Minecraft has a lot of crafting recipes to learn, with even more on the way. Some are so important or useful that you should make them at least once. It's one of the most popular games in its genre, and even with some less exciting updates in recent years, it still stays on top. This is largely because of its fun gameplay and the creativity that makes every playthrough feel unique.
In this article, let’s check out 10 Minecraft recipes that all players should make at least once.
Table of Contents
1. The Mace
The Mace is now the most powerful weapon in Minecraft, but it works best in certain situations. You can only get its pieces from Trial Chambers, but the rewards are worth the effort. While its regular attack is the slowest of any weapon, it deals three hearts of damage. The true strength of the Mace, though, lies in its Smash attack.
When you jump from a height, the Mace deals more damage the farther you fall. If you hit a target, it also cancels out any fall damage, so there's some risk but still a way to escape. You can boost the Mace's damage with great enchantments, like Breach, which ignores some of the target's armor, and Density, which increases damage based on how far you fall.
2. The Shulker Box/Bundle
Bundles and Shulker Boxes serve a similar purpose, but they’re in a bit of a tricky spot because of the ongoing delays with Bundles. The good news is that Bundles will be easier to craft once they're fully released. However, Shulker Boxes have the same storage size as regular chests, while Bundles currently hold about half that amount.
Ultimately, it’s up to player preference when choosing between them. The Shulker Box is a bit less convenient because you have to place it and open it like a regular chest. In contrast, the Bundle can be accessed directly from your Hotbar, making it easier to use quickly when you need it.
>>> Read also: What’s New About Bundles In The Latest Minecraft Bedrock Edition Update?
3. Beacon
Getting a Beacon requires some effort, especially since you need to defeat at least one Wither, and more if you want multiple Beacons. Once you have one, it needs to be placed on a Pyramid made of Iron, Gold, Emerald, Diamond, or Netherite blocks. The number of layers in the Pyramid determines the powers the Beacon can provide and its range.
When powered, a Beacon can provide one of five effects to players in its range: Haste I, Speed I, Resistance I, Jump Boost I, or Strength I. If built on a level four pyramid, these effects can be upgraded to level two, or you can get an extra effect of Regeneration I. In the Java Edition, you can use two of the main effects at the same time, but the second one won't be visibly shown on the Beacon.
4. The Respawn Anchor
The Nether can be a harsh environment, especially since dying there returns players to the Overworld. But with a Respawn Anchor charged with Glowstone, you can respawn right where it’s placed. This is especially useful near Fortresses and Bastions, as you can set it up nearby to serve as a quick spawn point.
The toughest part of getting a Respawn Anchor is finding Crying Obsidian, which can only be found at Ruined Portals in the Overworld or in Bastion Chests. Searching for Bastion Chests is quicker but riskier, while finding Ruined Portals is safer but can take a lot of time. Either way, having a Respawn Anchor is a big advantage and a real time saver when exploring the Nether.
5. The Crafter
The Crafter is a new block introduced in the 1.21 update, marking a big move towards technology in Minecraft. It lets players craft multiple items automatically, which is a great time-saver, especially since it's easy to make. The most challenging resource to gather is Redstone, but it's not that difficult to find, and it’s also used in both the Dropper and the Crafter.
The true power of the Crafter lies in the automation and Redstone machines you can create with it. You can set up Crafters to receive materials from a chest using hoppers, and then transfer the crafted items to another chest. This setup is as close as Minecraft gets to having assembly lines without using mods.
6. Enchanting Tables
Enchanting has always been important in Minecraft, and the recent update added even more options. Plus, Enchanting Tables are now much easier to craft than they used to be. The challenge is selecting the right enchantment from the many choices available. While the Enchanting Table makes it easier to enchant items, you might find it faster to look for a book that has the specific enchantment you want.
Nevertheless, some of Minecraft's best enchantments can only be obtained through the Enchanting Table. Notable examples include Frost Walker, Mending, and the new Wind Burst. Despite the changes to the enchanting system, having at least one Enchanting Table is still essential for any well-equipped base.
>>> Also check out: 10 Most Useful Enchantments To Use In Minecraft 1.20
7. The Recovery Compass
The Recovery Compass is a great item to keep in your base. After a player dies, the compass points to their death location, making it easier to find and recover lost items before they despawn. This feature adds a helpful "waypoint" system to vanilla Minecraft.
The downside to the Recovery Compass is the effort required to craft one. While making a regular compass is easy, Echo Shards can only be found in chests within Ancient Cities. This means you not only have to locate these rare areas but also navigate around the Warden to find chests that contain just one to three shards each.
8. The Lodestone
Introduced in 1.16, the Lodestone is a very useful block for navigation and base building. Once you place it, you can link a Compass to it, so the Compass always points to the Lodestone's location. This feature is especially helpful in vanilla worlds and works in all three dimensions. While it’s less crucial in The End, it’s a great way to avoid getting lost in the Nether and Overworld.
The challenge with Lodestones is that they need a Netherite Ingot for crafting. While getting a Netherite Ingot isn’t overly complicated, it can take some time based on your luck and farming approach. Once you have enough Netherite, though, Lodestones can effectively act as waypoints in vanilla Minecraft when paired with multiple Compasses.
9. The Brewing Stand
While already popular, the Brewing Stand is one of the best tools for players of all skill levels. Although it can be challenging to navigate the Nether to obtain one, the benefits make it worth the effort. The biggest challenge might be gathering the resources needed to craft the different potions.
Potions can really change the outcome of situations in Minecraft. The best choices for combat are Strength, Regeneration, and Healing, as they can help in tough battles. On the other hand, Poison and Weakness potions are effective against groups of mobs or in PvP. There are also useful options like Fire Resistance, Water Breathing, and Night Vision, which can be great for specific tasks.
10. The Shield
The Shield has been a key item in Minecraft combat since its introduction. Given its low crafting cost, the benefits it provides, especially in Hardcore worlds, are significant. Shields can block nearly all attacks in the game, only becoming ineffective if struck by an axe or a Warden, and even then, there's just a 5-second cooldown.
Note: It’s easier to list what Shields can’t block to highlight their strength.
Shields can't block arrows with the Piercing enchantment, lightning damage, the Warden's Sonic Boom, or any splash or lingering area-of-effect attacks. This versatility makes the Shield essential in any difficulty, and it can also be used to safely close the distance in combat, making it a useful offensive tool as well.