TNT

This article is about the regular TNT block. For the consumable in Minecraft Dungeons, see MCD:TNT. For other uses, see TNT (disambiguation).

Not to be confused with Tint.

TNT

Renewable	Yes
Stackable	Yes (64)
Tool	Any tool
Blast resistance	0
Hardness	0
Luminant	No
Transparent	No
Flammable	Yes (15)
Catches fire from lava	Yes

TNT is an explosive block that can be primed to generate an explosion.

Contents

Obtaining

TNT can be broken instantly with any tool, or without a tool. However, primed TNT cannot be broken, as it is an entity, but it can be removed with the /kill command.

Entity loot

TNT also drops when a minecart with TNT is broken.

Chest loot

Item	Structure	Container	Quantity	Chance
Java Edition
TNT	Buried treasure	Chest	1–2	62.7%
	Shipwreck	Supply chest	1–2	8.1%
Bedrock Edition
TNT	Buried treasure	Chest	1–2	34.3%
	Shipwreck	Supply chest	1–2	8.1%
Bedrock Edition 1.17.0[upcoming]
TNT	Shipwreck	Supply chest	1–2	7.5%

Natural generation

Nine TNT blocks occur naturally in each desert pyramid trap.

Two TNT blocks flank a trapped chest in one secret woodland mansion room.

Crafting

Ingredients	Crafting recipe
Gunpowder + Sand or Red Sand

Usage

A TNT explosion.

TNT blocks can be activated by:

• using a flint and steel or a fire charge
• using any item enchanted with Fire Aspect‌^{[Bedrock Edition only]}
• a powered redstone current
• being shot by flaming projectile
  • being shot with an arrow from a bow with flame enchantment.
  • being shot with an arrow through lava or fire
• being hit by a fire charge fired from a dispenser
• coming into contact with spreading fire or lava
• being in the blast radius of a nearby explosion, including that of another TNT block, a Creeper, a bed or a Respawn Anchor.
• being summoned, in which case detonates immediately‌^{[Java Edition only]} (this can be changed with the Fuse tag)
• being fired from a dispenser
• being lit by a flint and steel used by a dispenser
• being hit by an explosive skull from a Wither

Behavior

Primed TNT

Once activated, TNT turns into an entity, which includes being affected by gravity. The new primed TNT is spawned at the center (+0.5,+0.5,+0.5) of where the TNT block was, like a cube with an edge length of 0.98. Its fuse lasts 40 redstone ticks (4 seconds/80 game ticks) if activated by redstone or fire, or a random number between 10 and 30 game ticks (0.5 to 1.5 seconds) if it is destroyed by another explosion.

Once spawned, primed TNT is given a vertical velocity of 0.2 blocks per tick, and a horizontal velocity of 0.02 blocks per tick in a random direction. Given these velocities, the TNT travels 0.166 blocks (or 6 block pixels) horizontally before it stops, given there is no block in the way. When the countdown timer expires, the TNT explodes. If in the air, TNT falls roughly 77 blocks before exploding once it is ignited. The explosion has an explosive force of 4.

Primed TNT's texture blinks, alternating every 0.5 seconds between the TNT block's texture, and a copy of it that has been brightened to near-white. The effect is dynamic and the brightened texture can't be found in the assets.

Primed TNT cannot be pushed by players or other mobs, but it moves when in flowing water or lava. Water/lava cannot push primed TNT into minecarts or boats.

When primed TNT detonates while in water or lava, it does not break any blocks. It does still damage players, mobs, and other entities.‌^{[Java Edition only]} Primed TNT that detonates outside water can still damage submerged blocks.

To make TNT destroy blocks in the water, e.g. to enter an ocean monument from the top, one can place sand or gravel on the TNT before it is primed. Priming the TNT causes the sand or gravel to fall one block, engulfing the TNT. Because the TNT is no longer immersed in water, it can destroy the surrounding blocks.

