Learning how to use a beacon in Minecraft PC is a key step for any player looking to gain powerful advantages. A beacon in Minecraft provides powerful buffs to nearby players, but activating its full potential requires a specific setup. This guide will walk you through every step, from finding the materials to constructing the pyramid and choosing the right effects for your gameplay.
How To Use A Beacon In Minecraft Pc
Using a beacon is a multi-stage process. You cannot simply place it down and get benefits. You need to craft the beacon block itself, build a pyramid structure to activate it, and then configure it to grant the status effects you want. The following sections break down each of these stages in clear, manageable steps.
Gathering The Required Materials
Before you can think about activation, you need to collect the necessary items. The beacon itself is a crafted item, and the pyramid requires a significant investment of specific mineral blocks.
Crafting The Beacon Block
To craft a single beacon, you will need the following materials placed on a crafting table:
- 5 Glass Blocks (Any color of glass works)
- 3 Obsidian Blocks
- 1 Nether Star
The Nether Star is the most challenging component to obtain. It is dropped by the Wither boss. Summoning and defeating the Wither is a late-game challenge that requires three Wither Skeleton skulls and four blocks of Soul Sand. Make sure you are well-prepared with strong armor, weapons, and potions before attempting this fight. Once you have the star, arrange the materials on the crafting grid with the glass in the top and bottom rows, the obsidian in the middle row, and the Nether Star in the center slot.
Resources For The Pyramid Base
The pyramid base must be built from mineral blocks: Iron, Gold, Emerald, Diamond, or Netherite. You cannot mix and match these materials for a single pyramid; the entire structure must be made from one type. The size and material of the pyramid determine the power and range of the beacon’s effects.
- Iron Blocks: The most common and practical choice. An iron farm can supply you with the large quantities needed.
- Gold Blocks: Less common but easier to mine in badlands biomes. Gold farms are also an option.
- Emerald Blocks: Typically the rarest, obtained mostly through trading with villagers.
- Diamond Blocks: A high-value, late-game display of wealth. Very resource-intensive.
- Netherite Blocks: The ultimate, most expensive base material, requiring 9 Netherite Ingots per block.
The number of blocks you need depends on the pyramid tier you plan to build, which we will cover next.
Building The Beacon Pyramid
The pyramid is what powers the beacon. You must build it in a specific shape and then place the beacon on top. The pyramid must have a direct line of sight to the sky, though it can be through transparent blocks like glass or leaves.
Choosing A Location And Pyramid Tiers
Select a flat, open area. The beacon’s effect beam needs to reach the sky, so avoid building it underground or under solid blocks. The pyramid tiers are as follows:
- Tier 1 (3×3 base): Requires 9 mineral blocks. Offers one primary power.
- Tier 2 (5×5 base with 3×3 top): Requires 34 mineral blocks. Offers one primary power and allows you to choose a secondary power.
- Tier 3 (7×7 base, 5×5 middle, 3×3 top): Requires 83 mineral blocks. Offers one primary power and a secondary power.
- Tier 4 (9×9 base, 7×7, 5×5, 3×3): Requires 164 mineral blocks. This is the maximum size and offers the same power options as Tier 3 but with a much larger effect range.
Remember, these block counts are for a single layer material. You cannot, for example, have a 3×3 of iron and a 5×5 of gold. It all must be the same.
Step-By-Step Construction
Here is how to build a basic Tier 3 pyramid, which is a popular choice for its balance of cost and benifits.
- Clear a flat area at least 9×9 blocks.
- Place your mineral blocks in a 9×9 square. This is the bottom layer.
- On top of that, center a 7×7 square of blocks.
- On top of the 7×7 layer, center a 5×5 square of blocks.
- Finally, on top of the 5×5 layer, center a 3×3 square.
- Place your crafted beacon block on the very center of the top 3×3 layer.
Once placed correctly, the beacon should immediately shoot a brilliant beam of light into the sky. If the beam does not appear, check that there are no opaque blocks above it.
Activating And Configuring Your Beacon
With the pyramid built and the beacon placed, you now need to fuel and configure it. Right-click on the beacon to open its interface.
Inserting The Payment Item
To activate the beacon’s menu and select powers, you must “pay” with one of the following items: an Iron Ingot, Gold Ingot, Emerald, Diamond, or Netherite Ingot. This item does not need to match your pyramid material. Place the item in the empty slot at the bottom of the beacon GUI. This item is consumed, but you only need to pay it once to open the power selection screen.
