A beacon is one of the most powerful blocks in Minecraft. Placed on a pyramid of mineral blocks, it gives every player nearby a permanent effect such as Haste for faster mining, Speed, Strength, Resistance or Regeneration, and it shoots a beam of light into the sky that you can see from far away. Getting one means defeating the Wither, so it is a real late-game goal. This guide explains how to make a beacon in Minecraft, how to build the pyramid, how to choose powers and how to get the most out of it.
Quick answer: beacon recipe
| Glass | Glass | Glass |
| Glass | Nether star | Glass |
| Obsidian | Obsidian | Obsidian |
5 glass, 1 nether star and 3 obsidian make 1 beacon. The recipe is the same on Java, Bedrock and consoles.
How to get the ingredients
- Glass: smelt sand in a furnace. See how to make glass.
- Obsidian: pour water on lava source blocks and mine the result with a diamond or netherite pickaxe. See how to make obsidian.
- Nether star: the only source is defeating the Wither. Summon it with 4 soul sand or soul soil in a T shape and 3 wither skeleton skulls on top, then defeat it. It always drops one nether star, which cannot burn or be destroyed by explosions. See how to beat the Wither.
How to build the beacon pyramid
A beacon only works on top of a pyramid made of iron, gold, emerald, diamond or netherite blocks. You can mix them in any combination. Each level is one block smaller on each side than the one below it.
| Pyramid levels | Base size | Total blocks | Range | Powers unlocked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 by 3 | 9 | 20 blocks | Speed, Haste |
| 2 | 5 by 5 | 34 | 30 blocks | Plus Resistance, Jump Boost |
| 3 | 7 by 7 | 83 | 40 blocks | Plus Strength |
| 4 | 9 by 9 | 164 | 50 blocks | Plus Regeneration or level II of your primary power |
Iron blocks are the cheapest choice. A full 4-level pyramid of iron needs 164 iron blocks, which is 1,476 iron ingots, so an iron farm makes it far easier. Use the beacon pyramid calculator to plan exactly how many blocks and ingots you need.
Building steps
- Lay the bottom layer, for example a 9 by 9 square for a full pyramid.
- Build each layer one block in from every side: 7 by 7, then 5 by 5, then 3 by 3.
- Place the beacon on the single center block on top.
- Make sure nothing solid blocks the sky directly above the beacon. Glass is fine; it colors the beam.
How to activate a beacon
- Open the beacon.
- Choose a primary power on the left.
- With a 4-level pyramid, choose a secondary power on the right: Regeneration, or a stronger level II of the primary power.
- Put a payment in the slot: 1 iron ingot, gold ingot, emerald, diamond or netherite ingot. All work the same.
- Click the check mark.
The payment is only needed when you change powers. Once set, the beacon runs forever without any fuel.
Every beacon power
| Power | Effect | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Speed | Move faster | Big bases and farms |
| Haste | Mine and attack faster | Mining, digging, clearing land |
| Resistance | Take less damage | Mob farms, raids |
| Jump Boost | Jump higher | Parkour, builds with many levels |
| Strength | Deal more melee damage | Fighting at your base |
| Regeneration | Slowly regain health | Survival bases, PvP |
The most popular choice is Haste II, which lets you mine stone and deepslate almost instantly with an Efficiency V pickaxe, great for digging out huge bases and perimeters.
How to color the beacon beam
Place stained glass or stained glass panes above the beacon. The beam passes through and takes on the color. Stack different colors to mix them, which lets you make almost any shade. Tinted glass blocks the beam completely. See stained glass.
Beacon tips
- Build the pyramid underground and run the beam up through a glass shaft to keep it safe from griefers and creepers.
- Several beacons can share one large pyramid, so you can have multiple powers at once.
- The beam is visible from very far away, so it doubles as a landmark to find your base.
- Effects reach the full height of the world inside the range, not just near the ground.
- Protect the nether star: once crafted into a beacon, the beacon can be mined and moved with any pickaxe.
Beacons in Java vs Bedrock
The recipe, pyramid sizes, range and powers are the same in both editions. Bedrock shows the payment options slightly differently, and beacon effect timing can vary a little, but there is no difference that changes how you build or use one.
Is a beacon worth it?
A beacon is a big investment: a Wither fight, a stack of obsidian and up to 164 blocks of metal. For most players it is worth it once they have an iron farm, because the payoff lasts for the rest of the world. Haste II alone changes how you play, turning slow strip mining and terraforming into quick work. Regeneration makes your base a safe zone where you heal while you build, and Speed saves time walking between farms. Beacons also add a striking landmark to any base, especially with a colored beam. If you only want one effect for a short time, potions are cheaper, but if you spend most of your time near home, nothing beats a beacon.
Common problems
- The beacon has no beam: something solid is above it, or the pyramid is incomplete. Check every layer and remove blocks overhead, except glass.
- The secondary power is greyed out: you need a full 4-level pyramid.
- The confirm button does nothing: put an iron ingot, gold ingot, emerald, diamond or netherite ingot in the payment slot.
- Effects do not reach me: you are outside the range for your pyramid size. Build another level to extend it.
FAQ
What do you need to make a beacon in Minecraft?
5 glass, 3 obsidian and 1 nether star. The nether star comes from defeating the Wither.
How many blocks do you need for a full beacon?
164 blocks of iron, gold, emerald, diamond or netherite for a 4-level pyramid.
What is the best beacon power?
Haste II is the most popular for mining. Regeneration is great for survival bases.
Does a beacon need fuel?
No. You pay once with an ingot, emerald or diamond when choosing powers, and it runs forever.
How do you change the beacon beam color?
Place stained glass above the beacon. Stack colors to mix them.
Checked by the Game Respawned editorial team against the current Java and Bedrock versions. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.