Trail Ruins

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Trail ruins are buried structures that work as archaeology sites where suspicious gravel generates. They are found in heavily forested biomes and resemble ruined villages from a lost culture.^[1]

Structure[]

Generation[]

Trail ruins are found in the taiga, snowy taiga, old growth taiga, old growth birch forest, and jungle biomes.

Aesthetics[]

The trail ruins are structures that generate mostly underground with only the top of the tower above the ground. The ruins resemble small, ancient settlements. Each trail ruin has a main road made of cobblestone, stone, and stone bricks that connect multiple small buildings and a central tower made of terracotta and glazed terracotta, the tip of which is the only part of the structure that does not tend to generate underground. Adjacent to the tower generates two rooms and sometimes other small buildings and décor made of mud bricks and terracotta. Most of the structure is buried in gravel, dirt, and coarse dirt, as well as suspicious gravel. In Bedrock Edition, they generate much more exposed on the surface compared to Java Edition, with sometimes the entire trail ruin being on the surface with the sections still buried in dirt and gravel.

Some blocks of suspicious gravel are generated floating, and will fall and be destroyed if an adjacent block is updated.^[2]

File structure[]

All trail ruins structures found below are located in the folder client.jar/data/minecraft/structures/trail_ruins‌^{[JE only]}.

List

trail_ruins
- buildings
  - group_full_1.nbt
  - group_full_2.nbt
  - group_full_3.nbt
  - group_full_4.nbt
  - group_full_5.nbt
  - group_hall_1.nbt
  - group_hall_2.nbt
  - group_hall_3.nbt
  - group_hall_4.nbt
  - group_hall_5.nbt
  - group_lower_1.nbt
  - group_lower_2.nbt
  - group_lower_3.nbt
  - group_lower_4.nbt
  - group_lower_5.nbt
  - group_room_1.nbt
  - group_room_2.nbt
  - group_room_3.nbt
  - group_room_4.nbt
  - group_room_5.nbt
  - group_upper_1.nbt
  - group_upper_2.nbt
  - group_upper_3.nbt
  - group_upper_4.nbt
  - group_upper_5.nbt
  - large_room_1.nbt
  - large_room_2.nbt
  - large_room_3.nbt
  - large_room_4.nbt
  - large_room_5.nbt
  - one_room_1.nbt
  - one_room_2.nbt
  - one_room_3.nbt
  - one_room_4.nbt
  - one_room_5.nbt
- decor
  - decor_1.nbt
  - decor_2.nbt
  - decor_3.nbt
  - decor_4.nbt
  - decor_5.nbt
  - decor_6.nbt
  - decor_7.nbt
- roads
  - long_road_end.nbt
  - road_end_1.nbt
  - road_section_1.nbt
  - road_section_2.nbt
  - road_section_3.nbt
  - road_section_4.nbt
  - road_spacer_1.nbt
- tower
  - hall_1.nbt
  - hall_2.nbt
  - hall_3.nbt
  - hall_4.nbt
  - hall_5.nbt
  - large_hall_1.nbt
  - large_hall_2.nbt
  - large_hall_3.nbt
  - large_hall_4.nbt
  - large_hall_5.nbt
  - one_room_1.nbt
  - one_room_2.nbt
  - one_room_3.nbt
  - one_room_4.nbt
  - one_room_5.nbt
  - platform_1.nbt
  - platform_2.nbt
  - platform_3.nbt
  - platform_4.nbt
  - platform_5.nbt
  - stable_1.nbt
  - stable_2.nbt
  - stable_3.nbt
  - stable_4.nbt
  - stable_5.nbt
  - tower_1.nbt
  - tower_2.nbt
  - tower_3.nbt
  - tower_4.nbt
  - tower_5.nbt
  - tower_top_1.nbt
  - tower_top_2.nbt
  - tower_top_3.nbt
  - tower_top_4.nbt
  - tower_top_5.nbt

Loot[]

Like other structures, the trail ruins have loot. Below are the lists of loot, from most common to rarest:

Common[]

In Java Edition, each trail ruin's suspicious gravel contains 1 item stacks, with the following distribution:

