Obsidian

| Renewable |
Yes |
|---|---|
| Stackable |
Yes (64) |
| Tool | |
| Blast resistance |
1,200 |
| Hardness |
50 |
| Luminous |
No |
| Transparent |
No |
| Flammable |
No |
| Catches fire from lava |
No |
| Map color (JE) |
|
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Obsidian is a block found naturally in all dimensions, and created when water flows over a lava source. It has high hardness and blast resistance, making it immune to normal explosions. Obsidian can be used to craft beacons, enchanting tables, and ender chests, and build the frame of a Nether portal.
Obtaining
Breaking
Obsidian drops itself only when mined with a diamond or netherite pickaxe; otherwise, it drops nothing.
| Block | ||
|---|---|---|
| Hardness | 50 | |
| Tool | ||
| Breaking time (sec)[A] | ||
| Default | 250 | |
| 125 | ||
| 62.5 | ||
|
50 | |
| 41.7 | ||
| 9.4 | ||
| 8.35 | ||
| 20.85 | ||
- 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
- ↑ These durations ignore other influential factors (e.g. Mining Fatigue), and are measured in seconds. For more information, see Breaking § Speed.
Enchanting a pickaxe with Efficiency and using a beacon with Haste both drastically decrease the mining time. See the obsidian farming tutorial for more information.
8 obsidian blocks are dropped by an ender chest when broken without a tool enchanted with Silk Touch.
Natural generation


Obsidian generates naturally in all dimensions:
- Overworld:
- Obsidian generates as part of ruined portals.
- A single obsidian block generates in some types of ocean ruin buildings.
- Obsidian generates in woodland mansions with a diamond block concealed by it. These are found in the secret "obsidian room" and "lava room", on the 2nd or 3rd floors.
- The Nether:
- Obsidian generates as part of ruined portals.
- The End:
- Solid End spikes can be found on the End's main island, generating all the way down to Y=0.
- 26 blocks of obsidian generate as a part of the End ship in an End city.
Generated loot
| Item | Structure | Container | Quantity | Chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Java Edition and Bedrock Edition | ||||
| Generic chest | 4–6 | 24.4%{ "item": "Obsidian", "stacksize": "4–6", "chance": 0.24372395924512447, "structure": "Bastion Remnant", "container": "Generic chest" }
| ||
| Chest | 2–4 | 8%{ "item": "Obsidian", "stacksize": "2–4", "chance": 0.07972383453843734, "structure": "Nether Fortress", "container": "Chest" }
| ||
| Chest | 1–2 | 46.4%{ "item": "Obsidian", "stacksize": "1–2", "chance": 0.46437576826185156, "structure": "Ruined Portal", "container": "Chest" }
| ||
| Weaponsmith's chest | 3–7 | 25.6%{ "item": "Obsidian", "stacksize": "3–7", "chance": 0.2564122099176498, "structure": "Village", "container": "Weaponsmith's chest" }
| ||
Bartering
Piglins may barter a block of obsidian when given a gold ingot with a chance of 8.71%.
Post-generation

Obsidian is formed when flowing water touches a lava source block, and it can be found naturally where water from a spring or aquifer has flowed over a nearby lava pool. This provides a renewable way of obtaining obsidian, as lava can be farmed via cauldrons under pointed dripstone.
Obsidian is created when a Nether portal is generated in the Nether or the Overworld. This portal can then be mined, providing another way of obtaining obsidian renewably. In Java Edition, if a Nether portal is generated midair, 4 extra obsidian is generated at the bottom of the portal.
When an entity enters the End via an End portal, it always spawns on a platform consisting of 25 obsidian. This platform can then be mined, and regenerates whenever an entity enters the End, providing another way of obtaining obsidian renewably. Obsidian pillars also regenerate when the ender dragon respawns.
Usage
Obsidian is useful for building explosion-resistant structures as it has a blast resistance of 1,200, the highest of all blocks obtainable in Survival mode (tied with crying obsidian, anvils, and netherite blocks). Obsidian also cannot be destroyed by the ender dragon. These qualities make obsidian an extremely effective defensive block, and it is commonly used in many bases in multiplayer servers as protection from griefers.
Obsidian is, however, not immune to the wither. Although black wither skulls have merely the explosive power of a ghast fireball, blue wither skulls ignore blast resistance, which means they can destroy obsidian. The wither's body can also destroy obsidian, either through block-breaking behavior upon taking damage, or its dash attack. The wither is the only mob in the game that can break obsidian.
Obsidian is one of the two blocks an End crystal can be placed on; the other is bedrock.
Nether portals
Obsidian is used to create a Nether portal frame, which is then ignited using fire. The frame must be a vertical rectangle any size from 4×5 to 23×23. The corners of the frame are not required for an operational portal.
