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This article is about the mineral block. For the ore, see Iron Ore. For the item, see Iron Ingot. For the nugget, see Iron Nugget. For the raw variant, see Block of Raw Iron.

A block of iron is a precious metal block equivalent to nine iron ingots.

Obtaining[]

Breaking[]

Blocks of iron can be mined only with a stone pickaxe or better. If a block of iron is mined without the use of a pickaxe, it drops nothing.

Block Block of Iron
Hardness 5
Tool
Breaking time[A]
Default 25
Wooden 12.5
Stone 1.9
Iron 1.25
Diamond 0.95
Netherite 0.85
Golden 2.1
  1. Times are for unenchanted tools as wielded by players with no status effects, measured in seconds. For more information, see Breaking § Speed.

Chest loot[]

Item Structure Container Quantity Chance
Java Edition
Block of Iron Bastion remnant Generic chest 1 19%
Treasure chest 2–5 33.7%
Bedrock Edition
Block of Iron Bastion remnant Generic chest 1 19%
Treasure chest 2–5 33.7%

Crafting[]

Ingredients Crafting recipe
Iron Ingot

Usage[]

Blocks of iron can be used to store iron ingots in a compact fashion.

Beacons[]

Blocks of iron can be used to "power" a beacon. The beacon can be powered by a 3×3 square of iron blocks underneath it, and can optionally also include a 5×5, 7×7 and 9×9 layer in the shape of a pyramid under the original layer to increase the effects from the beacon. The layers do not have to be entirely blocks of iron, as they may also contain blocks of gold, blocks of diamond, blocks of netherite or blocks of emerald.

Spawning iron golems[]

Iron golem build configuration.

Blocks of iron and pumpkins[Bedrock Edition only], carved pumpkins or jack o'lanterns are used to build iron golems. The pumpkin, carved pumpkin or jack o'lantern must be placed last, and the golem spawns immediately after placing it.

Crafting ingredient[]

Name Ingredients Crafting recipe
Anvil Block of Iron +
Iron Ingot

Iron Ingot Block of Iron

Note blocks[]

Blocks of iron can be placed under note blocks to produce iron xylophone sounds.

Sounds[]

Java Edition:

SoundSubtitlesSourceDescriptionResource locationTranslation keyVolumePitchAttenuation
distance
Block brokenBlocksOnce the block has brokenblock.metal.breaksubtitles.block.generic.break1.01.216
Block placedBlocksWhen the block is placedblock.metal.placesubtitles.block.generic.place1.01.216
Block breakingBlocksWhile the block is in the process of being brokenblock.metal.hitsubtitles.block.generic.hit0.250.7516
None[sound 1]Entity-DependentFalling on the block with fall damageblock.metal.fallNone[sound 1]0.51.2516
FootstepsEntity-DependentWalking on the blockblock.metal.stepsubtitles.block.generic.footsteps0.151.516
  1. a b MC-177082

Bedrock Edition:

SoundSourceDescriptionResource locationVolumePitch
BlocksOnce the block has brokendig.stone1.01.1-1.2
BlocksWhen the block is placeduse.stone1.01.2-1.25
BlocksWhile the block is in the process of being brokenhit.stone0.30.75
PlayersFalling on the block with fall damagefall.stone0.41.0
PlayersWalking on the blockstep.stone0.351.0
PlayersJumping from the blockjump.stone0.121.0
PlayersFalling on the block without fall damageland.stone0.221.0

Data values[]

ID[]

Java Edition:

NameIdentifierFormBlock tagsTranslation key
Block of Ironiron_blockBlock & Itembeacon_base_blocks
mineable/pickaxe
needs_stone_tool
block.minecraft.iron_block

Bedrock Edition:

NameIdentifierNumeric ID FormItem ID[i 1]Translation key
Block of Ironiron_block42Block & Giveable Item[i 2]Identical[i 3]tile.iron_block.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.

Achievements[]

Icon Achievement In-game description Actual requirements (if different) Gamerscore earned Trophy type (PS4)
PS4 Other
Body GuardCreate an Iron Golem20GBronze

Advancements[]

Icon Advancement In-game description Parent Actual requirements (if different) Resource location
Advancement-oval-rawHired Help
Summon an Iron Golem to help defend a village What a Deal!Summon an iron golem.adventure/summon_iron_golem

History[]

Java Edition Classic
May 21, 2009Notch shows interest in adding a "metal block".
October 24, 2009Notch teased a block of iron.
0.26 SURVIVAL TESTBlock of Iron JE1 Added blocks of iron.
Java Edition Indev
0.3120100128Iron ore no longer drops iron blocks.
20100129Blocks of iron can now be crafted from 4 iron ingots.
20100130Blocks of iron are now more expensive, requiring 9 iron ingots (3×3) instead of 4 (2×2).
??Iron blocks can be uncrafted into 9 ingots.
Java Edition Alpha
v1.2.0?Block of Iron JE2 BE1 The texture of blocks of iron has been changed.
Java Edition Beta
1.2The side and bottom textures of blocks of iron have been removed from terrain.png.
Java Edition
1.0.0Beta 1.9 Prerelease 5Block of Iron JE3 BE2 The texture of blocks of iron has been changed.
1.2.112w06aBlocks of iron are now renewable, due to zombies occassionally dropping iron ingots.
12w08aBlocks of iron can be used to make iron golems.
1.4.212w32aBlocks of iron can be used to activate a beacon.
12w41aBlocks of iron are now used to craft anvils.
12w42aA new crafting recipe for anvils call for 3 blocks of iron instead of the original 6.
1.915w31a9 iron blocks generate in the end ships.
15w33cEnd ships generate with only 8 iron blocks now.
15w41aEnd ships no longer generate with iron blocks.
July 18, 2017Block of Iron JE4 BE3 Jeb tweets an image of new textures for iron blocks, obsidian, and birch logs.
1.1418w43aBlock of Iron JE4 BE3 The texture of blocks of iron has been changed.
19w09aBlocks of iron can now be used to play the xylophone, if they are under note blocks.
1.16.220w30aBlocks of iron can now be found in bastion remnant chests.
Pocket Edition Alpha
Pre-releaseBlock of Iron JE1 Added blocks of iron.
v0.1.0Block of Iron JE2 BE1 The texture of blocks of iron has been changed.
v0.2.0Block of Iron JE3 BE2 The texture of blocks of iron has been changed, once again.
v0.12.1build 1Blocks of iron are now used to craft anvils.
Blocks of iron can now be used to create iron golems.
v0.16.0build 4Blocks of iron can now be used to activate beacons.
Bedrock Edition
1.10.0beta 1.10.0.3Block of Iron JE4 BE3 The texture of blocks of iron has been changed.
1.13.0beta 1.13.0.9Blocks of iron can now be used to play the xylophone, if they are under note blocks.
Legacy Console Edition
TU1CU1 1.00 Patch 11.0.1Block of Iron JE2 BE1 Added blocks of iron.
TU3Block of Iron JE3 BE2 The texture of blocks of iron has been changed.
TU14 1.05 Blocks of iron are now used to craft anvils.
TU19CU7 1.12 Blocks of iron can now be used to construct beacon pyramids.
1.90 Block of Iron JE4 BE3 The texture of blocks of iron has been changed.
New Nintendo 3DS Edition
0.1.0Block of Iron JE3 BE2 Added blocks of iron.

Data history[]

Java Edition
1.1317w47aPrior to The Flattening, this block's numeral ID was 42.

Issues[]

Issues relating to "Block of Iron" are maintained on the bug tracker. Report issues there.

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