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This article is about the block. For the enchantment in Minecraft Dungeons, see MCD:Chains. For the armor tier named chainmail, see Armor. For the armor material called chainmail, see Armor materials.

Chains are metallic decoration blocks.

Obtaining[]

Breaking[]

Chains can be mined using any pickaxe. If mined without a pickaxe, it drops nothing.

Block Chain
Hardness 5
Tool
Breaking time[A]
Default 25
Wooden 3.75
Stone 1.9
Iron 1.25
Diamond 0.95
Netherite 0.85
Golden 0.65
  1. Times are for unenchanted tools as wielded by players with no status effects, measured in seconds. For more information, see Breaking § Speed.

Natural generation[]

Chains generate in bastion remnants and sometimes in ruined portals that generate in the Nether. They always generate above magma cube monster spawners, also found in bastions.

Chains can also generate in mineshafts. They generate on the sides of a wooden bridge (a mid-air corridor) when the distance between the bridge and the highest solid block below it is higher than the distance to the lowest solid block above it. Chains here generate vertically in a pillar between the bridge and the ceiling. The lowest block of the pillar, connecting the chain to the bridge, is always either an oak or a dark oak fence depending on the type of mineshaft.

Chest loot[]

Item Structure Container Quantity Chance
Java Edition
Chain Bastion remnant Generic chest 2–10 24.4%
Bedrock Edition
Chain Bastion remnant Generic chest 2–10 24.4%

Crafting[]

Ingredients Crafting recipe
Iron Nugget +
Iron Ingot

Usage[]

Chains can be used to suspend bells, hanging signs, or both types of lanterns (normal lanterns and soul lanterns), as the chain texture connects to the chain of the lantern seamlessly as if it were part of it, and it connects the hanging sign chains together. Chains do not require a supporting block to be placed whether it is on the top, next to it or at the bottom. It can exist completely free-standing in mid air[1] and it can be rotated. Chains connect horizontally or vertically, but not across different orientations (so a chain with N orientation does not connect to a chain with E orientation in the adjacent block). Horizontal chains one block above a surface may be walked over. Horizontal chains two blocks above a surface prevent players from traveling past them. Vertical chains block travel if targeted directly, but may be skirted.

Precision is required, but chains can be walked on, allowing for inconspicuous, although somewhat costly, bridges.

Chains can be pushed by pistons without being broken.

Crafting ingredient[]

Name Ingredients Crafting recipe
Hanging Sign Chain +
Matching Stripped Log or Stem or
Block of Stripped Bamboo

Sounds[]

Java Edition:

SoundSubtitlesSourceDescriptionResource locationTranslation keyVolumePitchAttenuation
distance
Block brokenBlocksOnce the block has brokenblock.chain.breaksubtitles.block.generic.break0.50.816
Block placedBlocksWhen the block is placedblock.chain.placesubtitles.block.generic.place0.50.816
Block breakingBlocksWhile the block is in the process of being brokenblock.chain.hitsubtitles.block.generic.hit0.20.516
None[sound 1]Entity-DependentFalling on the block with fall damageblock.chain.fallNone[sound 1]0.50.7516
FootstepsEntity-DependentWalking on the blockblock.chain.stepsubtitles.block.generic.footsteps0.151.016
  1. a b MC-177082

Bedrock Edition:

SoundSourceDescriptionResource locationVolumePitch
BlocksOnce the block has brokendig.chain1.00.8-1.0
BlocksWhen the block is placeddig.chain1.00.8-1.0
BlocksWhile the block is in the process of being brokenhit.chain1.00.8-1.0
PlayersFalling on the block with fall damagefall.chain0.41.0
PlayersWalking on the blockstep.chain0.31.0
PlayersJumping from the blockjump.chain0.121.0
PlayersFalling on the block without fall damageland.chain0.221.0

Data values[]

ID[]

Java Edition:

NameIdentifierFormTranslation key
ChainchainBlock & Itemblock.minecraft.chain

Bedrock Edition:

ChainIdentifierNumeric ID FormItem ID[i 1]Translation key
Blockchain541Block & Ungiveable Item[i 2]item.chaintile.chain.name
Itemchain619Itemtile.chain.name
  1. ID of block's direct item form, which is used in savegame files and addons.
  2. Unavailable with /give command

Block states[]

See also: Block states

Java Edition:

Name Default value Allowed values Description
axisy xThe chain is oriented east–west.
yThe chain is oriented vertically.
zThe chain is oriented north–south.
waterloggedfalsefalse
true
Whether or not there's water in the same place as this chain.

Bedrock Edition:

NameMetadata Bits Default value Allowed valuesValues for
Metadata Bits
Description
pillar_axis0x1
0x2
y x1The chain is oriented east–west.
y0The chain is oriented vertically.
z2The chain is oriented north–south.

History[]

Java Edition
1.1620w16aChain (item) JE1 BE1 Chain Axis Y JE1 BE1 Added chains.
Chains generate in the newly added bastion remnants, and can be found in their chests.
Chains currently use the generic metal block sounds.
20w17aUnique sounds have been added for chains.
20w18aChains can now be waterlogged.
1.16.220w30aThe chance of finding chains in bastion remnant chests is decreased from 31.5% to 24.4%.
Pre-release 1Chain Axis X JE1 BE1 Chain Axis Z JE1 BE1 Chains can now be placed in all orientations.
1.1721w07aChains can now generate in mineshafts.
21w13aChain (UD) JE2 Chain (NS) JE2 Chain (EW) JE2 The model of chains has been changed so that the backside texture is mirrored.
1.20
(Experimental)
22w42aChains are now used to craft hanging signs.
Bedrock Edition
1.16.0beta 1.16.0.57Chain (item) JE1 BE1 Chain Axis Y JE1 BE1 Added chains.
beta 1.16.0.63Unique sounds have been added for chains.
1.16.100beta 1.16.100.54Chain Axis X JE1 BE1 Chain Axis Z JE1 BE1 Chains can now be placed in all orientations.
1.20.0
(Experimental)
beta 1.19.50.21Chains are now used to craft hanging signs.

Issues[]

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

Trivia[]

  • A vertical chain, being a solid, but not a full block, allows for many sizes of mobs and players to pass alongside each piece horizontally.
  • Despite its name, it cannot be crafted into chainmail armor.[2]
  • Chains do not stick together when moved by pistons, regardless of orientation.

Gallery[]

References[]

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