Podzol

Podzol
Renewable	Yes
Stackable	Yes (64)
Tool
Blast resistance	0.5
Hardness	0.5
Luminous	No
Transparent	No
Flammable	No
Catches fire; from lava	No
Map color (JE)	; 34 PODZOL

Podzol is a dirt-type block that naturally blankets the surface of the old growth taiga and bamboo jungles, along with their respective variants. Grass blocks and mycelium cannot spread to this block.

Obtaining

Breaking

Podzol can be broken using any tool or by hand, but the shovel is the quickest. It can be obtained using a tool with Silk Touch, otherwise it drops dirt instead.

Block
Hardness	0.5
Tool
Breaking time (sec)^[A]
Default	0.75
Wooden	0.4
Stone	0.2
Copper	0.15
Iron	0.15
Diamond	0.1
Netherite	0.1
Golden	0.1
Options
Efficiency	000
Haste	001 1JEBE

Legend

incorrect tool, drops nothing
correct tool, drops nothing or something other than the block itself
correct tool, drops the block itself
italicized can be instant mined

↑ These durations ignore other influential factors (e.g. Mining Fatigue), and are measured in seconds. For more information, see Breaking § Speed.

Natural generation

Podzol generates only in old growth taiga, bamboo jungle biomes and in trial chambers surrounding the bogged and the cave spider trial spawners.

Mob loot

Endermen can pick up podzol blocks, and drop it if holding it when killed.

Trading

Wandering traders have ¹⁄₆ chance to sell 3 podzol for 3 emeralds.

Post-generation

The pattern in which large spruce trees replace blocks with podzol as it grows.

Podzol replaces the top-most grass blocks, dirt, mycelium, coarse dirt, rooted dirt, moss blocks, pale moss blocks, muddy mangrove roots, and mud around a large spruce tree when it is grown from 4 saplings arranged in a square, as well as the blocks the saplings were planted on. In Java Edition, the pattern of the podzol reaches at most 6 blocks in the eastern and southern (positive X and Z) directions, and 5 blocks in the western and northern directions; vertically, it reaches at most 3 blocks above the ground and 2 blocks below the ground. In Bedrock Edition, the pattern of the podzol reaches at most 5 blocks horizontally in all directions, and vertically up to 2 blocks above the ground and up to 3 blocks below the ground.

The maximum horizontal reach of podzol that can spawn from a mega spruce tree.

Since podzol can be converted from moss blocks, and moss can be grown on renewable stone, dirt can be renewably created as long as there is access to water, lava, moss, spruce saplings and bone meal. This is especially useful on maps where dirt is limited.

Usage

Like mycelium, podzol allows mushrooms to be placed on it no matter the light level, which allows the growth of huge mushrooms. Saplings, all kinds of flowers, and sugar cane can be placed on it normally. A podzol block can be turned into a dirt path by pressing use on it with any type of shovel, but it cannot be tilled with a hoe to make farmland.^[1] However, the player can first use the shovel on the podzol to turn it into dirt path, then use the hoe on the dirt path to turn it into farmland.

Unlike other similar blocks, podzol never spreads to dirt blocks, and it does not become dirt if a solid block is placed on top of it, no matter how long the block remains on top of it. Additionally, neither grass nor mycelium can spread to podzol.

Sounds

Generic

Java Edition:

v t e `gravel` sound type
Sound	Subtitles	Source	Description	Resource location	Translation key	Volume	Pitch	Attenuation distance
	Block broken	Blocks	Once the block has broken	`block.gravel.break`	`subtitles.block.generic.break`	1.0	0.8	16
	Block placed	Blocks	When the block is placed	`block.gravel.place`	`subtitles.block.generic.place`	1.0	0.8	16
	Block breaking	Blocks	While the block is in the process of being broken	`block.gravel.hit`	`subtitles.block.generic.hit`	0.25	0.5	16
	Something falls on a block	Entity-Dependent	Falling on the block with fall damage	`block.gravel.fall`	`subtitles.block.generic.fall`	0.5	0.75	16
	Footsteps	Entity-Dependent	Walking on the block	`block.gravel.step`	`subtitles.block.generic.footsteps`	0.15	1.0	16

Bedrock Edition:

v t e `gravel` sound type
Sound	Source	Description	Resource location	Volume	Pitch
	Blocks	Once the block has broken	`dig.gravel`	1.0	0.8-1.0
	Blocks	When the block is placed	`dig.gravel`	1.0	0.8-1.0
	Blocks	While the block is in the process of being broken	`hit.gravel`	0.17	0.5
	Players	Falling on the block with fall damage	`fall.gravel`	0.4	1.0
	Players	Walking on the block	`step.gravel`	0.3	1.0
	Blocks	Jumping from the block	`jump.gravel`	0.1	1.0
	Blocks	Falling on the block without fall damage	`land.gravel`	0.17	1.0

