All Minecraft Explorer Maps and How to Obtain Them
Have you ever spent half a day running through the Overworld looking for a Woodland Mansion, only to find one plains biome after another? This is a fairly common experience. Fortunately, explorer maps in Minecraft can help players locate rare structures more quickly and reduce the time spent exploring aimlessly.
As updates have been released, the number of explorer maps has continued to grow. In addition to classic structures such as Ocean Monuments, Woodland Mansions, and Trial Chambers, the 26.3 test content also adds maps related to Abandoned Campsites. Whether you are collecting rare loot, searching for armor trims, or exploring new areas of the world, you can start with the list below.
All Explorer Maps and How to Obtain Them
Explorer maps usually point to a specific structure or to a location associated with a biome. Most maps can be obtained by trading with cartographer villagers, while a few must be found in chests located in shipwrecks, ocean ruins, or abandoned campsites.
| Explorer Map | Destination | How to Obtain |
|---|---|---|
| Ocean Monument Explorer Map | Ocean Monument | Any cartographer upgraded to Journeyman |
| Woodland Mansion Explorer Map | Woodland Mansion | Any cartographer upgraded to Master |
| Trial Chambers Explorer Map | Trial Chambers | Any cartographer upgraded to Journeyman |
| Jungle Pyramid Explorer Map | Jungle Pyramid | A cartographer from a desert, savanna, or swamp biome |
| Swamp Hut Explorer Map | Witch Hut | A cartographer from a jungle, snowy, or taiga biome |
| Plains Village Map | Plains Village | A cartographer from a desert, savanna, snowy, or taiga biome |
| Savanna Village Map | Savanna Village | A cartographer from a desert, jungle, or plains biome |
| Desert Village Map | Desert Village | A cartographer from a jungle or savanna biome |
| Snowy Village Map | Snowy Village | A cartographer from a swamp or taiga biome |
| Taiga Village Map | Taiga Village | A cartographer from a plains, savanna, or swamp biome |
| Buried Treasure Map | Buried Treasure | Shipwrecks and ocean ruins |
| Ancient City Map | Ancient City | Abandoned Campsites |
| Mineshaft Map | Mineshaft | Abandoned Campsites |
| Desert Pyramid Map | Desert Pyramid | Abandoned Campsites |
| Warm Ocean Ruins Map | Warm Ocean Ruins | Abandoned Campsites |
| Abandoned Campsite Map | Other Abandoned Campsites | Abandoned Campsites |
The source also mentions that 26.3 may provide independent item names and icons for different explorer maps, instead of displaying them all as “Filled Map.” This information is from the testing phase, so the final implementation may still change.
Ocean Monument Explorer Map
The Ocean Monument Explorer Map points to an Ocean Monument in the Overworld. These structures contain Elder Guardians, Prismarine, and large quantities of sponges, making them a primary source of materials for ocean-themed builds.
You can trade with any cartographer villager. After upgrading the cartographer to Journeyman, you must pay 13 emeralds and 1 compass to obtain this map.
Woodland Mansion Explorer Map
If you want to obtain a Totem of Undying or are preparing to challenge the Warden, a Woodland Mansion is a worthwhile destination to explore. The easiest way to find one is to obtain a Woodland Mansion Explorer Map.
This map must be purchased from a Master-level cartographer villager, at a cost of 14 emeralds and 1 compass. According to the testing information provided in the source, this map may also generate in secret chests found in abandoned campsites.
Trial Chambers Explorer Map
The Trial Chambers Explorer Map was added alongside Trial Chambers. It helps players locate this underground structure directly, avoiding the need to dig randomly underground.
After upgrading a cartographer to Journeyman, you can purchase this map for 12 emeralds and 1 compass. The source also mentions that a Trial Chambers Explorer Map may be found in secret chests at abandoned campsites.
Jungle Pyramid Explorer Map
Jungle biomes are not particularly rare, but Jungle Pyramids are often hidden among dense trees and can be difficult to find. If you want to obtain the Wild Armor Trim, the Jungle Pyramid Explorer Map can be very helpful.
This map can be obtained from a cartographer from a desert, savanna, or swamp village. The cartographer must reach Apprentice level and come from the corresponding biome in order to retain the relevant trade list.
According to the source, a Jungle Pyramid Explorer Map may also appear in secret chests at abandoned campsites.
Swamp Hut Explorer Map
The Swamp Hut Explorer Map leads players to a Witch Hut in a swamp. In addition to finding witches, this is also one of the places where you can find and tame black cats.
