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This article is about the block that can fire arrows and other items. For the block that would drop arrows and others as an item, see Dropper.

A dispenser is a low-capacity storage block that can fire projectiles, use certain items or tools or place certain blocks, fluids or entities when given a redstone signal. Items that do not have unique dispenser functions are instead ejected into the world.

Obtaining[]

Dispensers can be mined using a pickaxe, in which case it drops itself and its contents. If mined without a pickaxe, the dispenser drops only its contents.

Block Dispenser
Hardness 3.5
Tool
Breaking time[A]
Default 17.5
Wooden 2.65
Stone 1.35
Iron 0.9
Diamond 0.7
Netherite 0.6
Golden 0.45
  1. Times are for unenchanted tools as wielded by players with no status effects, measured in seconds. For more information, see Breaking § Speed.

Crafting[]

Ingredients Crafting recipe Description
Cobblestone +
Bow +
Redstone Dust

The bow can be of any durability.
Enchantments on the bow do not affect the resulting dispenser.

Natural generation[]

Two dispensers are naturally generated in every jungle temple, and many generate throughout trial chambers.

Usage[]

A dispenser can be used as a container and as a redstone component that dispenses items when activated, with results varying based on the item dispensed. For example, the trap in a jungle pyramid incorporates arrows inside a dispenser, which shoots the arrows when activated.

To place a dispenser, use it while pointing at a surface adjacent to the space it should occupy. A dispenser can be placed so that its output faces in any direction, including up or down. When placed, a dispenser faces the location of the player placing it.

A dispenser cannot be moved by pistons.‌[Java Edition only]

Container[]

Dispenser GUI

The GUI of the dispenser.

A dispenser has 9 slots of inventory space.

To open the dispenser GUI, use the Use Item control. To move items between the dispenser inventory and the player inventory or hotbar while the dispenser GUI is open, drag or shift-click the items. To exit the dispenser GUI, use the Esc control.

By default, the GUI of a dispenser is labeled "Dispenser". A dispenser's GUI label can be changed by naming the dispenser in an anvil before placing it, or by using the data command‌[Java Edition only]. For example, to label a dispenser at (0,64,0) "My Dispenser", use data merge block 0 64 0 {CustomName:'"My Dispenser"'}.

A dispenser can be "locked" by setting the dispenser's Lock tag. If a dispenser's Lock tag is not blank, the dispenser cannot be accessed except by players holding an item with the same name as the Lock tag's text. A dispenser's Lock tag can be set or unset with the data command. For example, to lock a dispenser at (0,64,0) so that only players holding an item named "My Key" can access the dispenser, use data merge block 0 64 0 {Lock:"My Key"}.

Redstone component[]

See also: Redstone circuit

A dispenser can be used to dispense its contents randomly.

Activation

A dispenser is a redstone mechanism and can be activated by:

  • an adjacent active power component: for example, a redstone torch (except that a redstone torch does not activate a dispenser it is attached to), a block of redstone, a daylight sensor, etc.
  • an adjacent powered opaque block (for example, a block with an active redstone torch under it)
  • a powered redstone repeater or redstone comparator facing the dispenser
  • powered redstone dust configured to point at the dispenser, or on top of it, or a directionless "cross" next to it; a dispenser is not activated by adjacent powered redstone dust that is configured to point in another direction.

Some of these methods can activate a dispenser (in the sense of triggering an action) without powering the dispenser (in the sense of whether the dispenser can power adjacent redstone dust, etc.).

In addition to the methods above, a dispenser can also be activated by quasi-connectivity.‌[Java Edition only] A dispenser becomes activated if one of the methods above would activate a mechanism component in the block above the dispenser, even if there is no mechanism component there (even if the block above the dispenser is air or a transparent block), but only when the dispenser receives a block update (including a redstone update within two blocks of the dispenser). A dispenser does not activate if it has been less than 1 redstone tick (2 game ticks, or 0.1 seconds barring lag) since its last activation ended.

Behavior

When activated, a dispenser waits for 2 redstone ticks (4 game ticks, or 0.2 seconds barring lag) and then ejects one item. The dispenser does not continue to eject items while activated; ejection occurs only on the initial activation (the rising edge of an input signal). To eject multiple items, repeatedly activate the dispenser with a clock circuit. If the clock runs at faster than 5 Hz (more than 5 redstone pulses a second), the dispenser fires once and then locks in the "on" position.

If multiple slots are occupied by items, a random occupied slot is chosen for ejection. The slot is chosen when an item is ejected, not when the dispenser is initially activated; thus it is possible to move items into or out of a dispenser between its activation and item dispensing.