Crafting ingredient
| Name | Ingredients | Crafting recipe |
|---|---|---|
| Beacon | Glass + Nether Star + |
|
| Enchanting Table | Book + Diamond + |
|
| Ender Chest | + Eye of Ender |
Note Blocks
Obsidian can be placed under note blocks to produce "bass drum" sounds.
Piston interactivity
Obsidian cannot be pushed by pistons. It also cannot be pushed nor pulled by sticky pistons.
Sounds
stone sound type | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sound | Subtitles | Source | Description | Resource location | Translation key | Volume | Pitch | Attenuation distance |
| Block broken | Blocks | Once the block has broken | block | subtitles | 1.0 | 0.8 | 16 | |
| Block placed | Blocks | When the block is placed | block | subtitles | 1.0 | 0.8 | 16 | |
| Block breaking | Blocks | While the block is in the process of being broken | block | subtitles | 0.25 | 0.5 | 16 | |
| Something falls on a block | Entity-Dependent | Falling on the block with fall damage | block | subtitles | 0.5 | 0.75 | 16 | |
| Footsteps | Entity-Dependent | Walking on the block | block | subtitles | 0.15 | 1.0 | 16 | |
stone sound type | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sound | Source | Description | Resource location | Volume | Pitch |
| Blocks | Once the block has broken | dig | 1.0 | 0.8-1.0 | |
| Blocks | When the block is placed | dig | 1.0 | 0.8-1.0 | |
| Blocks | While the block is in the process of being broken | hit | 0.37 | 0.5 | |
| Players | Falling on the block with fall damage | fall | 0.4 | 1.0 | |
| Players | Walking on the block | step | 0.3 | 1.0 | |
| Blocks | Jumping from the block | jump | 0.12 | 1.0 | |
| Blocks | Falling on the block without fall damage | land | 0.22 | 1.0 | |
Data values
ID
| Name | Identifier | Form | Block tags | Translation key |
|---|---|---|---|---|
obsidian | Block & Item | dragon_immunemineable/pickaxeneeds_diamond_tool | block |
| Name | Identifier | Numeric ID | Form | Item ID[i 1] | Translation key |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
obsidian | 49 | Block & Giveable Item[i 2] | Identical[i 3] | tile |
Achievements
| Icon | Achievement | In-game description | Actual requirements (if different) | Gamerscore earned | Trophy type (PS) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PS4 | Other | ||||||
| Enchanter | Construct an Enchantment Table. | Pick up an enchantment table from a crafting table output. | 20 | Bronze | |||
| Into The Nether | Construct a Nether Portal. | Light a nether portal. | 30 | Bronze | |||
Advancements
| Icon | Advancement | In-game description | Actual requirements (if different) |
|---|---|---|---|
![]() | Enchanter | Enchant an item at an Enchanting Table | Insert an item in an enchanting table, then apply an enchantment. |
![]() | Ice Bucket Challenge | Obtain a block of Obsidian | Have a block of in the inventory. |
![]() | We Need to Go Deeper | Build, light and enter a Nether Portal | Enter the Nether dimension. |
Video
History
| Java Edition Classic | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.28 | |||||||
| Obsidian is extremely tough to break and drops one cobblestone block when broken. | |||||||
| Java Edition Infdev | |||||||
| 20100227-1414 | Added the obsidian wall, which marks the X and Z axis, intersecting at 0,0. This creates two intersecting planes extending just above the surface of the solid material that surrounds them. | ||||||
| 20100313 | The obsidian wall has been removed. | ||||||
| 20100617-1531 | Obsidian is now created when water touches a lava source. | ||||||
| 20100618 | Obsidian now drops itself when broken. | ||||||
| Obsidian's explosion resistance increased. Before this, obsidian had the same blast resistance as stone. | |||||||
| Java Edition Alpha | |||||||
| v1.0.14 | Obsidian made indestructible to TNT. | ||||||
| v1.2.0 | preview | Introduced the Nether portal, made using obsidian, which also makes obsidian renewable. | |||||
| However, since diamond pickaxes are not yet renewable, obsidian cannot be fully renewably obtained. | |||||||
| Java Edition Beta | |||||||
| 1.8 | Pre-release | Obsidian can be moved by endermen. | |||||
| Java Edition | |||||||
| 1.0.0 | Beta 1.9 Prerelease | Obsidian can no longer be moved by endermen. | |||||
