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Spawn Points

Every world has a set spawn point where players are placed near when they first enter the game, and each time they die (see below about beds). The world has one spawn point, and all players spawn within a few blocks of that, but the exact location is randomized. (Formerly, single-player games had a specific spawn point, but now they use the same system as multi-player.) In multi-player, the area around the spawn points is "protected", so that only server operators can build or destroy blocks there. Making a base too close to a multiplayer spawn area can also expose it to griefers A massively destroyed castle. Griefing is the act of irritating and angering people in video games through the use of destruction, construction, or social engineering. Popularized in Minecraft by teams, griefing has become a serious , so in multi-player it`s usually better to move some distance before settling in.

Each player can change their individual spawn point by sleeping in a bed Bed Type Block Entity Physics No Transparency Yes Luminance No Blast resistance 1 Hardness 0.2 Tool Any tool Renewable Yes Stackable No Flammable PC: No, but catches fire from lava PE: No First appearances See , most often in their base. If the bed is removed, destroyed, or blocked, the new spawn point is lost, and the player respawns near their world`s original spawn point. A world`s spawn point can be found easily using a Compass, but this always points at the player`s or world`s original spawn point, not a bed location.

X, Y, and Z coordinatesJava⃂₠and Console editions

If you press F3, you open up a very useful debug screen Java Edition Only Screenshot showing the debug information "Debug" redirects here. For world type, see Debug mode. The debug screen is triggered when the F3 key is pressed. It shows the chunk cache, the memory of info (press F3 again to close it), which includes your current coordinates X, Y and Z coordinate on a Minecraft map. Coordinates numerically represent your location in a Minecraft world. They are based on a grid where three lines or axes intersect at the origin point. Players in the world. These coordinates are interpreted as follows: All three coordinates are measured in "blocks", which are considered equivalent to meters of distance. X gives your distance east of the origin, and Z gives the distance south. Both of these can be negative, for positions west or north of the origin. The Y coordinate displays your altitude in meters, which cannot be negative (the world is floored with bedrock Bedrock Transparency No Luminance No Blast resistance 18,000,000 Tool None Renewable No Stackable Yes (64) Flammable No Drops None Data value dec: 07 hex: 7 bin: 111 Name bedrock Bedrock is a block, indestructible by survival means. Contents at level 0). Sea level is 63 or 64 (depending on your game version), and the spawn point will be within a few hundred blocks of the map origin (X and Z of 0). As of version 1.3.1, the debug screen now displays two Y positions: The Y position of your feet is the height of the top of the block you are standing on, while the other (formerly the only one reported) is 1.62 meters higher and gives the height of your eyes⃢₀ₔthat is, your screen shows the world from this height. Among the other information in the debug screen, the item "f" gives your facing, meaning which compass direction you are (most nearly) facing. A value of 0 means south, 1 west, 2 north, and 3 east.

The simplest way to avoid getting totally lost is to write down the X and Z coordinates of your base. If you`ve gone far afield, you can always get home by pressing F3, comparing your current coordinates to those of your base, and heading in appropriate directions until the coordinates match.

This method of navigation is particularly important for exploring the Nether, as a compass Compass Type Tools Durability N/A Renewable Yes Stackable Yes (64) First appearances See history Data value dec: 345 hex: 159 bin: 101011001 Name compass Compasses are an item used to point to the world spawn. Contents 1 Obtaining does not work and maps are impaired. Write down the coordinates of your portal or Nether Base, and you can go exploring the Nether. Also, if you find a 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 far from your base but want to go back to it, write down the coordinates of the fortress and you can go back to it later.

Exploration

The best way to explore without a compass is to go in only one direction, then press F3 and check whether it`s north, south, east or west ^{Java Minecraft Author(s) Mojang AB (Credits) Markus "Notch" Persson (Creator) Jens "Jeb" Bergensten (Lead Developer) Jon "jonkagstrom" Kågström (AI Programmer) Nathan "Dinnerbone" Adams Erik "Grum" Broes Michael "Searge" Stoyke Thomas "ProfMobius" Guimbretière Agnes "LadyAgnes" Larsson Maria ⃂and Console editions}. Then when you finish exploring, just turn around and go back!