Primed TNT is not teleported when entering a nether portal; instead, it passes through portal blocks.‌^{[Java Edition only]} Primed TNT teleports as expected when entering an end portal, maintaining its direction and speed. The fuse timer keeps counting down (unless the spawn chunks are unloaded, then it pauses until a player loads the chunks).

If the TNT is primed atop any sort of fence post that is two blocks high or larger, it falls through the fence block on which it was activated and stops on the next lower one. Its detonation damages only the fence block it was "stuck" in.

In Java Edition primed TNT summoned by a command explodes immediately because the fuse time defaults to zero if not specified.

Redstone component

For redstone to activate TNT, it must either lead directly to the TNT, or power an adjacent block.

Traps

See also: Tutorials/Traps

TNT can be used in a variety of traps. The simplest of them – a land mine – is made of TNT connected to a pressure plate or tripwire with redstone. One such trap generates naturally in desert pyramids under the loot area.

Cannons

See also: Tutorials/TNT cannons

TNT cannons are mechanisms that launch primed TNT into the air. Some cannons can also be used to launch other entities or objects into the air.

Mob farms

See also: Tutorials/Mob farm

Mobs killed by player-ignited TNT (via flint and steel or by flaming arrows) drop experience orbs as though they were killed by the player in regular combat.

Crafting ingredient

Name	Ingredients	Crafting recipe	Description
Minecart with TNT	TNT + Minecart
Underwater TNT	Sodium + TNT		‌[Bedrock and Education editions only]

Sounds

Generic

Java Edition:

Sound	Subtitle	Source	Description	Namespaced ID	Translation key	Volume	Pitch	Attenuation distance
	Block broken	Blocks	Once the block has broken	block.grass.break	subtitles.block.generic.break	1.0	0.8	16
	None	Blocks	Falling on the block with fall damage	block.grass.fall	None	0.5	0.75	16
	Block breaking	Blocks	While the block is in the process of being broken	block.grass.hit	subtitles.block.generic.hit	0.25	0.5	16
	Block placed	Blocks	When the block is placed	block.grass.place	subtitles.block.generic.place	1.0	0.8	16
	Footsteps	Blocks	Walking on the block	block.grass.step	subtitles.block.generic.footsteps	0.15	1.0	16

Bedrock Edition:

Sound	Source	Description	Namespaced ID	Volume	Pitch
?	Blocks	Once the block has broken	dig.grass	0.7	0.8
?	Blocks	Falling on the block with fall damage	fall.grass	0.4	1.0
?	Blocks	While the block is in the process of being broken	hit.grass	0.3	0.5
?	Blocks	Jumping from the block	jump.grass	0.11	1.0
?	Blocks	Falling on the block without fall damage	land.grass	0.21	1.0
?	Blocks	Walking on the block	step.grass	0.3	1.0
?	Blocks	When the block is placed	use.grass	0.8	0.8

Unique

Java Edition:

Sound	Subtitle	Source	Description	Namespaced ID	Translation key	Volume	Pitch	Attenuation distance
	TNT fizzes	?	?	entity.tnt.primed	subtitles.entity.tnt.primed	?	1.5[verify]	16
	Explosion	?	?	entity.generic.explode	subtitles.entity.generic.explode	?	(<1.0)	16

Data values

ID

Java Edition:

Name	Namespaced ID	Block tags (JE)	Form	Translation key
TNT	tnt	enderman_holdable	Block & Item	block.minecraft.tnt

Name	Namespaced ID	Translation key
Primed TNT	tnt	entity.minecraft.tnt

Bedrock Edition:

Name	Namespaced ID	Numeric ID	Form	Translation key
TNT	tnt	46	Block & Item	tile.tnt.name

Name	Namespaced ID	Numeric ID	Translation key
Primed TNT	tnt	65	entity.tnt.name

Metadata

See also: Data values

In Bedrock Edition, TNT uses the following data values:

	DV	Description
	0	Drops a TNT item when broken
	1	TNT that activates when broken
	2	Drops an underwater TNT item when broken
	3	Underwater TNT that activates when broken

Block states

Java Edition:

Name	Default value	Allowed values	Description
unstable	false	false	Hitting the TNT block breaks it, dropping it as an item that can be picked up.
		true	Hitting the TNT block causes it to ignite and then explode.

