Torch

"Torches originally came to Minecraft after a suggestion from Syrion on the Tigsource forums. They were added in December 2009, and haven’t changed much since. The neatest trick with torches is that they can be used to quickly clear sand or gravel when you’re mining – when a falling sand or gravel block hits a torch, it’ll pop off into a pick-uppable form, saving lots of shovelling time."

- Duncan Geere

Torches are non-solid blocks that emit light.

Obtaining
A torch will break instantly and drop itself when broken using anything. If a tool is used, said tool will not take any damage when breaking the torch.

A torch will also be broken if flowing water runs over its location, or if it, or the block it is attached to is pushed by a piston.

Natural generation
Torches can be found randomly generated among the supports in an abandoned mineshaft's corridors, various rooms in strongholds, as part of village lamp posts, in the basements of igloos and in woodland mansions. Torches generate around bonus chests if each side has a block at the same height around it. In The End, torches generate as part of the exit portal, around the second pillar block from top. Whenever the Ender Dragon dies or gets respawned, these torches will be generated as well. Torches generate in pillager outposts.

Usage


Torches can be placed on the top or the sides of most solid blocks, although some will require (see placement for exceptions). Being non-solid, torches have no collision box.

Gravity affected blocks like sand and gravel will not fall if the block below them has a torch on it, and will break if they fall onto a torch.

Light
Torches give off a light level of 14. Torches also melt snow layers within 2 blocks and ice within 3 blocks (taxicab distance).

Placement
In general, torches can only be placed on solid, opaque, full blocks; exceptions are listed below.

More information can be found at Opacity/Placement.

Block data
In Bedrock Edition, torches use the following data values:

Block states
Wall torch

Trivia

 * Notch originally planned for torches to become temporary light sources that would eventually burn out.
 * Torches would then need to be relit with flint and steel.
 * This feature is briefly reintroduced on the April Fools’ hoax version 2.0, but the feature is not kept in later versions.
 * All torches placed before the planned feature would become lanterns, due to the change of the data value.
 * This was originally planned to take effect on October 31, 2010 with the Halloween Update, but it did not happen.
 * The Lantern, however, was later introduced into the game in 1.14.

Publicity

 * www.thinkgeek.com released a real physical torch that could be purchased for $24.99, and was able to be placed on walls.