Unique

Java Edition

Sounds
Sound	Subtitles	Source	Description	Resource location	Translation key	Volume	Pitch	Attenuation distance
	Shovel flattens	Blocks	When a shovel creates a dirt path	`item.shovel.flatten`	`subtitles.item.shovel.flatten`	1.0	1.0	16

Bedrock Edition:

Sounds
Sound	Source	Description	Resource location	Volume	Pitch
	Blocks	When a shovel creates a dirt path	`use.grass`	1.0	0.8

Data values

ID

Java Edition:

Name	Identifier	Form	Block tags	Translation key
Podzol	`podzol`	Block & Item	`bamboo_plantable_on` `enderman_holdable` `mushroom_grow_block` `valid_spawn` `moss_replaceable` `lush_ground_replaceable` `mineable/shovel` `dirt` `sniffer_diggable_block`	`block.minecraft.podzol`

Bedrock Edition:

Name	Identifier	Numeric ID	Form	Item ID^{[i 1]}	Translation key
Podzol	`podzol`	`243`	Block & Giveable Item^{[i 2]}	Identical^{[i 3]}	`tile.podzol.name`

↑ ID of block's direct item form, which is used in savegame files and addons.
↑ Available with /give command.
↑ The block's direct item form has the same ID as the block.

Block states

Java Edition:

Name	Default value	Allowed values	Description
snowy	`false`	`false` `true`	If true, the block uses a snowy side and top texture. In-game, this is true when a snow block or snow is on top.

History

Java Edition
August 7, 2013							Jeb tweeted the first image of a podzol and mega taiga.
1.7.2			13w36a				Added podzol.
1.8			?				Podzol no longer displays dirt as its side texture when a block is placed above.
1.9			15w31a				Podzol can now be obtained by killing an enderman that is holding the block.
1.13			18w06a				Podzol now replaces the ground around large spruce trees when they are grown.
1.14			18w43a				The texture of podzol has been changed.
			18w43a				Podzol now generates in the new bamboo jungle biomes.
			19w05a				Added wandering traders, which sell podzol, making it renewable.
			19w12a				Podzol now has random orientations when placed, similar to grass blocks.
1.17			20w45a				A shovel can now be used on podzol to create a dirt path block.
1.19.4 Experiment Update 1.20			23w07a				Sniffers can now dig podzol.
1.20.3 Experiment Update 1.21			23w45a				Podzol now generates in trial chambers.
1.20.5			24w10a				Wolves can now spawn on podzol.
Pocket Edition Alpha
v0.9.0			build 1				Added podzol.
v0.12.1			build 1				Podzol can now be obtained using the Silk Touch enchantment.
v0.14.0			build 1				Podzol can now be obtained by killing an enderman that is holding the block.
Bedrock Edition
1.9.0			beta 1.9.0.0				Podzol now generates in the new bamboo jungle biomes.
1.10.0			beta 1.10.0.3				The texture of podzol has been changed.
1.10.0			beta 1.10.0.3				Podzol can now be obtained via trading with wandering traders.
1.16.0			beta 1.15.0.51				Podzol now replaces the ground around large spruce trees when they are grown.
1.20.60 Experiment Update 1.21			Preview 1.20.60.20				Podzol now generates in trial chambers.
Legacy Console Edition
Xbox 360	Xbox One	PS3	PS4	PS Vita	Wii U	Switch
TU31	CU19	1.22	1.22	1.22	Patch 3	1.0.1	Added podzol.
TU46	CU36	1.38	1.38	1.38	Patch 15	1.0.1	Podzol can now be obtained by killing an enderman that is holding the block.
			1.90				The texture of podzol has been changed.
			1.91				Added wandering traders, which sell podzol, making it renewable.
New Nintendo 3DS Edition
0.1.0							Added podzol.

Data history

Java Edition
1.8	14w06a	Podzol now uses the newly-implemented model json file `models/block/cube.json`; previously the geometry was defined in the game code itself.
1.13	17w47a	The different variant block states for the `dirt` ID have been now split up into their own IDs.
1.13	17w47a	Prior to The Flattening, this block's numeral ID was 3.

Issues

Issues relating to "Podzol" are maintained on the bug tracker. Issues should be reported and viewed there.

Trivia

In real life, podzol is a type of soil characterized by infertility and acidity, and an ashy subsoil layer. One of the environments they typically appear in are boreal forests, or taigas.

Gallery

Screenshots

Naturally generated podzol in a old growth taiga biome.
Naturally generated podzol in a old growth spruce taiga biome.
How podzol appeared in the inventory before it was fully implemented in the game.
The first image of a podzol and giant tree taiga.