Barrier

Barrier

Rarity tier	Epic ‌[JE only] Common ‌[BE only]
Renewable	No
Stackable	Yes (64)
Tool	None
Blast resistance	3,600,000.75
Hardness	-1
Luminous	No
Transparent	Partial (lets light pass through)
Waterloggable	Yes
Flammable	No
Catches fire from lava	No
Map color	No waterlogging:  0 NONE Waterlogging::  12 WATER
Note block instrument	Default (Harp)

{
    "title": "Barrier",
    "rows": [
        {
            "field": "\n* Epic ‌<sup class=\" nowrap Inline-Template \" title=\"\">[<i><span title=\"This statement only applies to Java Edition\">(link to Java Edition article, displayed as JE)  only</span></i>]</sup>\n* Common ‌<sup class=\" nowrap Inline-Template \" title=\"\">[<i><span title=\"This statement only applies to Bedrock Edition\">(link to Bedrock Edition article, displayed as BE)  only</span></i>]</sup>",
            "label": "(link to Rarity article, displayed as Rarity tier)"
        },
        {
            "field": "No",
            "label": "(link to Renewable resource article, displayed as Renewable)"
        },
        {
            "field": "Yes (64)",
            "label": "Stackable"
        },
        {
            "field": "None",
            "label": "Tool"
        },
        {
            "field": "3,600,000.75",
            "label": "(link to Explosion#Blast resistance article, displayed as Blast resistance)"
        },
        {
            "field": "-1",
            "label": "(link to Breaking#Blocks by hardness article, displayed as Hardness)"
        },
        {
            "field": "No",
            "label": "(link to Light article, displayed as Luminous)"
        },
        {
            "field": "Partial <small>(lets light pass through)</small>",
            "label": "(link to Opacity article, displayed as Transparent)"
        },
        {
            "field": "Yes",
            "label": "(link to Waterlogging article, displayed as Waterloggable)"
        },
        {
            "field": "No",
            "label": "(link to Fire#Flammable blocks article, displayed as Flammable)"
        },
        {
            "field": "No",
            "label": "Catches fire<br>from (link to lava article, displayed as lava)"
        },
        {
            "field": "'''No waterlogging:''' <span style=\"white-space: nowrap;\"><span style=\"display: inline-block; background-color: rgb(); border: 1px solid #888; border-radius: 0.3em; color: transparent; width: 1em; height: 1em; vertical-align: -0.36em; margin-right: -0.1em\"><br></span> 0 NONE</span>\n'''Waterlogging:''': <span style=\"white-space: nowrap;\"><span style=\"display: inline-block; background-color: rgb(64, 64, 255); border: 1px solid #888; border-radius: 0.3em; color: transparent; width: 1em; height: 1em; vertical-align: -0.36em; margin-right: -0.1em\"><br></span> 12 WATER</span>",
            "label": "(link to Map item format#Color table article, displayed as Map color)"
        },
        {
            "field": "Default (Harp)",
            "label": "(link to Note Block#Instruments article, displayed as Note block instrument)"
        }
    ],
    "invimages": [
        "Barrier"
    ],
    "images": [
        "Barrier (held).png",
        "Barrier (shown).png"
    ]
}

A barrier is an invisible block used to create solid boundaries.

Obtaining

Barriers cannot be obtained in the creative mode inventory and are only obtainable via commands such as /give, /item in Java Edition, and /replaceitem and /give in Bedrock Edition and cannot be broken in Survival mode.

In Java Edition, barriers are available in the Creative inventory if cheats are enabled and the "Operator Items Tab" setting is turned on.

Natural generation

In normal worlds, barriers do not generate naturally. In Java Edition, they generate as the floor in debug mode worlds.

Usage

The difference between air (top left) and barriers (bottom left) when "show invisible blocks" is enabled.

Barrier blocks are mainly used to build an impenetrable barrier that cannot be broken in standard Survival mode. For example, they can be used to protect a reserved area from entry by players, mobs, and other entities. Unlike other kinds of unbreakable blocks that could be used for this purpose (such as bedrock), barrier blocks are unobtrusive because they are invisible. Barrier blocks cannot be destroyed by TNT, creeper explosions, or any other explosions. Furthermore, they have a greater amount of blast resistance than any other unbreakable block.

Unlike other operator blocks such as command blocks, barriers can be placed by players in Survival mode.

In the player's inventory, the block is displayed as a red box with a slash through it, but when placed it is completely invisible.

Barriers are transparent to light and do not block beacons. Fences, iron bars, glass panes, and similar blocks do not visually connect with barriers. Barriers interact with blocks and mobs as a solid block. All dependent blocks can be placed on a barrier, such as torches or redstone, and it can suffocate mobs. Mobs cannot spawn on barriers.

In Creative mode, if a player is holding a barrier block in their hand, all placed barrier blocks display the barrier icon as a particle. This effect is client-side, and if a player holds a barrier block in Survival mode, the particle does not appear. In Java Edition, barriers take a few seconds to appear and disappear when holding a barrier. In Bedrock Edition, it disappears instantly. Barrier blocks are not shown if the particle setting is set to "minimal".

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• 

Waterlogging

Barrier blocks can be waterlogged by being placed into a water source block or by manually using a water bucket on them. In Java Edition, water cannot be placed in them or taken out by non-direct interactions such as dispensers; this is allowed in Bedrock Edition. In Java Edition, only players in Creative mode can waterlog or remove water from barriers, while in Bedrock Edition there are no game mode restrictions. In Java Edition, water does not flow out of waterlogged barriers. See waterlogging for more details on what blocks can be waterlogged.

