Underwater Torch

This page describes an education-related feature.

This feature is available only in Minecraft Education or when enabling the "Education" option in Bedrock Edition.

This feature is exclusive to Bedrock Edition and Minecraft Education.

An underwater torch is a non-solid block that emits light underwater.

Obtaining

Breaking

Unlike a normal torch, an underwater torch does not break if water occupies its space.

Like normal torches, an underwater torch breaks instantly and drops itself when broken using anything. Tools do not lose durability when breaking an underwater torch.

Underwater torches are also broken if pushed by a piston.

Crafting

Ingredients	Crafting recipe
Magnesium + Torch

As with any torch, an underwater torch can be crafted using coal or charcoal. The player can also use a torch from the Creative inventory.^[verify]

Usage

An underwater torch can be used exactly like a normal torch, only it can be underwater.

Underwater torches can be placed on the top or the sides of most solid blocks, although some require sneaking (see placement for exceptions). Being non-solid, an underwater torch has no collision box.
Gravity-affected blocks like sand and gravel do not fall if the block below them has an underwater torch on it, and they break if they fall onto an underwater torch.

Placement

In general, underwater torches can be placed only on solid, opaque, and full blocks; exceptions are listed below.

Block name	Underwater torch placeable
Slab	Top of top-half slabs
Fence	Top only
Cobblestone Wall	Top only
Glass	Yes
Stained Glass	Yes
Hopper	Top only
Snow	Top of 8-layer thick snow
Soul Sand	Yes
Piston	Yes
Monster Spawner	Yes

Light

Underwater torches emit a light level of 14. Underwater torches also melt snow layers and ice within 2 blocks (taxicab distance).

Sounds

Source	Description	Resource location	Volume	Pitch
Blocks	Once the block has broken	`dig.wood`	1.0	0.8-1.0
Blocks	When the block is placed	`dig.wood`	1.0	0.8
Blocks	While the block is in the process of being broken	`hit.wood`	0.23	0.5
Players	Falling on the block with fall damage	`fall.wood`	0.4	1.0
Players	Walking on the block	`step.wood`	0.3	1.0
Players	Jumping from the block	`jump.wood`	0.12	1.0
Players	Falling on the block without fall damage	`land.wood`	0.18	1.0

Data values

ID

Name	Identifier	Numeric ID	Form	Item ID^{[i 1]}	Translation key
Underwater Torch	`underwater_torch`	`239`	Block & Giveable Item^{[i 2]}	Identical^{[i 3]}	`tile.underwater_torch.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

Name	Metadata Bits	Default value	Allowed values	Values for Metadata Bits	Description
torch_facing_direction	`0x1` `0x2` `0x4`	`west`	`west` `east` `north` `south` `top`	`1` `2` `3` `4` `5`	The face of the block that the torch is attached to. If the torch is a wall torch, the top of the torch faces opposite to this direction.^[1]
torch_facing_direction	`0x1` `0x2` `0x4`	`west`	`unknown`	`0`	Unused

History

Bedrock Edition
1.4.0	beta 1.2.20.1	Added underwater torches.
1.4.0	beta 1.2.20.1	Underwater torches display this texture when obtained in a world without the "Education Edition" feature enabled.
Education Edition
1.0.27		Added underwater torches.

Issues

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

Gallery

The particles emitted by an underwater torch.

Trivia

The crafting recipe refers to the fact that magnesium metal can burn in pure water vapor. Magnesium has a similar reaction with hot water, but it is slower and does not look like burning.
If magnesium catches fire, water cannot be used to extinguish it. This is because magnesium reacts with hot water (and water vapor) to form explosive hydrogen gas.