The effects of being activated vary with the type of ejected item. Most items are thrown in the direction the dispenser is facing as if a player had used the Drop Item control. (Unlike a dropper, a dispenser can't feed another container.) Other items behave differently when dispensed, as described in the table below. In general, a dispenser cannot place blocks into the world; the exceptions are shulker boxes, powder snow,‌[Java Edition only] and certain cases where the placed block would do something unusual. There are also a couple of special cases where an empty bottle or bucket can collect liquids from the world. When dispensing an item that has durability would cause the item to be used, such as with flint and steel and shears, the item's durability decreases.

Dispenser Behavior
Item Effect
Armor
Elytra
Equips on a player, armor stand, skeleton, wither skeleton, stray, zombie, husk, pillager, drowned, vindicator, villager, piglin or zombified piglin within the block the dispenser is facing with empty appropriate armor slot (any armor, made from any material).
Armor Stand Placed as an entity in the block the dispenser is facing.‌[Java Edition only][1]
Arrow
Spectral Arrow
Tipped Arrow
Fired in the direction the dispenser is facing.
Boat
Boat with Chest
Placed as an entity (i.e., a right-clickable vehicle) in the block the dispenser is facing, if the dispenser is facing the water or an empty block above water — otherwise dropped.[2]
Bone Meal Uses bone meal (as fertilizer) on the block the dispenser is facing, if possible. If the block faced does not react to bone meal, no bone meal is used.
Bottle o' Enchanting
Egg
Snowball
Splash Potion
Lingering Potion
Thrown in the direction the dispenser is facing as if the player had right-clicked the item in their inventory. Splash potions and lingering potions are fired farther.
Bucket Collects lava or water source block the dispenser is facing, adding the newly filled bucket to an empty slot in the dispenser's inventory. If there isn't room in the dispenser for the newly-filled bucket (i.e. the empty bucket was part of a stack and all other slots in the dispenser are also full), drops the filled bucket. If no source block is in front of the dispenser, drops an empty bucket.[2]
Fire Charge Launches fireball (as if produced by a blaze) in the direction the dispenser is facing. When a dispensed fireball hits a mob (including a player) or a block, the mob or block is set on fire. When a dispensed fireball hits a boat or minecart, the vehicle is destroyed and drops itself as an item.
Firework Rocket Launches in the direction the dispenser is facing. It can be used to inflict damage if it was crafted with stars.
Flint and Steel If the dispenser is facing an air block and having an available block below this air block, places fire in the air block. If the dispenser is facing TNT, it ignites the TNT, if facing to a obsidian frame, it ignites the nether portal. If the dispenser is facing an extinguished campfire, the campfire is ignited. Otherwise, does nothing.
Lava Bucket
Water Bucket
Bucket of Cod
Bucket of Salmon
Bucket of Tropical Fish
Bucket of Pufferfish
Bucket of Axolotl
Powder Snow Bucket
Bucket of Tadpole
Places lava or water in the block the dispenser is facing (replacing the lava or water bucket in the dispenser with an empty bucket) if the block the dispenser is facing is one that the player could use lava or water buckets on (e.g., air, flowers, grass, etc. — doesn't work with a cauldron[3]) — otherwise the bucket is dropped.[2] Water dispensed in the Nether disappears instantly, leaving only the empty bucket in the dispenser. If the bucket contains an axolotl or fish, the mob is spawned along with the block of water. A dispenser can place or remove powder snow in the block in front of where the dispenser is facing.‌[Java Edition only]
Minecart
Minecart with Chest
Minecart with Command Block
Minecart with Furnace
Minecart with Hopper
Minecart with TNT
Placed as an entity (i.e., a right-clickable vehicle) in the block the dispenser is facing, if the dispenser is facing a type of rails — otherwise dropped.[2]
Heads
Carved Pumpkin
If placement completes the construction of an iron golem, snow golem, or wither, the entity is created as if constructed by a player. Wither skeleton skulls can be placed on any T-shaped formation of at least 4 soul sand blocks as well. Equips on a player, mob or armor stand with an empty helmet slot, within the block the dispenser is facing. Otherwise, does nothing.
Shulker Box Placed as a block.
Spawn Egg Summons a mob in front of the dispenser.
TNT Places and ignites TNT in the block the dispenser is facing, with a small velocity in a random direction.
Trident Thrown in the direction the dispenser is facing.‌[Bedrock Edition only][upcoming: JE Combat Tests]
Shears Shear any sheep, snow golem, or mooshroom that is in the block in front of it.
Harvests honeycombs from a full beehive or nest.
Glass Bottle Fills bottle with water if the dispenser is facing a water source block.
Fills the bottle with honey if the dispenser is facing a full beehive or bee nest. If cannot be used, the item is dropped.[2][4]
Horse Armor Place horse armor on any tamed horse that is in the block in front of it.
Saddle Place a saddle on any pig, tamed horse, donkey, mule, strider, or camel that is in the block in front of it.
Carpet Place a carpet on any tamed llama that is in the block in front of it.
Chest Place a chest on any tamed llama, donkey, or mule that is in the block in front of it.
Glowstone Charges any empty or partially filled respawn anchor. If facing a full respawn anchor, it does nothing.
Honeycomb Wax any copper block that is in the block in front of it.
Water Bottle Turns dirt, coarse dirt, and rooted dirt into mud.
Others Dropped: Ejected toward the block the dispenser is facing as if a player had used the drop item control.

