Quick answer: To make a beacon in Minecraft, place 5 Glass, 3 Obsidian, and 1 Nether Star in a 3×3 crafting grid, then set the finished beacon on top of a pyramid built from iron, gold, diamond, emerald, and/or netherite blocks with a clear view of the sky above it.
The beacon is one of the most powerful blocks in Minecraft. Once activated on top of a mineral-block pyramid, it projects a bright beam of light into the sky and grants area-wide status effects like Speed, Haste, and Strength to any player standing nearby. It has been a long-standing part of the game, and the recipe has never changed. This guide walks you through every material, every step of crafting, and how to activate and upgrade it. If you want to plan block counts before you dig, our free Minecraft Beacon Calculator does the math for you.
Materials You Need
The beacon itself is cheap to craft. The expensive part is the Nether Star and the pyramid underneath it.
- 5 Glass — smelt sand in a furnace.
- 3 Obsidian — formed when water flows over a lava source; mine it with a diamond or netherite pickaxe.
- 1 Nether Star — dropped by the Wither. The Wither drops exactly one star (a guaranteed 100% drop, unaffected by Looting), and it is immune to explosions. The Wither is a boss you summon yourself using soul sand or soul soil and wither skeleton skulls.
- Pyramid blocks — Blocks of Iron, Gold, Diamond, Emerald, and/or Netherite. You can freely mix these block types in the same pyramid, and the choice does not change which powers you get.
- 1 payment item — a single Iron Ingot, Gold Ingot, Diamond, Emerald, or Netherite Ingot to activate or change the power.
How to Make a Beacon in Minecraft
- Defeat the Wither to get a Nether Star. This is the hardest step. Summon and kill the Wither boss, then collect the single Nether Star it drops.
- Open a crafting table. The beacon needs the full 3×3 grid, so a hand crafting menu will not work.
- Fill the top row with Glass. Place one Glass in each of the three top slots: Glass, Glass, Glass.
- Set the middle row. Put Glass in the left slot, the Nether Star in the center slot, and Glass in the right slot: Glass, Nether Star, Glass.
- Fill the bottom row with Obsidian. Place one Obsidian in each of the three bottom slots: Obsidian, Obsidian, Obsidian.
- Collect your beacon. That is 5 Glass, 3 Obsidian, and 1 Nether Star total, and the recipe yields one beacon.
- Build the pyramid. Stack mineral blocks in centered layers (see tiers below). Each higher layer sits centered under the one above it.
- Place the beacon on top. Set it on the center block of the smallest (top) layer, making sure the vertical column above the beacon is open to the sky.
- Activate it. Open the beacon, drop a payment item into the input slot, choose a primary power, and click the checkmark to confirm. A beam of light shoots skyward when it is active.
Pyramid Tiers, Powers, and Range
The taller the pyramid, the more powers unlock and the larger the effect area. Each tier is a centered layer of mineral blocks stacked under the beacon.
- Tier 1 — 9 blocks (one 3×3 layer): unlocks Speed and Haste. Range 20 blocks.
- Tier 2 — 34 blocks (5×5 + 3×3): adds Resistance and Jump Boost. Range 30 blocks.
- Tier 3 — 83 blocks (7×7 + 5×5 + 3×3): adds Strength. Range 40 blocks.
- Tier 4 — 164 blocks (9×9 + 7×7 + 5×5 + 3×3): unlocks the secondary power slot. Range 50 blocks.
All primary effects are level I. A full tier-4 pyramid lets you use the secondary slot to either add Regeneration I or upgrade your chosen primary power from level I to level II — you can only pick one of those. The effect radius follows a simple formula: 10 + (10 × tier). Effects are re-applied to nearby players every 4 seconds, and they last 9 seconds plus 2 seconds per tier (11 seconds at tier 1, up to 17 seconds at tier 4), so they linger briefly after you walk out of range. These duration values reflect Java Edition.
Uses and Tips
- Keep the sky clear. The beacon needs an unobstructed view straight up. Air, glass, and stained glass are transparent to the sky, so you can decorate the column with glass without breaking activation.
- Change powers cheaply. Insert one Iron Ingot, Gold Ingot, Diamond, Emerald, or Netherite Ingot to select or switch a power. The item is only consumed when you confirm a new selection.
- Mix your blocks. Since block type does not affect powers, use whatever minerals you have. Many players build the base from iron and top it off with a decorative layer.
- Use colored glass on the beam. Placing stained glass above the beacon tints the beam, which is great for base navigation.
- Plan ahead. A tier-4 pyramid needs 164 blocks. Our Beacon Calculator tells you exactly how many blocks and ingots each tier costs.
- Run it on a server. Beacons shine on multiplayer bases where the whole team benefits. Spin up a fast, low-lag world with Minecraft server hosting from XGamingServer.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much glass does a beacon need?
A beacon needs 5 Glass: three across the top row plus one on each side of the Nether Star in the middle row. It also uses 3 Obsidian along the bottom and 1 Nether Star in the center.
How do I get a Nether Star?
The Nether Star is dropped by the Wither, a boss you summon yourself. The Wither always drops exactly one star, and no enchantment (like Looting) changes that. Crafting a beacon is the Nether Star’s main use. See our netherite armor guide before you take on the fight.
Which blocks can I use for the beacon pyramid?
You can use Blocks of Iron, Gold, Diamond, Emerald, and Netherite, and you can mix them freely within the same pyramid. The block type only changes the look and cost — it does not change which powers the beacon offers.
Why won’t my beacon activate?
Two common causes: the pyramid layer under the beacon is incomplete, or something solid is blocking the beacon’s view of the sky. Make sure the smallest layer is a full 3×3 and that the entire column above the beacon is open (air or transparent blocks like glass). You also need a valid payment item in the input slot to select a power.
How do I get level II effects or Regeneration?
You need a full tier-4 pyramid (164 blocks). That unlocks the secondary slot, where you can either add Regeneration I or upgrade your primary power to level II — only one of the two.
Related Minecraft Guides
- How to Make a Nether Portal in Minecraft
- How to Craft a Mace in Minecraft
- How to Make a Shield in Minecraft
- How to Make an XP Farm in Minecraft
- What Does a Lodestone Do in Minecraft?
- All Minecraft Enchantments List
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