Here’s what emeralds are for in Minecraft Dungeons, and how to use them

If you’re familiar with vanilla Minecraft, you’ll know that the closest thing Minecraft has to an economy is using emeralds to trade with villagers. It’s a similar story in Minecraft Dungeons, with emeralds being the sole currency in-game, and a method with which to procur new upgrades and gear. Here’s everything you need to know.

What are emeralds for in Minecraft Dungeons?

No matter where you live, there’s always one constant: money. Some kind of currency that has an assumed value, and can be traded for goods or services of an agreed equal value. Minecraft Dungeons understands basic economics, and has established its own currency in the form of emeralds! These little green gems can be used to buy goods and services in the game, but only if you have enough to satisfy the other party.

There are plenty of ways to get emeralds. Defeating enemies and bosses has a chance of procuring emeralds, as does finding hidden secrets or pigs with chests. Completing levels and quests might also net you emerald-flavored rewards, as well as salvaging any unused or unwanted gear and equipment, giving you multiple paths to becoming rich! Until you spend all of your emeralds, that is. You can always keep track of how many emeralds you’ve saved at the far right of the HUD at the bottom of the screen.

So how do spend your hard-earned wealth? Here’s how:

How can I use emeralds in Minecraft Dungeons?

If you’re wanting to spend your fortunate, your options are straightforward: use them at your camp. Between levels, you can visit your NPC vendors (the blacksmith is the first one you unlock) and buy new gear and equipment. You don’t get much choice, instead given a random weapon or piece of armor suitable to your level.

The price may vary from vendor to vendor, but seems to be pretty constant with each individual vendor. You can keep track of how much each vendor is looking for and make sure to save your emeralds, to maximize how many times you’re able to buy from them. Another neat trick is to immediately turn around and scrap any gear you get from vendors that you don’t want, in exchange for emeralds you can use towards more gear.

It’s also possible to run into wandering traders during your travels, either by saving them or simply finding them. Wandering traders can also provide opportunities to spend your emeralds, and they’ll show back up at your camp if you find one. However you decide to use them, emeralds are a great way to help you upgrade and become more powerful than ever.

Making it rain

If you wanted, you could likely complete Minecraft Dungeons without spending a single emerald, and finish out the game with a huge stash of glistening gems to call your own. But it’s more fun to spend them, and hope to get more powerful gear than anything you can find out in the field, or find a new combination you never expected to see. Besides, I don’t think you’re going to be retiring in Minecraft Dungeons, since the fishing rod isn’t used for fishing.