Block of Iron

Block of Iron

Renewable	Yes
Stackable	Yes (64)
Tool
Blast resistance	6
Hardness	5
Luminous	No
Transparent	No
Flammable	No
Catches fire from lava	No
Map color	6 METAL
Note block instrument	Iron Xylophone
Sulfur cube archetype	Slow Flat

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    "title": "Block of Iron",
    "rows": [
        {
            "field": "Yes",
            "label": "(link to Renewable resource article, displayed as Renewable)"
        },
        {
            "field": "Yes (64)",
            "label": "Stackable"
        },
        {
            "field": "<span class=\"sprite-file\" style=\"height:32px;width:32px;--vertical-align:middle\">(link to File:Invicon Stone Pickaxe.png article, displayed as 32x32px|link=|alt=Invicon Stone Pickaxe.png: Sprite image for Stone Pickaxe in Minecraft|class=pixel-image|A stone pickaxe or better is required to mine this block)</span>",
            "label": "Tool"
        },
        {
            "field": "6",
            "label": "(link to Explosion#Blast resistance article, displayed as Blast resistance)"
        },
        {
            "field": "5",
            "label": "(link to Breaking#Blocks by hardness article, displayed as Hardness)"
        },
        {
            "field": "No",
            "label": "(link to Light article, displayed as Luminous)"
        },
        {
            "field": "No",
            "label": "(link to Opacity article, displayed as Transparent)"
        },
        {
            "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": "<span style=\"white-space: nowrap;\"><span style=\"display: inline-block; background-color: rgb(167, 167, 167); border: 1px solid #888; border-radius: 0.3em; color: transparent; width: 1em; height: 1em; vertical-align: -0.36em; margin-right: -0.1em\"><br></span> 6 METAL</span>",
            "label": "(link to Map item format#Color table article, displayed as Map color)"
        },
        {
            "field": "Iron Xylophone",
            "label": "(link to Note Block#Instruments article, displayed as Note block instrument)"
        },
        {
            "field": "Slow Flat",
            "label": "(link to Sulfur Cube#Archetypes article, displayed as Sulfur cube archetype)"
        }
    ],
    "invimages": [
        "Block of Iron"
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    "images": [
        "Block of Iron.png"
    ]
}

A block of iron, known internally as an iron block, is a metal block equivalent to nine iron ingots.

Obtaining

Breaking

Blocks of iron can be mined only with a stone pickaxe or better. If a block of iron is mined without the use of a pickaxe, it drops nothing.

Block	Block of Iron
Hardness	5
Tool
Breaking time (sec)
Default	125 (JE) 25 (BE)
Wooden	112.5 (JE) 12.5 (BE)
Stone	11.9 (JE) 1.9 (BE)
Copper	11.5 (JE) 1.5 (BE)
Iron	11.25 (JE) 1.25 (BE)
Diamond	10.95 (JE) 0.95 (BE)
Netherite	10.85 (JE) 0.85 (BE)
Golden	12.1 (JE) 2.1 (BE)
Options
Efficiency	000
Haste	001 1JEBE

Legend

• incorrect tool, drops nothing
• correct tool, drops nothing or something other than the block itself
• correct tool, drops the block itself
• italicized can be instant mined

Generated loot

Item	Structure	Container	Quantity	Chance
Java Edition and Bedrock Edition
Block of Iron	Bastion Remnant	Generic chest	1	19% { "item": "Block of Iron", "stacksize": 1, "chance": 0.18999999999999995, "structure": "Bastion Remnant", "container": "Generic chest" }
		Treasure chest	2–5	33.7% { "item": "Block of Iron", "stacksize": "2–5", "chance": 0.33668648071940255, "structure": "Bastion Remnant", "container": "Treasure chest" }
	Trial Chambers	Ominous vault	1	11% { "item": "Block of Iron", "stacksize": 1, "chance": 0.1103448275862069, "structure": "Trial Chambers", "container": "Ominous vault" }
		Intersection chest	1–2	39.7% { "item": "Block of Iron", "stacksize": "1–2", "chance": 0.39719773101739475, "structure": "Trial Chambers", "container": "Intersection chest" }

Crafting

Ingredients	Crafting recipe
Iron Ingot

Usage

Blocks of iron can be used to store iron ingots in a compact fashion.

