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"Beacon" redirects here. For the location featured in Minecraft Story Mode, see Minecraft Story Mode:Beacontown. For the artifact in Minecraft Dungeons, see MCD:Corrupted Beacon. For the location in Minecraft Legends, see MCL:Night Beacon.

A beacon is a block that projects a beam skyward, and can provide beneficial status effects to players in a radius around it when placed on top of a solid pyramid base constructed from iron, gold, diamond, emerald or netherite blocks.

Obtaining[]

Breaking[]

A beacon can be mined successfully by hand or with any tool. When destroyed by an explosion, the block always drops as an item.

Block Beacon
Hardness 3
Breaking time (secs)
Default 4.5

Crafting[]

Name Ingredients Crafting recipe
Beacon Glass +
Nether Star +
Obsidian
Nether Star

Usage[]

In Bedrock Edition, beacons can also be waterlogged and conduct redstone power at the same time. When "activated", beacon blocks provide two unique functions:

  • A landmark beam reaching into the sky, which can be visible from far away.
  • Powers, which give players status effects within a certain range.

Activation[]

The beacon base can be made of the different mineral blocks combined.

The beacon base can be made of the different mineral blocks combined.

In order to activate a beacon, the beacon must meet the following requirements:

Pyramids[]

Beacon Pyramid

The four possible pyramid arrangements when using the beacon block. From left to right the pyramid structures decrease in complexity and strength.

Pyramids are the structures required to activate beacons. There are four possible pyramid heights. More pyramid levels make more powers available in a wider affected vicinity. The type of mineral block used to build the pyramid is entirely cosmetic and has no functional effect. Several different block types can be mixed without affecting functionality. If the pyramid is damaged so that the beacon deactivates, the previously-set powers resume their effects upon reactivation when the pyramid is repaired. This applies to piston-altered pyramids as well.

A single beacon pyramid
Level Mineral blocks Materials Layers
1 9 81 3×3, beacon
2 34 306 5×5, 3×3, beacon
3 83 (1 stack + 19 blocks) 747 7×7, 5×5, 3×3, beacon
4 164 (2 stacks + 36 blocks) 1476 9×9, 7×7, 5×5, 3×3, beacon
Efficient beacon

This six-Beacon pyramid provides all six effects from a single structure using the fewest mineral blocks possible.

Multiple beacons can make use of the same specific mineral blocks below them. Combined pyramids do not need to be symmetrical. The image to the right shows a 6-beacon (2 by 3) pyramid. It requires a total of 244 mineral blocks, with a base layer of 10 by 11.

Multiple beacons pyramid (tier 4 can enable all buffs)
Level Mineral blocks Materials Layers
1 20 180 4×5, beacons
2 62 558 6×7, 4×5, beacons
3 134 (2 stacks + 6 blocks) 1206 8×9, 6×7, 4×5, beacons
4 244 (3 stacks + 52 blocks) 2196 10×11, 8×9, 6×7, 4×5, beacons

Beam[]

A vertical beam appears from a beacon if the beacon is activated, extending from the beacon block up to beyond the top of the world.

  • In Java Edition, the beam is visible up to 256 blocks away.
  • In Bedrock Edition, the beam is visible up to 64 blocks away, regardless of how high the render distance is set.[1]

Colors[]

The color of the beam may be changed by placing blocks of stained glass (or stained glass panes) anywhere above the beacon block. The beam changes colors according to the colors of glass placed above it: the first block sets the beam color, while each additional block sets the color by averaging the red, green, and blue components of the current beam color and the block's color. The color values are the same as those for the corresponding dye. This also works using hardened stained glass and hardened stained glass panes.‌[Bedrock Edition and Minecraft Education only] Stained glass panes have the same effect on the beam as stained glass blocks.

The resulting beam color can be found as where is the sequence of glass colors ( corresponds to the lowest block and to the highest one).

