The Dried Ghast in Minecraft is the first step toward raising a Ghastling and eventually getting your own Happy Ghast. Instead of finding a young Ghast flying around the world, you need to obtain this unusual block and bring it back to life with water.
There are three main ways to get one. You can find a Dried Ghast around Nether Fossils, craft one with Ghast Tears and Soul Sand, or receive one through Piglin bartering. Here is how each method works and what you need to do afterward.
Quick Answer
You can get a Dried Ghast in Minecraft by finding one near Nether Fossils, crafting one with 8 Ghast Tears and 1 Soul Sand, or receiving one from Piglin bartering.
Once you have a Dried Ghast, place it completely in water. After roughly 20 minutes, it will turn into a Ghastling. The Ghastling can then grow into a Happy Ghast.
Where to Find a Dried Ghast in Minecraft
Dried Ghast blocks can generate around Nether Fossil structures in the Nether. This lets you obtain one without spending eight Ghast Tears on the crafting recipe.
Finding Nether Fossils can take some exploration, so it is worth preparing before you start searching. Bring armor, food, building blocks, and enough supplies to deal with Ghasts and other hostile mobs along the way.
If you already have plenty of Ghast Tears, crafting a Dried Ghast will usually be more straightforward than searching the Nether for one.
How to Craft a Dried Ghast
Crafting is the most reliable option if you already have the required materials.
You need:
- 8 Ghast Tears
- 1 Soul Sand
Place the Soul Sand in the center of the Crafting Table and surround it with eight Ghast Tears to create one Dried Ghast.
The recipe uses Soul Sand, so make sure you do not confuse it with Soul Soil.
Can You Get a Dried Ghast From Piglins?
Yes. Piglins can also give you a Dried Ghast through bartering.
Give an adult Piglin a Gold Ingot and wait for it to return an item. A Dried Ghast is one of the possible rewards, although you will not receive one every time.
If you want to use this method, bring several Gold Ingots. Piglin bartering is based on chance, so getting the item may take multiple attempts.
What Do You Do With a Dried Ghast?
Once you have a Dried Ghast, the next step is to hydrate it.
Place the block completely in water and leave it there. As it absorbs water, the Dried Ghast moves through several hydration stages.
After about 20 minutes, the block completes the process and produces a Ghastling.
You do not need potions, food, or any other special item during this stage. Water does all the work.
What Happens If You Remove It From Water?
It is best to leave the Dried Ghast alone until the transformation finishes.
If the block is no longer waterlogged, its hydration progress begins moving backward. Mining the block during the process also prevents you from simply picking it up and continuing from the same point somewhere else.
For that reason, place it somewhere safe before starting. A small protected pool near your base works well.
How Long Does a Dried Ghast Take to Hatch?
A Dried Ghast takes roughly 20 minutes while continuously waterlogged before it produces a Ghastling.
The Ghastling then needs approximately another 20 minutes to grow naturally into a Happy Ghast. You can speed up that second stage by feeding it Snowballs.
Without speeding anything up, the complete process from Dried Ghast to adult Happy Ghast takes around 40 minutes.
Can You Get More Than One Dried Ghast?
Yes. You are not limited to a single Dried Ghast.
You can continue searching Nether Fossils, craft additional blocks, or keep bartering with Piglins. Each Dried Ghast can eventually become its own Happy Ghast.
This is useful if you play with friends or want several flying mounts around your base.
Is the Dried Ghast Available in Java and Bedrock?
Yes. The Dried Ghast is available in both Minecraft: Java Edition and Minecraft: Bedrock Edition as part of the Chase the Skies content.
The basic progression is:
Dried Ghast → Ghastling → Happy Ghast
Once the Ghastling reaches adulthood, you can equip the Happy Ghast with a Harness and use it as a flying mount.
