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This article is about the block. For the enchantment, 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 spawners, also found in bastions.

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 product

Ingredients Crafting recipe
Iron Nugget +
Iron Ingot

Usage

Chains can be used to suspend bells 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 was part of it. 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.

Sounds

SoundSubtitlesSourceDescriptionResource locationTranslation keyVolumePitchAttenuation
distance
Block brokenBlocksBreaking the blockblock.chain.breaksubtitles.block.generic.break0.50.816
None[sound 1]PlayersFalling on the block with fall damageblock.chain.fallNone[sound 1]0.50.7516
Block breakingBlocksMining the blockblock.chain.hitsubtitles.block.generic.hit0.20.516
Block placedBlocksPlacing the blockblock.chain.placesubtitles.block.generic.place0.50.816
FootstepsPlayersWalking on the blockblock.chain.stepsubtitles.block.generic.footsteps0.151.016
  1. a b MC-177082

Data values

ID

Java Edition:

NameIdentifierTranslation key
Chainchainblock.minecraft.chain

Bedrock Edition:

ChainIdentifierNumeric ID Translation key
Blockchain541tile.chain.name
Itemchain758tile.chain.name

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 Axis Y JE1 BE1 Added chains.
Chains currently use the generic metal block sounds.
20w17aUnique sounds have now been added for chains.
20w18aChains can now be waterlogged.
1.16.2Pre-release 1Chain Axis X JE1 BE1Chain Axis Z JE1 BE1 Chains can now be placed in all orientations.
Bedrock Edition
1.16.0beta 1.16.0.57Chain Axis Y JE1 BE1 Added chains.
Chains currently cannot be crafted.
beta 1.16.0.59Chains can now be crafted.[2]
beta 1.16.0.63Unique sounds have now been added for chains.
1.16.100beta 1.16.100.54Chain Axis X JE1 BE1Chain Axis Z JE1 BE1 Chains can now be placed in all orientations.

Issues

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

Trivia

  • Chain is made out of two iron nuggets and one iron ingot, but its blast resistance is the same as the block of iron.
  • 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.
  • If a sticky piston pulls a chain that is more than 1 block long, the chain breaks.

Gallery

References

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