Lightning Rod

This article describes content that may be included in Java Edition and Bedrock Edition.

This content has appeared in Java Edition 1.17 and Bedrock Edition 1.16.230 development versions, but the full update containing it has not been released yet.
This content is present in the latest complete version of Bedrock Edition, but only accessible in beta versions without add-ons.

This page contains content on features that are part of Experimental Gameplay in Bedrock Edition.

These features may be properly added in a future update, but require the "Caves and Cliffs" option toggled to be enabled in the current version.

Lightning Rod

Renewable	Yes
Stackable	Yes (64)
Tool
Blast resistance	6
Hardness	3
Luminant	No
Transparent	Yes
Flammable	No
Catches fire from lava	No

A lightning rod is a block used to divert lightning strikes.

Obtaining[edit]

Breaking[edit]

Lightning rods must be mined with a stone pickaxe or better, or else it drops nothing.

Block	Lightning Rod
Hardness	3
Tool
Breaking time^[A]
Default	15
Wooden	7.5
Stone	1.15
Iron	0.75
Diamond	0.6
Netherite	0.5
Golden	1.25

↑ Times are for unenchanted tools as wielded by players with no status effects, measured in seconds. For more information, see Breaking § Speed.

Crafting[edit]

Ingredients	Crafting recipe
Copper Ingot

Usage[edit]

Lightning rods can be oriented in different directions. Lightning rods redirect lightning strikes within an area of 32×4×32 ‌^{[Java Edition only]} / 64×64×64 ‌^{[Bedrock Edition only]} blocks to the top of the rod, which can prevent flammable structures from catching on fire during thunderstorms, the block will emit particles during thunderstorms as an indicator. Lightning rods divert the lightning created by a trident enchanted with Channeling thrown at an entity during a thunderstorm, or the lightning summoned by commands.^[1]‌^{[Bedrock Edition only]}

A lightning rod emits a redstone signal when struck by lightning. A trident with Channeling can be thrown at a lightning rod to create lightning which also emits a redstone signal.

From Java Edition 21w11a it can be used for removing rust on Block of Copper. When lighting strikes the lightning rod, a little rust is removed in the surrounding copper.

Sounds[edit]

Java Edition:

Subtitle	Source	Description	Namespaced ID	Translation key	Volume	Pitch	Attenuation distance
Block broken	Blocks	Once the block has broken	`block.copper.break`	`subtitles.block.generic.break`	?	?	?
None^{[sound 1]}	Blocks	Falling on the block with fall damage	`block.copper.fall`	None^{[sound 1]}	?	?	?
Block breaking	Blocks	While the block is in the process of being broken	`block.copper.hit`	`subtitles.block.generic.hit`	?	?	?
Block placed	Blocks	When the block is placed	`block.copper.place`	`subtitles.block.generic.place`	?	?	?
Footsteps	Blocks	Walking on the block	`block.copper.step`	`subtitles.block.generic.footsteps`	?	?	?

↑ ^a ^b MC-177082

Bedrock Edition:^{[more information needed]}

Data values[edit]

ID[edit]

Java Edition:

Name	Namespaced ID	Form	Translation key
Lightning Rod	`lightning_rod`	Block & Item	`block.minecraft.lightning_rod`

Bedrock Edition:

Name	Namespaced ID	Numeric ID	Form	Translation key
Lightning Rod	`lightning_rod`	`567`	Block & Item	`tile.lightning_rod.name`

Block states[edit]

Java Edition:

Name	Default value	Allowed values	Description
facing	`up`	`up` `down` `north` `south` `east` `west`	The direction that the lightning rod is facing, determined by its anchoring.
powered	`false`	`false` `true`	Whether or not the lightning rod is powered.

Bedrock Edition:

Name	Default value	Allowed values	Description
facing_direction	`0`	`0` `1` `2` `3` `4` `5`	The direction the lightning rod faces.

History[edit]

Upcoming Java Edition
October 3, 2020		Lightning rods are revealed at Minecraft Live 2020.
October 3, 2020		Inventory model was different.
October 20, 2020		Lady Agnes shows a lighting rod can be placed in different positions.
1.17	20w45a	Added lightning rods.
	20w46a	The texture of lightning rods has been changed to match copper blocks.
	20w46a	The range of lightning rods has been increased from 16 blocks to 32 blocks.
	21w05a	Lightning rods are now shaded properly.^[2]
	21w10a	Changelog states they can now be waterlogged, though this is not the case.
	21w11a	When lightning strikes, the lightning rod turns white due to its new blockstate, powered.
		Lightning rods can now be waterlogged.
		Lightning will emit particles during thunderstorms as an indicator.
	21w13a	The model of the lightning rod has been changed that the underside texture is corrected.
Bedrock Edition
1.16.210	beta 1.16.210.57	Added lightning rods.
	beta 1.16.210.57	It also has a bugged texture in inventory.
	release	Lightning rods have been made inaccessible in the full release.
1.16.220	beta 1.16.220.52	Lightning rods can now be waterlogged.
	beta 1.16.220.52	Now emits particles when in contact with rain.
	release	Lightning rods have been made inaccessible in the full release.