As the blending algorithm is considerably simpler than that of leather-dyeing, a much larger part of the sRGB space is available.[more information needed] A player may experiment with stacking glass, although programs that calculate combinations are also available.[2]

Beacon beams cannot go through most blocks, but can go through bedrock (to allow beacons to be used in the Nether) and end portal frames.

Using just 15 colors of stained glass, It is possible to make all colors, for example; red + white stained glass above a beacon will be pink; in addition to this, the more white that is added, the lighter the color will be.

Powers[]

See also: Effect
Beacon GUI

The GUI shown when pressing use on the block.

Once the beacon is emitting a beam, it can then be fed one iron ingot, gold ingot, emerald, diamond, or netherite ingot to select the status effects given to players within range of the beacon. This is done through the beacon's GUI, displayed by pressing use while looking at the beacon block. It doesn't matter which of the items is fed into the beacon.

In the GUI, the player places the item to be fed in the empty slot and clicks an effect from the "Primary Power" section on the left. If the beacon is sitting on a 4-level pyramid, the "Secondary Power" section on the right also becomes active. The player can then choose either to turn on the Regeneration power in addition to the Primary Power or to raise the primary power to Level II. The user clicks the "Done" button (green checkmark), the item is consumed, and the power(s) become activated. To change the beacon's powers, this process must be followed again, consuming another ingot or gem.

If the pyramid is broken, effects deactivate or weaken depending on the level of the pyramid that is no longer complete. Upon restoration of the pyramid, the originally selected power returns without the need to spend another item.

The five Primary Powers are:

  • Speed I: Increased movement speed.
  • Haste I: Increased mining and attack speed.
  • Resistance I: Decreased nearly all incoming damage (2-level pyramid required).
  • Jump Boost I: Increased jumping distance and height (2-level pyramid required).
  • Strength I: Increased melee damage (3-level pyramid required).

The Secondary Powers available with a 4-level pyramid are:

Regeneration I: Regenerates health.

  • Increasing the Primary Power to level II.

It is also possible to combine two different primary Level I powers‌[Java Edition only]:

  • select a primary power in the left panel
  • select the Level II option in the right panel
  • select the second desired power back in the left panel

Only one of the two powers appear to be selected, although both effects are active. Choosing a second primary power option replaces regeneration.

Every four seconds, the selected powers are applied with a duration of 9 seconds, plus 2 seconds per pyramid level, to all players in range. Thus, when powers are changed or a player travels outside the area-of-effect, the powers persist for 5–9 seconds, or 13-17 seconds with a full pyramid.

Range[]

The beacon affects an area in the shape of a square column, which reaches downward and out to each side at a range determined by the size of the pyramid base (see table below), and upward a distance of that range + 384 blocks.

The range of the beacon effect is limited by the simulation distance. As such, on simulation distance of 4 with a level 4 pyramid, the effect will not reach the chunks on the corners of the beacon range.

The distance from the player to the beacon block does not affect the intensity of the status effect.

Pyramid size Effect range
(blocks)
Effect duration
(seconds)
1 level 20 11
2 levels 30 13
3 levels 40 15
4 levels 50 17

Light source[]

Beacon blocks can function as light sources, emitting a light level 15. Like other light sources, they melt snow and ice.

Piston interactivity[]

Beacons cannot be pushed or pulled by pistons or sticky pistons.

