Obsidian

Obtaining

See also: Tutorials/Obsidian farming

Naturally occurring obsidian

Water pouring onto lava springs, forming obsidian

Obsidian is known as the sole block that can only be successfully mined with a diamond pickaxe Pickaxe Type Tools Durability Wood: 60 Uses Stone: 132 Uses Iron: 251 Uses Golden: 33 Uses Diamond: 1562 Uses Renewable Yes Stackable No Data values See data values Name See data values Pickaxes are one .

Block	Obsidian
Hardness	50
Tool
Breaking "Punch" redirects here. For the enchantment, see Enchanting#Punch. The Player punches trees and gets wood (click to view animation). Breaking, digging, punching, or mining is one of the most fundamental activities in Minecraft, performed (by time
Hand	250
Wooden	125
Stone	62.5
Iron	41.7
Diamond	9.4
Golden	20.85

1. ⃢₆ₑ Times are for unenchanted tools in seconds.

Enchanting a pickaxe with "Efficiency" and using a beacon with Haste both drastically decrease the mining time. See the obsidian farming tutorial Obsidian farming refers to methods to obtain large quantities of obsidian. Obsidian does not spawn naturally with the terrain (except in the End), instead being created by natural events or player action. The simplest method for more information.

Info

Obsidian

Transparency When leaves are opaque (in "fast" graphics), they completely block rendering. When leaves are transparent (in "fancy" graphics), the world behind them is also rendered. Opacity (and its inverse, transparency) are properties of blocks with	No
Luminance Light (or lighting) in Minecraft affects visibility, mob spawning, and plant growth. Contents 1 Brightness 1.1 Spread 2 Sources of light 2.1 Blocks 2.2 Other 3 Light-filtering blocks 4 Effects of light 4.1 Mobs 4.2	No
Blast resistance	6,000
Tool
Renewable A renewable resource (as opposed to a non-renewable, or finite, resource) is a resource that can be recreated indefinitely in survival without exploiting glitches or using commands. While running out of resources isn t likely to	Yes
Stackable	Yes (64)
Flammable	No
Drops See the items that drop from entities and blocks. For drops as in falls, see Fall Damage. Typical drops from a skeleton: experience orbs, an arrow, and bones. Drops are items that	Itself
Data value	dec:49 hex:31 bin:110001
Name See values from the latest PCPersonal Computer version of Minecraft. For values from Classic, see Data values/Classic. For values from Indev, see Data values/Indev. For values from the Pocket Edition, see Pocket Edition	obsidian

	“	Strong almost beyond compare and able to stand huge blasts, glossy, black obsidian is forged in the very fires of the earth. What a block!	„
		—Alex Wiltshire

Obsidian is a dark block See the various blocks found in Minecraft. For the blocking with shields that reduces damage when performed, see Blocking. All blocks Blocks are the basic units of structure in Minecraft. Contents 1 known for its high blast resistance and strength.

Videos

Trivia

• Obsidian is one of the hardest blocks to destroy in Minecraft. In reality, obsidian is glass-like in texture and quite fragile.
• In real life, obsidian is an extrusive igneous rock like andesite, meaning that they are both formed from lava that has cooled down.
• Destroying an obsidian block with a diamond pickaxe while underwater without standing on solid ground would take 3 minutes and 54 seconds. (Without the pickaxe, it takes 4 minutes and 10 seconds.) Either way, the player will run out of air long before the block is mined. (Unless a potion of water breathing is used)
• It is a common misconception that enough TNT will destroy obsidian. Even though its explosion resistance rating is finite, additional TNT or other explosives will have no more effect on an individual block than only one (it would take 71.25 times the explosive power of TNT to destroy a block of obsidian). It is possible to hack or use /summon an explosion strong enough to destroy obsidian, but no such explosion appears naturally.
  • The "Blue Wither Skull"`s ability to destroy obsidian is a special feature; its explosion is otherwise no stronger than a ghast`s fireball.

Lava and water

Using a water spring to mine obsidian.

Obsidian is formed when flowing water Water Transparency Partial (-2 to light) Luminance No Blast resistance 500 (Flowing) 500 (Still) Tool Renewable Yes Stackable N/A Flammable No Drops None Data values Flowing Water dec: 08 hex: 8 bin: 1000 Still Water dec: 09 hex: 9 bin: 1001 hits a lava Lava Transparency Yes Luminance Yes, 15 Blast resistance 500 Tool Renewable No Stackable N/A Flammable No Drops None Data values Flowing Lava dec: 10 hex: A bin: 1010 Still Lava dec: 11 hex: B bin: 1011 Name Flowing Lava flowing_lava Still source block, and can be found naturally where water from a spring or lake has flowed over a nearby lava Lava Transparency Yes Luminance Yes, 15 Blast resistance 500 Tool Renewable No Stackable N/A Flammable No Drops None Data values Flowing Lava dec: 10 hex: A bin: 1010 Still Lava dec: 11 hex: B bin: 1011 Name Flowing Lava flowing_lava Still pool.

