In 2026, Minecraft armor has become a full-blown fashion contest, and the humble smithing template is the hottest ticket in town. The average blockhead may still believe diamond gear is peak performance, but the real style icons know a plain chestplate is about as exciting as soggy bread. Armor trims let players slap a pattern onto armor, then tint that pattern with a chosen mineral. The result is a walking, mining, creeper-dodging statement piece. It is not just fancy dress, either: the Netherite Upgrade Template is now part of the road to the best armor in the game, so collectors get both bragging rights and a practical excuse to raid every structure in sight. As of 2026, later Minecraft updates have added plenty of bells and whistles, but the template hunt remains the same song and dance.

The Smithing Table: Where Armor Gets Its Glow-Up

To apply a trim, players need a smithing table, the template, the armor piece, and a mineral. The template supplies the pattern; the mineral supplies the color. It is a simple deal, but the fashion police take it very seriously. The color chart is as follows:

Mineral	Trim color
Iron	Grey
Copper	Bronze
Gold	Gold
Lapis Lazuli	Blue
Emerald	Green
Diamond	Light blue
Netherite	Black
Redstone	Red
Amethyst	Purple
Quartz	White

The practical upshot is that a player can make armor match a base, a banner, or a particularly dramatic mood. Diamond trim on netherite armor? Very icy. Redstone trim on gold? Chaotic, but in a fun way. Amethyst trim? Purple enough to make a shulker jealous.

The Template Trail: Ten Stops, Zero Chill

Every template is a one-shot wonder until it is duplicated. The usual duplication recipe calls for 7 diamonds, the original template, and a themed block. The block changes from template to template, which is Minecraft's way of making players memorize one more recipe. The full shopping list looks like this:

Template	Where it hides	Duplication block	Extra spice
Netherite Upgrade	Bastion Remnant in the Nether	Netherrack	Needed for diamond to netherite
Sentry	Pillager Outpost	Cobblestone	Captain banner can start a raid
Dune	Desert Pyramid	Sandstone	TNT traps below
Coast	Shipwreck	Cobblestone	Drowned with tridents
Wild	Jungle Temple	Mossy cobblestone	Jungle temple traps
Tide	Ocean Monument	Prismarine	Elder Guardian patrol
Ward	Ancient City	Cobbled deepslate	Warden, sneak only
Vex	Woodland Mansion	Cobblestone	Mansion is rare
Rib	Nether Fortress	Netherrack	Wither skeleton theme
Snout	Bastion Remnant	Blackstone	Angry piglins if chests are looted

First, the Netherite Upgrade Template. This one is not optional for min-maxers. It hides in Bastion Remnants in the Nether, and without it, diamond armor stays diamond armor. The old days of simply adding a Netherite Ingot are gone, so players must bite the bullet and explore the Nether. Duplication needs 9 diamonds, 1 netherrack, and an existing template. The Nether is no picnic, but netherite gear is worth its weight in diamonds.

The Sentry trim is found in Pillager Outposts. It is one of the tamer designs, just a band around the arms, helmet, and boots. Outposts are not hard to find, so locating one should be a walk in the park, though new players should remember that pillagers are tough crossbow mobs and the captain with a banner can trigger a raid. Duplication uses cobblestone and 7 diamonds.

Dune comes from Desert Pyramids and adds a little more color, especially on the chestplate. Players should watch for TNT when poking around the hidden underside. Desert temples are easy enough to spot in most desert biomes, and duplication uses sandstone plus 7 diamonds. Fitting, really, for a trim that looks like it has been on a sandy holiday.

Coast is a Shipwreck exclusive, which means players should keep their eyes peeled for a sailor's watery grave. Drowned with tridents are the local welcoming committee, so a little caution goes a long way. The thick bands look excellent with Lapis Lazuli or Diamond, and duplication uses cobblestone plus 7 diamonds. Very ocean chic.

Wild hides in Jungle Temples and adds a band that makes armor pop without overdoing it. If players get lucky enough to find the temple, they need mossy cobblestone and 7 diamonds to duplicate the template. The jungle is not for the faint of heart, but the reward is a trim that says adventurous without shouting about it.

Tide is found in Ocean Monuments and looks like ancient Atlantean attire. Ocean monuments are rare, so spotting one is a jackpot moment, and the Elder Guardian is the grumpy bouncer at the door. Duplication needs prismarine and 7 diamonds. The result is a pattern that makes armor look like it has been blessed by the sea itself.

Ward comes from Ancient Cities and puts a neat square on the chestplate, mimicking the Warden's chest pattern. Ancient Cities sit deep in the underworld, and the Warden is insanely strong, so sneaking is the smart play. Duplication uses cobbled deepslate and 7 diamonds. Fighting the Warden is a bad idea; tiptoeing past it is the real pro move.

Vex is one of the hardest templates to find because Woodland Mansions are scarce. The design makes armor look like the little flying menace itself, and Netherite armor with Iron trim gets the closest to that Vex vibe. Duplication uses cobblestone and 7 diamonds. Since mansions are so rare, players should absolutely make a copy while they have the chance.

Rib is found in Nether Fortresses and gives a skeletal nod to Wither Skeletons. It is a decent design, creepy but not over the top. Duplication uses netherrack and 7 diamonds. It is the only template that demands netherrack, which is funny because the Nether has netherrack coming out of its ears.

Snout is a Bastion Remnant exclusive and references the Piglins' snouts. Piglins are friendly only if players wear a piece of gold armor, and they get angry if their chests are looted. Bastions are tough to clear, but the treasure is worth it. Duplication uses blackstone and 7 diamonds.

By 2026, the armor trim hunt is still a delightful mix of archaeology, parkour, and occasional panic. Players who collect every template can turn a boring set of armor into a full wardrobe. The fashion police may never be satisfied, but at least the creepers will be impressed.