Sounds[]

Generic[]

Java Edition:

SoundSubtitlesSourceDescriptionResource locationTranslation keyVolumePitchAttenuation
distance
Block brokenBlocksOnce the block has brokenblock.stone.breaksubtitles.block.generic.break1.00.816
Block placedBlocksWhen the block is placedblock.stone.placesubtitles.block.generic.place1.00.816
Block breakingBlocksWhile the block is in the process of being brokenblock.stone.hitsubtitles.block.generic.hit0.250.516
None[sound 1]Entity-DependentFalling on the block with fall damageblock.stone.fallNone[sound 1]0.50.7516
FootstepsEntity-DependentWalking on the blockblock.stone.stepsubtitles.block.generic.footsteps0.151.016
  1. a b MC-177082

Bedrock Edition:

SoundSourceDescriptionResource locationVolumePitch
BlocksOnce the block has brokenrandom.glass1.00.8-1.0
BlocksWhen the block is placeddig.stone1.00.8-1.0
BlocksWhile the block is in the process of being brokenhit.stone0.40.6
PlayersFalling on the block with fall damagefall.stone0.41.0
PlayersWalking on the blockstep.stone0.31.0
PlayersJumping from the blockjump.stone0.121.0
PlayersFalling on the block without fall damageland.stone0.221.0

Unique[]

Java Edition:

SoundSubtitlesSourceDescriptionResource locationTranslation keyVolumePitchAttenuation
distance
Beacon activatesBlocksWhen a beacon activatesblock.beacon.activatesubtitles.block.beacon.activate1.01.016
Beacon humsBlocksRandomly while activeblock.beacon.ambientsubtitles.block.beacon.ambient0.91.07
Beacon deactivatesBlocksWhen a beacon turns off or is brokenblock.beacon.deactivatesubtitles.block.beacon.deactivate1.01.016
Beacon power selectedBlocksWhen a beacon's power is switchedblock.beacon.power_selectsubtitles.block.beacon.power_select1.01.016
Chest locked[sound 1]BlocksWhen a player attempts to open a beacon locked using the  Lock tagblock.chest.locked[sound 1]subtitles.block.chest.locked[sound 1]1.01.016
  1. a b c MC-98316 — Wrong subtitles caused by missing distinction

Bedrock Edition:

SoundSourceDescriptionResource locationVolumePitch
BlocksWhen a beacon activatesbeacon.activate1.01.0
BlocksRandomly while activebeacon.ambient1.01.0
BlocksWhen a beacon turns offbeacon.deactivate1.01.0
BlocksWhen a beacon's power is switchedbeacon.power1.01.0

Data values[]

ID[]

Java Edition:

NameIdentifierFormTranslation key
BeaconbeaconBlock & Itemblock.minecraft.beacon
NameIdentifier
Block entitybeacon

Bedrock Edition:

NameIdentifierNumeric ID FormItem ID[i 1]Translation key
Beaconbeacon138Block & Giveable Item[i 2]Identical[i 3]tile.beacon.name
  1. ID of block's direct item form, which is used in savegame files and addons.
  2. Available with /give command.
  3. The block's direct item form has the same id as the block.
NameSavegame ID
Block entityBeacon

Block data[]

A beacon has a block entity associated with it that holds additional data about the block.

Java Edition:

  • Block entity data
    • Tags common to all block entities
    •  CustomName: Optional. The name of this beacon in JSON text component, which appears when attempting to open it, while it is locked.
    •  Lock: Optional. When not blank, prevents the container from being opened unless the opener is holding an item whose name matches this string.
    •  Levels: The number of levels available from the pyramid. Immediately changes to the correct value if modified using commands. Note that this is also always 0 if the beam is blocked.
    •  Primary: The primary effect selected, see Potion effects for IDs. Set to -1 when no effect is selected. Cannot be set to an effect which beacons do not normally use, otherwise immediately changes back to -1. Although Regeneration cannot normally be chosen as the primary effect, setting this value to 10 works and even allows Regeneration II to be chosen as the secondary via the normal beacon GUI.
    •  Secondary: The secondary effect selected, see Potion effects for IDs. Set to -1 when no effect is selected. Cannot be set to an effect which beacons do not normally use, otherwise immediately changes back to -1. When set without a primary effect, does nothing. When set to the same as the primary, the effect is given at level 2 (the normally available behavior for 5 effects). When set to a different value than the primary (normally only Regeneration), gives the effect at level 1.

