What is a Sponge in Minecraft?
A sponge is a block that absorbs water in Minecraft. You can find them naturally in ocean monuments, or you can dry a wet sponge in a furnace to get one. Sponges are useful for clearing out water in areas where you’re building.
Finding a Sponge in Creative Mode
Java Edition (PC/Mac)
If you’re in Creative Mode, you can find sponge blocks in the inventory:
| Version | Creative Menu Location |
|---|---|
| 1.8 – 1.19 | Building Blocks |
| 1.19.3 – 1.19.4 | Natural Blocks |
Drying a Wet Sponge in Survival Mode
In Survival Mode, you’ll need to dry a wet sponge in a furnace to get a regular sponge. Wet sponges spawn naturally in ocean monuments.
Step 1: Open a Furnace
Place a furnace and open it. You’ll see the input slot at the top and the fuel slot at the bottom.
Step 2: Add Fuel
Put fuel in the bottom slot. Coal works well, but you can use any burnable material like logs, charcoal, or lava buckets.
Step 3: Add the Wet Sponge
Place your wet sponge in the top input slot of the furnace. You’ll see the flames dry it out.
Step 4: Collect the Sponge
Once the wet sponge is done cooking, a dry sponge will appear in the output slot. Take it and add it to your inventory.
Item ID and Technical Info
Java Edition (PC/Mac)
| Item | ID Name | Data Value | Stack Size | Versions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sponge | minecraft:sponge | 0 | 64 | 1.8 – 1.12 |
| Sponge | minecraft:sponge | – | 64 | 1.13 – 1.19.4 |
Give Command
To get a sponge using commands:
Java 1.13+:
/give @p sponge 1
Java 1.8-1.12:
/give @p sponge 1 0
What Do Sponges Do?
When a sponge absorbs water, it becomes a wet sponge and needs to be dried in a furnace to work again. You can place a sponge underwater and it will drain nearby water blocks. This makes sponges great for:
- Clearing water from buildings or tunnels
- Draining areas around ocean monuments
- Creating dry spaces underwater
- Decoration in certain builds