Beacons

Blocks of iron can be used to "power" a beacon. The beacon can be powered by a 3×3 square of iron blocks underneath it, and can optionally also include a 5×5, 7×7 and 9×9 layer in the shape of a pyramid under the original layer to increase the effects from the beacon. The layers do not have to be entirely blocks of iron, as they may also contain blocks of gold, blocks of diamond, blocks of netherite or blocks of emerald.

Spawning iron golems

Iron golem build configuration.

Blocks of iron and carved pumpkins or jack o'lanterns are used to build iron golems. The carved pumpkin or jack o'lantern must be placed last, and the golem spawns immediately after placing it.

Sounds

Java Edition:

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

Bedrock Edition:

v t e iron sound type
Sound	Closed captions	Source	Description	Identifier	Translation key	Volume	Pitch
	​Block broken	Blocks	Once the block has broken	break.iron	​ ?	1.0	0.8
	​Block placed	Blocks	When the block is placed	place.iron	​ ?	1.0	0.8
	​Block breaking	Blocks	While the block is in the process of being broken	hit.iron	​ ?	0.3	0.5
	​Footsteps	Players	Falling on the block with fall damage	step.iron	​ ?	1.0	1.0
	​Footsteps	Players	Walking on the block	step.iron	​ ?	0.2	1.0
	​Footsteps	Players	Jumping from the block	step.iron	​ ?	0.12	1.1
	​Footsteps	Players	Falling on the block without fall damage	step.iron	​ ?	0.4	1.0

Data values

ID

Java Edition:

Name	Identifier	Form	Block tags	Translation key
Block of Iron	iron_block	Block & Item	beacon_base_blocks mineable/pickaxe needs_stone_tool	block.minecraft.iron_block

Bedrock Edition:

Name	Identifier	Numeric ID	Form	Item ID	Translation key
Block of Iron	iron_block	42	Block & Giveable Item	Identical	tile.iron_block.name

Achievements

Icon		Achievement	In-game description	Actual requirements (if different)	Gamerscore earned	Trophy type (PS)
PS4	Other
		Body Guard	Create an Iron Golem.	—	20	Bronze

Advancements

Icon	Advancement	In-game description	Actual requirements (if different)
	Hired Help	Summon an Iron Golem to help defend a village	Summon an iron golem.

History

Development

May 21, 2009							Notch shows interest in adding a "metal block".
October 24, 2009							Notch teased a block of iron.

• 
  The first image of new textures for iron blocks, obsidian, and birch logs compared to the old ones.

Java Edition

Java Edition Classic
0.26 SURVIVAL TEST							Added blocks of iron. The texture itself is a grayscale version of the new gold texture.
Java Edition Indev
0.31			20100128-2200				Iron ore no longer drops iron blocks.
			20100129-1447				Blocks of iron can now be crafted from 4 iron ingots.
			20100130				Blocks of iron are now more expensive, requiring 9 iron ingots (3×3) instead of 4 (2×2).
							Iron blocks can be uncrafted into 9 ingots.
Java Edition Alpha
v1.2.0							The texture of blocks of iron has been changed. It now uses the top texture on all sides of the block.
Java Edition Beta
1.2							The side and bottom textures of blocks of iron have been removed from terrain.png.
Java Edition
1.0.0			Beta 1.9 Prerelease 5				The texture of blocks of iron has been changed.
1.2.1			12w06a				Blocks of iron are now renewable, due to zombies occassionally dropping iron ingots.
			12w08a				Blocks of iron can be used to make iron golems.
1.4.2			12w32a				Blocks of iron can be used to construct beacon pyramids.
			12w41a				Blocks of iron are now used to craft anvils.
			12w42a				A new crafting recipe for anvils call for 3 blocks of iron instead of the original 6.
1.9			15w31a				9 iron blocks generate in the end ships.
			15w33c				End ships generate with only 8 iron blocks now.
			15w41a				End ships no longer generate with iron blocks.
July 18, 2017							Jeb tweets an image of new textures for iron blocks, obsidian, and birch logs.
1.14			18w43a				The texture of blocks of iron has been changed.
			19w09a				Blocks of iron can now be used to play the xylophone, if they are under note blocks.
1.16.2			20w30a				Blocks of iron can now be found in bastion remnant chests.
1.20.3 Experiment Update 1.21			23w45a				Blocks of iron can now be found in trial chambers intersection chests.
1.20.5 Experiment Update 1.21			24w13a				Blocks of iron can now be obtained from ominous vaults.
1.21.5			25w02a				Added new break, place, step, fall and hit sounds.
26.2			snap1				Added sulfur cubes, which have the ability to absorb blocks of iron, providing the medicine ball/slow flat effect to the mob.