Bedrock Edition:

See Bedrock Edition level format/Block entity format.

Achievements[]

Icon Achievement In-game description Actual requirements (if different) Gamerscore earned Trophy type (PS4)
PS4 Other
The BeaconatorCreate and fully power a BeaconBe within a 20×20×14 cuboid centered on the pyramid when the beacon block realizes it is fully powered.60GGold

Advancements[]

Icon Advancement In-game description Parent Actual requirements (if different) Resource location
Advancement-plain-rawBring Home the Beacon
Construct and place a Beacon Withering HeightsBe within a 20×20×14 cuboid centered on a beacon block when it realizes it has become powered.nether/create_beacon
Advancement-fancy-rawA Furious Cocktail
Have every potion effect applied at the same time Local BreweryHave all of these 17 status effects applied to the player at the same time: The source of the effects is irrelevant for the purposes of this advancement. Other status effects may be applied to the player, but are ignored for this advancement.nether/all_potions
Advancement-oval-rawBeaconator
Bring a Beacon to full power Bring Home the BeaconBe within a 20×20×14 cuboid centered on a beacon block when it realizes it is being powered by a size 4 pyramid.nether/create_full_beacon
Advancement-fancy-rawHow Did We Get Here?
Have every effect applied at the same time A Furious CocktailHave all of these 33 status effects applied to the player at the same time: The source of the effects is irrelevant for the purposes of this advancement. Other status effects may be applied to the player, but are ignored for this advancement.
This is a hidden advancement, meaning that it can be viewed by the player only after completing it, regardless of if its child advancement(s), if any, have been completed.
nether/all_effects

Video[]

History[]

