How to Make TNT in Minecraft (2024 Guide)

Minecraft is packed with iconic blocks, mobs, and features that define this sandbox game. Among them are blocks such as grass blocks, cobblestones, torches, and vines. But we can safely (no pun intended) include one more block in this category. That is the TNT block. This has been around for a long time and is very relevant to gameplay. Additionally, TNT provides players with more options when dealing with certain challenges, fighting, and pranking their servermates. In this guide, we’ll explain how to make and obtain TNT, and basically everything you need to know about this explosive block in Minecraft.

What is TNT in Minecraft

TNT is a block that can be primed (or activated) to cause an explosion. This is an incredibly functional block and may even be necessary in some games. TNT can also be quite dangerous, as this block creates an explosion that is harmful to the player, other mobs, and the surrounding environment.

However, TNT is one block that you will want to include in your storage system. If you want to access TNT properties directly, check the last section of this article.

How to make TNT in Minecraft (crafting recipes)

TNT can be obtained in two different ways . You can either craft them or find them naturally generated in your Minecraft world. In this section, you will learn the recipe for making TNT. They are not cheap blocks to make in Minecraft. To obtain large amounts of TNT, you will need large amounts of crafting materials such as gunpowder and sand. With that said, let’s take a look at the steps to create TNT in Minecraft.

Step 1: Find gunpowder

Gunpowder is an item dropped by certain mobs, creepers, ghasts, and witches in Minecraft. Gunpowder can also be found in loot chests in structures such as desert temples, shipwrecks, dungeons, and forest mansions. It’s also useful for other things, like making fireworks or brewing potions in Minecraft.

The best way to obtain large amounts of gunpowder is through mob farms, more specifically creeper farms. So feel free to check out the linked guide. Creepers drop 0-2 gunpowder when killed.

Step 2: Travel to the desert or beach

While regular sand is an abundant resource in Minecraft’s desert and coast biomes, red sand covers the surface of wasteland biomes. Additionally, sand can be smelted to produce glass blocks, which can be turned into glass plates and traded for cartographer villager jobs. It is also useful for making TNT, so it is a good idea to collect a large amount of sand using a shulker box.

Step 3: TNT creation recipe

Once you have collected enough gunpowder and sand blocks, follow the steps below to create TNT in Minecraft.

1. First, create a crafting table in Minecraft and place it on the ground.

2. Next, right-click to access the worktable and start creating items.

3. First, you need to place 5 gunpowders in an X-shape on the crafting grid .

4. Next, fill the remaining cells with 4 sand blocks (normal or red). Place it on your work table in the configuration shown in the photo below.

How to find TNT naturally in Minecraft

TNT blocks generate as items in loot chests in desert temples, shipwrecks, and buried treasure chests in Minecraft. TNT blocks can also be found as part of certain structures in Minecraft. They are the Desert Temple (9 TNT blocks in the secret room under the pressure plate) and the Forest Mansion (the secret room in the false end portal). You can instantly mine TNT blocks without any tools.

How to activate TNT blocks in Minecraft

TNT blocks can be activated (or primed) when placed by a redstone signal, fire, incendiary bomb, explosion, or dispenser. We have explained all this here.

• Redstone Signals : Priming a TNT block can be achieved by placing a redstone power source adjacent to the TNT or by powering a block connected to the TNT.

• Explode with Fire : Using flint and steel or a fire charge on a TNT block will ignite it and make it ready to explode. Also, nearby lava can spread the fire and set off the TNT.

• Flaming Projectiles : This method means you need to use a bow with a flaming Minecraft enchantment that turns all arrows fired into flaming arrows. Additionally, if a regular arrow passes through lava or fire, it can become a flaming arrow. Shooting a TNT block with this arrow when you are at a safe distance will prime it. Blaze and dispenser fireballs are also useful for activating TNT blocks in Minecraft.

• Explosions : Explosions caused by regular or charged creepers, end crystals, wither attacks, interactions with Nether or End Plane beds, interactions with Overworld respawn anchors, ghast fireballs, or other TNT. TNT is primed. block. Using this method, you can create large chain explosions.

• Dispenser : When the dispenser places a TNT block, it primes automatically and instantly. This method saves you the durability of Flamebow or Flint and Steel, but requires you to craft a redstone signal.

• Primed TNT Behavior : Primed and unprimed TNT blocks behave differently. The mechanism was explained here.

When placed in the world, TNT blocks function like most other blocks. It has a hit detection and is not affected by gravity. However, once primed, the TNT block behaves like an entity. It no longer has a hitbox and is affected by gravity just like normal dubious sand and gravel blocks. Primed TNT cannot be destroyed, but can be removed with the kill command.

/kill @e[type=minecraft:tnt]

The explosion occurs a few seconds after priming the TNT block. Creates a crater in the surrounding terrain, destroys blocks, and drops all destroyed blocks as item entities.

General characteristics of TNT in Minecraft

TNT is a very interesting block with its own unique features. Here are all the properties of TNT in Minecraft:

Interaction between TNT and water

Unlike regular explosions that involve destroying terrain and blocks, TNT behaves differently underwater . When activated TNT is underwater, all damage to surrounding blocks is nullified. This method does not cause destruction.

Additionally, all blocks underwater will be preserved, even if activated TNT is placed on land. So, if you don’t want to damage your build, be sure to place the TNT block in water. However, keep in mind that damage only applies to blocks, not mobs or players.

TNT explosion radius

A regular TNT block typically destroys an area of ​​2 to 5 blocks in each direction . This is determined by the location of the TNT block and the explosion resistance of the surrounding blocks. See the Explosive Resistance section below for more information. The image below shows the blast radius from three different explosions.

How much damage does TNT do?

Without armor, TNT explosions are deadly , regardless of play difficulty. Additionally, in peace mode, players will not take damage from TNT explosions. The following table shows how difficulty and armor affect the damage from a TNT block explosion at minimum distance.

What is blast resistance?

Explosive resistance is a behind-the-scenes value that determines how difficult it is to detonate a particular block . If the explosion resistance is high, the explosion will destroy the block very little or not at all. If it is too low, the blocks will be easily destroyed by explosions. The table below shows the TNT blast resistance of some common blocks in Minecraft.

Highest Blast Resistance in Survival Minecraft has blocks such as Bedrock block and End Portal block. No matter how strong the explosive force is, it will never explode. Blocks with low blast resistance such as netherrack, earth, and sandstone not only detonate easily and quickly, but can also be detonated instantly with the right tools. A common block that can be obtained but not blown away by explosions is obsidian. Therefore, it is convenient to have it on hand when creating a farm.