Lightning Rod

A lightning rod is a block used to divert lightning strikes.

Obtaining

Breaking

A lightning rod must be mined with a stone pickaxe or better, or else it drops nothing.

Block	Lightning Rod
Hardness	3
Tool
Breaking time^[A]
Default	15
Wooden	7.5
Stone	1.15
Iron	0.75
Diamond	0.6
Netherite	0.5
Golden	1.25

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

Crafting

Ingredients	Crafting recipe
Copper Ingot

Usage

Lightning rods can be oriented in different directions. Lightning rods that are the highest block in the column redirect lightning strikes within a radius of 128 blocks in Java Edition and 64 blocks in Bedrock Edition. This distance includes vertical distance, so the protected area is a sphere centered on the lightning rod. The block emits particles during thunderstorms as an indicator. If multiple lightning rods are in range, the closest to the original location of the strike is chosen.

Lightning can also strike a lightning rod hit by a trident enchanted with Channeling during a thunderstorm or even a normal rainstorm [Bedrock Edition only] , even if there are solid blocks above it blocking rainfall, as long as all the blocks are fully transparent (sky light level 15 at rod position). Lightning rods do not divert the lightning created by a Channeling trident thrown at an entity, or the lightning summoned by commands.

Unlike in real life, a lightning rod doesn't require a direct connection to ground in order to work.

Lightning strikes on lightning rods cannot summon skeleton trap horses.

A lightning rod and the block it's attached to emit a redstone signal for 8 game ticks when struck by lightning.

Lightning diverted by a lightning rod can still start fires nearby (quickly extinguished on non-flammable blocks or by rain) and inflicts lightning damage on mobs within a 6×12×6 box centered 4 blocks above the bottom center of the lightning rod block (that is extending 2 below and 9 above). Adjacent blocks can ignite even if the lightning rod is mounted on a non-flammable block.

Sounds

Generic

Java Edition:

Subtitles	Source	Description	Resource location	Translation key	Volume	Pitch	Attenuation distance
Block broken	Blocks	Once the block has broken	`block.copper.break`	`subtitles.block.generic.break`	1.0	0.8	16
Block placed	Blocks	When the block is placed	`block.copper.place`	`subtitles.block.generic.place`	1.0	0.8	16
Block breaking	Blocks	While the block is in the process of being broken	`block.copper.hit`	`subtitles.block.generic.hit`	0.25	0.5	16
None^{[sound 1]}	Entity-Dependent	Falling on the block with fall damage	`block.copper.fall`	None^{[sound 1]}	0.5	0.75	16
Footsteps	Entity-Dependent	Walking on the block	`block.copper.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.copper`	1.0	0.8-1.0
Blocks	When the block is placed	`dig.copper`	1.0	0.8-1.0
Blocks	While the block is in the process of being broken	`hit.copper`	0.3	0.5
Players	Falling on the block with fall damage	`fall.copper`	0.4	1.0
Players	Walking on the block	`step.copper`	0.3	1.0
Players	Jumping from the block	`step.copper`	0.12	1.0
Players	Falling on the block without fall damage	`step.copper`	0.22	1.0

Unique

Java Edition:

Sound	Subtitles	Source	Description	Resource location	Translation key	Volume	Pitch	Attenuation distance
	Trident thunder cracks	Weather	When a trident with Channeling strikes a lightning rod	`item.trident.thunder`	`subtitles.item.trident.thunder`	5.0	1.0	16

Bedrock Edition: None^[1]

Data values

ID

Java Edition:

Name	Identifier	Form	Translation key
Lightning Rod	`lightning_rod`	Block & Item	`block.minecraft.lightning_rod`

Bedrock Edition:

Name	Identifier	Numeric ID	Form	Item ID^{[i 1]}	Translation key
Lightning Rod	`lightning_rod`	`567`	Block & Giveable Item^{[i 2]}	Identical^{[i 3]}	`tile.lightning_rod.name`

↑ ID of block's direct item form, which is used in savegame files and addons.
↑ Available with /give command.
↑ The block's direct item form has the same id as the block.

Block states

Java Edition:

Name	Default value	Allowed values	Description
facing	`up`	`up` `down` `north` `south` `east` `west`	The direction that the lightning rod is facing, determined by its anchoring.
powered	`false`	`false` `true`	Whether or not the lightning rod is powered.
waterlogged	`false`	`false` `true`	Whether or not there's water in the same place as this lightning rod.

