Beacon

For other uses, see Beacon (disambiguation).
Beacon
Beacon.png: Infobox image for Beacon the block in Minecraft
Invicon Beacon.png: Inventory sprite for Beacon in Minecraft as shown in-game with description:Invicon Beacon BE.png: Inventory sprite for Beacon in Minecraft as shown in-game with description: Beacon
Rarity tier

Rare

Renewable

Yes

Stackable

Yes (64)

Tool

Any tool

Blast resistance

3

Hardness

3

Luminous

Yes (15)

Transparent

Yes

Waterloggable

JE: No
BE: Yes

Flammable

No

Catches fire
from lava

No

Map color (JE)


 31 DIAMOND

A beacon is a block that projects a beam skyward. It can provide beneficial status effects to players in a radius around it when placed on top of a solid pyramid base constructed from iron, gold, diamond, emerald or netherite blocks. The effect range depends on how large the base of the pyramid is, from 3x3 (9 blocks) to 9x9 (164 blocks or 2 stacks and 36).

Obtaining

Breaking

A beacon can be mined successfully by hand or with any tool. When destroyed by an explosion, the block always drops as an item.

Block
Hardness 3
Breaking time (secs)
Default 4.5
Legend
  • incorrect tool, drops nothing
  • correct tool, drops nothing or something other than the block itself
  • correct tool, drops the block itself
  • italicized can be instant mined

Crafting

Name Ingredients Crafting recipe
Glass +
Nether Star +
Obsidian
Invicon Glass.png: Inventory sprite for Glass in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Glass with description: GlassInvicon Glass.png: Inventory sprite for Glass in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Glass with description: GlassInvicon Glass.png: Inventory sprite for Glass in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Glass with description: GlassInvicon Glass.png: Inventory sprite for Glass in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Glass with description: GlassInvicon Nether Star.png: Inventory sprite for Nether Star in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Nether Star with description:Invicon Glass.png: Inventory sprite for Glass in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Glass with description: GlassInvicon Obsidian.png: Inventory sprite for Obsidian in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Obsidian with description: ObsidianInvicon Obsidian.png: Inventory sprite for Obsidian in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Obsidian with description: ObsidianInvicon Obsidian.png: Inventory sprite for Obsidian in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Obsidian with description: Obsidian
Invicon Beacon.png: Inventory sprite for Beacon in Minecraft as shown in-game with description:

Usage

When "activated", beacon blocks provide two unique functions:

  • A landmark beam reaching into the sky, which, in Java Edition, can be visible from far away.
  • Powers, which give players status effects within a certain range.

Additionally, in Bedrock Edition beacons can also be waterlogged.

Activation

The beacon base can be made of the different mineral blocks combined.
The beacon base can be made of the different mineral blocks combined.

In order to activate a beacon, the beacon must meet the following requirements:

The type of block used is purely cosmetic, having no effect on the pyramid's power level or the range and strength of the status effect. A mixture of blocks of different types can also be used in any orientation, so long as they form a pyramid structure, like the ones listed below.

Status effect range can be improved by increasing the pyramid power level (see chart below). At level 4, the pyramid gives the option to increase the primary effect's strength to Level II in the beacon's GUI.

Pyramids

For other pyramid structures, see Pyramid.
The four possible pyramid arrangements when using the beacon block. From left to right the pyramid structures decrease in complexity and strength.

Pyramids are the structures required to activate beacons. There are four possible pyramid heights. More pyramid levels make more powers available in a wider affected vicinity. The type of mineral block used to build the pyramid is entirely cosmetic and has no functional effect. Several different block types can be mixed without affecting functionality. If the pyramid is damaged so that the beacon deactivates, the previously-set powers resume their effects upon reactivation when the pyramid is repaired. This applies to piston-altered pyramids as well.

A single beacon pyramid
Level Mineral blocks Materials Layers
1 9 81 (1 stack + 17 items) 3×3, beacon
2 34 306 (4 stacks + 50 items) 5×5, 3×3, beacon
3 83 (1 stack + 19 blocks) 747 (11 stacks + 43 items) 7×7, 5×5, 3×3, beacon
4 164 (2 stacks + 36 blocks) 1476 (23 stacks + 4 items) 9×9, 7×7, 5×5, 3×3, beacon
Layer 1
Layer 2
Layer 3
Layer 4
Layer 5
This six-beacon pyramid provides all six effects from a single structure using the fewest mineral blocks possible.

