A huge helping hand in Minecraft's long-term success has been the consistent post-launch content updates that the game has received. Often being centered around a certain theme, the many updates that the title has enjoyed have always provided even the most dedicated players with a huge breadth of brand-new in-game experiences to explore. With this in mind, it is no wonder that so much attention is being placed on Minecraft's upcoming 1.20 update, which is now officially being referred to as the Trails and Tales update.

This particular update has already revealed a huge range of content, but one element in particular has piqued the curiosity of fans more than any other. Armor trims appear to be an element of the 1.20 update that could potentially work wonders for Minecraft's level of offered customization, and may subsequently be the update's most influential feature going forward.

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Minecraft 1.20 Update: Armor Trims

minecraft armor trimming

Minecraft armor trims are a particularly interesting feature that is set to come with 1.20. They're essentially aiming to forever change how armor is handled and created in the game. Applying a trim to a piece of armor can transform the way it looks; the update is set to introduce 16 different patterns that players can find and craft to launch this new mechanic.

To apply armor trims, players will first have to find new items known as smithing templates, which can be found across the many different biomes and dimensions of Minecraft. These smithing templates can be used on armor, with specific templates reflecting different colors and themes that can even correlate to what structure or dimension a template was found in. These patterns can then be dyed with different colors, creating a huge breadth of combinations for Minecraft players to customize their most coveted armor sets with,

The Likely Future Influence of Minecraft's Armor Trims

Minecraft

Given the novelty of armor trims in Minecraft, it is no wonder that many already think they're the most exciting new gameplay element that is set to come with the title's 1.20 update. Of course, the update is set to bring a wealth of other features to Minecraft such as camels, chiseled bookshelves, hanging signs, and archeology, but armor trims appear to have captivated the game's community more so than any other.

Despite its age, some fans still feel that Minecraft lacks flexible customization in its most commonly used features, with armor being one of them. The armor trim mechanic does well to begin dispelling this criticism, and adds a crucial level of depth to a feature that had otherwise lost a bit of its shine to many within the title's community.

The level of influence behind armor trims only increases when it is considered how the mechanic can be used going forward in the game. With future Minecraft updates likely bringing new biomes and materials to the game, a near endless amount of new smithing templates and armor trim customization options can be added to Minecraft for the foreseeable future. Any new structure or biome can be characterized more deeply by including its own new smithing template, increasing the longevity and utility of armor trims to a massive extent.

It is clear that Minecraft's upcoming 1.20 update is an ambitious one, with its new mobs and mechanics providing a huge amount of content for fans. With that being said, it is clear that the versatility and long-term potential for armor trims is the update's most stand-out and influential feature overall.

Minecraft is available on Mobile, PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One.

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