Directional Guides

Minecraft has a well-defined set of directions, north, south, east, and west. There are several ways to tell which way you are facing:

• The Sun The sun. The sun is a celestial body that provides light and life for the Minecraft world. Contents 1 Daytime 2 Sunlight 2.1 Effects on mobs 3 History 4 Issues 5 Trivia 6 Gallery 7 and the Moon A full moon. The moon is a celestial body that appears during the Minecraft night. Contents 1 Nighttime 1.1 Stars 2 Phases 2.1 Effects on mobs 3 History 4 Issues 5 Trivia 6 Gallery 7 rise in the east and set in the west. Their paths are always the same, and they are fixed against the stars.
• The stars turn counterclockwise around the north pole, and clockwise around the south pole.
• Clouds always float west, and are visible above-ground during day and night.
• When using the debug screen Java Edition Only Screenshot showing the debug information "Debug" redirects here. For world type, see Debug mode. The debug screen is triggered when the F3 key is pressed. It shows the chunk cache, the memory ( Computer Minecraft Author(s) Mojang AB (Credits) Markus "Notch" Persson (Creator) Jens "Jeb" Bergensten (Lead Developer) Jon "jonkagstrom" Kågström (AI Programmer) Nathan "Dinnerbone" Adams Erik "Grum" Broes Michael "Searge" Stoyke Thomas "ProfMobius" Guimbretière Agnes "LadyAgnes" Larsson Maria and Console Editions Console Edition Author(s) Mojang AB 4J Studios Platform(s) Written in C++ Latest version Xbox 360 - TU53 Xbox One - CU43 PS3 - 1.51 PS4 - 1.50 PSVita - 1.51 Wii U - Patch 23 only), the line starting with `f` gives your compass facing, including an angle in degrees.

Trail Markers

There are a variety of markers you can leave behind to make trails, with a somewhat different selection being useful underground.

