How to Make a Cobblestone Generator in Minecraft

Introduction to Cobblestone Generators

A cobblestone generator is an essential build for any Minecraft survival world, allowing you to create an infinite source of cobblestone without mining. This is particularly useful in skyblock or limited resource worlds, but it's beneficial in any survival situation.

Cobblestone generators work on a simple principle: when flowing lava meets flowing water, it creates cobblestone. By controlling this interaction, we can create a renewable source of building materials.

Basic Cobblestone Generator

This simple design is perfect for beginners and early-game survival. It's compact, requires minimal resources, and can be built within minutes.

Step-by-Step Construction

1. Create a 6-block long trench that is 1 block wide and 1 block deep.
2. Place a block at each end of the trench to create "holes" for the water and lava.
3. Place blocks on both sides of the trench to prevent the liquids from spilling.
4. Place water at one end of the trench.
5. Place lava at the opposite end of the trench, 1 block away from the end.
6. The water and lava will flow toward each other, and where they meet, cobblestone will form.

B B B B B B
B W F C L B
B B B B B B
                        

How to Use the Generator

Stand facing the cobblestone block that forms where the water and lava meet. Mine the cobblestone with your pickaxe. A new cobblestone block will immediately form in its place. Repeat as needed to collect cobblestone.

Improved Cobblestone Generator

This improved design makes mining safer and more efficient by preventing you from accidentally falling into lava.

Improvement Steps

1. Build the basic generator as described above
2. Add a block diagonally above the cobblestone formation point
3. Place a sign on the lava side of the cobblestone to prevent lava from flowing toward you if you break the cobblestone
4. Create a small 1x1 hole to stand in while mining

B B B B B B
B W F C L B
B B S P B B
    B P B
        
P = Player Position, S = Sign
                        

Semi-Automatic Cobblestone Generator

This design uses pistons to push the cobblestone toward you, making mining even more efficient.

Construction Steps

This design is more complex and will require some redstone knowledge. The basic principle is:

1. Create a standard cobblestone generator
2. Place pistons facing the cobblestone generation point
3. Connect the pistons to a redstone circuit
4. Add a lever or button to activate the circuit
5. When activated, the pistons will push the cobblestone toward a collection area

Fully Automatic Cobblestone Generator

For advanced players, a fully automatic generator uses TNT duplication or wither-based mining to break the cobblestone and hoppers to collect it automatically.

The general components include:

• A standard cobblestone generator
• A TNT duplication system or wither cage (version dependent)
• Hoppers and chests for collection
• Advanced redstone timing circuits

Full instructions for this advanced design are beyond the scope of this guide, but many tutorials can be found online for your specific Minecraft version.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Conclusion

Cobblestone generators are an essential part of Minecraft survival, especially in resource-limited worlds. With the designs in this guide, you can progress from a simple manual generator to increasingly efficient and automated systems as your resources and knowledge grow.

Remember to be careful when working with lava, and always have a water bucket ready for emergencies. Happy building!