This dark purple and black block resists all explosions except Wither's "blue skull" attack. For this reason it is useful for building bomb shelters that can protect you from creepers and other players. Obsidian is also used in many recipes, including that for the spell table. Contrary to many other Minecraft items, it cannot be built and is rarely found in nature. You can still get it by pouring water over the lava.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Create the Obsidian without a Diamond Pickaxe
Step 1. Find a lava pit
There is no recipe for making obsidian, but every time running water comes into contact with a block of still lava (source block), it turns into obsidian. You can find lava in the following places:
- Lava falls are quite common in caves and ravines. Only the top block is a source block.
- Lava is very common in the last ten levels of the map. Dig down diagonally to avoid falling into it.
- In rare cases, you can find lava lakes on the surface, but never more than twenty blocks above sea level.
- In some villages you will find the blacksmith's house which contains two blocks of lava, visible from the outside.
Step 2. Collect the lava with a bucket
Build the bucket with three iron ingots. Use this tool on the lava to collect it. You can only take still lava, not flowing lava.
Arrange the iron ingots in a "V" shape in the crafting grid to build the bucket
Step 3. Dig a hole where you want to make obsidian
Make sure it is surrounded by solid blocks and is more than two blocks away from any flammable objects. Wood, tall grass, and many other objects catch fire near the lava.
Step 4. Pour the lava into the hole
Remember, only stationary lava can turn into obsidian. This means you need a bucket of lava for each obsidian block you want to get.
Remember, without a diamond pickaxe it is not possible to mine obsidian without breaking it. Before continuing, be sure to create obsidian in exactly the space you have chosen
Step 5. Pour the water over the lava
Use the empty bucket to collect the water. Go back to the lava pool you created and pour the water over it, so that it flows downward. When running water comes into contact with lava, the latter will turn into obsidian.
Build a temporary non-flammable structure around the lava pool to prevent it from leaking away
Method 2 of 4: Transforming Lava Pools with a Diamond Pickaxe
Step 1. Get a diamond pickaxe
Obsidian is the only block in the game that needs to be mined with this pickaxe. Any inferior tool destroys this material if you attempt to dig it.
Step 2. Locate a pool of lava
Dig almost to the bottom of the map and explore the area. It shouldn't take you long to find a great one. Since you have a diamond pickaxe, you can turn the entire pool into obsidian instead of hauling the lava with buckets.
Step 3. Fence the area
Create a small wall on one side of the pool, leaving space to pour a block of water. You will reduce the chances of the water pushing you into the lava.
Step 4. Pour the water over the lava
Place the water block inside the gated area, one level above the lava. It should flow down and turn the surface of the pool into obsidian.
Step 5. Check the edges of the obsidian
Stand at the edge of the pool and dig a block deep inside the obsidian. You may find another layer of lava. If you're not careful, you could fall into the lava, or the obsidian block can fall into the liquid and be destroyed before you can pick it up.
Step 6. Direct the water so that it flows to where you are digging
If you see a layer of lava under the obsidian, place yourself next to the water and dig the obsidian from the side. The water should flood the area you just dug, turning the underlying layer of lava into obsidian before it can do any damage. Keep digging for all the obsidian you need, shifting your water supply as needed.
Method 3 of 4: Create Infinite Gates to the Underworld
Step 1. Get twenty blocks of obsidian
It takes ten blocks to build a portal to the Underworld. However, once you have enough for two portals, you can use a trick to get infinite obsidian without having to find more lava.
Step 2. Create a portal to the Underworld
If you have not already built a portal, place the obsidian blocks in a vertical frame 5 blocks high and 4 blocks wide. Activate the portal using the flintlock on the lowest obsidian block. The trick doesn't work if there is another portal too close to your location.
Corners of the frame are not necessary
Step 3. Travel through the Underworld
This is a dangerous dimension, so be prepared if you haven't already visited it. You will need the other ten obsidian blocks, but first you should leave them at home and explore the environment to find a safe path. You must travel a minimum distance following a straight horizontal line (the numbers include a safety margin of 3 blocks to avoid problems):
- Big worlds on PC, Pocket Edition and on consoles: travel 19 blocks.
- "Medium" worlds on console: move 25 blocks.
- "Classic" worlds on console (including all on PS3 and Xbox 360): Walk 45 blocks.
- If you have built multiple portals in the surface world, move away from their coordinates. The trick doesn't work if you are too close to an existing portal.
Step 4. Build a second portal
Create it in the Underworld and activate it as you did with the first one. When you cross it, you should appear in a new portal on the surface.
If you appear next to the portal you built earlier, you haven't traveled far enough into the Underworld. Go back to the underground dimension and break the portal you created with the diamond pickaxe, then rebuild it somewhere else
Step 5. Dig the Obsidian Blocks of the Portal on the surface
The portal that just appeared consists of 14 obsidian blocks that you are free to collect. Break them with the diamond pickaxe.
Step 6. Go through the same portal again into the Underworld to create another one on the surface
Each time you do this, a portal paired with it will appear in the normal world of Minecraft. Dig it for free obsidian. You can speed this up if you want to collect large quantities of obsidian:
- Use a bed to set your crafting point near the permanent portal on the surface.
- Place a chest next to the temporary surface portal. Leave the obsidian and the diamond pickaxe in the chest after digging the blocks that make up the portal.
- Kill your character to return to the creation point.
- Travel through the Underworld again and exit the same portal to create another one. Build a covered tunnel between the portals of the Underworld to be more protected during the journey.
Method 4 of 4: Dig into the End
Step 1. Find the portal to the End
This portal leads to the final and most challenging area of Minecraft. To find and activate it you have to follow a long mission that requires many ender eyes. Only attempt this adventure when you are ready to face the fearsome Ender Dragon.
If you are playing the Pocket Edition, the End Portal only works in infinite worlds (not "Old" ones) created from version 1.0 or later (released in December 2016)
Step 2. Dig the End platform
After going through the End Portal, you will find yourself on a platform of 25 obsidian blocks. Dig it with the diamond pickaxe (although you should kill that dragon that is bothering you first).
Step 3. Dig the obsidian pillars
On the island that hosts the Ender Dragon there are numerous tall towers topped by purple crystals. The towers are made up entirely of obsidian.
Step 4. Return to the surface through the same portal
You can return home by dying or defeating the Ender Dragon and walking through the exit portal that will appear. Each time you pass through the End Portal, the 25-block obsidian platform will be rebuilt. This method is the quickest to obtain infinite obsidian.
Obsidian pillars are not spawned again unless you summon the dragon. To fight the monster a second time, place four ender crystals on top of the exit portal that appeared when the dragon died
Advice
- Obsidian is needed to build the spell table, lighthouse and ender chest. Once in possession of the obsidian, charm your pickaxe to make it faster to dig.
- For the bucket method, always make sure the lava pool is made up of source blocks. If not, it will turn to stone or crushed stone when you pour the water.
- If you're lucky, you can find obsidian in village chests.