Multiple beacons can make use of the same specific mineral blocks below them. Combined pyramids do not need to be symmetrical. The image to the right shows a 6-beacon (2 by 3) pyramid. It requires a total of 244 mineral blocks, with a base layer of 10 by 11.

Multiple beacons pyramid (tier 4 can enable all buffs)
Level Mineral blocks Materials Layers
1 20 180 (2 stacks + 52 items) 4×5, beacons
2 62 558 (8 stacks + 46 items) 6×7, 4×5, beacons
3 134 (2 stacks + 6 blocks) 1206 (18 stacks + 54 items) 8×9, 6×7, 4×5, beacons
4 244 (3 stacks + 52 blocks) 2196 (34 stacks + 20 items) 10×11, 8×9, 6×7, 4×5, beacons

Beam

A vertical beam appears from a beacon if the beacon is activated, extending from the beacon block, up to height 2048.

Horizontally, the beam is visible from any loaded chunk, which can be up to 512 blocks in Java Edition and 1536 blocks in Bedrock Edition.

Colors

The color of the beam may be changed by placing blocks of stained glass or stained glass panes anywhere above the beacon block. The beam changes colors according to the colors of glass placed above it: the first block sets the beam color, while each additional block sets the color by averaging the red, green, and blue components of the current beam color and the block's color. The color values are the same as those for the corresponding dye. This also works using hardened stained glass and hardened stained glass panes.‌ Stained glass panes have the same effect on the beam as stained glass blocks.

The resulting beam color can be found as C=12n(c0+i=1n2i1ci) where ci is the sequence of glass colors (c0 corresponds to the lowest block and cn to the highest one).

Beacon beams cannot go through most blocks, but can go through bedrock (to allow beacons to be used in the Nether) and end portal frames.

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Powers

See also: Effect
The GUI shown when pressing use on the block.

Once the beacon is emitting a beam, it can then be fed one iron ingot, gold ingot, emerald, diamond, or netherite ingot to select the status effects given to players within range of the beacon. This is done through the beacon's GUI, displayed by pressing use while looking at the beacon block. It doesn't matter which of the items is fed into the beacon.

In the GUI, the player places the item to be fed in the empty slot and clicks an effect from the "Primary Power" section on the left. If the beacon is sitting on a 4-level pyramid, the "Secondary Power" section on the right also becomes active. The player can then choose either to turn on the Regeneration power in addition to the Primary Power or to raise the primary power to Level II. The user clicks the "Done" button (green checkmark), the item is consumed, and the power(s) become activated, with the outline of the effect on the HUD having a blue outline.‌ To change the beacon's powers, this process must be followed again, consuming another ingot or gem.

If the pyramid is broken, effects deactivate or weaken depending on the level of the pyramid that is no longer complete. Upon restoration of the pyramid, the originally selected power returns without the need to spend another item. If a smaller pyramid is upgraded, the effect range increases to that of the new pyramid without the need of reactivating it, however upgrading to level 4 does not modify the effect power (to increase the power, the player must use the beacon's GUI).

The five primary powers are:

  • Speed I: Increased movement speed.
  • Haste I: Increased mining and attack speed.
  • Resistance I: Decreased nearly all incoming damage (2-level pyramid required).
  • Jump Boost I: Increased jumping distance and height (2-level pyramid required).
  • Strength I: Increased melee damage (3-level pyramid required).

The secondary powers only available with a 4-level pyramid are:

  • Regeneration I: Regenerates health.
  • Increasing the primary power to level II.

In Java Edition, it is also possible to combine two different primary Level I powers:

  • select a primary power in the left panel
  • select the Level II option in the right panel
  • select the second desired power back in the left panel

Only one of the two powers appear to be selected, although both effects are active.[1]

Every four seconds, the selected powers are applied with a duration of 9 seconds, plus 2 seconds per pyramid level, to all players in range. Thus, when powers are changed or a player travels outside the area-of-effect, the powers persist for 5–9 seconds, or 13-17 seconds with a full pyramid.

Range

The beacon affects an area in the shape of a square column, which reaches downward and out to each side at a range determined by the size of the pyramid base (see table below), and upward a distance of that range + the height of this dimension blocks.

The effect duration from the beacon is also determined by the size of the pyramid base (9 + Pyramid size × 2).

The range of the beacon effect is limited by the simulation distance. As such, on simulation distance of 4 with a level 4 pyramid, the effect does not reach the chunks on the corners of the beacon range.

