Minecraft Obsidian Generator
Create efficient and automatic obsidian farms for unlimited building resources
Obsidian Generator Designer
Your Obsidian Generator Design
Basic Obsidian Generator Diagram
Block Legend:
[L] - Lava Source
[W] - Water Source
[B] - Building Block
[O] - Obsidian Forms Here
[P] - Player Position
Side View:
[B][B][B][B][B]
[B][L][O][W][B]
[B][B][B][B][B]
Top View:
[B][B][B][B][B]
[B][L][ ][W][B]
[B][B][P][B][B]
Note: This is a simplified diagram. Actual in-game design may vary.
Basic Obsidian Generator
This design uses a lava source block that turns into obsidian when water flows over it. You'll need a diamond pickaxe to mine the obsidian.
Materials Needed:
- 1 Lava Bucket
- 1 Water Bucket
- 12 Building Blocks (Stone, Dirt, etc.)
- 1 Diamond Pickaxe
Generator Types
Basic Generator
Traditional design using lava sources and flowing water. Simple but requires new lava each time.
One Bucket Design
Efficient design that requires only one bucket of lava to start generating obsidian.
End Portal Design
Uses End Portal mechanics to create renewable obsidian. Advanced but highly efficient.
Automatic Generator
Uses redstone, pistons, and nether portal mechanics for fully automatic obsidian production.
Pro Tip
Use a pickaxe with Efficiency V and Unbreaking III enchantments to mine obsidian faster. Adding the Haste effect will further increase mining speed.
Complete Obsidian Generator Guide
What is an Obsidian Generator?
An obsidian generator is a mechanism in Minecraft that creates obsidian blocks through various techniques, typically involving the interaction of lava source blocks with water. Unlike cobblestone generators where the resource continuously regenerates in the same spot, most obsidian generators require some manual steps or advanced redstone mechanisms for true automation.
Why Build an Obsidian Generator?
There are several compelling reasons to build an obsidian generator in your Minecraft world:
- Nether Portal Construction: Create portals without exploring for natural lava pools
- Enchanting Tables: Obtain obsidian for crafting enchanting tables
- End Crystals: Craft end crystals for respawning the Ender Dragon
- Beacon Bases: Create impressive and blast-resistant beacon bases
- Secure Builds: Obsidian's high blast resistance makes it ideal for secure structures
- Decorative Elements: Add striking black elements to your builds
The Science of Obsidian Formation
In Minecraft, obsidian forms when a lava source block (not flowing lava) comes into contact with water. This is important to understand, as merely having flowing lava touch water creates cobblestone instead. This distinction is key to designing effective obsidian generators.
Basic Obsidian Generator Tutorial
Gather Materials
You'll need 1 lava bucket, 1 water bucket, about 12 building blocks, and a diamond pickaxe
Create the Structure
Build a simple 3×3 platform with a hole in the center and a containment area for the water
Place the Lava
Pour your lava source block into the center hole
Add Water
Pour water from above or from the side so it flows over the lava source, transforming it into obsidian
Mine the Obsidian
Use your diamond pickaxe to mine the obsidian block (takes about 9.4 seconds with an unenchanted pickaxe)
Java vs. Bedrock Edition Differences
Obsidian generation works slightly differently between Java and Bedrock editions of Minecraft:
Java Edition
- Lava source blocks turn to obsidian when water flows over them
- Renewable obsidian possible with nether portal techniques
- End portal frames can be used for advanced designs
- Ruined portals can be exploited for crying obsidian
Bedrock Edition
- Similar basic mechanics to Java Edition
- Some advanced redstone techniques work differently
- Portal-based generators may require different timing
- One-bucket designs often more reliable
One-Bucket Obsidian Generator
The one-bucket obsidian generator is a popular design for players with limited resources, especially in early-game or survival scenarios.
How It Works
This design cleverly manipulates Minecraft's liquid mechanics to create obsidian using just a single bucket of lava. By strategically placing and removing the lava, you can create multiple obsidian blocks without needing additional lava sources.
Step-by-Step Guide:
- Build a small 3×3×2 chamber with a hole in the center
- Place water in one corner so it flows toward the center
- Pour lava in the center, then quickly collect it back before it turns to obsidian
- The timing trick allows you to create obsidian while retaining your lava
- Practice is required to master the timing
Note: This technique requires quick reflexes and timing. You may lose your lava while learning!
End Portal Based Obsidian Farm
For players looking for truly renewable obsidian sources, End Portal mechanics offer an advanced solution.
The Mechanics
This design exploits the fact that when the Ender Dragon passes through End Portal frames, it can generate obsidian. By carefully constructing a system in the End dimension, players can create a farm that produces obsidian without any manual lava placement.
Requirements:
- Access to the End dimension
- Ability to respawn the Ender Dragon
- Advanced building skills
- Redstone knowledge for collection systems
This design is primarily for experienced players who have already defeated the Ender Dragon at least once and have access to end crystals for respawning it.
Fully Automatic Obsidian Farm
For late-game players, a fully automatic obsidian farm represents the pinnacle of resource generation. These designs typically use nether portal mechanics combined with pistons and sometimes TNT duplication.
Working Principle
Automatic farms exploit the fact that when a nether portal is broken (by pistons or TNT), it can drop obsidian blocks. By constructing an elaborate system that repeatedly creates and breaks portals, you can generate substantial amounts of obsidian without manual mining.
Key Components:
- Portal frame construction system
- Portal ignition mechanism
- Portal breaking system (pistons or TNT)
- Collection and storage system
- Redstone clock for automation
Warning: These designs can be resource-intensive and may cause lag on slower computers or servers.
Obsidian Mining Tips
Regardless of which generator design you choose, mining obsidian efficiently is crucial:
- Diamond or Netherite Pickaxe: Required for mining obsidian
- Efficiency Enchantment: Each level significantly reduces mining time
- Haste Effect: Beacon with Haste II combined with Efficiency V reduces mining time to under 2 seconds
- Unbreaking Enchantment: Extends tool durability for longer mining sessions
- Mending Enchantment: Repairs your pickaxe as you collect XP
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, but not as simply as a cobblestone generator. Truly infinite obsidian generators require advanced techniques like nether portal breaking or end portal manipulation. In survival mode, the most practical "infinite" generators require at least some manual steps between obsidian blocks, or complex redstone contraptions for full automation.
The one-bucket technique involves creating a water flow, placing lava, and quickly retrieving the lava bucket before the block fully transforms into obsidian. This requires precise timing. Pour the lava, wait a brief moment until the block begins to darken but before it fully transforms, then retrieve your lava. With practice, you can create multiple obsidian blocks with just one lava bucket.
Yes, while the basic principle is the same, there are differences in redstone mechanics and timing between Java and Bedrock editions. Some advanced automatic designs work in one version but not the other. Additionally, portal mechanics and block updates can behave differently, affecting more complex generators. Always check which version a design is intended for before building.
With an unenchanted diamond pickaxe, mining obsidian takes about 9.4 seconds per block. With an Efficiency V diamond or netherite pickaxe, this drops to about 2.25 seconds. Add Haste II from a beacon, and you can mine obsidian in under 1.5 seconds. Remember that only diamond and netherite pickaxes can mine obsidian; other tools will break the block without dropping anything.
Crying obsidian is a variant of obsidian with purple particles that resembles tears. Unlike regular obsidian, crying obsidian cannot be used to build nether portals. However, it can be used to craft respawn anchors for the Nether dimension. Crying obsidian can be obtained from ruined portal structures, bartering with piglins, or by converting a respawn anchor that has lost some of its charge.