Selecting Primary And Secondary Powers
The powers, or status effects, available depend on your pyramid’s tier. The beacon’s effect will apply to all players within its range who have the sky visible above them.
- Primary Powers (Available from Tier 1):
- Speed I: Increases movement speed.
- Haste I: Increases mining and attack speed.
- Resistance I: Reduces damage taken.
- Jump Boost I: Increases jump height.
- Strength I: Increases melee damage.
- Secondary Powers (Requires Tier 2+ Pyramid): These are unlocked by checking the button next to them. Choosing a secondary power replaces the primary one.
- Regeneration I: Gradually restores health.
- Increases the level of a primary power to Level II (e.g., Speed II, Strength II).
To select a power, click on the icon. For a Tier 2+ pyramid, you can first choose a primary power, then check the box for a secondary power like Regeneration. Note that you cannot have, for example, Speed I and Regeneration I at the same time on a basic beacon. You either get one primary effect or one secondary effect.
Advanced Beacon Strategies And Tips
Once you understand the basics, you can employ more advanced tactics to maximize your beacons utility.
Extending Range And Creating Multiple Effects
The range of the beacon’s effect is determined by the pyramid tier. A Tier 1 pyramid has a range of 20 blocks, Tier 2 is 30 blocks, Tier 3 is 40 blocks, and Tier 4 is 50 blocks. To cover a larger area, such as an entire base, you will need a Tier 4 pyramid or multiple beacons.
To have multiple active effects in one area, you need to build separate beacon pyramids. You can place them close together, even overlapping their pyramid bases if you plan carefully. This allows you to combine effects like Haste II for mining and Speed II for travel within your base perimeter.
Using Beacons For Practical Projects
Beacons are not just for bases. Consider these practical applications:
- Mining Outpost: Set up a Haste II beacon near a strip mine or branch mine to dramatically increase your mining speed.
- Mob Farm Area: Use a Strength II beacon near a mob grinder to make killing mobs faster and safer.
- Building Project: A Jump Boost II beacon can help you reach high places while constructing large buildings, and Resistance can prevent fall damage.
- PvP Arena: Strategically place beacons with different effects to create zones that provide advantages, adding a layer of strategy to player combat.
Common Mistakes To Avoid
Here are some frequent errors players make when learning how to use a beacon:
- Blocked Sky Access: The beacon beam is blocked by any opaque block above it. You can use glass, carpets, or trapdoors to cover it without breaking the beam.
- Mixed Pyramid Materials: The entire pyramid structure must be made from one type of mineral block. A mix will not activate the beacon.
- Incorrect Pyramid Shape: Each layer must be centered and one block smaller on all sides than the layer below it. An uneven shape will not work.
- Forgetting The Payment Item: You must place an ingot or gem into the beacon GUI to open the power selection screen.
- Assuming Effects Stack: You cannot get two different primary effects from one beacon. Plan for multiple beacons if you need multiple buffs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can You Use A Beacon Underground In Minecraft?
Yes, but only if you provide a path for the beam to reach the sky. You can run the beam through a vertical column of transparent blocks like glass or water. If the beam is interrupted by an opaque block like stone or dirt, the beacon will not function.
What Is The Cheapest Beacon Pyramid In Minecraft?
The cheapest functional pyramid is a 3×3 Tier 1 base made from 9 Iron Blocks. Iron is the most farmable mineral, making it the most cost-effective material for beacon bases, especially for your first one.
How Do You Change The Beacon Beam Color?
You can change the color of the beacon’s light beam by placing stained glass or stained glass panes above the beacon block. The color of the glass will tint the entire beam. You can even layer different colors of glass to create custom colors.
Why Is My Minecraft Beacon Not Working?
If your beacon is not working, check these points in order: 1) Ensure the pyramid is built correctly with one material type. 2) Verify the beacon has a clear path to the sky (check for transparent blocks only). 3) Right-click the beacon and make sure you have inserted an Iron Ingot, Gold Ingot, Emerald, or Diamond into its interface to activate the power menu.
Can You Get A Beacon Without Killing The Wither?
In standard survival mode, no. The Nether Star required to craft a beacon is only dropped by the Wither. However, you can sometimes find a beacon block in creative mode, or very rarely as loot in an end city chest, but this is not a reliable survival method.