Chain

Chains are metallic decoration blocks.

Obtaining

Breaking

Chains can be mined using any pickaxe. If mined without a pickaxe, it drops nothing.

Block	Chain
Hardness	5
Tool
Breaking time^[A]
Default	25
Wooden	3.75
Stone	1.9
Iron	1.25
Diamond	0.95
Netherite	0.85
Golden	0.65

↑ Times are for unenchanted tools as wielded by players with no status effects, measured in seconds. For more information, see Breaking § Speed.

Natural generation

Chains generate in bastion remnants and sometimes in ruined portals that generate in the Nether. They always generate above magma cube monster spawners, also found in bastions.

Chains can also generate in mineshafts. They generate on the sides of a wooden bridge (a mid-air corridor) when the distance between the bridge and the highest solid block below it is higher than the distance to the lowest solid block above it. Chains here generate vertically in a pillar between the bridge and the ceiling. The lowest block of the pillar, connecting the chain to the bridge, is always either an oak or a dark oak fence depending on the type of mineshaft.

Chest loot

Item	Structure	Container	Quantity	Chance
Java Edition
Chain	Bastion remnant	Generic chest	2–10	24.4%
Bedrock Edition
Chain	Bastion remnant	Generic chest	2–10	24.4%

Crafting

Ingredients	Crafting recipe
Iron Nugget + Iron Ingot

Usage

Chains can be used to suspend bells, hanging signs, or both types of lanterns (normal lanterns and soul lanterns), as the chain texture connects to the chain of the lantern seamlessly as if it were part of it, and it connects the hanging sign chains together. Chains do not require a supporting block to be placed whether it is on the top, next to it or at the bottom. It can exist completely free-standing in mid air^[1] and it can be rotated. Chains connect horizontally or vertically, but not across different orientations (so a chain with N orientation does not connect to a chain with E orientation in the adjacent block). Horizontal chains one block above a surface may be walked over. Horizontal chains two blocks above a surface prevent players from traveling past them. Vertical chains block travel if targeted directly, but may be skirted.

Precision is required, but chains can be walked on, allowing for inconspicuous, although somewhat costly, bridges.

Chains can be pushed by pistons without being broken.

Crafting ingredient

Name	Ingredients	Crafting recipe
Hanging Sign	Chain + Matching Stripped Log or Stem or Block of Stripped Bamboo	66666666666

Sounds

Java Edition:

Subtitles	Source	Description	Resource location	Translation key	Volume	Pitch	Attenuation distance
Block broken	Blocks	Once the block has broken	`block.chain.break`	`subtitles.block.generic.break`	0.5	0.8	16
Block placed	Blocks	When the block is placed	`block.chain.place`	`subtitles.block.generic.place`	0.5	0.8	16
Block breaking	Blocks	While the block is in the process of being broken	`block.chain.hit`	`subtitles.block.generic.hit`	0.2	0.5	16
None^{[sound 1]}	Entity-Dependent	Falling on the block with fall damage	`block.chain.fall`	None^{[sound 1]}	0.5	0.75	16
Footsteps	Entity-Dependent	Walking on the block	`block.chain.step`	`subtitles.block.generic.footsteps`	0.15	1.0	16

↑ ^a ^b MC-177082

Bedrock Edition:

Source	Description	Resource location	Volume	Pitch
Blocks	Once the block has broken	`dig.chain`	1.0	0.8-1.0
Blocks	When the block is placed	`dig.chain`	1.0	0.8-1.0
Blocks	While the block is in the process of being broken	`hit.chain`	1.0	0.8-1.0
Players	Falling on the block with fall damage	`fall.chain`	0.4	1.0
Players	Walking on the block	`step.chain`	0.3	1.0
Players	Jumping from the block	`jump.chain`	0.12	1.0
Players	Falling on the block without fall damage	`land.chain`	0.22	1.0

Data values

ID

Java Edition:

Name	Identifier	Form	Translation key
Chain	`chain`	Block & Item	`block.minecraft.chain`

Bedrock Edition:

Chain	Identifier	Numeric ID	Form	Item ID^{[i 1]}	Translation key
Block	`chain`	`541`	Block & Ungiveable Item^{[i 2]}	`item.chain`	`tile.chain.name`
Item	`chain`	`619`	Item	—	`tile.chain.name`

↑ ID of block's direct item form, which is used in savegame files and addons.
↑ Unavailable with /give command

Block states

Java Edition:

Name	Default value	Allowed values	Description
axis	`y`	`x`	The chain is oriented east–west.
		`y`	The chain is oriented vertically.
		`z`	The chain is oriented north–south.
waterlogged	`false`	`false` `true`	Whether or not there's water in the same place as this chain.

Bedrock Edition:

Name	Metadata Bits	Default value	Allowed values	Values for Metadata Bits	Description
pillar_axis	`0x1` `0x2`	`y`	`x`	`1`	The chain is oriented east–west.
			`y`	`0`	The chain is oriented vertically.
			`z`	`2`	The chain is oriented north–south.

History

Java Edition
1.16	20w16a	Added chains.
		Chains generate in the newly added bastion remnants, and can be found in their chests.
		Chains currently use the generic metal block sounds.
	20w17a	Unique sounds have been added for chains.
	20w18a	Chains can now be waterlogged.
1.16.2	20w30a	The chance of finding chains in bastion remnant chests is decreased from 31.5% to 24.4%.
1.16.2	Pre-release 1	Chains can now be placed in all orientations.
1.17	21w07a	Chains can now generate in mineshafts.
1.17	21w13a	The model of chains has been changed so that the backside texture is mirrored.
1.20 (Experimental)	22w42a	Chains are now used to craft hanging signs.
Bedrock Edition
1.16.0	beta 1.16.0.57	Added chains.
1.16.0	beta 1.16.0.63	Unique sounds have been added for chains.
1.16.100	beta 1.16.100.54	Chains can now be placed in all orientations.
1.20.0 (Experimental)	beta 1.19.50.21	Chains are now used to craft hanging signs.

Issues

Issues relating to "Chain" are maintained on the bug tracker. Report issues there.

Trivia

A vertical chain, being a solid, but not a full block, allows for many sizes of mobs and players to pass alongside each piece horizontally.
Despite its name, it cannot be crafted into chainmail armor.^[2]
Chains do not stick together when moved by pistons, regardless of orientation.