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The Torch is a type of block found in Indev onwards since the support for dynamic lighting. It is one of the many blocks that emit light. In addition, it adjusts its model in relation to how it is placed on a block, so that it can be made to attach to any side of a block except the bottom side. They look similar to Redstone torches in appearance.

From just one log and eight pieces of coal or charcoal 32 torches can be made, making them an easily obtainable item.

Notch announced that torches will become temporary sources of light that will eventually go out.[1] They will need to be relit with flint and steel. The permanent torch will be replaced with lanterns, and all torches that exist already in saved games whether placed, stored or in inventory will become lanterns. This was supposed to take effect on October, 31st 2010 with the Halloween Update, but it was postponed until a later update.[2] Until then, torches are permanent.

Properties

Torches

Torches in various positions

Torches act as a full block, for the purpose of placing other objects or torches in the same area. Being a solid brick, this even prevents sand and gravel from falling down past a square with a torch on it. Sand or gravel break when they fall on a torch If they are placed directly above a torch they act as if they were on any other solid material, allowing them to be used as environmental triggers, such as Airlocks. Players can pass through torches, and therefore a torch can be placed directly under the player without the player needing to move or jump. Torches also melt nearby snow and ice, making them useful to keep skylights from being snowed over and lakes from freezing in snow biomes. Since monsters spawn in darkness, it is common to use torches as light sources. However, some people use alternatives, such as fire and lava lighting. The smoke from a torch extends up 2½ blocks. So if you are building a secret room with torches, be sure to put it down at least 3 blocks from the roof.

Torch placement

Block Name Torch Place-able
Bedrock Yes
Obsidian Yes
Water No
Brick Yes
Cobblestone Yes
Diamond Block Yes
Gold Block Yes
Iron Block Yes
Jukebox Yes*
Moss Stone Yes
Cobblestone Stairs No
Double Slab Yes
Single Slab No
Stone Yes
Iron Door No
Mob Spawner Yes
Furnace Yes*
Coal Ore Yes
Diamond Ore Yes
Wooden Door No
Fence Yes
Gold ore Yes
Torch No
Block Name Torch Place-able
Iron ore Yes
Redstone ore Yes
Wooden Stairs No
Wooden Planks Yes
Chest Yes*
Workbench Yes*
Log Yes
Bookshelf Yes
Jack-O-Lantern Yes
Pumpkin Yes
Sign Post No
Wall Sign No
Wool Yes
Rails No
Clay Yes
Farmland Yes
Grass Yes
Gravel Yes
Sponge Yes
Dirt Yes
Ice No
Lever No
Pressure Plates No
Block Name Torch Place-able
Sand Yes
Soul Sand Yes
Stone Button No
Cactus No
Ladders No
Netherrack Yes
Glass No
Glowstone No
Leaves No**
Snow Block Yes
Snow No
Crops No
Red rose No
Yellow flower No
Fire No
Lava No
Brown Mushroom No
Red Mushroom No
Portal No
Redstone Wire No
Redstone Torch No
Sugar Cane No
Sapling No
TNT Yes

* Torches may be placed on the sides of openable blocks such as chests by having another block which a torch cannot be placed on (such as glass or another torch) also facing the cube where the torch should be placed, and attempting to place a torch on it. Or trying to place the torch on a ceiling next to a wall. The torch will instead attach to an acceptable block such as the chest. Since Beta 1.7 torches can be placed on fences.

** As of Beta 1.7, torches cannot be placed on leaves, whether they are found naturally on a tree or placed after being trimmed with shears.

Crafting

Ingredients Input » Output Description
Stick +
Coal/
Charcoal
Template:Grid/Crafting Table Used to generate light. Torches also melt snow and ice.

Trivia

  • If the key to toggle fog (Default : F) is rapidly pressed, the flames from a torch can be seen. This is useful if you are lost in a cave and need to find your way back. You can also find a dungeon with this method.
  • When a torch is placed in water, it will be detached, as if you had destroyed it. The block it was placed in will have no water in it afterwards, unless two adjacent water sources cause a third to be created.
  • If you jump on a placed torch, you will hear a sound of stepping on a wooden block. This is only the sound effect however, so you will not actually stand on it. You must also be moving in a horizontal direction as well, so running and jumping on them is the way to check it.
  • Were going to be re-skined and become Lanterns (with new crafting recipe) and the new torch would have to be re-lit with Flint and Steel(with original crafting recipe).
  • It would take 1.26018466 × 10^14 torches to light the entire surface of a minecraft map. It would take approximately double that number to cover everything in a minecraft map, caves and all, counting the 12 million blocks as the edge of the map.
  • If a block falls onto a torch (Sand or Gravel), it breaks the block and gives the player the resource, but the gravel will not drop Flint.

Glitches

File:Brokentorches.png

A torch glitch, caused by placing a sequence of torches under sunlight.

  • There is a glitch that causes torches to not work properly if exposed to direct sunlight. This can be fixed by replacing the torch.
  • A glitch was introduced in the Beta 1.2 update that allows a torch to be affixed to the bottom of a block. This makes it appear the torch is floating on air, however the torch is removed when the upper block is removed. This was promptly fixed in 1.2_01.
  • Before Beta, there was a glitch where you could place torches on leaf blocks to copy them.
  • You can place blocks on top of the torch itself.
  • If you were playing when the Beta 1.6.4 update happened, any torches placed would give off no light, even while still showing the smoke and flame animations.
  • Removing a wall-mounted torch on a server and placing a new torch on another wall-block or floor block (with the torch itself in the same block) before the item has "Dropped" will place the new torch on the same wall block, regardless of where it is placed.

References

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