When a dispenser dispenses an item, it emits a clicking sound (unless the item is a projectile or a spawn egg) and a smoke particle. If it is empty when activated, it emits a slightly higher-pitched click. The noise of a dispenser can be heard up to 16 blocks away.

A dispenser is a full solid opaque block, so powering it directly can cause adjacent mechanism components (including other dispensers) to activate as well.

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 brokendig.stone1.00.8-1.0
BlocksWhen the block is placeddig.stone1.00.8-1.0
BlocksWhile the block is in the process of being brokenhit.stone0.370.5
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
Dispensed itemBlocksWhen a dispenser drops an itemblock.dispenser.dispensesubtitles.block.dispenser.dispense1.01.016
Dispenser failsBlocksWhen a dispenser fails to activateblock.dispenser.failsubtitles.block.dispenser.fail1.01.216
Dispensed item [sound 1]BlocksWhen a dispenser shootsblock.dispenser.launch[sound 1]subtitles.block.dispenser.dispense[sound 1]1.01.216
Chest lockedBlocksWhen a player attempts to open a dispenser locked using the  Lock tagblock.chest.locked[sound 1]subtitles.block.chest.locked[sound 1]1.01.016
  1. a b c d e MC-98316 — Wrong subtitles caused by missing distinction

Bedrock Edition:

SoundSourceDescriptionResource locationVolumePitch
BlocksWhen a dispenser drops or uses an itemblock.click1.01.0
BlocksWhen a dispenser fails to activateblock.click1.01.2
PlayersWhen a dispenser shootsrandom.bow1.00.83-1.25

Data values[]

ID[]

Java Edition:

NameIdentifierFormTranslation key
DispenserdispenserBlock & Itemblock.minecraft.dispenser
NameIdentifier
Block entitydispenser

Bedrock Edition:

NameIdentifierNumeric ID FormItem ID[i 1]Translation key
Dispenserdispenser23Block & Giveable Item[i 2]Identical[i 3]tile.dispenser.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 entityDispenser

Block states[]

See also: Block states

Java Edition:

Name Default value Allowed values Description
facingnorthdown
east
north
south
up
west
The direction in which contents are shot or dropped.
The opposite from the direction the player faces while placing the block.
triggeredfalsefalse
true
True if this block is activated.

Bedrock Edition:

NameMetadata Bits Default value Allowed valuesValues for
Metadata Bits
Description
facing_direction0x1
0x2
0x4
00
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
The direction in which contents are shot or dropped.
  • 0: facing down
  • 1: facing up
  • 2: facing north
  • 3: facing south
  • 4: facing west
  • 5: facing east
triggered_bit0x8falsefalse
true
0
1
True if this block is activated.

Block data[]

A dispenser 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 container in JSON text component, which appears in its GUI where the default name ordinarily appears.
    •  Items: List of items in this container.
      • : An item, including the slot tag. Dispenser slots are numbered 0-8 with 0 in the top left corner.
        • Tags common to all items
    •  Lock: Optional. When not blank, prevents the container from being opened unless the opener is holding an item whose name matches this string.
    •  LootTable: Optional. Loot table to be used to fill the dispenser when it is next opened, or the items are otherwise interacted with.[note 1]
    •  LootTableSeed: Optional. Seed for generating the loot table. 0 or omitted causes a random seed to be used.[note 1]
  1. a b Both loot table tags are removed once the items have been generated.

