How to Craft and Use Heart Crystal Shards, Heart Dust, and Heart Crystals

Turning Ore Into Hearts

Mine Heart Crystal Ore or Deepslate Heart Crystal Ore to obtain Heart Crystal Shard drops. Process shards into Heart Dust, then combine dust back into a Heart Crystal. Use a Heart Crystal to raise your maximum health. The exact grid is a crafting recipe, so if you are unsure of the layout, check your recipe book for the Heart Crystal entry — the items involved are Heart Crystal Shard, Heart Dust, and Heart Crystal.

Where Each Item Fits

Heart Crystal Shard — the raw drop from Heart Crystal Ore and Deepslate Heart Crystal Ore.
Heart Dust — a processed form of the shard, used as an ingredient toward a Heart Crystal.
Heart Crystal — the finished item you consume to gain maximum health.
Chance Heart — a separate heart item obtained through crafting; it is not the same as a Heart Crystal.
Cursed Heart — a distinct heart item, also separate from Heart Crystal.
Enchanted Heart — another distinct heart item in the same family.

Practical Loop

1. Find and mine Heart Crystal Ore or Deepslate Heart Crystal Ore.

2. Collect Heart Crystal Shard drops.

3. Convert shards into Heart Dust.

4. Craft a Heart Crystal from the dust and shards.

5. Consume the Heart Crystal to increase your maximum health.

Repeat the loop as you explore deeper, since Deepslate Heart Crystal Ore appears in deeper stone.