Bedrock Edition:

Name	Default value	Allowed values	Description
allow_underwater_bit	false	false	This is normal TNT.
		true	This is Underwater TNT.
explode_bit	false	false	Hitting the TNT block breaks it, dropping it as an item that can be picked up.
		true	Hitting the TNT block causes it to ignite and then explode.

Entity data

See also: Chunk format

TNT has entity data associated with them that contain various properties of the entity.

• Dynamic block entity data
  • Tags common to all entities
  •  Fuse: Ticks until explosion. Default is 0. If activated from a TNT block, the fuse duration is 80 ticks (4 seconds).

History

Java Edition Classic
May 21, 2009					Notch shows interest in adding "explosives", which would blow up when a pulse from a wire was received.
October 24, 2009					TNT was teased in a blog post.
0.26 SURVIVAL TEST					Added TNT.
					Players have to hit TNT to prime the block and hit it again to cancel the detonation.
					The player starts with 10 blocks of TNT in their inventory.
0.28					Changed the side texture of TNT.
0.29					TNT now works in creative mode.
					The player can no longer pick up an already lit TNT block.
0.30 (Survival)					Hitting an already active TNT block now defuses it and allows the player to pick it up.
Java Edition Indev
0.31		2009-12-23-2			When broken, TNT replaces every block one level below it that is of the same block type as the block directly below it with wood planks.
		2010-01-29			TNT is now craftable.
Java Edition Beta
1.6		Test Build 3			Monster traps can no longer be created by putting a pressure plate directly on top of the block of TNT.
					Players can no longer cancel the detonation of TNT by hitting it after priming it.
1.7					TNT can no longer be directly primed by the player, but only by redstone or any other mechanism that powers the TNT block, as well as by left clicking with flint and steel. Hitting the block destroys it simply and safely so it can be picked up. However, TNT can now be created (using map editors) with a data value of 1 to make it retain the old behavior of being primed when punched.
					TNT can no longer have torches placed on it. Any previously-placed torches disappear.
1.8		Pre-release			TNT explosions now emit shockwave particles.
Java Edition
1.0.0		Beta Sound Update			TNT has been given a new explosion sound.
1.3.1		12w21a			TNT can be naturally found (with structure generation turned on) in desert pyramids as a trap in the treasure room. It's a 3×3 square of 9 TNT under a sandstone floor with a stone pressure plate on the center sandstone block.
		12w26a			TNT no longer drops as an item when broken in Creative mode.
		12w30a			TNT no longer damages the player in Peaceful difficulty.
1.4.2		12w34b			TNT can now be ignited when hit with an item that has the Fire Aspect enchantment or the Flame enchantment.
1.5		13w04a			TNT is now primed when released from a dispenser.
1.8		14w05b			Mobs now suffocate inside of TNT.
		14w27b			TNT's top texture is now rotated randomly, as part of the addition of arrays to block models.
		14w31a			The explosion physics have been changed, which greatly reduces the range of TNT cannons.
1.8.2		pre1			The explosion physics of TNT have been reverted to those before the 14w31a snapshot.
					Explosion force of TNT is no longer directionally biased.
1.9		15w32c			TNT's maximum fuse time has been increased from 127 ticks into 32767 ticks.
		15w47a			The random rotation of TNT's top texture has been removed.
1.11		16w32a			The entity ID has been changed from PrimedTnt to tnt.
		16w39a			TNT now generates in woodland mansions.
1.13		17w47a			The explode block states for the tnt ID has been removed. As a result, the old punch to prime behavior of TNT is no longer available.
					Prior to The Flattening, this block's numeral ID was 46.
		18w10a			TNT now generates in buried treasure chests.
		18w11a			TNT can now be found in the chests of shipwrecks.
1.13.1		18w30a			Added the unstable block states for TNT, acting like the explode block states did.
1.14		18w43a			The texture of TNT has been changed.
		19w11a			TNT explosions now have a 100% drop rate.
1.15		pre1			The explosions from TNT have been optimized.
					Black and white smoke particles are removed.
1.16		20w11a			TNT can now be ignited by any burning projectile.
Pocket Edition Alpha
Pre-release					Added TNT.
					TNT can currently not be obtained except for via a hex editor. When edited in, the primed TNT simply emits smoke particles, then disappear.
v0.2.0					Edited-in TNT can now be successfully primed and detonated.
v0.4.0					TNT is now able to be obtained without a hex editor in both survival and creative.
v0.9.0		build 1			The performance of TNT has been improved.
v0.12.1		build 10			The sound of TNT has been changed to that of Java.
		?			TNT can now be ignited when hit with an item that has the Fire Aspect enchantment or the Flame enchantment.
v0.13.0		build 1			TNT can now be naturally found (with structure generation turned on) in desert pyramids as a trap in the treasure room. It's a 3×3 square of 9 TNT under a sandstone floor with a stone pressure plate on the center sandstone block.
v0.14.0		build 1			TNT now can be used to craft minecart with TNT.
v0.16.0		build 1			An explosion in creative now gives the player materials as it does in survival.
Pocket Edition
1.0.5		alpha 1.0.5.0			An explosion in creative no longer gives the player materials as it does in survival.
1.0.7					TNT no longer does damage to a player if the TNT is in water.
1.1.0		alpha 1.1.0.0			The entity ID has been changed from primedtnt to tnt.
					TNT now generates in woodland mansions.
Bedrock Edition
1.4.0		beta 1.2.14.2			TNT can now be found inside shipwreck supply chests and buried treasure chests.
		beta 1.2.20.2			TNT can now can be used to craft underwater TNT.
1.10.0		beta 1.10.0.3			The texture of TNT has been changed.
1.16.0		beta 1.16.100.51			TNT no longer activates when a Redstone Torch is placed directly on it.
Legacy Console Edition
TU1	CU1	1.0	Patch 1	1.0.1	Added TNT.
TU3					TNT can no longer be directly primed by the player, but only by redstone or any other mechanism that powers the TNT block, as well as by using flint and steel. Hitting the block destroys it simply and safely so it can be picked up.
TU5					The explosion sound of TNT has been changed.
TU14		1.04			TNT now makes a sound before exploding.
					TNT does variable damage depending on difficulty setting.
		1.90			The texture of TNT has been changed.
New Nintendo 3DS Edition
0.1.0					Added TNT.