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
Dispense with ThisConstruct a Dispenser.20GBronze

Video[]

History[]

Java Edition Beta
January 10, 2011[n 1]Dispenser (S) (pre-release) Shown dispenser in development as part of Minecraft: The Story of Mojang.
Currently dispenser dispense an items to fixed distance ~2 blocks away.
1.2Furnace (N) JE2 BE1 Dispenser (E) JE1 Dispenser (S) JE1 Furnace (N) JE2 BE1 Added dispensers.
The top and bottom textures of dispensers currently remain fixed regardless of the facing direction.
Dispensers can currently only fire arrows, snowballs and eggs. All other items are thrown out as entities.
Java Edition
1.0.0Beta 1.9 Prerelease 6Dispensers now take less time to destroy, and the breaking time is now tier dependent.
1.2.112w03aDispensers can spawn mobs from a spawn egg.
12w04aFurnace (N) JE2 BE1 Dispenser (E) JE2 BE1 Dispenser (S) JE2 BE1 Furnace (N) JE2 BE1 The texture of dispensers has been changed.
Dispensers can shoot fire charges.
1.3.112w15aDispensers can place boats and minecarts.
12w21aDispensers can shoot the liquids inside water and lava buckets.
Dispensers can now suck up liquids if activated again, filling up the buckets with the liquid dropped.
12w22aDispensers can naturally generate within jungle temples and are filled with a random amount of arrows that shoot the player should they touch the tripwire connected to it or destroy it without shears.
January 18, 2013Dinnerbone stated that dispensers are to have more features in the future, so players should stick to using droppers to dispense items.
1.513w04aDispenser (U) JE1 BE1 Dispenser (D) JE1 BE1 Dispensers can now face all 6 directions.
Dispensers use many new items, including TNT, bone meal, flint and steel and armor.
13w10bPowered dispensers no longer fire if they receive a redstone update.
1.814w04aDispensers can be used to place pumpkins to activate iron golems and snow golems.
Dispensers can place wither skeleton skulls to activate the wither.
14w07aDispensers can place command blocks instead of shooting them out.
14w10aMissing Model JE2 Upward-facing dispensers no longer have a model.
14w10bDispenser (U) JE1 BE1 Upward-facing dispensers have a valid model again.[5]
14w25aDispenser (N) 14w25a Dispenser (E) 14w25a Dispenser (S) 14w25a Dispenser (W) 14w25a Dispenser (D) JE2 The models of dispenser have been changed - the top and bottom faces for horizontal dispensers now rotate accordingly, and are rotated for downward-facing.
1.8.6Dispensers no longer place command blocks, as it constituted a vulnerability.[6]
1.915w33aDispensers can shoot splash potions and lingering potions much farther than before.
15w33cDispensers can shoot fire charges as ender dragon fireballs, instead of as blaze fireballs.
15w39cDispensers can equip mob heads and pumpkins.
15w44bDispensers can once again shoot fire charges as blaze fireballs.
1.9.1pre1Dispensers can use loot tables.
Dispensers generated in jungle temples use loot tables.
1.1016w21aDispensers can equip shields, like armor.
1.1116w32aThe block entity ID for dispensers has been changed from Trap to dispenser.
16w39aDispensers can place shulker boxes.
16w39cDispensers can dispense boats facing the same way as the dispenser, instead of toward the dispenser.
1.1317w47aCrafting a dispenser no longer requires the bow to be at full durability.[7]
1.1418w43aFurnace (N) JE3 BE2 Dispenser (E) JE4 Dispenser (S) JE4 Furnace (W) JE4 Dispenser (U) JE2 BE2 Dispenser (D) JE3 The textures of the dispenser have been changed.
Dispensers with shears in them now shear sheep with wool.
1.1519w34aDispensers can harvest honeycombs when dispensing shears on bee nests and bee hives filled with honey.
Dispensers can collect honey bottles when dispensing glass bottles on bee hives.
Dispensers can collect water bottles when dispensing glass bottles on water.
19w36aFireworks dispensed from a dispenser now travel in the direction fired.
19w41aDispensers now eject empty bottles properly when not facing water.
19w42aDispensers can place armor stands.
1.1620w13aDispensers can charge respawn anchors.
20w15aDispensers can saddle pigs, striders, and tamed horses, donkeys and mules.