• Mushrooms: Relatively easy to acquire if you`re near a swamp biome, quick to harvest and will attach to nearly any block. Space them close enough together so the last one is still visible behind you when you go to place the next. With red and brown mushrooms, you can have two separate trails that are easy to retrace. When you`re done with them, you might try some mushroom stew Mushroom Stew Type Food Restores 6 () Cookable No Renewable Yes Stackable No First appearances See History Data value dec: 282 hex: 11A bin: 100011010 Name mushroom_stew Mushroom stew is a food item. Contents 1 Obtaining 1.1 Mooshrooms .
• Torches: You can place all your torches on the right side of the cave when you enter a new passage. This allows you to find your way back to the entrance simply by keeping the torches on your left. When encountering multiple caverns, also known as a fork, put two torches at the exit to indicate the correct way to exit the cavern. You can also place torches to point towards the exit. This method has its limits, as torches restricted to the right side probably won`t provide sufficient light to completely prevent mobs from spawning.
  • Torches placed on the side of a block can be used to indicate direction. Torches placed on the faces of blocks that are in front of you on your outward journey point back toward the exit on your return journey.
  • You can put additional torches on the floor in caves and the wider passageways, and in the middle of non-exit walls.
  • If you "float" a block in the middle of the cavern and cover it in torches, it lights a wide area, and the floating block is easily distinguishable from the marker torches.
  • If a cave loops back on itself at some point, there can be some confusion as to the shortest way out⃢₀ₔyou may need some of the other markers listed below.
  • Combining the previous methods with the "right hand against the wall" rule helps you methodically explore: Always go into the rightmost dark area at intersections. Imagine your right hand running along the wall.
• Signs at intersections, often with "ASCII arrows", such as --> or ^, to indicate the heading. Keep in mind that you need to be able to see these signposts the most on your way back out of the cavern, so when placing them, it is important to position them where they are easily visible from the other direction. Signs are reliable (lava notwithstanding) and fairly cheap (6 wooden planks and 1 stick produces 3 signs). Unlike most blocks, be that as it may, they only stack up to sixteen (16). This may suffice for small cavern groups; for larger cave systems, you can bring a stack of wood and a crafting table Crafting Table Transparency No Luminance No Blast resistance 12.5 Tool Renewable Yes Stackable Yes (64) Flammable No, but catches fire from lava Drops Itself Data value dec: 58 hex: 3A bin: 111010 Name crafting_table The crafting table (also to make signs as you go. (The table can be carried with you after each use.) Normally you`ll want to carry logs, but in abandoned mineshafts Abandoned mineshaft Biome Any Consists of Wooden Planks Fence Rail Torch Cobweb Dirt Monster Spawner Minecart with Chest Can generate post-generation No First appearances See history "Mine" redirects here. For information about mining, see Mining. , planks are handy and common.
• Cobblestone arrows at each intersection, pointing back towards the passage you just came from. A torch can be placed on the block at the tip of the arrow to ensure that the arrow is easy to spot. This method has the advantage of utilizing a resource (cobblestone) that is common in caverns and easily carried in bulk, making it suitable for aiding in the exploration of even the most massive caverns. These arrows can be placed on walls or embedded into the floor, and can point in any direction. Similarly to the signpost method, cobblestone arrows should be placed in locations that are easily visible on the way back out of the cavern.
• Cobblestone can also be used for walls or barricades to block off dead-ends or previously explored cavern branches to find exits more quickly. This along with the "right-side" torch method work very well hand-in-hand and can guarantee a less confusing exit strategy for players in a hurry to end their cavern run.
• In otherwise "cleaned-up" caverns or mineshafts, dead-ends that have already been cleared out, can be marked with a block of dirt.
• Redstone: If you`re not using it for other things See redstone circuits. For other redstone-related articles, see Redstone (disambiguation). Contents 1 Redstone basics 1.1 Redstone components 1.2 Power 1.3 Power level 1.4 Redstone update 1.5 Redstone tick 1.6 Signals and pulses , you can use it for several kinds of trail marking.
  • Lines and arrows from spare redstone dust.
  • Redstone torches Redstone Torch Transparency Yes Luminance Yes, 7 (when on) Blast resistance 0 Tool Any tool Renewable Yes Stackable Yes (64) Flammable No Drops Itself Data values See Data values Name See Data values This article within sight of each other are distinctive. Note that redstone torches do not provide enough light to stop monster spawning, but you won`t confuse them with regular torches.
  • Combining the above gives you trails of lit redstone dust, up to 15 long per torch. These fade as they stretch away from the torch, but you can use that as a directional hint.
• Minecart tracks Rail Transparency Yes Luminance No Blast resistance 3.5 Tool Renewable Yes Stackable Yes (64) Flammable No Drops Itself Data value dec: 66 hex: 42 bin: 1000010 Name rail See the standard rail. For other uses, can also be used to mark trails. Of course, if you`ve laid down an actual track, it`s easy to follow or ride that to either end.
• Jack-o-lanterns Jack o Lantern Transparency Partial (blocks light) Luminance Yes, 15 Blast resistance 5 Tool Renewable Yes Stackable Yes (64) Flammable No Drops Itself Data value dec: 91 hex: 5B bin: 1011011 Name lit_pumpkin “ Jack-o -lanterns: great looks, super powers. can be placed at intersections, with the face pointing towards the exit. This doubles as a light source and a direction out. Jack-o-lanterns are easy to acquire once you start a pumpkin Pumpkin Transparency Partial (blocks light) Luminance No Blast resistance 5 Tool Renewable Yes Stackable Yes (64) Flammable No Drops Itself Data value dec: 86 hex: 56 bin: 1010110 Name pumpkin See the pumpkin block. For farm, and give off more light than a torch. In cases where there is one path on top of the other one, place the jack-o-lantern higher (using piles of gravel or some other temporary block to place it on top of) to indicate the exit is the upper path. Make sure to place them at the middle of the intersecting paths, with the pumpkin easy to see from both directions.
• If you`ve been to 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 , netherrack Netherrack Transparency No Luminance No Blast resistance 2 Tool Renewable No Yes Pocket edition only] Stackable Yes (64) Flammable No (burns indefinitely when manually ignited, top side only) Experience Smelted: 0.1 Drops Itself Data value dec: 87 is conspicuous. It is also very quick to mine, and doesn`t naturally appear in 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 . When going back, you can set them alight, recovering torches and marking explored paths.
• Wool is versatile and stackable, and comes in a variety of colors. Use different colors for different symbols, e.g., "red" for "explored branch", or a combo of "white" and "yellow" to form an exit sign arrow. Beware that wool is flammable, so be careful around lava. You can also use different colors to mark particular trails. Even underground you can get string String Transparency Yes Luminance No Blast resistance 0 Tool Any tool Renewable Yes Stackable Yes (64) Flammable No Drops String (1) Data values Block dec: 132 hex: 84 bin: 10000100 Item dec: 287 hex: 11F bin: 100011111 Name Block tripwire Item from spiders or cobwebs Cobweb Transparency Partial (diffuses sky light) Luminance No Blast resistance 20 Tools Renewable No Stackable Yes (64) Flammable No Drops String (1) Data value dec: 30 hex: 1E bin: 11110 Name web Cobwebs are blocks that slow down , and craft that into wool. You can also get at least two, possibly three primary dyes, which you can use and combine to make your wool more conspicuous: lapis lazuli Lapis Lazuli Type Wool dyes Durability N/A Renewable Yes Stackable Yes (64) Data value dec: 3514 hex: 15F4 bin: 1010111114 Name dye 4 See the Lapis Lazuli dye. For the block, see Lapis Lazuli Block. from (moderately deep) ore, and bone meal Bone Meal Type Wool dyes Durability N/A Renewable Yes Stackable Yes (64) Data value dec: 35115 hex: 15F15 bin: 10101111115 Name dye 15 Bone meal is a material that can be used as a dye as well as from skeletons. A large waterfall from the surface may also provide ink sacs Ink Sac Type Wool dyes Durability N/A Renewable Yes Stackable Yes (64) Data value dec: 351 hex: 15F bin: 101011111 Name dye Ink sacs are the darkest possible primary color dye. Contents 1 Obtaining 1.1 Squids 1.2 Fishing from squid Squid Health points 10 () Size Height: 0.8 Blocks Width: 0.8 Blocks Spawn 1 or more blocks of water, any light level, spawning block must be between level 46 (inclusive) and sea level First appearances . In addition, flowers can be found (very rarely) in caves.
• A short, distinctive stack of blocks with two torches: one on top to make the stack stand out from a distance, and one on the side of the stack that points away from the exit: this torch will be clearly visible when you are walking towards the exit. A cobblestone block on top of a dirt block stands out and is quick and cheap to make. Marker beacons like these are useful for lighting up larger caves and in the middle of a large junction.
• If you have a large amount of string, you can create a trail with it on the ground that leads back to where you came from. This can be very effective in abandoned mineshafts as there are plenty of cobwebs to harvest for this. The only major downside is that the string can be difficult to see, even in a well lit area.