Item	Stack Size ^[A]	Weight ^[B]	Chance ^[C]	Avg. per chest ^[D]	Avg. # chests to search ^[E]
Blue Dye	1	²⁄₄₅	4.4%	0.044	22.5
Brick	1	²⁄₄₅	4.4%	0.044	22.5
Brown Candle	1	²⁄₄₅	4.4%	0.044	22.5
Emerald	1	²⁄₄₅	4.4%	0.044	22.5
Green Candle	1	²⁄₄₅	4.4%	0.044	22.5
Light Blue Dye	1	²⁄₄₅	4.4%	0.044	22.5
Orange Dye	1	²⁄₄₅	4.4%	0.044	22.5
Purple Candle	1	²⁄₄₅	4.4%	0.044	22.5
Red Candle	1	²⁄₄₅	4.4%	0.044	22.5
Wheat	1	²⁄₄₅	4.4%	0.044	22.5
White Dye	1	²⁄₄₅	4.4%	0.044	22.5
Wooden Hoe	1	²⁄₄₅	4.4%	0.044	22.5
Yellow Dye	1	²⁄₄₅	4.4%	0.044	22.5
Beetroot Seeds	1	¹⁄₄₅	2.2%	0.022	45.0
Blue Stained Glass Pane	1	¹⁄₄₅	2.2%	0.022	45.0
Coal	1	¹⁄₄₅	2.2%	0.022	45.0
Dead Bush	1	¹⁄₄₅	2.2%	0.022	45.0
Flower Pot	1	¹⁄₄₅	2.2%	0.022	45.0
Lead	1	¹⁄₄₅	2.2%	0.022	45.0
Light Blue Stained Glass Pane	1	¹⁄₄₅	2.2%	0.022	45.0
Magenta Stained Glass Pane	1	¹⁄₄₅	2.2%	0.022	45.0
Oak Hanging Sign	1	¹⁄₄₅	2.2%	0.022	45.0
Pink Stained Glass Pane	1	¹⁄₄₅	2.2%	0.022	45.0
Purple Stained Glass Pane	1	¹⁄₄₅	2.2%	0.022	45.0
Red Stained Glass Pane	1	¹⁄₄₅	2.2%	0.022	45.0
Spruce Hanging Sign	1	¹⁄₄₅	2.2%	0.022	45.0
String	1	¹⁄₄₅	2.2%	0.022	45.0
Wheat Seeds	1	¹⁄₄₅	2.2%	0.022	45.0
Yellow Stained Glass Pane	1	¹⁄₄₅	2.2%	0.022	45.0
Gold Nugget	1	¹⁄₄₅	2.2%	0.022	45.0

In Bedrock Edition, each trail ruin's suspicious gravel contains 1 item stacks, with the following distribution:

Item	Stack Size ^[A]	Weight ^[B]	Chance ^[C]	Avg. per chest ^[D]	Avg. # chests to search ^[E]
Brick	1	⁴⁄₄₆	8.7%	0.087	11.5
Blue Dye	1	²⁄₄₆	4.3%	0.043	23.0
Brown Candle	1	²⁄₄₆	4.3%	0.043	23.0
Clay Ball	1	²⁄₄₆	4.3%	0.043	23.0
Emerald	1	²⁄₄₆	4.3%	0.043	23.0
Green Candle	1	²⁄₄₆	4.3%	0.043	23.0
Light Blue Dye	1	²⁄₄₆	4.3%	0.043	23.0
Orange Dye	1	²⁄₄₆	4.3%	0.043	23.0
Purple Candle	1	²⁄₄₆	4.3%	0.043	23.0
Red Candle	1	²⁄₄₆	4.3%	0.043	23.0
Wheat	1	²⁄₄₆	4.3%	0.043	23.0
White Dye	1	²⁄₄₆	4.3%	0.043	23.0
Wooden Hoe	1	²⁄₄₆	4.3%	0.043	23.0
Yellow Dye	1	²⁄₄₆	4.3%	0.043	23.0
Beetroot Seeds	1	¹⁄₄₆	2.2%	0.022	46.0
Blue Stained Glass Pane	1	¹⁄₄₆	2.2%	0.022	46.0
Dead Bush	1	¹⁄₄₆	2.2%	0.022	46.0
Flower Pot	1	¹⁄₄₆	2.2%	0.022	46.0
Lead	1	¹⁄₄₆	2.2%	0.022	46.0
Light Blue Stained Glass Pane	1	¹⁄₄₆	2.2%	0.022	46.0
Magenta Stained Glass Pane	1	¹⁄₄₆	2.2%	0.022	46.0
Oak Hanging Sign	1	¹⁄₄₆	2.2%	0.022	46.0
Pink Stained Glass Pane	1	¹⁄₄₆	2.2%	0.022	46.0
Purple Stained Glass Pane	1	¹⁄₄₆	2.2%	0.022	46.0
Red Stained Glass Pane	1	¹⁄₄₆	2.2%	0.022	46.0
Spruce Hanging Sign	1	¹⁄₄₆	2.2%	0.022	46.0
String	1	¹⁄₄₆	2.2%	0.022	46.0
Wheat Seeds	1	¹⁄₄₆	2.2%	0.022	46.0
Yellow Stained Glass Pane	1	¹⁄₄₆	2.2%	0.022	46.0
Gold Nugget	1	¹⁄₄₆	2.2%	0.022	46.0

↑ ^a ^b The size of stacks (or for unstackable items, number) of this item on any given roll.
↑ ^a ^b The weight of this item relative to other items in the pool.
↑ ^a ^b The odds of finding any of this item in a single chest.
↑ ^a ^b The number of items expected per chest, averaged over a large number of chests.
↑ ^a ^b The average number of chests the player should expect to search to find any of this item.

Rare[]

In Java Edition, each trail ruin's rare suspicious gravel contains 1 item stacks, with the following distribution:

Item	Stack Size ^[A]	Weight ^[B]	Chance ^[C]	Avg. per chest ^[D]	Avg. # chests to search ^[E]
Burn Pottery Sherd	1	¹⁄₁₂	8.3%	0.083	12.0
Danger Pottery Sherd	1	¹⁄₁₂	8.3%	0.083	12.0
Music Disc (Relic)	1	¹⁄₁₂	8.3%	0.083	12.0
Friend Pottery Sherd	1	¹⁄₁₂	8.3%	0.083	12.0
Heart Pottery Sherd	1	¹⁄₁₂	8.3%	0.083	12.0
Heartbreak Pottery Sherd	1	¹⁄₁₂	8.3%	0.083	12.0
Host Armor Trim Smithing Template	1	¹⁄₁₂	8.3%	0.083	12.0
Howl Pottery Sherd	1	¹⁄₁₂	8.3%	0.083	12.0
Raiser Armor Trim Smithing Template	1	¹⁄₁₂	8.3%	0.083	12.0
Shaper Armor Trim Smithing Template	1	¹⁄₁₂	8.3%	0.083	12.0
Sheaf Pottery Sherd	1	¹⁄₁₂	8.3%	0.083	12.0
Wayfinder Armor Trim Smithing Template	1	¹⁄₁₂	8.3%	0.083	12.0

In Bedrock Edition, each trail ruin's rare suspicious gravel contains 1 item stacks, with the following distribution:

Item	Stack Size ^[A]	Weight ^[B]	Chance ^[C]	Avg. per chest ^[D]	Avg. # chests to search ^[E]
Burn Pottery Sherd	1	¹⁄₁₂	8.3%	0.083	12.0
Danger Pottery Sherd	1	¹⁄₁₂	8.3%	0.083	12.0
Music Disc (Relic)	1	¹⁄₁₂	8.3%	0.083	12.0
Friend Pottery Sherd	1	¹⁄₁₂	8.3%	0.083	12.0
Heart Pottery Sherd	1	¹⁄₁₂	8.3%	0.083	12.0
Heartbreak Pottery Sherd	1	¹⁄₁₂	8.3%	0.083	12.0
Host Armor Trim Smithing Template	1	¹⁄₁₂	8.3%	0.083	12.0
Howl Pottery Sherd	1	¹⁄₁₂	8.3%	0.083	12.0
Raiser Armor Trim Smithing Template	1	¹⁄₁₂	8.3%	0.083	12.0
Shaper Armor Trim Smithing Template	1	¹⁄₁₂	8.3%	0.083	12.0
Sheaf Pottery Sherd	1	¹⁄₁₂	8.3%	0.083	12.0
Wayfinder Armor Trim Smithing Template	1	¹⁄₁₂	8.3%	0.083	12.0