Issues

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

Trivia

• "TNT" stands for Trinitrotoluene.
  • The Preferred IUPAC name, however, is 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene.
• The use of sand in the crafting recipe references dynamite, a different high explosive than TNT, consisting of nitroglycerine mixed with diatomaceous earth (which is mostly silica, the same chemical compound as yellow sand).
• Although flint and steel cannot light fires in Adventure Mode, it can still ignite TNT.
• It takes 19.75 blocks to fall for it to reduce the timer for one second.
• Although primed TNT normally gets caught in cobwebs, TNT propelled fast enough flies through them without slowing down at all.
• It is slightly smaller than a full block when activated, as with all entity versions of blocks (see shulker).
• Using flint and steel to ignite it sets it off at once, but fire must burn it for many seconds before triggering.
• In Pi Edition, TNT by default doesn't do anything, but when set to data value 1, it ignites when broken.
• The longest fuse time of TNT is 27 minutes and 18.35 seconds, or 32,767 ticks.
• Attempting to ignite TNT while sneaking results in the block being lit on fire, rather than the TNT becoming primed.
• Standing behind blocks during an explosion dramatically reduces knockback and damage from the explosion.
• TNT does not damage the player on peaceful difficulty, however, it does break blocks and damage entities.
• The TNT fuse sound uses the same sound file as when a creeper is primed, but it is played at a higher pitch when the TNT is primed.

Gallery

• 

  Falling primed TNT, showing the effect of gravity.

• 

  TNT triggered by redstone signal.

See also

• Creeper