Lodestone — Minecraft block

Lodestone

Lodestone anchors a compass to one location, even outside the Overworld, using one iron ingot and eight chiseled stone bricks.

Block ID minecraft:lodestone
Mod Vanilla
Game versions
1.21

Description

Lodestone is crafted from one iron ingot surrounded by eight chiseled stone bricks — a recipe that switched from netherite in Java 1.21.5 and Bedrock 1.21.70, turning an expensive block into a cheap, renewable one. Once placed, a compass can be used on the lodestone to create a linked compass. That item points back to the lodestone's position instead of the world spawn, and the link holds in the Nether and End, where ordinary compasses normally spin, as long as the compass stays in the same dimension as its lodestone.

Lodestone is useful for megabases, nether hubs, end islands, raid farms, and any remote project where coordinates are inconvenient to remember. If the anchor is broken or the compass crosses into another dimension, the linked compass spins randomly, so protected placement matters. Builders often hide the lodestone inside navigation rooms or portal halls, combining practical wayfinding with a strong metallic stone texture.

Block properties

Item ID minecraft:lodestone
/give command /give @p minecraft:lodestone
Stackable Yes (64)
Best tool Pickaxe
Renewable Yes
Hardness 3.5
Blast resistance 3.5
Java Edition 1.16
Bedrock Edition 1.16.0

Java & Bedrock Guide

How to use a Lodestone in Minecraft

  1. 1

    Craft the lodestone

    Place one iron ingot in the center of the crafting grid and surround it with eight chiseled stone bricks to make one lodestone.

  2. 2

    Place it at the target

    Set the lodestone at a base, portal, or mine entrance; the block's position becomes the spot the compass will track.

  3. 3

    Link a compass

    Hold a compass and right-click the lodestone. The compass turns into a lodestone compass with an enchantment glint and now points to that block.

  4. 4

    Navigate from anywhere

    Carry the lodestone compass anywhere in its lodestone's dimension — even the Nether or End, where a normal compass only spins. If the compass crosses into another dimension, it spins until you return.

Important

If the lodestone is destroyed or removed, its linked compass loses the target and spins randomly. Protect the block or build it into a wall.

How to craft this block

Ingredients: Chiseled Stone Bricks Chiseled Stone Bricks x8 Iron Ingot Iron Ingot x1
Crafting
Chiseled Stone Bricks Chiseled Stone Bricks Chiseled Stone Bricks Chiseled Stone Bricks Iron Ingot Chiseled Stone Bricks Chiseled Stone Bricks Chiseled Stone Bricks Chiseled Stone Bricks
Lodestone
1
Lodestone

Used in crafts

Related blocks

Frequently asked questions

How do you craft a Lodestone?

Surround one iron ingot with eight chiseled stone bricks in the crafting grid to make one lodestone.

Does a Lodestone work in the Nether and End?

Yes, as long as the compass stays in the same dimension as its lodestone. If the compass crosses into another dimension, it spins randomly like a normal compass.

What happens if the Lodestone is destroyed?

The linked lodestone compass stops tracking and spins randomly until you place the lodestone again and re-link the compass.

Can one compass link to several Lodestones?

No. A compass tracks only the last lodestone you used it on, so you need a separate compass per lodestone.

What tool breaks a Lodestone fastest?

Any pickaxe mines a lodestone; mining it without a pickaxe drops nothing.

When was the Lodestone added?

The lodestone arrived in the Java Edition 1.16 Nether Update and Bedrock 1.16.0.

Minecraft and all related materials are trademarks and copyrights of Mojang Studios © 2009–2026. This site is not an official Minecraft product and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Mojang Studios or Microsoft Corporation.