The distance from the player to the beacon block does not affect the intensity of the status effect.

Beacon Pyramid Effects in Java Edition:
Pyramid size
(levels)
Effect radius excluding beacon
(blocks)
Effect duration
(seconds)
1 20 11
2 30 13
3 40 15
4 50 17
Beacon Pyramid Effects in Bedrock Edition:
Pyramid size
(levels)
Effect radius excluding beacon
(blocks)
Effect duration
(seconds)
South & East North & West
1 20 21 10
2 30 31 12
3 40 41 14
4 50 51 16

Light source

Beacon blocks can function as light sources, emitting a light level 15. Like other light sources, they melt snow and ice. A beacon produces this light even when it doesn't emit a beam.

Piston interactivity

Beacons cannot be pushed nor pulled by pistons or sticky pistons.

Sounds

Generic

Java Edition:

BlockSprite stone.png: Sprite image for stone in Minecraft stone sound type
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
​Something falls on a blockEntity-DependentFalling on the block with fall damageblock.stone.fallsubtitles.block.generic.fall0.50.7516
​FootstepsEntity-DependentWalking on the blockblock.stone.stepsubtitles.block.generic.footsteps0.151.016

Bedrock Edition:

BlockSprite glass.png: Sprite image for glass in Minecraft glass sound type
SoundSourceDescriptionResource locationVolumePitch
BlocksOnce the block has brokenrandom.glass1.00.8-1.0
BlocksWhen the block is placeddig.stone1.00.8-1.0
BlocksWhile the block is in the process of being brokenhit.stone0.40.6
PlayersFalling on the block with fall damagefall.stone0.41.0
PlayersWalking on the blockstep.stone0.31.0
BlocksJumping from the blockjump.stone0.121.0
BlocksFalling on the block without fall damageland.stone0.221.0

Unique

Java Edition:

Sounds
SoundSubtitlesSourceDescriptionResource locationTranslation keyVolumePitchAttenuation
distance
​Beacon activatesBlocksWhen a beacon activatesblock.beacon.activatesubtitles.block.beacon.activate1.01.016
​Beacon humsBlocksRandomly while activeblock.beacon.ambientsubtitles.block.beacon.ambient0.91.07
​Beacon deactivatesBlocksWhen a beacon turns off or is broken[sound 1]block.beacon.deactivatesubtitles.block.beacon.deactivate1.01.016
​Beacon power selectedBlocksWhen a beacon's power is switchedblock.beacon.power_selectsubtitles.block.beacon.power_select1.01.016
​Chest locked[sound 2]BlocksWhen a player attempts to open a beacon locked using the [String] Lock tagblock.chest.locked[sound 2]subtitles.block.chest.locked​​[sound 2]1.01.016
  1. MC-153086 — Beacons always play deactivating sound when broken, even when not powered
  2. a b c MC-98316 — Wrong subtitles caused by missing distinction

Bedrock Edition:

Sounds
SoundSourceDescriptionResource locationVolumePitch
BlocksWhen a beacon activatesbeacon.activate1.01.0
BlocksRandomly while activebeacon.ambient1.01.0
BlocksWhen a beacon turns offbeacon.deactivate1.01.0
BlocksWhen a beacon's power is switchedbeacon.power1.01.0

Data values

ID

Java Edition:

NameIdentifierFormTranslation key
BlockSprite beacon.png: Sprite image for beacon in Minecraft BeaconbeaconBlock & Itemblock.minecraft.beacon
NameIdentifier
BlockSprite beacon.png: Sprite image for beacon in Minecraft Block entitybeacon

Bedrock Edition:

NameIdentifierNumeric ID FormItem ID[i 1]Translation key
BlockSprite beacon.png: Sprite image for beacon in Minecraft Beaconbeacon138Block & Giveable Item[i 2]Identical[i 3]tile.beacon.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
BlockSprite beacon.png: Sprite image for beacon in Minecraft Block entityBeacon

Block data

A beacon has a block entity associated with it that holds additional data about the block.

