Respawn Anchor

The respawn anchor is a block that allows players to set their spawn point in the Nether.

Obtaining

Breaking

Respawn anchors can be harvested with any pickaxe at or above diamond tier (diamond/netherite). The respawn anchor keeps its current level of charges with the Pick Block option in Creative mode, and it is unique in the fact that this does not work on other blocks with different states like the redstone lamp or daylight sensor.^[1]

Crafting

While the ingredients to craft a respawn anchor are all native to the Nether, they are also obtainable in the Overworld: glowstone can be obtained from trading with villagers or wandering trader, or crafted from glowstone dust dropped by witches; crying obsidian can be found in ruined portals and obtained with piglin bartering.

Usage

Respawning

The respawn anchor is used to respawn in the Nether, even if the player leaves the Nether. Once the block is charged, it can be used to set the player's respawn location.

Charging

When crafted, a respawn anchor has no (zero) charge and can't yet be used until charged. Using a glowstone block (not glowstone dust) on it adds a charge. The anchor accepts up to 4 charges, and the charge level is indicated by a dial on the side of the block.

The first charge makes the respawn anchor glow with a light level of 3. Each glowstone after the first increases the light level by 4, up to a maximum of 15.

Setting respawn

To set the player's spawn location to the respawn anchor they must use it, just like one does with a bed. The anchor must at least have one charge, and it must be in the Nether. A confirmation appears when the player's respawn location is set. Other players can also set their spawn point to the same respawn anchor. Each respawn uses up one charge, even if used by another player.

Using a charged anchor overrides any other spawn location the player might have had, as with a bed. The respawn anchor does not serve as a backup spawn point to a missing or obstructed bed.

Respawn upon player death

Upon death, the player respawns next to the anchor, consuming one of its charges. If a player's respawn anchor is destroyed, has no charges left, or if the area around it is made unsuitable for respawning, a message appears saying "You have no home bed or charged Respawn Anchor, or it was obstructed", and the player respawns at the world spawn point. Returning through an end portal is not counted as a respawn against the charges.

A respawn anchor can be shared among several players. When shared, remaining charges are shared as well. In Hardcore mode, the respawn anchor does not resurrect the player, but may still teleport them and consume charges.

Exploding

If the player attempts to set their spawn at a charged respawn anchor in the Overworld, the End, or custom dimensions in which they are disabled, the block explodes (and is destroyed) similar to when a bed is used in the Nether or the End. The explosion has a power of 5 and sets fire to surrounding blocks.

Redstone component

When charged, a redstone comparator gives a signal depending on the number of charges: 3 for one charge, 7 for two charges, 11 for three charges, 15 for four charges. An empty anchor gives a signal of 0.

The respawn anchor can also be charged with a dispenser.

The respawn anchor cannot be pushed by a piston.

Mobs

Hoglins run away from respawn anchors.

Note blocks

Respawn anchors can be placed under note blocks to produce the "bass drum" sound.

Sounds

Generic

Java Edition:

Bedrock Edition:

Unique

Java Edition:

Bedrock Edition:

Data values

ID

Java Edition:

Bedrock Edition:

Block states

Java Edition:

Bedrock Edition:

Advancements

Icon	Advancement	In-game description	Parent	Actual requirements (if different)	Resource location
	Not Quite "Nine" Lives	Charge a Respawn Anchor to the maximum	Who is Cutting Onions?	—	nether/charge_respawn_anchor

History

Java Edition
1.16		20w12a			Added the respawn anchor.
		20w13a			The respawn anchor can now be charged with a dispenser.
					Respawn anchor can no longer be destroyed by the ender dragon.
		20w20a			The Not Quite "Nine" Lives advancement has been added, which is completed by charging up a respawn anchor to the maximum level.
1.16.2		20w30a			Respawn anchors now prioritize cardinal directions over corners.
1.19.3		22w43a			Respawn anchor explosions can now be properly blocked by shields.[2]
Bedrock Edition
1.16.0		beta 1.16.0.57			Added the respawn anchor.
		beta 1.16.0.63			Respawn anchors can now be charged in the Overworld without them exploding.[3]
					A sound now plays when a respawn anchor charge is depleted.
					Blocks can now be placed to respawn anchors with no charges without them exploding.
					Respawn anchors now require a diamond or netherite pickaxe in order to be mined.[4]
					The Silk Touch enchantment now works on respawn anchors.
1.19.20		beta 1.19.20.22			Respawn anchors can no longer be destroyed by the ender dragon.
1.19.60		beta 1.19.60.23			Respawn anchors no longer keep their charges when broken by a tool enchanted with Silk Touch.

Issues

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

Trivia

• The active respawn anchor's top texture is actually translucent, as this texture is a direct modification of the nether portal block texture. This translucency is not visible in-game as solid blocks with transparent pixels are always rendered as opaque.
• The respawn anchor's ambient sound is in fact the nether portal's ambient sound played backward.

Gallery

• 
  An explosion comparison between (from left to right) the respawn anchor, a charged creeper, TNT, and a creeper.
• 
  Crafting a respawn anchor.

References