Natural generation

Obsidian can be created when a Nether portal Nether portal Consists of Obsidian Nether Portal Can generate post-generation Yes, when the player builds an appropriate frame and lights it with flint and steel First appearances See History See the structure. is generated in the Nether A view of the Nether. The Nether is a hell-like dimension, filled with fire, lava, and dangerous mobs. Contents 1 Accessing 2 Environment 2.1 Mobs 3 Generation 3.1 Naturally generated 3.2 Naturally created 3.3 Structures or the overworld The Overworld, as seen in an extreme hills and a forest biome The Overworld is the dimension in which all players begin their Minecraft journey. Contents 1 Creation 1.1 Seeds 2 Environment 2.1 Biomes 2.2 . This portal can then be mined, providing another way of obtaining obsidian renewably.

When a player enters the End See the dimension. For the achievement, see Achievements#The End.. For the advancement, see Advancements#The End. A view of the central End island. The ender dragon can be seen flying around obsidian pillars, , a platform of 25 obsidian blocks is generated for the player to spawn on. This platform can then be mined, and will be regenerated when the player reenters The End. Solid pillars of obsidian Obsidian Pillar Biome The End Consists of Obsidian Bedrock Iron Bars End Crystal Can generate post-generation Yes, while the Ender Dragon is respawning First appearances See History Obsidian pillars, also known as obsidian spikes or can also be found on the surface, which will regenerate when the ender dragon is respawned. Obsidian also generates as a part of end cities End City Biome The End Consists of See Structure First appearances See History “ End Cities, replete with End Ships, Chorus Plants, Chorus Flowers and Purpur blocks. Not all is as it seems, however - .

Obsidian also occurs naturally where underwater springs flow onto lava, often at layer 10.

Obsidian also generates in woodland mansions Woodland mansion Biome Roofed Forest Consists of See Structure. Can generate post-generation N/A First appearances See history This article may need cleanup to comply with the style guide. Please help improve this if you can. in a tree shape with a diamond block Block of Diamond Transparency No Luminance No Blast resistance 30 Tool Renewable No Stackable Yes (64) Flammable No Drops Itself Data value dec: 57 hex: 39 bin: 111001 Name diamond_block See the solid Blocks of in the middle of it.

Chests

Obsidian can be found in 26.0% of village Village Biome Plains, desert, savanna, taiga Consists of See Structure Can generate post-generation No First appearances See History See villages. For how to build the natural village style, see Village Blueprints. “ blacksmith chests in stacks of 3⃢₀ₓ7, and in 8.0% of nether fortress Nether Fortress Biome The Nether Consists of See Structure First appearances See history Nether fortresses are structures that are naturally generated in the Nether. Contents 1 Generation 1.1 Mobs 2 Structure 2.1 Blocks 3 Loot chests in stacks of 2⃢₀ₓ4.

Ender chests

When an ender chest Ender Chest Type Tile Entity Physics No Transparency Yes Luminance 7 Blast resistance 3,000 Hardness 22.5 Tool Renewable Yes Stackable Yes (64) Flammable No First appearances See History Drops Obsidian (8) Block entity id ender_chest is mined with a pickaxe without the Silk Touch enchantment, it drops 8 obsidian.

Usage

Obsidian can be used to build explosion resistant structures. At 6,000, obsidian`s explosion resistance is the highest you can obtain in Survival mode, other than anvils Anvil Transparency Yes Luminance No Blast resistance 6,000 Tool Renewable Yes Stackable Yes (64), same damage state only Flammable No Drops Itself Data value dec: 145 hex: 91 bin: 10010001 Name anvil See the item which have the same blast resistance. Obsidian cannot be pushed by pistons.

Nether portals

Obsidian can be used to create a nether portal frame, which can then be ignited using fire Fire Transparency Yes Luminance Yes, 15 Blast resistance 0 Tool Any tool Renewable No Stackable N/A Flammable No Drops None Data value dec: 51 hex: 33 bin: 110011 Name fire Fire is a harmful non-solid block. Contents 1 . The frame will be a vertical rectangle any size from 4ℂₗ5 to 23ℂₗ23. Note that the corners of the frame are not required.