Bedrock Edition

Pocket Edition Alpha
Demo							Added blocks of iron.
v0.2.0							The texture of blocks of iron has been changed.
v0.3.2							Blocks of iron can now be crafted from 6 iron ingots.
							Now iron blocks can be uncrafted into 9 ingots.
v0.3.3							Blocks of iron now requiring 9 iron ingots instead of 6.
v0.12.1			build 1				Blocks of iron are now used to craft anvils.
							Blocks of iron can now be used to create iron golems.
v0.16.0			build 4				Blocks of iron can now be used to construct beacon pyramids.
Bedrock Edition
1.10.0			beta 1.10.0.3				The texture of blocks of iron has been changed.
1.13.0			beta 1.13.0.9				Blocks of iron can now be used to play the xylophone, if they are under note blocks.
1.17.10			beta 1.17.10.21				Blocks of iron can now be found in bastion remnant chests.
1.20.60 Experiment Update 1.21			Preview 1.20.60.20				Blocks of iron can now be found in trial chambers intersection chests.
1.21.0 Experiment Update 1.21			Preview 1.21.0.20				Blocks of iron can now be obtained from ominous vaults.
1.21.60			Preview 1.21.60.25				Added new break, place, step, fall and hit sounds.
26.20 Experiment Drop 2 of 2026			Preview 26.20.23				Added sulfur cubes, which have the ability to absorb blocks of iron, providing the medicine ball/slow flat effect to the mob.
26.30			Preview 26.30.20				Implemented all features from the "Drop 2 of 2026" experiment in vanilla gameplay.

Legacy Console Edition

Legacy Console Edition
Xbox 360	Xbox One	PS3	PS4	PS Vita	Wii U	Switch
TU1	CU1	1.00	1.00	1.00	Patch 1	1.0.1	Added blocks of iron.
TU3							The texture of blocks of iron has been changed.
TU12							Blocks of iron can be used to make iron golems.
TU14		1.04					Blocks of iron are now used to craft anvils.
TU19	CU7	1.12	1.12	1.12			Blocks of iron can now be used to construct beacon pyramids.
			1.90				The texture of blocks of iron has been changed.

New Nintendo 3DS Edition

New Nintendo 3DS Edition
0.1.0							Added blocks of iron.

Data history

Java Edition
1.8			14w06a				Blocks of iron now use the newly-implemented model json file models/block/cube.json; previously the geometry was defined in the game code itself.
1.13			17w47a				Prior to The Flattening, this block's numeral ID was 42.

Issues

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

Gallery

Screenshots

• 
  An iron golem kit

Mojang screenshots

• 
• 

In other media

• 
  Two people and an agent taking a break on iron
• 
  A block of iron as it appeared in Minecraft Earth
• 
  Block of iron as it appeared on the 2022 Mob Vote Event
• 
  A block of iron as it appeared in MCC x Minecraft 15th Anniversary Party
• 
  Blocks of iron as they appear in A Minecraft Movie
• 
  Action figure of a block of iron

External links

• "Block of the Month: Block of Iron" by Duncan Geere – Minecraft.net, October 23, 2023.