How to Make Obsidian in Minecraft

PDF download Download Article
PDF download Download Article

This deep purple and black block is stalwart against all explosions except for a wither's "blue skull" attack. This makes it useful for creating blast-resistant shelters to protect against creepers or other players. Obsidian is also used for several recipes, including the enchantment table. Unlike most items in Minecraft, you cannot craft it, and it is rarely found naturally. Instead, you can create it by pouring water onto lava.

Method 1
Method 1 of 4:

Making Obsidian without a Diamond Pickaxe

PDF download Download Article
  1. There is no crafting recipe for obsidian. Instead, any time flowing water hits a stationary lava "source" block, the lava turns into obsidian. You can find stationary lava in the following places: [1]
    • Lava is easiest to find as "lava falls" in caves and ravines. Only the top block is a source block.
    • Lava is very common in the bottom ten layers of the map. Dig down diagonally to avoid falling in it.
    • Rarely, you can find lava lakes on the surface, but never more than about twenty blocks above sea level. [2]
    • Some villages have a single smithy with two blocks of lava, visible from the outside. [3]
  2. Craft a bucket out of three iron ingots. Use the bucket on the lava to scoop it up. You can only scoop up stationary blocks of lava, not flowing lava.
    • In the computer crafting system, arrange the iron in a "V" shape.
    Advertisement
  3. Make sure the hole is contained, and that nothing flammable is within two blocks in any direction. Wood, tall grass, and many other objects will catch fire near lava. [4]
  4. Remember, only stationary (not flowing) lava will turn into obsidian. This means you will need one bucket of lava for every block of obsidian you want to make.
    • Remember, without a diamond pickaxe you cannot mine the obsidian without destroying it. Make sure you want obsidian in that location before you continue.
  5. Use your now-empty bucket to scoop up water. Bring it to the lava pool you created and place the water above the lava so it flows down onto it. When the flowing water hits the lava, the lava will turn into obsidian.
    • It's a good idea to build a temporary, non-flammable structure around the lava pool to prevent an annoying flood.
    6. Advertisement
Method 2
Method 2 of 4:

Transforming Lava Pools with a Diamond Pickaxe

PDF download Download Article
  1. Obtain a diamond pickaxe . Obsidian is the only block that must be mined using a diamond pickaxe. Any lesser tool will destroy the obsidian if you try to mine it.
    • Diamonds have a lot of importance in Minecraft because they help to make the most durable and efficient tools.
    • Diamond tools are needed to mine obsidian.
    • Obsidian helps to create a portal to the nether dimension.
  2. Dig down almost to the bottom of the map and explore. It shouldn't take long to find a large pool of lava. Since you have a diamond pickax, you can turn the whole pool into obsidian at once, instead of transporting the lava in buckets.
  3. Create a small wall on one side of the pool, leaving room to put down a water block. This will reduce the chances of water pushing you into the lava.
  4. Put the water block down inside the fenced area, one level higher than the lava. It should flow down and turn the surface of the lake into obsidian.
  5. Stand at the edge and dig one block deep into the obsidian. There might be another layer of lava beneath it. If you're not careful, you may fall into this lava, or the obsidian bock item will fall before you can catch it, and burn up.
  6. If there is lava underneath the obsidian, stand next to the water and mine the obsidian at its edge. The water should rush in as you mine, turning the next layer into obsidian before the lava can cause any damage. Continue to mine as much obsidian as you need, moving the water when necessary.
    7. Advertisement
Method 3
Method 3 of 4:

Making Nether Portals

PDF download Download Article
  1. It takes ten obsidian to make a Nether portal. Once you have enough for two portals, however, you can use a trick to get infinite obsidian without needing to find lava.
  2. Create a Nether portal . If you don't have a portal already, place obsidian blocks in a vertical frame 5 tall x 4 wide. Activate it by using a flint and steel on the lowest obsidian block. This trick may not work if there is another portal close by. [5]
    • The corners of the portal do not have to be obsidian.
  3. The Nether is a dangerous place, so prepare yourself if you haven't been before. You'll need the remaining ten obsidian blocks, but you might want to leave them safely behind and explore a safe route first. You'll need to travel a certain minimum distance in a straight, horizontal line (these numbers include a 3-block margin of safety just in case):
    • PC, Pocket Edition, and Console Edition "large" worlds: travel 19 blocks.
    • Console Edition "medium" worlds: travel 25 blocks.
    • Console Edition "classic" worlds (including all PS3 and Xbox 360 worlds): travel 45 blocks.
    • If you have multiple Overworld portals, walk away from their coordinates. This trick will not work if you are too close to an existing portal.
  4. Build this in the Nether and activate it the same way you did the first one. When you walk through it, you should appear in a brand-new portal in the Overworld.
    • If you appear next to a portal you already built, you did not walk far enough in the Nether. Go back to the Nether and break your portal with a diamond pickaxe, then rebuild it somewhere else.
  5. The portal that just appeared has fourteen obsidian blocks free for the taking. Mine these with a diamond pickaxe.
  6. Each time you walk through the Nether portal you just built, a new portal will appear in the Overworld. Mine this for free obsidian. Speed this up if you want a large amount of obsidian:
    • Use a bed to set your spawn near the permanent Overworld portal.
    • Place a chest near the temporary Overworld portal. Stash the obsidian and diamond pickaxe in the chest after mining the portal.
    • Kill yourself to return to spawn.
    • Walk through the Nether again and exit the same portal to create a new one. Build a tunnel between the Nether portals to increase safety.
    7. Advertisement
Method 4
Method 4 of 4:

Mining in the End

PDF download Download Article
  1. Find the End portal . The End portal leads to the final, most challenging area in Minecraft. Locating it and activating is a long quest involving many Eyes of Ender. Try this only when you're ready to face the fearsome Ender Dragon.
    • If you are on Pocket Edition, the End Portal will only work on infinite (not "Old") worlds running on version 1.0 or later (released December 2016).
  2. When you travel through the End portal, a platform of 9 obsidian blocks will appear for you to stand on. Mine it with the diamond pickaxe (though you may want to kill that dragon bothering you first).
  3. The island with the Ender Dragon has several tall towers with purple crystals atop them. The towers are made entirely of obsidian.
  4. You can return to the Overworld either by dying, or by defeating the Ender Dragon and walking through the exit portal that appears. Each time you walk through an End portal, the 9-block obsidian platform will respawn. This makes it one of the fastest ways to get infinitely recurring obsidian.
    • The obsidian pillars do not respawn unless you respawn the dragon . To bring back the dragon, place four ender crystals on top of the exit portal that appeared when the dragon died. [6]
    5. Advertisement

Community Q&A

Search
Add New Question
  • Question
    What enchantments can speed up the process of mining obsidian with the diamond pickax in Minecraft?
    Mocha Latte
    Community Answer
    Use the efficiency enchantment. The higher the efficiency, the better it will work.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 11 Helpful 44
  • Question
    Can I make obsidian without a pickaxe? If I only have an iron pickaxe, how long would it take to break the obsidian?
    Community Answer
    First of all, you can't use an iron pickaxe to mine obsidian. If you do, the obisidian will break and it will not be given to you. So just use a diamond pickaxe.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 39 Helpful 61
  • Question
    How do I get diamonds In Minecraft?
    Stephz16
    Community Answer
    You simply craft an iron pickaxe, dig down, and search for them! They can sometimes be found more frequently near lava.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 55 Helpful 56
See more answers
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Video

      Tips

      • For the bucket method (over lava), always be sure that your pool of lava is made of primarily source blocks. Otherwise it will turn into cobblestone or stone if you pour water over it.
        Thanks
        Helpful 7 Not Helpful 1
      • If you're lucky, you can find obsidian in NPC villager chests.
        Thanks
        Helpful 5 Not Helpful 1
      • You need obsidian to make an enchantment table, beacon or an ender chest. Once you have obsidian, enchant your diamond pickaxe to speed up mining.
        Thanks
        Helpful 2 Not Helpful 1
      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
      Advertisement

      Warnings

      • Be careful of the lava. Your character will likely die if you fall in, and any items you are carrying will be destroyed.
        Thanks
        Helpful 13 Not Helpful 6
      Advertisement

      Things You'll Need

      • Bucket or diamond pickaxe
      • Lava

      You Might Also Like

      How to
      Build a Nether Portal With & Without Mining Obsidian
      How to
      Obtain Netherite in Minecraft
      How to
      Find Iron in Minecraft
      Easy Ways to Find Diamonds in Minecraft
      How to
      Find and Mine Diamonds Fast on Minecraft
      How to
      Find Emeralds in Minecraft
      Finding Lapis Lazuli in Minecraft: Mineral Location Guide
      How to
      Find Gold in Minecraft
      How to
      Mine Redstone in Minecraft
      How to
      Mine in Minecraft
      How to
      Get Stone in Minecraft
      How to
      Find Coal in Minecraft
      Advertisement

      References

      1. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EcwUxRvGCPM
      2. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EcwUxRvGCPM
      3. ↑ https://minecraft.fandom.com/wiki/Village/Structure
      4. ↑ https://minecraft.fandom.com/wiki/Lava
      5. ↑ https://minecraft.fandom.com/wiki/Nether_portal
      6. ↑ https://minecraft.fandom.com/wiki/Ender_Dragon#Respawning

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To make obsidian in Minecraft, start by searching for a pool of stationary lava, which are often located in caves or ravines. Once you find a source block of lava, collect it in a bucket crafted from 3 iron ingots. Then, dig a hole where you want the obsidian, but make sure it is at least 2 blocks away from any flammable materials such as wood and grass. Pour the lava into the hole, and use your bucket to gather water to pour over the lava. Once the water touches the lava, it will turn into obsidian that you can mine with a diamond pickaxe. If you want to learn how to make Nether Portals using your obsidian, keep reading the article!

      Did this summary help you?
      In other languages
      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 685,161 times.

      Reader Success Stories

      • Anonymous

        Apr 14

        "This helped me because I really needed to figure out how to make obsidian. Thanks so much, wikiHow!"
      More reader stories Hide reader stories
      Share your story

      Did this article help you?

      Advertisement