Piston interactivity

Barriers cannot be pushed by pistons. They also cannot be pushed nor pulled by sticky pistons.

Sounds

Java Edition:

v t e stone sound type
Sound	Closed captions	Source	Description	Identifier	Translation key	Volume	Pitch	Attenuation distance
	​Block broken	Blocks	Once the block has broken	block.stone.break	subtitles.block.generic.break​	1.0	0.8	16
	​Block placed​[until: JE 26.4]	Blocks	When the block is placed	block.stone.place	subtitles.block.generic.place​	1.0	0.8	16
	​Block breaking	Blocks	While the block is in the process of being broken	block.stone.hit	subtitles.block.generic.hit​	0.25	0.5	16
	​Something falls on a block	Entity-Dependent	Falling on the block with fall damage	block.stone.fall	subtitles.block.generic.fall​	0.5	0.75	16
	​Footsteps	Entity-Dependent	Walking on the block	block.stone.step	subtitles.block.generic.footsteps​	0.15	1.0	16

Bedrock Edition:

v t e normal sound type
Sound	Closed captions	Source	Description	Identifier	Translation key	Volume	Pitch
	​Block broken	Blocks	Once the block has broken	dig.stone	subtitles.block.generic.break​	1.0	0.8–1.0
	​Block placed	Blocks	When the block is placed	place.stone	subtitles.block.generic.place​	1.0	0.8–1.0
	​Block breaking	Blocks	While the block is in the process of being broken	hit.stone	subtitles.block.generic.hit​	0.27	0.5
	​Footsteps	Players	Falling on the block with fall damage	fall.stone	subtitles.block.generic.footsteps​	0.4	1.0
	​Footsteps	Players	Walking on the block	step.stone	subtitles.block.generic.footsteps​	0.3	1.0
	​Footsteps	Blocks	Jumping from the block	jump.stone	subtitles.block.generic.footsteps​	0.12	1.0
	​Footsteps	Blocks	Falling on the block without fall damage	land.stone	subtitles.block.generic.footsteps​	0.22	1.0

Data values

ID

Java Edition:

Name	Identifier	Form	Block tags	Translation key
Barrier	barrier	Block & Item	blocks_wind_charge_explosions dragon_immune snow_layer_cannot_survive_on wither_immune	block.minecraft.barrier

Bedrock Edition:

Name	Identifier	Numeric ID	Form	Item ID	Translation key
Barrier	barrier	416	Block & Giveable Item	Identical (Numeric: -161)	tile.barrier.name

Block states

Java Edition:

Name	Default value	Allowed values	Description
waterlogged	false	true false	Whether or not there's water in the same place as this barrier.

History

Tweet

January 30, 2014							Grum posted about an invisible block.

Java Edition

Java Edition
1.8			14w05a				Added barriers.
			14w06a				Barriers now use block of redstone breaking particles instead of lava.
							A barrier particle effect has been added to the particle command. With this, the player can now see where there are barriers.
			14w06b				Barriers are now visible when holding the item in Creative mode.
			14w20a				Withers and ender dragons can no longer break barriers.
1.8.1			pre3				Blue wither skulls no longer break barriers.
1.14			18w43a				The texture of barriers has been changed.
1.15			pre2				Barriers are now visible when holding a barrier in the offhand.
1.16			20w16a				Barriers naturally generate inside bastion remnants.
			20w17a				Barriers no longer generate in bastion remnants.
1.17			21w13a				Barriers are no longer visible when held in the offhand.
			21w20a				Barriers are now revealed by save-mode structure blocks.
							The rarity of barriers has been changed from "Common" to "Epic".
1.19.3			22w42a				Barriers no longer emit block particles when broken.
			22w44a				Barriers are now available in the Creative inventory, but only if cheats are enabled.
			22w45a				Moved barriers behind the Operator Utilities tab in the Creative inventory. The tab is only available if cheats are enabled and the "Operator Items Tab" option in the controls menu is turned on.
1.20.2			23w31a				Barriers can now be waterlogged by players in Creative mode.
							Barriers can no longer produce particles when fallen onto or brushed.

Bedrock Edition

Bedrock Edition
1.6.0			beta 1.6.0.1				Added barriers.
1.10.0			beta 1.10.0.3				The texture of barriers has been changed.
1.20.70			Preview 1.20.70.22				Barrier no longer drops itself when breaking.

Legacy Console Edition

Legacy Console Edition
Xbox 360	Xbox One	PS3	PS4	PS Vita	Wii U	Switch
TU31	CU19	1.22	1.22	1.22	Patch 3	1.0.1	Added barrier. It is unobtainable.
TU36	CU25	1.28	1.28	1.28	Patch 7		With the addition of the battle mini game, barriers are now used in various battle maps.
TU69		1.76	1.76	1.76	Patch 38		Added a new tutorial world which uses barrier blocks.
TU73		1.82	1.83	1.82	Patch 42		Barrier blocks have been removed from the tutorial world.
			1.90				The texture of barriers has been changed.

Data history

Java Edition
1.13			17w47a				Prior to The Flattening, this block's numeral ID was 166.

Issues

Issues relating to "Barrier" are maintained on the bug tracker. Issues should be reported and viewed there.

Trivia

• The symbol used is not compliant with ISO 3864-1, as the diagonal line is mirrored.
• The barrier's vanilla block model defines only what texture to use for block breaking particles, and it does not have a parent model or anything that would give the block a physical shape.
• Barriers are hardcoded to not render any block model.

Gallery

Screenshots

• 
  Barriers support any block, and can transmit a redstone signal.
• 
  A pig standing on a barrier.
• 
  Barriers in debug mode.

Development images

• 
  Dev image of barriers.
• 
  Ditto.