Hey, fellow crafter! Have you ever wandered your Minecraft world, looked at a pig, and thought, “Where is the weird ancient yak with grass growing on its back?” That’s the Sniffer — or as some older guides call it, the Sniffler. Back in 2022, Mojang held a mob vote, and the Sniffer won by a landslide. It arrived in Minecraft 1.20, the Trails & Tales update. Unlike chickens, cows, or pigs, the Sniffer does not naturally spawn in your world. As of 2026, even after newer updates, this passive mob remains a rare trophy for explorers and archaeologists. So, how do you get one? Let’s dig in — literally.

Step 1: Craft a Brush and Find Suspicious Sand

First, make sure your game is on 1.20 or later. In 2026, that’s basically any modern version. You’ll need a brush. The recipe is simple:

Craft the brush, select it from your inventory, and then right-click on blocks. But here’s the catch: the brush only has a notable effect on suspicious sand. Regular sand? Nothing. Gravel? Nope. You need to find a Warm Ocean Ruin. These ruins generate underwater in warm ocean biomes, and they contain suspicious sand. The block looks slightly different from normal sand, so keep your eyes peeled. 🧭

When you brush suspicious sand, there is only a 6.7% chance of getting a Sniffer egg. Yes, that’s low. Yes, RNG can be cruel. But is that going to stop you? Of course not. Bring a few brushes, because they have durability, and clear every suspicious sand block you find. If you’re lucky, one of them will drop the egg.

Step 2: Hatch the Egg

Once you have a Sniffer egg, place it down and wait. In real life, it takes 20 minutes to hatch. But if you place the egg on a Moss block, the process takes only 10 minutes. That’s a huge difference, especially if you’re impatient like me. So grab some moss from a lush cave or a mangrove swamp, and make a little hatching nest. ⏳

Does the egg need light? Not really. Does it need water? No. It just needs time. Once it hatches, you’ll have a baby Sniffer. Adorable? Absolutely. Useful? Well, it’s more of a decorative and collection mob — but that’s part of the charm.

Step 3: Breed Sniffers with Torchflower Seeds

Want more Sniffers? You’ll need two adult Sniffers and some Torchflower seeds. Feed the seeds to each adult, and they’ll breed, similar to how axolotls work in Minecraft. A baby Sniffer will appear, and you can start your own ancient mob family.

Torchflowers were also introduced in 1.20. Sniffers will occasionally sniff the ground and dig up Torchflowers — or more accurately, Torchflower seeds that grow into them. You can refine Torchflowers into seeds, too, so you can keep the cycle going. Plant the seeds on farmland, grow more Torchflowers, and use them to repopulate the world with these ancient creatures. 🌱

Quick Reference Table

Why the Sniffer Still Matters in 2026

Newer Minecraft updates have added plenty of mobs, blocks, and biomes, but the Sniffer is special because it’s tied to archaeology, not combat. It’s a living relic from the game’s ancient past. Hunting for suspicious sand, brushing blocks, and hatching an egg feels like a mini adventure. Plus, Torchflowers are a beautiful decoration block, and they can be used for orange dye. So the Sniffer isn’t just a cute face — it’s part of a whole farming and decorating loop.

Are you ready to grab a brush and dig through warm ocean ruins? Have you already hatched your first Sniffer in 2026? If not, what are you waiting for? The ancient yak with grass on its back is out there, buried in suspicious sand, waiting for you to brush it free. Happy hatching, and may your RNG be ever in your favor! 🐽