4 Secret Name Tag Tricks in Minecraft (Plus How to Find Them)

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Try these secret names on Minecraft mobs for a hidden surprise
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Name tags in Minecraft are helpful items that let you name and label almost anything in the game. While you can change a name tag to say whatever you want, the game developers hid a few Easter eggs that have special effects when you type in certain names. Keep reading, and we'll walk you through where to find name tags and how to use them !

Name Tag Tricks for Minecraft at a Glance

  • Dinnerbone or Grumm: Flip the chosen mob upside-down
  • Jeb_: Change a sheep into a rainbow sheep that cycles through different wool colors
  • Toast: Turn a rabbit black and white
  • Johnny: Make a Vindicator hostile towards all other mobs
Section 1 of 5:

Minecraft Name Tag Easter Eggs

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  1. 1
    Rename a mob "Dinnerbone" or "Grumm" to flip them upside-down. As soon as you use a name tag with the names "Dinnerbone" or "Grumm" on a mob, its character model will permanently turn upside-down. It can still move around and interact with the world, but its head will be on the ground. [1]
    • You can't rename player characters with a name tag.
    • This Easter egg references developers of Minecraft who normally had their player characters displayed upside-down.
  2. 2
    Change a sheep's name to "Jeb_" to get rainbow-colored wool. When you name a sheep "Jeb_", its wool will immediately change to a different color. After you shear a sheep in the game, the wool will grow back in a different color. [2]
    • There are a total of 16 wool colors that your sheep could possibly grow.
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  3. 3
    Call a rabbit "Toast" to get a black and white fur color. Rabbits are normally brown when you find them in your Minecraft world. When you change a rabbit's name to "Toast", then its pattern immediately changes so it's white with black spots. [3]
    • This Easter egg references a real pet rabbit that one of the developers had.
  4. 4
    Name a Vindicator "Johnny" to make it attack other mobs. Vindicators villagers that use iron axes, and they're primarily found in woodland mansions and during raids. While Vindicators usually attack players or villagers, renaming one "Johnny" makes it hostile to all other mobs except agents, evokers, illusioners, ghasts, pillagers, and other vindicators. [4]
    • This Easter egg references the movie The Shining when Jack Nicholson's character starts to go crazy and chases everyone with an ax.
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Section 2 of 5:

How to Use Name Tags

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  1. 1
    Place the name tag onto an anvil. Place an anvil somewhere in your Minecraft world. Right-click or use the left trigger to access your inventory and use the anvil. Take a name tag from your inventory and place it in the first open box at the top of the window. [5]
    • If you need to craft an anvil , open a crafting table. Place 3 iron blocks in the spaces of the top row, an iron ingot in the middle space of the center row, and 3 iron ingots in the bottom row spaces.
  2. 2
    Type the new name into the text box. Click the text box at the top of the window where it says "Name Tag." Delete the text and type in the new name you want printed on the tag. When you enter text, a new name tag will appear in the box to the right of the arrow.
  3. 3
    Move the name tag back to your inventory. Highlight or hover your mouse over the new name tag. Select the name tag and place it in one of the empty spaces in your inventory. Once you move the new name tag into your inventory, you'll spend 1 experience level.
    • If you don't have a high enough experience level, you won't be able to change the name tag.
    • Once you change the name on a name tag, you can switch it to something else by spending another experience level.
  4. 4
    Use the name tag on the mob or object you want to rename. Find an item, animal, villager, or any other mob in your world and point the crosshairs at it. Open your inventory, select the name tag, and right-click or press the left trigger to change the name of the mob. [6]
    • If you do it correctly, the new name will hover over the mob so you can see its name.
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Section 3 of 5:

Where to Find Name Tags

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  1. 1
    Look for name tags in chests while you're exploring. Name tags randomly appear in chests in specific areas in the world, like Mineshafts, Monster Rooms, Ancient Cities , and Woodland Mansions. When you find a chest in one of these areas, there's always a chance you'll stumble upon a name tag you can use. The chances of name tags spawning in a chest are: [7]
    • Mineshaft: 42.3%
    • Woodland Mansion: 28.3%
    • Monster Room: 25.3%
    • Ancient City: 16.1%
    • Buried Treasure: 34.3% (Bedrock edition only)
  2. 2
    Trade 20 Emeralds to a Master Librarian villager. Look for a village in your Minecraft world and locate a Master Librarian in one of the houses. They will have a name tag available to purchase in exchange for 20 Emeralds. [8]
    • If the Librarian isn't a Master yet, trade Emeralds with them to increase their level. When they reach Master, then they'll carry name tags.
  3. 3
    Try fishing for a small chance at finding a name tag. Any time you fish in-game, there's always a small chance that you'll catch some sunken treasure instead. There's a 0.8% chance a name tag will appear on the other end of the line, so find some water and try your luck. [9]
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Section 4 of 5:

Can you craft name tags in Minecraft?

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  1. 1
    No, you can not craft name tags with a crafting table. Name tags don't have a crafting recipe in the game, so you'll have to venture out and explore if you really want to find one. Even though they're a little rare, you're bound to find one if you look around hard enough.
  2. 2
    Use commands to give yourself a name tag in Creative Mode. If you're playing in Creative Mode and have access to type in commands, then you can add a name tag directly to your inventory. Open the in-game chat and type in /give @p minecraft:name_tag{display:{Name:"name"}} where the name in quotes is the name you want printed on the name tag. [10]
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Section 5 of 5:

Other Uses for Name Tags

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  1. 1
    Name a mob to stop them from despawning. Sometimes, mobs will despawn and disappear after a certain amount of time or when you get too far away from them. Whenever you use a name tag, the mob will stay in your Minecraft world.
    • This is especially good if you don't want farm animals or pets to disappear when you're away for a longer period of time.
  2. 2
    Change the names of your pets to tell them apart. If you have tamed multiple animals in your Minecraft server, give each one of them a unique name with a name tag. That way, their name will pop up above their character, so you're able to see which one you're interacting with.
  3. 3
    Rename chests to keep your items organized. If you want to make it easier to find and store specific items, use the name tag on a chest to label it. Separate chests into like objects, such as "Weapons and Tools", "Wood", or "Building Materials," so it's easy to locate all your items.
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      Tips

      • While you may have heard of other name tag tricks like naming a pig "Technoblade" to give it a crown, these are only available with special mods.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://youtu.be/UygJ1puxbJo?t=380
      2. ↑ https://youtu.be/UygJ1puxbJo?t=558
      3. ↑ https://youtu.be/UygJ1puxbJo?t=224
      4. ↑ https://minecraft.wiki/w/Vindicator#%22Johnny%22
      5. ↑ https://www.minecraft.net/pl-pl/article/taking-inventory--name-tag
      6. ↑ https://www.minecraft.net/pl-pl/article/taking-inventory--name-tag
      7. ↑ https://minecraft.wiki/w/Name_Tag
      8. ↑ https://apexminecrafthosting.com/minecraft-librarian-trades/
      9. ↑ https://youtu.be/Nbbx4CcBhRo?t=254
      1. ↑ https://minecraftitemids.com/item/name-tag

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