Resources and tools
Each new tool unlocks new materials: a wooden pickaxe mines stone, a stone one mines iron ore, and an iron one mines rarer minerals. That's why progress in Survival feels like climbing a ladder.
Mechanics
Tips and mechanics
Minecraft seems endless, but it rests on a handful of clear ideas. Once you grasp them, it becomes obvious why some builds work and others don't, where monsters come from and why villagers care about emeralds. Here we've gathered those ideas without unnecessary detail and without tying them to a particular version.
Every complex build in Minecraft is just lots of simple decisions stacked one on top of another.
How this section works: the mechanics are described in general terms and apply to both main editions. Exact recipes and block behaviour sometimes change in updates, so check them in the in-game recipe book.
The basics the game is built on
Six mechanics every player runs into.
Crafting
Items are made from materials following recipes. Simple things are crafted in your inventory, more complex ones on a crafting table. The in-game recipe book shows what you can make from what you're already carrying.
Redstone basics
Redstone dust works like a wire: it carries a signal from a lever, button or pressure plate to a door, lamp or piston. It's where everything starts, from simple automatic doors to complex machines.
Farms
Crops grow on tilled soil near water and in the light, and animals breed when you feed them. A farm next to your house saves you from hunting and long trips for food.
Villagers and trading
Villages are home to villagers with different professions. They trade their goods for emeralds and other items, and their offers change as you trade. It's worth protecting a village from monsters.
Mobs and light
Hostile mobs spawn in the dark: at night, in caves and in unlit rooms. The more light around you, the safer it is. It's the simplest way to protect your home and your mine.
How to figure out a new mechanic
Create a test world
A separate world in Creative mode is the perfect workshop. You can break things and experiment without risking your main build.
Build the simplest version
A lever and a lamp, a plot and some water, a pen and a couple of animals. Get the mechanic working in its smallest form first.
Change one thing at a time
Add blocks one by one and watch what changes. That makes it clearer which part does what.
Bring it into Survival
Once everything works, rebuild it in your main world using materials you've gathered.
Related reading
- Guides
Your first week in Survival, day by day: shelter, light, food, a mine, a farm. Plus our article catalogue.
- Terms
A player's dictionary: mobs, biomes, crafting, redstone, spawning, resource packs, shaders, servers and raids.
- How to judge
Your own checklist for a server, map or pack: rules, chat, purchases and compatibility.
- Packs & shaders
Archived address: how a resource pack differs from a shader and how to change the game's look safely.
What we rely on
- The official Minecraft website and Mojang Studios help pages
- Minecraft Wiki: Bedrock Edition version history
We describe the basics of the game in general terms. Menus, button names and the contents of updates change over time and differ between editions, so check the details against the official help pages and update notes.