Java Edition
1.4.212w32aBeacon JE1 Added the "Work in Progress" block.
Beacon pyramid revision 1 The "Work in Progress" block can produce beams.
12w34aThe "Work in Progress" block has been removed from the Creative inventory.
12w36aThe "Work in Progress" block has been renamed to "Beacon".
Beacons can now be found in the creative inventory.
Beacons are now craftable.
Beacon JE2 The texture of beacons has been changed.
Beacon pyramid revision 2 The beacon beam, however, remains unchanged.
12w38aBeacon JE3 The texture of beacons has been changed, again.
Beacon pyramid revision 3 The beacon beam has been changed from a semi-transparent smooth beam (which conflicted with water transparency), to Beacon Beam (texture) JE1 a pattern with 0% transparency.
12w40aBeacon JE4 BE1 The texture of beacons has been changed, again.
Beacon pyramid revision 4 The beacon beam has been changed Beacon Beam (texture) JE2 again.
12w40bThe beacon beam no longer glitches at tiny and short render distance.
1.513w05aThe effect range of beacons has been increased from 16/24/32/40 blocks to 20/30/40/50 blocks.
Beacon effects now extend up to the world height limit (Y=256).
1.6.113w23aWith the Regeneration effect being nerfed slightly, the same status effect produced from beacons has been nerfed slightly too.
13w24aThe beacon "crystal" texture, used from 12w36a to 12w37a, has been removed as per the resource pack reform.
1.7.213w36aThe player can now achieve the Beaconator achievement by placing a beacon on a level-4 pyramid of specific mineral blocks.
1.814w29aBeacons now display the cracking animation when being broken.
August 5, 2014Dinnerbone tweets a screenshot containing a colored beacon beam. The color appears to change when the beam passes through stained glass.
14w32aThe light of beacons now changes as it goes through stained glass.
August 7, 2014Dinnerbone tweets that the beacon beam can now pass through blocks that block light slightly.
14w32bBeacon beams now show if they are going through a block that doesn't completely block light rather than partially block light. This allows beacon beams to go through water and lava.
Beacons in the Nether and the End now check for blocks and render the beam only up to the world height (Y=127).
1.8.2pre5Bedrock no longer obstructs beacon activation or beams.
Beacons in the Nether and the End now check and use the full build height (Y=255) rather than the world height (Y=127).
1.915w31aBeacons now generate naturally in end ships.
15w32cBeacons no longer generate in end ships and have been replaced by pumpkins.
15w47aA new tag, PaymentItem, now stores the sacrifice item within the beacon's block entity data.
Beacons no longer drop their contents when broken or when the interface is exited.
Beacons are now able to interact with hoppers.
15w47bThe beacon effect duration now increases with pyramid level (it was formerly a constant 9 seconds).
15w49aThe PaymentItem tag has been removed (introduced in 15w47a).
Beacons once again drop their contents when broken or when the interface is exited (as they had before 15w47a).
Beacons can no longer interact with hoppers (as they had since 15w47a).
16w02aBeacons now immediately activate when placed on valid pyramids.
1.1116w32aThe block entity ID has been changed from Beacon to beacon.
1.1317w47aPrior to The Flattening, this block's numeral ID was 138.
18w19aBeacons now produce sounds.
1.1418w43aBeacon JE5 The texture of beacons has been changed.
Beacon pyramid revision 5 Due to the change of the texture of beacons, the look of the beacon pyramid has been changed.
18w44aBeacon The texture of beacons has been changed, once again.
1.1620w07aBeacons can now be activated with netherite blocks.
Beacons can now be "fed" using netherite ingots.
The texture of the UI of beacons has been changed.
Beacons are now renewable, as soul sand, one of the blocks used to construct withers, is now renewable through bartering.
1.1721w07aBeacon beams are now visible up to 1343 blocks away from the source instead of 256 blocks.
1.20.223w32aThe Primary and Secondary NBT formats for beacon have changed to primary_effect and secondary_effect.
Pocket Edition Alpha
v0.16.0build 4Beacon JE4 BE1 Added beacons.
Bedrock Edition
1.2.0beta 1.2.0.2Beacon beams now change colors when shining through stained glass or stained glass panes.
1.5.0beta 1.5.0.4Beacons now produce sounds.
1.10.0beta 1.10.0.3Beacon The texture of beacons has been changed.
1.16.0beta 1.15.0.51The beam color can now be mixed with several different stained glass colors.
beta 1.16.0.57Beacons can now be activated with netherite blocks.
Beacons can now be "fed" using netherite ingots.
The texture of the UI of beacons has been changed.
Legacy Console Edition
TU19CU7 1.12 Patch 11.0.1Beacon JE4 BE1 Added beacons.
TU25CU14 1.17 Beacon beams now change colors when shining through stained glass or stained glass panes.
TU31CU19 1.22 Patch 3The vertical range of beacon has been nerfed to match horizontal range.
TU69 1.76 Patch 38Beacons now produce sounds.
1.90 Beacon The texture of beacons has been changed.
New Nintendo 3DS Edition
1.3.12Beacon JE4 BE1 Added beacons.

Issues[]

Issues relating to "Beacon" are maintained on the bug tracker. Report issues there.

Trivia[]

Beam 12w38a

The map icon texture is hidden in the transparent part of the beacon beam texture in Java Edition 12w38a.

  • The texture of the beacon is 16×16 but renders only the 10×10 area in the center.
  • It is possible to see the beacon beam on the bottom of an activated beacon. This was initially reported as a bug, but the resolution was "won't fix", despite a fix being provided.[3]
  • Despite it containing obsidian in its recipe, it does not need a diamond pickaxe to be mined.
  • A fully powered beacon can fit within the upper level of the Desert Temple with the beacon’s beam perfectly being placed in the hole at the top.
  • The amount of base blocks of a n-layers beacon (where n is a positive integer) is calculated though the formula: .
    • For example, a 4-layers beacon will have base blocks.
    • Note a beacon with 5 layers or more is irrelevant as it does affect anything about the beacon.

Gallery[]

References[]

See also[]

External Links[]

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