The Dried Ghast is a brand-new block coming in Minecraft’s Summer 2025 update, and it’s definitely one of the more unique ones. At first glance, it looks like a shriveled, harmless version of a Ghast—but there’s more to it than just creepy decoration.
If you are wondering what Dried Ghast block in Minecraft does, where to find it, and how to turn it into something more adorable, this guide covers everything you need to know.
What Is the Dried Ghast in Minecraft?
A Dried Ghast is an immobile block that looks like a shriveled Ghast. It does not float, fly, or scream like the real thing—it’s completely harmless. Think of it as a fossilized or preserved Ghast waiting to be brought back to life. Over time, and with the help of water, this block can become something much friendlier.
How to Get a Dried Ghast Block
You can get a Dried Ghast in one of two ways:
1. Natural Generation
Dried Ghasts naturally generate as part of nether fossils in Soul Sand Valleys. Keep an eye out for them while exploring the Nether.
2. Crafting Recipe
You can also craft a Dried Ghast using:
- 8 Ghast Tear
- 1 Bone Block
Once crafted, it appears in your inventory like any other decorative block.
How to Break and Collect the Dried Ghast Block
Breaking a Dried Ghast is easy—it has 0 hardness and can be mined instantly by hand or with any tool. No special requirements. If you mine it while it is waterlogged, it will still drop as a regular dried version and not keep any hydrated state.
What Happens When You Hydrate a Dried Ghast?
This is where things get interesting. If you place the Dried Ghast in water (or waterlog it), it will gradually rehydrate over 20 minutes and transform:
- 0–5 minutes: Slight green particles appear. The block begins to brighten.
- 5–10 minutes: It becomes partially hydrated.
- 10–15 minutes: Now it’s mostly hydrated.
- 15–20 minutes: It becomes fully rehydrated, showing a smile and vibrant texture.
- At 20 minutes: A Ghastling spawns! This is a cute, passive version of a Ghast.
- If water is removed at any stage, it reverts back over the same timeline.
This mechanic is similar to growing crops or raising an egg in other games—except it’s a happy ghast.
What Can You Do With a Ghastling?
After spawning from a hydrated Dried Ghast, the Ghastling is friendly and will eventually grow into a Happy Ghast, which could potentially serve a new purpose in future updates. Currently, it’s more of a collectible or companion creature—but we expect more mechanics to follow.
Can You Disable or Move the Block?
The Dried Ghast is a decorative block. You can mine and move it as needed. Just remember:
- If water flows into its space, it will be removed and drop as an item.
- It can’t survive in lava or fire, like most Nether structures.
Final Thoughts
The Dried Ghast is more than just a spooky Nether decoration. It’s part of Minecraft’s growing ecosystem of interactive blocks—like Sniffers or Suspicious Sand—that change over time and add life to your world. Whether you’re collecting rare mobs or building a haunted greenhouse, the Dried Ghast brings something new and adorable to the table.