Java Edition:

  • [NBT Compound / JSON Object] Block entity data
    • Tags common to all block entities see Template:Nbt inherit/blockentity/template
    • [String] CustomName: Optional. The name of this container in JSON text component, which appears in its GUI where the default name ordinarily appears. Is not preserved when removed.
    • [NBT Compound / JSON Object] lock: Optional. An item predicate representing the "key" to open this container.
      • item predicate see Template:Nbt inherit/conditions/item/template
    • [String] primary_effect: Optional. The primary effect selected, see Potion effects for resource locations. Cannot be set to an effect that beacons do not normally use. Although Regeneration cannot normally be chosen as the primary effect, setting this value to minecraft:regeneration works and even allows Regeneration II to be chosen as the secondary via the normal beacon GUI.
    • [String] secondary_effect: Optional. The secondary effect selected, see Potion effects for resource locations. Cannot be set to an effect that beacons do not normally use. When set without a primary effect, does nothing. When set to the same as the primary, the effect is given at level 2 (the normally available behavior for 5 effects). When set to a different value than the primary (normally only Regeneration), gives the effect at level 1.

Bedrock Edition:

See Bedrock Edition level format/Block entity format.

Achievements

IconAchievementIn-game descriptionActual requirements (if different)Gamerscore earnedTrophy type (PS)
PS4Other
The BeaconatorCreate and fully power a Be within a 20×20×14 cuboid centered on the pyramid when the beacon block realizes it is fully powered.60Gold

Advancements

IconAdvancementIn-game descriptionActual requirements (if different)
A Furious CocktailHave every potion effect applied at the same time The source of the effects is irrelevant for the purposes of this advancement. Other status effects may be applied to the player, but are ignored for this advancement.
BeaconatorBring a Beacon to full powerBe within a 20×20×14 cuboid centered on a block when it realizes it is being powered by a size 4 pyramid.
Bring Home the BeaconConstruct and place a BeaconBe within a 20×20×14 cuboid centered on a block when it realizes it has become powered.
How Did We Get Here?Have every effect applied at the same time

The source of the effects is irrelevant for the purposes of this advancement. Other status effects may be applied to the player, but are ignored for this advancement.

This is a hidden advancement, meaning that it can be viewed by the player only after completing it, regardless of if its child advancement(s), if any, have been completed.