Crafting ingredient

Name See values from the latest PC version of Minecraft. For values from Classic, see Data values/Classic. For values from Indev, see Data values/Indev. For values from the Pocket Edition, see Pocket Edition	Ingredients	Crafting Crafting is the method by which many blocks, tools, and materials are made in Minecraft. In order to craft something, players must move items from their inventory to a crafting grid. A 2×2 crafting grid recipe
Beacon	Glass+ Nether Star+ Obsidian
Enchantment Table Enchantment Table Type Solid Block Requirements None Physics No Transparency Yes Luminance Computer: No Pocket Edition: 12 Blast resistance 6,000 Hardness 5 Tool Renewable No Stackable Yes (64) Flammable No First appearances See History Drops	Book+ Diamond+ Obsidian
Ender Chest	Obsidian+ Eye of Ender

Achievements

Advancements

Icon	Advancement	In-game description	Parent	Actual requirements (if different)	Internal ID
	Ice Bucket Challenge	Form and mine a block of Obsidian	Hot Stuff	Get a block of obsidian in your inventory.	minecraft:story/form_obsidian
	Enchanter	Enchant an item at an Enchanting Table	Diamonds!	⃢₀ₔ	minecraft:story/enchant_item

Video

History

Classic
0.26 SURVIVAL TEST 9					Added obsidian.
					In Survival Test mode, obsidian was extremely tough to break and would drop one or two Cobblestone blocks when broken.
Indev
?					Obsidian was removed.
Infdev
?					Obsidian was restored. It was used to mark the positions of the cardinal directions. This created two intersecting planes extending just above the surface of the solid material that surrounds them. (This has long since been removed.)
Alpha
1.2.0					The nether portal was introduced, made using obsidian.
Beta
1.8			pre1		Obsidian could be mined with an iron pickaxe (since removed), or moved by endermen.
Official release
1.0.0			Beta 1.9-pre3		The enchantment table was introduced, crafted using obsidian.
			Beta 1.9-pre6		Obsidian mining time was decreased from 15 to 2.5 seconds.
					Obsidian mining time was increased from 2.5 to 9.4 seconds.
1.1					Obsidian can be found in village Village Biome Plains, desert, savanna, taiga Consists of See Structure Can generate post-generation No First appearances See History See villages. For how to build the natural village style, see Village Blueprints. “ chests.
1.3.1			12w21a		The ender chest Ender Chest Type Tile Entity Physics No Transparency Yes Luminance 7 Blast resistance 3,000 Hardness 22.5 Tool Renewable Yes Stackable Yes (64) Flammable No First appearances See History Drops Obsidian (8) Block entity id ender_chest was introduced, crafted using obsidian.
1.4.2			12w36a		The beacon block got a crafting recipe using obsidian.
			12w38a		The wither`s “blue wither skull” projectile was introduced, producing 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		“Infiniobsidian” glitch (allowing conversion of redstone into obsidian) 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 End City Biome The End Consists of See Structure First appearances See History “ End Cities, replete with End Ships, Chorus Plants, Chorus Flowers and Purpur blocks. Not all is as it seems, however - .
			15w43a		Slightly decreased yield from nether fortress chests.
1.11			16w39a		Obsidian now generates in woodland mansions Woodland mansion Biome Roofed Forest Consists of See Structure. Can generate post-generation N/A First appearances See history This article may need cleanup to comply with the style guide. Please help improve this if you can. .
Pocket Edition Alpha
0.1.0					Added Obsidian.
0.5.0					Glowing obsidian was added, drops a block of regular obsidian when mined.
					The newly added nether reactor structure generates a “spire” of obsidian when activated.
0.6.0					The “spires” generated by nether reactors are now made of netherrack instead of obsidian.
0.12.1			build 1		Obsidian can now be used to form nether portals.
					Obsidian is now used to craft enchanting tables.
0.13.0			build 2		Obsidian now requires 6.5 seconds to mine, rather than 3.
0.16.0			build 1		Obsidian is now used to craft beacons.
Pocket Edition
1.0			build 1		Obsidian is now used to craft ender chests.
1.1			build 1		Obsidian now generates in woodland mansions Woodland mansion Biome Roofed Forest Consists of See Structure. Can generate post-generation N/A First appearances See history This article may need cleanup to comply with the style guide. Please help improve this if you can. .
Console Edition
TU1	CU1	1.0	Patch 1		Added obsidian.

Issues

Issues relating to ⃢₀ₜObsidian⃢₀₝ are maintained on the issue tracker. Report issues there.

Gallery

• 

  Naturally found obsidian in a snowy biome

• 

  Old obsidian wall from Infdev

Contents

Uses

Obsidian is also the only material that can be used to make a portal to The Nether, as of the October 31st Halloween Update. To make a portal, a frame made of Obsidian must be erected, standing 4 blocks long and 5 blocks high The maximum size is a square 23 by 23 high as of release 1.7, and the remaining space should be left open. The corner blocks need not be included in the rectangle. Then, the bottom Obsidian blocks should be lit on fire with a Fire Charge or Flint and Steel, though Lava will not work. After this is done, the portal opens, granting access to The Nether. Obsidian is also resistant to explosions, with the exception of the Wither`s skeleton skull attack. Because of this fact, many players have constructed execution-by-TNT rooms out of Obsidian.

In addition to the TNT execution rooms, multiplayer servers find Obsidian to be the best defensive structure, as it is nearly impossible to destroy. Making a wall around a city in Obsidian may take a long time, but is well worth the defense when defending from an attack, especially since it renders TNT useless.

Mining

As a Crafting Ingredient