GuidesMay 12, 2026 5 min read
How to Make and Power a Beacon
Beacons give you permanent buffs like Haste and Speed. Here's how to build and power one.
A Beacon projects a beam into the sky and grants powerful area buffs — the ultimate base upgrade.
Craft the beacon block
You need a Nether Star, which only drops from killing the Wither boss (summoned with 4 Soul Sand + 3 Wither Skeleton Skulls). Then craft: Nether Star + 3 Obsidian + 5 Glass → Beacon.
Build the pyramid
The beacon sits on top of a pyramid of mineral blocks — iron, gold, emerald, diamond, or netherite blocks (mix and match). Pyramid tiers unlock stronger effects:
- Tier 1 (9 blocks): Speed or Haste
- Tier 2 (34 blocks): + Resistance or Jump Boost
- Tier 3 (83 blocks): + Strength
- Tier 4 (164 blocks): unlocks the secondary power (Regeneration) and full range
Activate it
- 1.The beacon needs a clear view of the sky — no blocks above it.
- 2.Open the beacon, choose your primary effect (and secondary at tier 4), and insert 1 iron/gold/emerald/diamond/netherite ingot to confirm.
- 3.The beam turns on and everyone nearby gets the buff.
TipHaste II from a tier-4 beacon makes mining feel like a hot knife through butter — a favourite for build and mining bases.
Work out exactly how many blocks and what range each tier gives with our beacon calculator.
#Beacon#Wither#Buffs