↑ ^a ^b The size of stacks (or for unstackable items, number) of this item on any given roll.
↑ ^a ^b The weight of this item relative to other items in the pool.
↑ ^a ^b The odds of finding any of this item in a single chest.
↑ ^a ^b The number of items expected per chest, averaged over a large number of chests.
↑ ^a ^b The average number of chests the player should expect to search to find any of this item.

History[]

This section needs expansion.

You can help by expanding it.
Instructions: Bedrock Edition history is incomplete.

Java Edition
1.20	23w12a	Added trail ruins.
	23w16a	Trail ruins have been adjusted, adding more building variants.
		Trail ruins no longer generate with Sand or suspicious Sand.
		Tweaked the amount of gravel, dirt, and suspicious gravel.
		Split the archaeological loot tables for the suspicious gravel within the structure.
		Rare loot items and common loot items now each have their own dedicated archaeological loot table.
	23w17a	Relic music disc now generate in suspicious gravel in trail ruins as a rare loot with the probability for it to generate is 1/12.
	23w17a	This also means that the probability of other rare loot items generate in suspicious gravel in trail ruins is now 1/12.^[verify]
Bedrock Edition
Next Major Update (Experimental)	beta 1.19.80.22	Added trail ruins behind the "Next Major Update" experimental toggle.
1.20.0	beta 1.20.0.21	Trail ruins are now available without using the "Next Major Update" experimental toggle.

Issues[]

Issues relating to "Trail Ruins" are maintained on the bug tracker. Report issues there.

Trivia[]

Trail ruins are the only structures where concrete and mud bricks naturally generate.
One of the decor rooms with two coal blocks and brick stairs is a reference to pot baking from the original archeology showcased in Minecraft Live 2020.^[3]
Trail ruins took the developers 16-20 hours to design and build.^[4]

Gallery[]

Screenshots[]

A trail ruin that has not been exposed.
A trail ruin generated in a ocean.

Official images[]

Trail ruins in a jungle.
Some exposed trail ruins in a old growth birch forest.
Exposed trail ruins in a taiga.
Efe excavating an exposed trail ruin.

References[]

Generated structures, features and terrain features

[stacksize-3] The size of stacks (or for unstackable items, number) of this item on any given roll.

[weight-4] The weight of this item relative to other items in the pool.

[chance-5] The odds of finding any of this item in a single chest.

[items-6] The number of items expected per chest, averaged over a large number of chests.

[chests-7] The average number of chests the player should expect to search to find any of this item.

[stacksize-8] The size of stacks (or for unstackable items, number) of this item on any given roll.

[weight-9] The weight of this item relative to other items in the pool.

[chance-10] The odds of finding any of this item in a single chest.

[items-11] The number of items expected per chest, averaged over a large number of chests.

[chests-12] The average number of chests the player should expect to search to find any of this item.

[feedback-1] ttps://feedback.minecraft.net/hc/en-us/articles/14204477222157-Minecraft-Beta-Preview-1-19-80-22

[2] MC-263062 — resolved as "Works As Intended".

[13] "Hey y'all, thanks for the positive response to the new iteration of Trail Ruins. We put in a lot of work, behind the scenes, to create an interesting experience for you! FYI: I added the new decor structure as a nod to the original video. It's not a hint to anything else!" – @HeartlessMoesh on X, April 22, 2023

[14] "Work for the new iteration and variants took place over roughly 16-20 hours, over a few weeks. My main role is QA. I was loaned out to design/build the Trail Ruins." – @HeartlessMoesh on X, April 22, 2023

[1]