanna Village | Low (40%) | 2-5 papers | Harder to locate cartographers |
I once found 16 papers in a single plains village chest. Felt like winning the lottery.
Shipwrecks and Strongholds
Shipwrecks have map chests with surprisingly good paper drops. Expect 3-7 papers per chest. Stronghold library chests? Jackpot territory – up to 25 papers! But bring weapons... those silverfish are nasty.
Paper Usage Breakdown: Why Bother?
So what's the big deal about paper anyway? Turns out, it's more than just bookshelf filler.
| Item | Paper Required | Critical Uses | My Personal Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Books | 3 + 1 leather | Enchanting, bookshelves | ★★★★★ (Essential) |
| Maps | 8 + compass | Exploration, monument locating | ★★★★☆ (Mid-game must) |
| Firework Rockets | 1 + gunpowder | Elytra boosting, celebrations | ★★★☆☆ (Late-game fun) |
| Cartography Table | 2 + 2 wood | Map cloning/zooming | ★★☆☆☆ (Niche but useful) |
Fun story: I ignored paper early on. Big mistake. When I finally built my enchanting setup, I needed 45 books – that's 135 paper! Sugarcane farming became my full-time job for days.
Solving Common Paper Problems
Let's tackle those frustrating moments when "how do I get paper in Minecraft" turns into "why won't this work?!"
Problem: Sugarcane won't grow.
Fix: Ensure it's planted on sand/dirt/grass directly adjacent to water (not diagonally). Needs light level 8+.
Problem: Villagers not spawning as cartographers.
Fix: Break and replace lectern workstations until you get the profession.
Problem: Paper not working for maps.
Fix: You need the cartography table, not crafting bench. Took me embarrassingly long to realize this.
Advanced Paper Hacks
Once you've mastered basics, try these:
- Trade paper with librarian villagers for emeralds (great early-game economy)
- Combine paper + compass in cartography table to create locator maps
- Use dispensers to automatically harvest sugarcane farms
FAQs: Your Paper Questions Answered
Can you get paper without sugarcane in Minecraft?
Yes! Looting villages (cartographer chests), shipwrecks, and stronghold libraries. But sugarcane remains the only renewable source.
How much paper comes from one sugarcane plant?
Each fully grown sugarcane block drops 1-4 sugarcane when broken. Since 3 sugarcane make 3 paper, one plant = 1-4 papers.
Why won't my librarian accept my paper?
Only cartographer villagers buy paper. Librarians trade paper for emeralds once you've unlocked expert tier trades.
What's the fastest way to get paper in Minecraft early game?
Explore rivers for wild sugarcane before building farm. If near village, raid cartographer house chests immediately.
How do you make paper in Minecraft PE/bedrock edition?
Same as Java! 3 sugarcane horizontal row in crafting grid. Interface differs slightly but recipe identical.
Weird Paper Tricks You Might Not Know
After hundreds of hours, I've discovered some oddities:
- Desert temples sometimes have paper in hidden chests beneath the blue wool
- Zombie villagers can spawn as cartographers with paper trades
- Paper can't be used as fuel despite being flammable (weird, right?)
Last thought – paper seems simple until you desperately need it. Whether you're prepping for enchanting or stocking fireworks for your next raid, knowing multiple ways to get paper in Minecraft saves headaches. Now if you'll excuse me, my sugarcane farm needs harvesting...
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