A bubble column is a block generated by placing magma blocks or soul sand in water. Bubble columns will push or pull entities in certain directions.
Obtaining
Bubble columns cannot be obtained as an item,[Java and Legacy Console editions only] and can only be placed by a block-placement command such as /setblock.
In the Bedrock Edition, it may be obtained as an item via inventory editing.[Bedrock Edition only]
Natural generation
When generating the world, caves, ravines and underwater ruins will be created below the water surface. When lava is generated in the former two, some lava will be converted to obsidian, and some to magma blocks which will generate bubble columns. All bubble columns will generate bubble column blocks until the bubble column is on the surface of the water space it’s in or a solid block is in the way of the would-be taller bubble column.
Usage
Mobs can enter a bubble column to replenish their air supply. A bubble column is destroyed when moved by a piston. When creating a bubble column, all blocks above must be source blocks. This requires either naturally generated water, or for the player to place a water source for each block they would like the column to reach. Bubble columns will not propagate through waterlogged blocks.
Whirlpool
Whirlpool bubble columns can be seen by air bubbles wandering downwards. They drag entities downwards. When a magma block is placed underwater, a whirlpool bubble column is generated. When riding a boat over a whirlpool it will begin to shake, and will sink if kept above the whirlpool for too long.
Upward
Upward bubble columns can be seen as vertically rising air bubbles. When soul sand is placed under source water blocks, an upward bubble column is generated. An upward bubble column accelerates entities upwards. The longer an object rises through the bubble column, the faster it will travel. At high enough speeds, players and entities can be launched out of water by several blocks. Sitting on the surface above a rising bubble column will cause entities to bounce upwards repeatedly by about 1 block.
Transport
Entities move at a speed of approximately 15 blocks (meters) per second when inside a bubble column. This equates to a speed of 900 blocks per minute, albeit only vertically.
Data values
Block data
In Bedrock Edition, bubble columns uses the following data values:
| DV | Description | |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | The bubble column is a whirlpool. | |
| 1 | The bubble column is upwards. |
Block states
| Name | Default value | Allowed values | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| drag | true | falsetrue | Determines whether the bubble column is upward or whirlpool. |
| Name | Metadata Bits | Default value | Allowed values | Values for Metadata Bits |
Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| drag_down | 0x1 | false | falsetrue | 01 | Determines whether the bubble column is upward or whirlpool. |
History
| Java Edition | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| November 18, 2017 | Bubble Column were shown in a video clip during MineCon Earth. | ||||
| 1.13 | 18w07a | Added bubble columns. | |||
| 18w08a | Bubble columns will now generate in underwater ravines. | ||||
| 18w09a | Bubble columns will now generate in underwater ruins. | ||||
| Bedrock Edition | |||||
| 1.5 | beta 1.5.0.4 | Added bubble columns. | |||
| beta 1.5.0.7 | Bubble columns can now be toggled to look similar to Java Edition, but only for devices that can handle them. | ||||
| Legacy Console Edition | |||||
| TU69 | 1.76 | Patch 38 | Added bubble columns. | ||
Issues
Issues relating to "Bubble Column" are maintained on the bug tracker. Report issues there.
Gallery
Bubble columns created by placing magma blocks under water.
A player inside of an upward bubble column.
Bubble columns generating as part of an underwater ruin.
An upwards bubble column in Bedrock Edition with fancy bubbles disabled.





