How to activate beacon in Minecraft
Want to unlock powerful status effects like Speed, Jump Boost, Haste, Regeneration, Resistance, and Strength, and dominate your Minecraft world? Then you absolutely need to know how to activate and use a beacon! This comprehensive guide covers everything about Minecraft beacons: crafting the beacon block, gathering the necessary resources, constructing the beacon pyramid, understanding beacon range and effects, troubleshooting common problems, and answering frequently asked questions. Let's get started!
Crafting the Beacon Block
Before building your pyramid, you need a beacon block! Here's the Minecraft beacon recipe:
- 5 Glass: Crafted from sand in a furnace.
- 3 Obsidian: Formed when water flows over lava source blocks.
- 1 Nether Star: A rare drop from the Wither boss, found in the Nether. This is the key ingredient!
Arrange these items in a crafting table in the correct 3x3 pattern (check the Minecraft Wiki for the exact layout) and you'll craft your beacon block.
Gathering Resources for Your Beacon Pyramid
Beyond the beacon itself, building the supporting pyramid structure requires additional resources:
- Obsidian Blocks: As mentioned in the crafting recipe, you'll need obsidian for the beacon itself, but you'll also want a large quantity for the most powerful pyramid structure.
- Iron, Gold, Diamond, Emerald, or Netherite Blocks: You can use any of these blocks to build the pyramid base. The material is purely cosmetic and doesn't impact the functionality. However, rarer blocks showcase your progress and dedication!
Building the Beacon Pyramid in Minecraft
The Minecraft beacon pyramid is the key to unlocking your beacon’s power and determining what effects you can select. Here's a breakdown of the different levels and how to build them:
| Level | Mineral Blocks | Total Materials | Layers |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 (3x3) | 9 | 81 | 3×3, beacon |
| 2 (5x5) | 34 | 306 | 5×5, 3×3, beacon |
| 3 (7x7) | 83 | 747 | 7×7, 5×5, 3×3, beacon |
| 4 (9x9) | 164 | 1476 | 9×9, 7×7, 5×5, 3×3, beacon |
Build the pyramid on the ground in the desired configuration and place the beacon block itself on the top center.
Activating the Beacon
Follow these steps to activate your Minecraft beacon setup:
- Right-click the Beacon Block: This opens the beacon's interface.
- Insert the Nether Star: Place the Nether Star in the interface's empty slot.
- Select Your Power: Choose your desired status effect (more on this below!).
Choosing Beacon Effects and Understanding Range
Once activated, the beacon provides powerful status effects within a specific range determined by the pyramid size. Here’s a detailed breakdown:
| Pyramid Size | Available Effects | Effect Details | Range (Blocks) | Duration (Seconds) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1x1 | Speed I, Haste I | Basic movement and mining/attack speed boost. | 20 | 11 |
| 2x2 | Speed II, Haste II, OR Resistance I | Enhanced Speed & Haste or initial Resistance. | 30 | 13 |
| 3x3 | Speed II, Haste II, Resistance II, Jump Boost II, Strength I, OR Regeneration I | Wider selection of enhanced effects. | 40 | 15 |
| 4x4 | Speed II, Haste II, Resistance II, Jump Boost II, Strength II, Primary Power II (30s), Secondary Power I | Most powerful effect combination with temporary boosts. | 50 | 17 |
What Does “Open Sky” Mean for a Beacon?
A “clear view of the sky” is essential for beacon activation. Any opaque blocks directly above the beacon, regardless of height, will block its functionality. Transparent blocks like glass or water are acceptable as long as nothing else is directly above them. This is why many players create elevated beacon platforms. Check for obstructions like leaves, signs or other transparent blocks higher up
Troubleshooting Your Minecraft Beacon
If your beacon isn't working, check these common issues:
- Obstructed Sky: Ensure a completely unobstructed path to the sky above the beacon.
- Incorrect Pyramid Blocks: Use only iron, gold, diamond, emerald, or netherite blocks for the pyramid structure.
- Missing Nether Star: You need a Nether Star to activate and change powers.
- Incorrectly built pyramid: Make sure your beacon pyramid is correctly built. Refer to the table to verify number of blocks. The pyramid also needs to be built out of a single material, for example, all diamond blocks or all emerald blocks etc.
Frequently Asked Questions about Minecraft Beacons
What does a beacon do in Minecraft?
Beacons provide powerful status effects within a certain radius, making you a much stronger player.
What is the Minecraft beacon range?
The range depends on the size of your pyramid, ranging from 20 blocks (1x1) to 50 blocks (4x4).
Can I use different blocks for my beacon pyramid?
Yes, the block type only affects the appearance, not the functionality, but all blocks need to be of the same type for each pyramid level.
Now you’re ready to activate and use your beacon in Minecraft! Enjoy the enhanced powers, and let us know if you have any more questions!
About Author
Hello, I'm Tabish, also knows as Tabby. Playing video games is something I like and have been doing for as long as I can remember. RPG, Sports, Hack and Slash, Strategy games are some of the genres that interest me. Many times I find myself skipping sleep and playing Skyrim, Witcher 3 or Minecraft. I decided to write about the games I play. In my blogs, I will be covering Guides to Games, News and Reviews about them, so you dont have to spend time searching.