How to Get Sponge in Minecraft: No Crafting Needed!

You cannot craft sponge in Minecraft using a crafting table. Sponge is exclusively obtained by finding wet sponge inside ocean monuments and drying it in a furnace. This guide reveals exactly where to locate wet sponge, the smelting process to create dry sponge, and practical applications for instant water removal in your builds.

Why Sponge Can't Be Crafted (And What to Do Instead)

Many players search for a "sponge crafting recipe" expecting to combine materials at a crafting table. Here's the critical fact: Minecraft intentionally removed sponge crafting in version 1.8. The only legitimate method involves exploration and smelting. Attempting fake "crafting" tutorials will waste your resources—let's focus on the verified approach.

Core Sponge Acquisition Process

1. Locate an ocean monument (deep ocean biome)
2. Defeat guardians to access treasure rooms
3. Find wet sponge in chest loot
4. Smelt wet sponge in furnace (10 seconds)
5. Place dry sponge to absorb water sources

Step-by-Step: Finding and Drying Sponge

1. Locating Ocean Monuments

Wet sponge spawns exclusively in ocean monument treasure rooms. Use these strategies:

• Travel to deep ocean biomes (look for dark blue water)
• Bring water breathing potions and a trident with Channeling
• Listen for elder guardian sounds indicating monument proximity

2. Harvesting Wet Sponge

Monument chests contain wet sponge with 42% probability. Critical tips:

Chest Type	Wet Sponge Chance	Quantity
Treasure Room Chest	42%	1-3 blocks
Hallway Chest	8%	1 block

3. Drying Wet Sponge

Wet sponge must be smelted to become functional:

• Use any furnace fuel (coal, wood, etc.)
• Smelting time: 10 seconds per block
• Yields 1 dry sponge per wet sponge
• Never try to dry with campfires—only furnaces work

Practical Applications: Beyond Water Removal

Dry sponge absorbs up to 63 water source blocks within a 5x5x5 radius. Use it for:

Advanced Sponge Techniques

• Underground Base Construction: Place sponge at bedrock level to drain entire caves
• Lava Management: Absorb water around lava pools to create obsidian generators
• Farming Optimization: Create instant dry patches in swamp biomes for crop planting
• Emergency Escape: Place sponge underwater to create temporary air pockets

Pro Tips for Efficient Sponge Use

• Always carry 2-3 dry sponges in your hotbar for emergency water removal
• Place sponges at the lowest point of water sources for maximum absorption
• Combine with buckets: Absorb water with sponge, then collect remaining sources
• Recover wet sponge after absorption by breaking the block (re-smelt for reuse)

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Based on community testing, these errors waste valuable resources:

• ❌ Attempting crafting recipes (no combination works)
• ❌ Using sponges in lava (they disappear instantly)
• ❌ Placing sponges above water level (absorption only works at source block level)
• ❌ Ignoring monument loot tables (wet sponge only appears in specific chests)

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you craft sponge in Minecraft Bedrock Edition?

No. The crafting restriction applies to all Minecraft editions (Java, Bedrock, Education). Wet sponge only generates in ocean monuments.

How many water blocks does one sponge remove?

A single dry sponge absorbs up to 63 water source blocks within a 5-block radius sphere. It becomes wet after absorption and must be re-smelted.

Do sponges work in the Nether or End dimensions?

No. Sponges only function in the Overworld. They have no effect on lava or water in other dimensions.

Can you farm sponge without ocean monuments?

Not legitimately. Some servers add sponge to village fisherman trades, but vanilla Minecraft requires monument exploration.