| Beta 1.9 Prerelease 3 | The enchantment table has been introduced, which is crafted using obsidian. | ||||||
| Beta 1.9 Prerelease 4 | Introduced the End, with obsidian platform and obsidian pillars. | ||||||
| Beta 1.9 Prerelease 6 | Obsidian mining time has been decreased from 15 to 2.5 seconds. | ||||||
| RC1 | Obsidian mining time has been increased from 2.5 to 9.4 seconds. | ||||||
| 1.1 | 12w01a | Obsidian can now be found in village blacksmith chests. | |||||
| 1.3.1 | 12w21a | The ender chest has been introduced, which is crafted using obsidian. | |||||
| As diamond pickaxes can now be purchased from blacksmith villagers, obsidian is now renewable. | |||||||
| 1.4.2 | 12w36a | The beacon block has now received a crafting recipe, which uses obsidian. | |||||
| 12w38a | The wither's blue wither skull projectile has been introduced, which produces a special explosion that can destroy obsidian. | ||||||
| 1.7.2 | 13w36a | Obsidian can now be destroyed with explosives by summoning a fireball with custom data. | |||||
| 1.8 | 14w25a | An infinite obsidian glitch (MC-4239, allowing conversion of redstone into obsidian) has been fixed during the implementation of the new block metadata format. | |||||
| 14w30a | Obsidian can now be found inside chests in Nether fortresses. | ||||||
| 1.9 | 15w31a | Obsidian now generates as part of the End cities. | |||||
| 15w43a | The obsidian yield from Nether fortress chests has been slightly decreased. | ||||||
| 1.11 | 16w39a | Obsidian now generates in woodland mansions. | |||||
| July 18, 2017 | |||||||
| July 19, 2017 | |||||||
| July 11, 2018 | |||||||
| ? | |||||||
| 1.13 | 18w09a | Obsidian now generates in some underwater ruins. | |||||
| 1.14 | 18w43a | ||||||
| 18w44a | |||||||
| 1.16 | 20w07a | Obsidian has a 1⁄109 (~0.92%) chance of being offered by piglins when bartering, in a stack size of 1. | |||||
| 20w09a | Obsidian now has a 10⁄113 (~8.85%) chance of being offered by piglins when bartering, in a stack size of 1–5. | ||||||
| 20w10a | Obsidian now has a 40⁄411 (~9.73%) chance of being offered by piglins when bartering, in a stack size of 1. | ||||||
| 20w11a | Obsidian now has a 40⁄417 (~9.59%) chance of being offered by piglins when bartering, in a stack size of 1. | ||||||
| 20w13a | Obsidian now has a 40⁄424 (~9.43%) chance of being offered by piglins when bartering, in a stack size of 1. | ||||||
| 20w16a | Obsidian now generates in bastion remnants chests. | ||||||
| Obsidian can now spawn as part of ruined portals or be found in its chests. | |||||||
| 20w20a | Obsidian now has a 40⁄423 (~9.46%) chance of being offered by piglins when bartering, in a stack size of 1. | ||||||
| 1.16.2 | 20w28a | Obsidian now has a 40⁄459 (~8.71%) chance of being offered by piglins when bartering, in a stack size of 1. | |||||
| 20w30a | The chance of finding obsidian in bastion remnant chests has been decreased from 31.5% to 24.4%. | ||||||
| Pocket Edition Alpha | |||||||
| Pre-release | |||||||
| v0.2.0 | In Survival mode, obsidian drops itself when mined with any pickaxe. | ||||||
| v0.3.0 | Obsidian now only drops itself when mined with a diamond pickaxe. This makes obsidian's item form unobtainable as diamond pickaxes are not legitimately obtainable in this version. | ||||||
| v0.3.2 | Diamond pickaxes are now legitimately obtainable, making the obsidian item obtainable once again. | ||||||
| v0.5.0 | Glowing obsidian has been added, which drops a block of regular obsidian when mined. | ||||||
| The newly added Nether reactor structure generates a "spire" of obsidian when activated. | |||||||
| v0.6.0 | The "spires" generated by Nether reactors are now made of netherrack, instead of obsidian. | ||||||
| v0.9.0 | build 1 | Obsidian can now be found in villages within blacksmith chests. | |||||
| v0.12.1 | build 1 | Obsidian can now be used to form Nether portals. | |||||
| Obsidian is now used to craft enchantment tables. | |||||||
| v0.13.0 | build 2 | Obsidian now requires 6.5 seconds to mine, rather than 3. | |||||
| v0.16.0 | build 4 | Obsidian is now used to craft beacons. | |||||
| The wither's "blue wither skull" projectile has been introduced, which produces a special explosion that can destroy obsidian. | |||||||
| Pocket Edition | |||||||
| 1.0.0 | alpha 0.17.0.1 | Obsidian is now used to craft ender chests and End crystals. | |||||