Video

History

Java Edition
1.4.212w32a Added a block named "Work in Progress".
"Work in Progress" can produce beams.
12w34a"Work in Progress" has been removed from the Creative inventory.
12w36a"Work in Progress" has been renamed to "Beacon".
Beacons can be found in the Creative inventory again.
Beacons are now craftable.
The texture of beacons has been changed.
12w38a The texture of beacons has been changed, again.
The beacon beam has been changed from a semi-transparent smooth beam (which conflicted with water transparency), to a pattern with 0% transparency.
12w40a The texture of beacons has been changed, again.
The beacon beam has been changed again.
12w40bThe beacon beam no longer glitches at tiny and short render distance.
1.513w05aThe effect range of beacons has been increased from 16/24/32/40 blocks to 20/30/40/50 blocks.
Beacon effects now extend up to the world height limit (Y=256).
1.6.113w23aWith the Regeneration effect being nerfed slightly, the same status effect produced from beacons has been nerfed slightly too.
13w24aThe beacon "crystal" texture, used from 12w36a to 12w37a, has been removed as per the resource pack reform.
1.7.213w36aThe player can now achieve the Beaconator achievement by placing a beacon on a level-4 pyramid of specific mineral blocks.
1.814w29aBeacons now display the cracking animation when being broken.
August 5, 2014Dinnerbone tweets a screenshot containing a colored beacon beam. The color appears to change when the beam passes through stained glass.
14w32aThe light of beacons now changes as it goes through stained glass.
August 7, 2014Dinnerbone tweets that the beacon beam can now pass through blocks that block light slightly.
14w32bBeacon beams now show if they are going through a block that doesn't completely block light rather than partially block light. This allows beacon beams to go through water and lava.
Beacons in the Nether and the End now check for blocks and render the beam only up to the world height (Y=127).
Beacon beams now immediately update when blocks above the beacon are changed. This applies to the beam appearing, disappearing and changing color. Previously it could sometimes take a few seconds.
1.8.2pre5Bedrock no longer obstructs beacon activation or beams.
Beacons in the Nether and the End now check and use the full build height (Y=255) rather than the world height (Y=127).
1.915w31aBeacons now generate naturally in end ships.
15w32cBeacons no longer generate in end ships and have been replaced by pumpkins.
15w47aBeacons no longer drop their contents when broken or when the interface is exited.
Beacons are now able to interact with hoppers.
15w47bThe beacon effect duration now increases with pyramid level (it was formerly a constant 9 seconds).
15w49aBeacons once again drop their contents when broken or when the interface is exited (as they had before 15w47a).
Beacons can no longer interact with hoppers (as they had since 15w47a).
16w02aBeacons now immediately activate when placed on valid pyramids.
16w03aBeacons no longer immediately activate when placed on valid pyramids.
1.1318w19aBeacons now produce sounds.
18w21aThe rarity of beacons has been changed from "Common" to "Rare".
1.1418w43a The texture of beacons has been changed.
Due to the change of the texture of beacons, the look of the beacon pyramid has been changed.
18w44a The texture of beacons has been changed, once again.
19w14aBeacon beam no longer stops at the build height limit.
1.1519w41aBeacon beams are no longer visible from the inside.
1.1620w07aBeacons can now be activated with netherite blocks.
Beacons can now be "fed" using netherite ingots.
The texture of the UI of beacons has been changed.
Beacons are now renewable, as soul sand, one of the blocks used to construct withers, is now renewable through bartering.
1.1721w07aBeacon beams are now visible up to 1343 blocks away from the source instead of 256 blocks.
1.21.525w05aBeacon beams now render beyond 16 chunks, up to the player's render distance.
Beacon beams now appear thicker when further away so that they remain visible.
Beacon beams are now 2048 blocks high, from 1024.
Pocket Edition Alpha
v0.16.0build 4 Added beacons.
Unlike other editions, beacons conduct redstone.
Bedrock Edition
1.2.0beta 1.2.0.2Beacon beams now change colors when shining through stained glass or stained glass panes.
1.5.0beta 1.5.0.4Beacons now produce sounds.
1.10.0beta 1.10.0.3 The texture of beacons has been changed.
1.16.0beta 1.15.0.51The beam color can now be mixed with several different stained glass colors.
beta 1.16.0.57Beacons can now be activated with netherite blocks.
Beacons can now be "fed" using netherite ingots.
The texture of the UI of beacons has been changed.
1.21.30Preview 1.21.30.21The rarity of beacons has been changed from "Common" to "Rare" to match Java Edition.
Preview 1.21.30.23Beacons no longer conduct redstone.
1.21.70Preview 1.21.70.20Beacon beams are now visible when a player moves over 70 blocks away from them.
1.21.90Preview 1.21.90.26Beacons now render from any chunk loaded in worlds opened in at least 1.21.90.
Legacy Console Edition
Xbox 360Xbox OnePS3PS4PS VitaWii USwitch
TU19CU71.121.121.12Patch 11.0.1 Added beacons.
TU25CU141.171.171.17Beacon beams now change colors when shining through stained glass or stained glass panes.
TU31CU191.221.221.22Patch 3The vertical range of beacon has been nerfed to match horizontal range.
TU46CU361.381.381.38Patch 15The beacon effect duration now increases with pyramid level (it was formerly a constant 9 seconds).
TU69 1.761.761.76Patch 38 Beacons now produce sounds.
1.90 The texture of beacons has been changed.
New Nintendo 3DS Edition
1.3.12 Added beacons.

Data history

Java Edition
1.915w47aA new tag, PaymentItem, now stores the sacrifice item within the beacon's block entity data.
15w49aThe PaymentItem tag has been removed (introduced in 15w47a).
1.1116w32aThe block entity ID has been changed from Beacon to beacon.
1.1317w47aPrior to The Flattening, this block's numeral ID was 138.
1.20.223w32aThe integer Primary and Secondary NBT formats for beacon have changed to string primary_effect and secondary_effect.

Issues

Issues relating to "Beacon" are maintained on the bug tracker. Issues should be reported and viewed there.

Trivia

The map icon texture is hidden in the transparent part of the beacon beam texture in Java Edition 12w38a.
  • The texture of the beacon is 16×16 but renders only the 10×10 area in the center.
  • It is possible to see the beacon beam on the bottom of an activated beacon.[2]
  • A fully powered beacon can fit within the upper level of the desert pyramid with the beacon’s beam perfectly being placed in the hole at the top.

Gallery

Renders

Screenshots

Development images

In other media

References

  1. MC-174630 — Secondary beacon effect remains when switching primary effect
  2. MC-106124 — Beacon beam appears on bottom of block — resolved as "Won't Fix".
  3. https://www.instagram.com/p/CtjxC_tgjQf/

See also

Navigation