Roads and Rails

If you decide to try and find a new place to build a house or a mine, a useful thing to do is to dig a two or three block wide trench as you move along. Once you find your new construction site, all you have to do is follow the trench back and forth between your mines/houses. Later in the game (or as you are digging, if you have the resources) you can fill in the trench to make a nice-looking pathway. Note that sand/sandstone or gravel look flashy but are non-renewable and fragile⃢₀ₔfor long roads, you`re better off using cobblestone, smooth stone, or even wood. (Lightning can burn wood, but that`s pretty rare, and doesn`t happen at all in deserts.)

It would also be a good idea to place torches Torch Transparency Yes Luminance 14 Blast resistance 0 Tool Any tool Renewable Yes Stackable Yes (64) Flammable No Drops Itself Data value dec: 50 hex: 32 bin: 110010 Name torch See the common light-emitting torch. along the pathway to make night travel safer. You could even place fences Fence Transparency Yes Luminance No Blast resistance 15 (Wood) 30 (Nether Brick) Tools Renewable Wood: Yes Nether Brick: No Stackable Yes (64) Flammable Wood: Yes Nether Brick: No Drops Itself Data values See Data values beside your road for a more appealing look and to fend off monsters. As you build more things, you can create forks in your road along with signs Sign Type Non-Solid Block Physics No Transparency Yes Luminance No Blast resistance 5 Hardness 1 Tool Renewable Yes Stackable Yes (16) Flammable No, but catches fire from lava (Yes in Pocket Edition) First appearances See to direct you to where you want to go.

Of course, once you have a road, you may want to put down rails. A railway also doubles as a road!