To obtain this map, you must trade with an Apprentice-level cartographer. The cartographer should come from a jungle, taiga, or snowy biome.
Plains Village Map
Plains villages generally have open terrain, making them suitable for building a base and convenient for trading with villagers. If you want to find a reliable early-game settlement, the Plains Village Map is more efficient than searching on foot.
This map can be obtained from an Apprentice-level cartographer. Eligible cartographers should come from a savanna, desert, taiga, or snowy biome.
Savanna Village Map
To obtain a Savanna Village Map, you must trade with an Apprentice-level cartographer from a desert, jungle, or plains biome.
Savanna villages usually feature distinctive houses, animal pens, and hanging banners. You can also gather acacia wood and look for armadillos in the surrounding area.
Desert Village Map
The Desert Village Map can be obtained from an Apprentice-level cartographer from a savanna or jungle biome.
Desert Pyramids can sometimes also be found near desert villages. While exploring these structures, players may obtain TNT and other early-game resources.
Snowy Village Map
Snowy villages are usually located in cold regions, with snow-covered buildings that give them an appearance distinct from other villages. The most direct way to find one is to use a Snowy Village Map.
This map must be purchased from an Apprentice-level cartographer from a swamp or taiga biome.
Taiga Village Map
The Taiga Village Map can be obtained by trading with an Apprentice-level cartographer from a plains, swamp, or snowy biome.
Taiga villages are usually surrounded by large numbers of spruce trees. Players can also look for foxes and Ashen Wolves nearby.
Buried Treasure Map
Buried Treasure Maps cannot be obtained through villager trading. Players must explore shipwrecks or ocean ruins and search their chests for this map.
The map displays a prominent red X marking the location of the buried treasure. After reaching the marked area, you usually need to dig through the surrounding sand or gravel to find the chest.
Ancient City Map
The Ancient City Map is one of the new explorer maps listed in the source. It leads players to the Deep Dark and helps them locate the dangerous Ancient City.
According to the information provided in the source, this map can be obtained from secret chests at abandoned campsites, with an approximate drop rate of 14.3%. Since abandoned campsites and the related maps are still test-phase content, this drop rate should be confirmed against the final version.
Mineshaft Map
The Mineshaft Map can also be found in secret chests at abandoned campsites, with the source giving the same 14.3% drop rate.
After using the map, players can travel directly to a mineshaft. These structures usually contain minecart tracks, cave spider spawners, iron ore, gold ore, and other underground resources, making them a good source of early-game loot.
Desert Pyramid Map
Under the settings described in the source, after the 26.3 update, players will no longer need to rely on a Desert Village Map to find a Desert Pyramid. The Desert Pyramid Map can point directly to the target structure.
This map must be obtained from a secret chest at an abandoned campsite, with the source giving a drop rate of 14.3%. Desert Pyramids usually contain several chests, but players should be especially careful when dealing with the TNT trap.
Warm Ocean Ruins Map
Warm Ocean Ruins are structures associated with archaeology, but they are scattered across the ocean floor and can be difficult to find.
The Warm Ocean Ruins Map helps players locate these structures more quickly. According to the source, it appears in secret chests at abandoned campsites, with the same 14.3% drop rate.
Abandoned Campsite Map
The Abandoned Campsite Map can be obtained from regular chests at abandoned campsites and points to other abandoned campsites in different biomes.
The target areas listed in the source include bamboo jungles, cherry groves, birch forests, patchy forests, pale gardens, swamps, and windswept forests. Abandoned campsites in different biomes have corresponding visual variations, so you can identify the destination based on the surrounding environment.
The purpose of explorer maps is to guide players away from aimless long-distance travel and toward specific structures or locations. Ocean Monuments, Woodland Mansions, and Trial Chambers are best obtained through cartographer trades, while Buried Treasure Maps must be found in shipwrecks or ocean ruins. As for maps related to Ancient Cities, mineshafts, and other abandoned campsites, players should keep an eye on chest loot during the 26.3 testing phase.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many explorer maps are there in Minecraft?
According to the version information listed in this article, there are currently 16 types of explorer maps, including the five new maps for Ancient Cities, mineshafts, Desert Pyramids, Warm Ocean Ruins, and abandoned campsites.
Where can the new explorer maps be obtained?
All five new explorer maps listed in the source can be obtained by searching regular chests or secret chests at abandoned campsites.
Can explorer maps be zoomed out?
No. According to the version described in the source, neither explorer maps nor Buried Treasure Maps can be expanded using a Cartography Table or crafting table.