| Obsidian now generates naturally in the End as obsidian platforms, obsidian pillars and some parts of End ships in End cities. | |||||||
| 1.1.0 | alpha 1.1.0.0 | Obsidian now generates in woodland mansions. | |||||
| Bedrock Edition | |||||||
| 1.4.0 | beta 1.2.20.1 | Obsidian now generates in some underwater ruins. | |||||
| 1.10.0 | beta 1.10.0.3 | ||||||
| Obsidian can now be found in village weaponsmith chests. | |||||||
| 1.16.0 | beta 1.16.0.51 | Obsidian can now be obtained from bartering. | |||||
| ? | Obsidian breaking time is now 9.6 seconds instead of 6.2 seconds. | ||||||
| beta 1.16.0.57 | Obsidian now has a 10⁄106 (9.43%) chance of being offered by piglins when bartering, in a stack size of 1. | ||||||
| Obsidian now be found in bastion remnants chests. | |||||||
| Obsidian can now generate as part of ruined portals and can be found in its chests. | |||||||
| Legacy Console Edition | |||||||
| Xbox 360 | Xbox One | PS3 | PS4 | PS Vita | Wii U | Switch | |
| TU1 | CU1 | 1.00 | 1.00 | 1.00 | Patch 1 | 1.0.1 | |
| TU7 | The enchantment table has been introduced, which is crafted using obsidian. | ||||||
| TU9 | Introduced the End, with obsidian platform and obsidian pillars. | ||||||
| TU14 | 1.04 | The ender chest has been introduced, which is crafted using obsidian. | |||||
| TU19 | CU7 | 1.12 | 1.12 | 1.12 | Obsidian can now be used to craft beacons. | ||
| TU31 | CU19 | 1.22 | 1.22 | 1.22 | Patch 3 | Obsidian can now be found inside chests in Nether fortresses. | |
| TU46 | CU36 | 1.38 | 1.38 | 1.38 | Patch 15 | Obsidian now generates as part of the End cities. | |
| TU54 | CU44 | 1.52 | 1.52 | 1.52 | Patch 24 | 1.0.4 | Obsidian now generates in woodland mansions. |
| TU69 | 1.76 | 1.76 | 1.76 | Patch 38 | Obsidian now generates in some underwater ruins. | ||
| 1.90 | |||||||
| New Nintendo 3DS Edition | |||||||
| 0.1.0 | |||||||
-
The first released screenshot of the End, featuring obsidian in obsidian pillars. -
The brightened version of the first image featuring obsidian. -
A naturally generated obsidian wall from Infdev. -
A comparison between glowing obsidian (left), crying obsidian (middle), and regular obsidian (right).
Data history
| Java Edition | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.8 | 14w06a | Obsidian now uses the newly-implemented model json file models/block/cube.json; previously the geometry was defined in the game code itself. | |||||
| 1.13 | 17w47a | Prior to The Flattening, this block's numeral ID was 49. | |||||
Issues
Issues relating to "Obsidian" are maintained on the bug tracker. Issues should be reported and viewed there.
Trivia
- Obsidian is one of the hardest blocks to destroy in Minecraft. In reality, obsidian has characteristics similar to glass, being a brittle material.
- Geologically, obsidian is a volcanic glass that forms when lava is flash-cooled. It is the only igneous rock that's glassy.
- 71.25 times the explosive power of TNT would be required to destroy a block of obsidian; however, additional TNT increases the blast radius, not explosive power. It is possible to
/summonan explosion strong enough to destroy obsidian. - While working on the Texture Update, Jasper Boerstra expressed great difficulty over redesigning obsidian.[1]
Gallery
Screenshots
-
Naturally generated obsidian as found in a snowy biome. -
More naturally generated obsidian pillars as seen in the End. -
Obsidian as used to shield from explosions.
In other media
-
Obsidian as it appeared in Minecraft Earth. -
A bowl of candies, with obsidian. -
Obsidian as it appeared in the 2022 Mob Vote Event. -
Eve in a cage made of obsidian. -
Obsidian as it appears in A Minecraft Movie. -
A gamerpic of obsidian. -
Cubeez of obsidian.
See also
References
- ↑ "Obsidian is tough to design in Minecraft because: This is obsidian. Very specular, brittle, see-through on thin edges, very dark, very smooth. texture is largely defined by specular and shape. In MC, it's a purple colored 'rock' with a few spots!" – @JasperBoerstra (Jasper Boerstra) on X (formerly Twitter), July 11, 2018
External links
- "Block of the Week: Obsidian" by Alex Wiltshire – Minecraft.net, January 27, 2017.
- Jasper Boerstra's tweet on the difficulties of giving Minecraft obsidian a proper texture