Dispensers can put horse armor on horses.
Dispensers can put carpets on llamas.
Dispensers can put chests on llamas, donkeys, and mules.
Dispensers can shear a mooshroom.
Dispensers can shear snow golems.
1.1720w46aCan place powder snow using a powder snow bucket. Also can remove it using a bucket.
21w11aDispensers can dispense honeycomb onto copper blocks to wax them.
1.1922w11aDispensers can turn dirt, coarse dirt, and rooted dirt into mud.
22w13aDispensers can place a boat with chest.
1.20
(Experimental)
22w42aDispensers can saddle camels.
Pocket Edition Alpha
v0.14.0build 1Furnace (N) JE2 BE1 Dispenser (E) JE2 BE1 Dispenser (S) JE2 BE1 Furnace (N) JE2 BE1 Dispenser (U) JE1 BE1 Dispenser (D) JE1 BE1 Added dispensers.
build 5The inventory for dispensers is now more consistent with other inventories.
v0.15.0build 1Dispensers can be moved by pistons.
Bedrock Edition
1.10.0beta 1.10.0.3Furnace (N) JE3 BE2 Dispenser (E) BE2 Dispenser (S) BE2 Furnace (N) JE3 BE2 Dispenser (U) JE2 BE2 Dispenser (D) BE2 The textures of the dispenser have been changed.
Dispensers with shears in them now shear sheep with wool.
1.13.0?Damaged bows can no longer be used to craft dispensers.
1.14.0beta 1.14.0.1Dispensers can harvest honeycombs when dispensing shears on bee nests and bee hives filled with honey.
Dispensers can collect honey bottles when dispensing glass bottles on bee hives.
Dispensers can collect water bottles when dispensing glass bottles on water.
1.16.0beta 1.15.0.51Crafting a dispenser no longer requires the bow to be at full durability.
Caves & Cliffs (experimental)beta 1.16.210.57Dispensers can wax copper blocks.
1.19.60beta 1.19.60.22Dispensers can saddle pigs, striders, tamed horses, donkeys and mules.
Dispensers can put horse armor on tamed horses.
Dispensers can shear snow golems and mooshrooms.
Dispensers can put carpets and chests on llamas.
Dispensers with shears now only shear one sheep at a time.
1.20.0
(Experimental)
beta 1.19.60.22Dispensers can saddle camels.
Legacy Console Edition
TU1CU1 1.0 Patch 11.0.1Furnace (N) JE2 BE1 Dispenser (E) JE1 Dispenser (S) JE1 Furnace (N) JE2 BE1 Added dispensers.
TU3Furnace (N) JE2 BE1 Dispenser (E) JE2 BE1 Dispenser (S) JE2 BE1 Furnace (N) JE2 BE1 The dispenser texture has been changed to the Java Edition 1.2.1 (12w04a) texture.
TU5Added quick move to the dispenser.
TU9Dispensers can spawn mobs from a spawn egg.
Dispensers can shoot out the liquids inside water and lava buckets.
Dispensers can suck up the liquids if activated again, but do not fill up the buckets with the liquid dropped due to a bug.
TU10The bug where the liquid from dispensers did not properly fill empty buckets has been fixed.
TU19CU7 1.12 Dispenser (U) JE1 BE1 Dispenser (D) JE1 BE1 Dispensers now face in any direction.
TU31CU19 1.22 Patch 3Dispensers can place pumpkins or wither skeleton skulls to spawn golems and withers providing the body is already built in a valid configuration.
PlayStation 4 Edition
1.90Furnace (N) JE3 BE2 Dispenser (E) JE4 Dispenser (S) JE4 Furnace (N) JE3 BE2 Dispenser (U) JE2 BE2 Dispenser (D) JE3 The textures of the dispenser have been changed.
Dispensers with shears in them now shear sheep with wool.
New Nintendo 3DS Edition
0.1.0Furnace (N) JE2 BE1 Dispenser (E) JE2 BE1 Dispenser (S) JE2 BE1 Furnace (N) JE2 BE1 Dispenser (U) JE1 BE1 Dispenser (D) JE1 BE1 Added dispensers.
Notes
  1. Supposed time when fragment was filmed. Based on modified date of client.jar/gui/trap.png in Beta 1.2.

Data history[]

Java Edition
1.1317w47aPrior to The Flattening, this block's numeral ID was 23.

Issues[]

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

Trivia[]

Gallery[]

See also[]

Some other blocks can also be used to move items:

  • Droppers can throw items or push them into adjacent containers.
  • Hoppers can push items into adjacent containers.
  • Ice and packed ice have reduced friction to the item entity movement.
  • Slime blocks can impart velocity to item entities when pushed by a piston.
  • Water can push item entities.
  • Quasi-connectivity Applies to Dispensers.

References[]

External links[]

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