Bedrock Edition:

Name	Metadata Bits	Default value	Allowed values	Values for Metadata Bits	Description
facing_direction	Not Supported	`0`	`0` `1` `2` `3` `4` `5`	`Unsupported`	The direction the lightning rod faces. 0: Down 1: Up 2: North 3: South 4: West 5: East

Advancements

Icon	Advancement	In-game description	Parent	Actual requirements (if different)	Resource location
	Surge Protector	Protect a Villager from an undesired shock without starting a fire	Adventure	Be within 30 blocks of a lightning strike that doesn't set any blocks on fire, while an unharmed villager is within or up to six blocks above a 30×30×30 volume centered on the lightning strike.	`adventure/lightning_rod_with_villager_no_fire`

History

Java Edition
October 3, 2020		Lightning rods are revealed at Minecraft Live 2020.
October 3, 2020		Inventory model was different.
October 20, 2020		LadyAgnes shows a lightning rod can be placed in different positions, and can emit a redstone signal.
1.17	20w45a	Added lightning rods.
	20w46a	The texture of lightning rods has been changed to match copper blocks.
	20w46a	The range of lightning rods has been increased from 16 blocks to 32 blocks.
	21w05a	Lightning rods are now shaded properly.^[2]
	21w10a	Changelog states they can now be waterlogged, though this is not the case.
	21w11a	When lightning strikes, the lightning rod turns white due to its new blockstate, powered.
		Lightning rods can now be waterlogged.
		Lightning emits particles during thunderstorms as an indicator.
	21w13a	The model of the lightning rod has been changed that the underside texture is corrected.
Bedrock Edition
Caves & Cliffs (experimental)	beta 1.16.210.57	Added lightning rods under the Caves and Cliffs experimental gameplay toggle.
	beta 1.16.210.57	It also has a broken texture in the inventory.
	beta 1.16.220.52	Lightning rods can now be waterlogged.
	beta 1.16.220.52	Now emits particles when in contact with rain.
1.17.0	beta 1.17.0.50	Blocks connected to a Lightning Rod now correctly conduct redstone signal when the rod is hit by lightning.
1.17.0	beta 1.17.0.52	Lightning Rods are no longer available only through Experimental Gameplay.

Issues

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

Trivia

According to Minecraft Live 2020, Ulraf had the idea of lightning rods when a lightning strike burned down his wooden house.^[3]
In Minecraft Dungeons, there are lightning rod blocks as well. These generate on the roof of the Woodland Mansion Ancient Hunt to charge creepers.
If /item replace is used to place a lightning rod on a player's head, the item appears upside-down and to the right of their head, somewhat resembling a robot's antenna.‌^{[Java Edition only]}
In china edtion,lightning strikes are the only way to set your defaulted pet on fire,
this doesn't kill them because they are immortal.
Lightning rods turn white upon being struck, which causes release of end rod particles and redstone power.

Gallery

Renders

Screenshots

Range testing in Java 1.17.1. Glowstone marks where lightning struck.
Range testing in Bedrock 1.17.34, simulation distance 12. Sea lanterns mark lightning strikes.
Lightning hitting a lightning rod and sending a redstone signal.
A lightning-struck lightning rod decreasing the oxidizing level of nearby copper blocks.

References

↑ MCPE-173931 — Tridents don't make channeling sounds when striking a lightning rod
↑ MC-204446 - fixed in 21w05a despite that being an affects version; see comments
↑ "Minecraft Live: Caves & Cliffs - First Look @ 29:53" – Minecraft on YouTube, October 3, 2020

Redstone

[breakingtimenote-1] Times are for unenchanted tools as wielded by players with no status effects, measured in seconds. For more information, see Breaking § Speed.

[bugMC-177082-2] MC-177082

[bedrock-item-id-4] ID of block's direct item form, which is used in savegame files and addons.

[bedrock-give-available-5] Available with /give command.

[bedrock-item-form-6] The block's direct item form has the same id as the block.

[3] MCPE-173931 — Tridents don't make channeling sounds when striking a lightning rod

[7] MC-204446 - fixed in 21w05a despite that being an affects version; see comments

[8] "Minecraft Live: Caves & Cliffs - First Look @ 29:53" – Minecraft on YouTube, October 3, 2020

[A]

[sound 1]

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[i 1]

[i 2]

[i 3]

[2]

[3]