Rarity in Minecraft explained

In Minecraft, there is a built-in rarity system in both the Java and Bedrock Editions that adds a little extra visual flair to certain items and blocks. Players may have noticed that certain items and blocks have different text colors when viewed in-game. This is the rarity system at work, and it signifies that players have collected something valuable.

Minecraft's rarity system simply exists as a way to point out a valuable or tough-to-find item/block and has no actual bearing on any items or blocks, gameplay-wise. The rarity system categorizes items and blocks in one of four tiers, though there is a way to improve the rarity of certain objects.

---

How the rarity system works in Minecraft

A golden apple in Minecraft has aqua text, signifying that's classified as rare in the rarity system (Image via Mojang)

In both Minecraft editions, the vast majority of items and blocks are labeled with white text, signifying they have a common rarity. However, some items and blocks are considered uncommon (yellow text), rare (aqua text), or epic (magenta text). There are also some discrepancies between the Java and Bedrock editions when it comes to what text color certain items/blocks have based on their rarity.

All Items and Blocks Classified by Minecraft's Rarity System

Rarity	Items/Blocks	Text Color in Java Edition	Text Color in Bedrock Edition
Common	Any items or blocks that are not categorized in other rarities.	White	White
Uncommon	Bottle O' Enchanting Creeper Charge Banner Pattern Dragon's Breath Elytra Enchanted Book Mob/Player Head Heart of the Sea Nether Star Skull Charge Banner Pattern Snout Banner Pattern Totem of Undying	Yellow	The listed Banner Patterns and all Enchanted Books have yellow text. Remaining items and blocks listed have white text.
Rare	Beacon Conduit Enchanted Armor/Tool/Weapon End Crystal Flow Banner Pattern Golden Apple Guster Banner Pattern Music Disc	Aqua	Beacons, End Crystals, and Conduits have white text. Remaining items and blocks listed have aqua text.
Epic	Barrier Block Command Block Debug Stick Dragon Egg Enchanted Golden Apple Heavy Core Jigsaw Block Knowledge Book Light Block Mace Minecart with Command Block Structure Block Structure Void Thing Banner Pattern Trident	Magenta	Enchanted Golden Apples, Heavy Cores, Maces, Thing Banner Patterns, and Tridents have magenta text. Barriers Blocks, Command Blocks, Dragon Eggs, Jigsaw Blocks, Light Blocks, Minecarts with Command Blocks, Structure Blocks, and Structure Voids have white text. Debug Sticks and Knowledge Books have no text changes as they're not available in Bedrock Edition.

Rarity's colored item text appears in most cases wherever text appears. However, there are some exceptions where an item's rarity text color won't display as it normally would, including:

• Examining item tooltips while examining an item/block in an item frame in Java Edition.
• Checking the contents tooltips of items/blocks in shulker boxes in Java Edition.
• Tooltips in Java Edition's statistics screen won't display rarity text colors.
• When examining the Java Edition CanPlaceOn or CanBreak tags on a block/item.
• Item names in the Superflat world type customization screen won't display rarity.

Additionally, it should be noted that ominous banners obtained from pillager raid captains in Minecraft's Java Edition have an orange-gold text color, but this isn't connected to its rarity.

An enchanted diamond sword's text is reverted to white while in an item frame (Image via Mojang)

It should be noted that without manipulating the tags of an item, the only way to increase its rarity and rarity text color is to enchant it. This can be achieved with either an enchanting table or an anvil and enchanted book. Once the item is enchanted, its text color should change accordingly based on its rarity categorization post-enchantment.

For example, a standard iron sword is classified as a common rarity item, and will therefore have white text. However, if it is enchanted, its text will change to blue to reflect its status as an enchanted weapon in the rare category. As stated previously, changes in rarity don't bestow any gameplay bonuses, but it does help players feel like their gear is a bit more valuable.