Maps

Maps Map Type Tools Durability N/A Renewable Yes Stackable Yes (64) First appearances See History Data values Drawn dec: 358 hex: 166 bin: 101100110 Empty dec: 395 hex: 18B bin: 110001011 Name PCPersonal Computer Drawn: filled_map Empty: map PE Drawn: ? Empty: emptymap This are a viable supplement or replacement for trail markers for mid-range journeys. Maps cost a compass and a lot of paper, so you need a little redstone Redstone Transparency Yes Luminance No Blast resistance 0 Tool Any tool Renewable Yes Stackable Yes (64) Flammable No Availability Survival Drops Redstone (1) Data values See Data values Name See Data values This article is and iron Iron Ingot Type Raw materials Durability N/A Renewable Yes Stackable Yes (64) First appearances See History Data value dec: 265 hex: 109 bin: 100001001 Name iron_ingot Iron ingots are versatile metal crafting ingredients. They are most commonly obtained plus some sugar cane Sugar Canes Transparency Yes Luminance No Blast resistance 0 Tool Any tool Renewable Yes Stackable Yes (64) Flammable No Drops Itself Data values See Data values Name reeds Sugar canes are an item and an for this. Activate your empty map midway between the two points you want to connect. One location will be at one edge, the other on the other side, depending on the distance.

As of version 1.4, maps are not exactly centered on where they are activated, because they snap to a grid. They also start off with a very small scale, and need to be zoomed out to a reasonable scale after activation, but before you start making copies. Each zoom level takes 8 more paper (at a crafting table), and doubles the map scale, but also clears any current contents. Be that as it may, the map will remain centered roughly where the empty map was activated. It takes 3 zooms to match the scale of the pre-1.4 maps; the fourth zoom reaches the maximum scale of one chunk per pixel. You can place a framed copy of each map in your base to get a green marker for the location (at least when the frame`s chunk is loaded).

You may want to note or create a large structure that is visible on the map at each location. Construct it out of a material that stands out; colored wool Wool Transparency No Luminance No Blast resistance 4 Tool Renewable Yes Stackable Yes (64), same color only Flammable Yes Drops Itself Data value dec: 35 hex: 23 bin: 100011 Name wool Wool is a block derived from sheep , cobblestone Cobblestone Transparency No Luminance No Blast resistance 30 Tool Renewable Yes Stackable Yes (64) Flammable No Experience Smelted: 0.1 Drops Itself Data value dec: 4 hex: 4 bin: 100 Name cobblestone Cobblestone is a common block, obtained from , and moss stone all contrast against snow (unless they get re-covered with snow), and all but moss stone against trees and grass. (Prior to 1.7, all colors of wool would show stone-gray on the map, but as of 1.7.2 this is no longer an issue.) Some natural structures that stand out include Villages, stone "shields", and large lakes, rivers, or lava pools.

You may also wish to make a map room of the local (or not-so-local) area. Doing so gives you insight into the surrounding area, as well as showing any points of interest such as above ground lava pools and ravines, or even your own larger constructions.

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  A tower marker in the distance.

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  A dirt tower covered in Lava.

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  Some gate markers.

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  A simple torch trail.

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  A map room

Underground Navigation

Natural caverns are fairly easy to get lost in without a little forethought. Depending on a player`s mining style, artificial mines might be fairly disorienting as well! Here are some tips for getting around. Remember that digging your way to the surface is usually possible, but may be hazardous in its own right (water or lava being the major hazard).

