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 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 an oak fence.
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 |
Sounds[]
| Sound | Subtitles | Source | Description | Resource location | Translation key | Volume | Pitch | Attenuation distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Block broken | Blocks | Once the block has broken | block | subtitles | 0.5 | 0.8 | 16 | |
| Block placed | Blocks | When the block is placed | block | subtitles | 0.5 | 0.8 | 16 | |
| Block breaking | Blocks | While the block is in the process of being broken | block | subtitles | 0.2 | 0.5 | 16 | |
| None[sound 1] | Entity-Dependent | Falling on the block with fall damage | block | None[sound 1] | 0.5 | 0.75 | 16 | |
| Footsteps | Entity-Dependent | Walking on the block | block | subtitles | 0.15 | 1.0 | 16 |
| Sound | Source | Description | Resource location | Volume | Pitch |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blocks | Once the block has broken | dig | 1.0 | 0.8-1.0 | |
| Blocks | When the block is placed | dig | 1.0 | 0.8-1.0 | |
| Blocks | While the block is in the process of being broken | hit | 1.0 | 0.8-1.0 | |
| Players | Falling on the block with fall damage | fall | 0.4 | 1.0 | |
| Players | Walking on the block | step | 0.3 | 1.0 | |
| Players | Jumping from the block | jump | 0.12 | 1.0 | |
| Players | Falling on the block without fall damage | land | 0.22 | 1.0 |
Data values[]
ID[]
| Name | Identifier | Form | Translation key |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chain | chain | Block & Item | block.minecraft.chain |
| 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 |
Block states[]
| 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 | falsetrue | Whether or not there's water in the same place as this chain. |
| Name | Metadata Bits | Default value | Allowed values | Values for Metadata Bits |
Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| pillar_axis | 0x10x2 | 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%. | |||
| Pre-release 1 |   Chains can now be placed in all orientations. | ||||
| 1.17 | 21w07a | Chains can now generate in mineshafts. | |||
| 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. | |||
| 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.
Gallery[]
Chains and stone bricks.
Chains and chiseled blackstone.
An evoker lifting weights.
A lantern hanging from a chain.
A spawner hanging with a chain found in the bastion remnants.
