To activate a beacon in Minecraft, you must place it on top of a pyramid structure built from specific precious metal blocks. The smallest pyramid required for activation is a 3x3 base of these blocks, with the beacon placed in the center.
Building the Beacon Pyramid
A beacon requires a pyramid made of blocks of iron, gold, diamond, emerald, or netherite. The size of the pyramid determines the power of the beacon's effects. You can mix and match these block types within the pyramid layers; the specific material only affects the cost, not the functionality.
Required Materials for the Pyramid
You can use the following blocks to construct your beacon pyramid:
- Block of Iron: Crafted from 9 Iron Ingots.
- Block of Gold: Crafted from 9 Gold Ingots.
- Block of Diamond: Crafted from 9 Diamonds.
- Block of Emerald: Crafted from 9 Emeralds.
- Block of Netherite: Crafted from 9 Netherite Scraps and 9 Gold Ingots (via Netherite Ingots).
As stated, you can use a mixture of these blocks in any order within the pyramid structure, for example, a layer of iron blocks topped with a layer of gold blocks.
Pyramid Tiers and Dimensions
There are four possible tiers for a beacon pyramid, each offering increasing range and additional secondary power options.
| Pyramid Tier | Base Size | Total Blocks Required |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (Smallest) | 3x3 | 9 |
| 2 | 5x5 base, 3x3 top | 34 (25 + 9) |
| 3 | 7x7 base, 5x5 middle, 3x3 top | 83 (49 + 25 + 9) |
| 4 (Largest) | 9x9 base, 7x7 middle, 5x5 inner, 3x3 top | 164 (81 + 49 + 25 + 9) |
To build a pyramid, you start with the largest base layer (e.g., 9x9 for a Tier 4 pyramid), then place the next smaller layer on top of it, centered, and so on, until the top layer is a 3x3 square. The beacon block itself is then placed on the very center block of this 3x3 top layer.
Placing the Beacon and Activating Effects
Once your pyramid is constructed, place the Beacon block directly in the center of the topmost 3x3 layer. As soon as the beacon detects a complete pyramid underneath it, its beam will shoot into the sky, indicating it's active.
Selecting Beacon Powers
To select an effect, right-click the activated beacon. This will open the beacon's interface.
- Choose a Primary Power: Select one of the available primary status effects. The number of primary powers available depends on the pyramid's tier.
- Tier 1 (3x3): Speed I, Haste I
- Tier 2 (5x5): Speed I, Haste I, Resistance I, Jump Boost I
- Tier 3 (7x7): All Tier 2 effects + Strength I
- Tier 4 (9x9): All Tier 3 effects
- Choose a Secondary Power (Tier 4 only): For a full Tier 4 pyramid, you can also select a secondary power. This allows you to either upgrade your chosen primary power to Level II (e.g., Speed II instead of Speed I) or add Regeneration I.
- Insert Fuel: To apply the chosen effect(s), you must "pay" by inserting one of the following items into the empty slot in the beacon interface:
- Iron Ingot
- Gold Ingot
- Diamond
- Emerald
- Netherite Ingot
- Confirm: Click the green checkmark button to activate the chosen effect(s).
The selected status effect will be applied to all players within the beacon's range (which increases with pyramid size) as long as they are not obstructed by blocks between them and the beacon.
Understanding Beacon Range and Limitations
- Range: The radius of the beacon's effect increases with the pyramid tier:
- Tier 1: 20 blocks
- Tier 2: 30 blocks
- Tier 3: 40 blocks
- Tier 4: 50 blocks
- Line of Sight: Beacons require a clear line of sight to the sky directly above them for the beam to function and for effects to be applied. If any non-transparent block is directly above the beacon, it will deactivate.
Practical Tips for Beacon Activation
- Early Game: Iron blocks are often the most accessible material for a basic Tier 1 beacon, as iron is common.
- Efficiency: Consider building your beacon in a central location within your base or mining area to maximize its utility for multiple tasks.
- Material Choice: While netherite blocks are the most expensive, they function identically to iron blocks for pyramid construction. Choose materials based on your resource availability.
- Effect Duration: Beacon effects are temporary buffs that reset when you move out of range or exit the game.