Other hints

• While it will not help you in navigating the cave itself, it may be wise to bring a map with you into a large cave, should you get lost and need to dig your way out. Note that most caves occupy less area horizontally than they might seem, but interconnected caves and abandoned mineshafts Abandoned mineshaft Biome Any Consists of Wooden Planks Fence Rail Torch Cobweb Dirt Monster Spawner Minecart with Chest Can generate post-generation No First appearances See history "Mine" redirects here. For information about mining, see Mining. can sprawl over huge distances. You might well map some new surface as you explore underground, but the cave itself will not be mapped.
• A good mining practice is to fully explore and light a cave system before beginning to mine out any resources. It is extremely dangerous to stop and mine in a dark cave system, and you can lose your loot if you are killed. Check for "broken bridges" such as gravel masses or 2-block drops. If monsters can come out of them, you may want to change that; once verified safe, you can save the blocked-off areas for later.
• As part of exploration, try to "clean up" the area, taking off leftover blocks, filling small pits, and generally smoothing things out. In abandoned mineshafts, clear out most of the fence-and-plank "supports" as you "claim" an area. This improves both visibility and mobility, cutting down on unpleasant surprises.
• Some water flows come from openings in the seafloor. With care (and perhaps a door or some ladders), you can swim up these and mark the entrance with a jack-o-lantern, which are generally visible from the sea surface. Such openings are also a quick way to get back to the surface if you`ve gotten lost. With a bit more effort, you can seal the opening altogether, perhaps leaving a shaft with ladders for your own use. (Remember that ladders and signs block water.)
• When finished exploring a cave, you can make your own exit⃢₀ₔjust dig upwards to the surface in a staircase fashion, watching for drips and being careful not to dig the block just above you. This is especially useful for when you are lost and have not used any of the other plans. When digging a staircase out of a cave, it can be useful to check your map to figure out where you will, or want to, emerge. Coming out into the seabed can be tricky, especially if your torches get washed away. If you are more experienced, digging straight up is much quicker. Just place a torch below you to brake any sand/gravel and dig up. When you cannot mine due to height anymore, quickly jump and place blocks below your feet until you are in a two block high gap. Rinse and repeat until you are on the surface. If you break a lava pool floor, just cover it quickly with a block and travel a bit horizontally before continuing.
• To mark cave entrances and other important, but hard to notice places on your map: clone your map, then put it in an item frame. You can then find the place by the green marker.
• If you built your home base at or near the world spawn point, a compass will be able to point you home once you`ve escaped from a cavern. If you built your home base far away from the world spawn, then it might not be a bad idea to leave a trail of some kind in between the world spawn and your house so that this method can still be used in a pinch.

Marine Navigation

If you travel through water with a boat a lot, you may very well find yourself lost from home. There are a few ways to travel safely above and below water. Maps Map Type Tools Durability N/A Renewable Yes Stackable Yes (64) First appearances See History Data values Drawn dec: 358 hex: 166 bin: 101100110 Empty dec: 395 hex: 18B bin: 110001011 Name PC Drawn: filled_map Empty: map PE Drawn: ? Empty: emptymap This are very useful here. You can also build towers from the seafloor to well above the surface, and top the towers with a torch or Jack o`Lantern. Sugar cane, glass panes, or iron bars all provide an air pocket along the height of the tower, and glass blocks or panes also carry light into the depths. Advanced players might use Glowstone or burning Netherrack for the lights.

If you have lily pads (found in swamps), you can use them to create small islands for navigation or minibases. You`ll need a bucket of lava for this⃢₀ₔplace the pad, then from as far as you can reach, dump the lava on top of the pad. The lava will form an island. At this point, you have a blazing landmark in the ocean. If you want to use the island for other stuff, you`ll need to reclaim the lava source with your bucket, and wait for the flowing lava to cool. If you can`t manage to grab the lava from the boat, you may be able to quickly jump onto the burning island (this will hurt and set you afire), bucket the lava source, and jump off into the water to put your flames out. Make sure you`re at full health and fully fed before you try this! (You can use the same method to dump water on the lava to cool it more quickly.) Once the lava is gone, you`ll have a nice small island, big enough for a chest, crafting table Crafting Table Transparency No Luminance No Blast resistance 12.5 Tool Renewable Yes Stackable Yes (64) Flammable No, but catches fire from lava Drops Itself Data value dec: 58 hex: 3A bin: 111010 Name crafting_table The crafting table (also , and even a bed Bed Type Block Entity Physics No Transparency Yes Luminance No Blast resistance 1 Hardness 0.2 Tool Any tool Renewable Yes Stackable No Flammable PC: No, but catches fire from lava PE: No First appearances See . (The new island may or may not show on your map.) Remember to stick a torch or Jack o`Lantern on it to prevent monster spawning.

Glowstone and jack-o-lanterns can also be placed under the water, on the seafloor. The jack-o-lantern can also be oriented to show the direction home, or to indicate an opening in the seafloor (that is, leading to caves).

Also, you can consider shaping your own waterways, adding canals, and putting together a light house if you have a lot of water around your base. That way, you`ll be able to quickly move around and navigation will be easy from a moderate distance because of the lighthouse.

Block orientation

Many blocks are placed at a fixed orientation. Knowing this, it is possible to use the textures on the top faces of the blocks to orientate oneself without a compass. Note that actual blocks may vary with resource packs.