Clay Ball
minecraft:clay_ballA clay ball is the item obtained by breaking a clay block without Silk Touch, yielding four per block, and it can also be found in mason and desert village house chests or traded from mason villagers for emeralds. Four clay balls craft back into a clay block, while a single clay ball smelts into a brick using any fuel source, making it the starting point for both terracotta-style building and brick construction.
FAQ
How do I get clay balls?
Break a clay block without Silk Touch for four clay balls, find them in mason or desert village chests, or trade emeralds to a mason villager.
What can clay balls be crafted or smelted into?
Four clay balls craft into one clay block, and a single clay ball can be smelted in a furnace into a brick.
Is clay ball the same as the clay block?
No. The clay block is the source you mine, while clay balls are the individual items it drops; four clay balls remake one clay block.
Was clay ball always called that?
No, it was originally just named "Clay" and was renamed to "Clay Ball" in Java Edition 1.16 to align with Bedrock Edition's terminology.