A bubble column is a non-solid block generated by placing magma blocks or soul sand in water (source). Bubble columns push or pull entities and items in certain directions.
Obtaining
Breaking
Bubble columns cannot be obtained as an item,[Java Edition only] and can be placed only by a block-placement command such as /setblock.
In Bedrock Edition, it may be obtained as an item via inventory editing, add-ons, or bugs.
Natural generation
When generating the world, caves, aquifers and underwater ruins generate below the water surface. All bubble columns generate bubble column blocks until the column reaches the surface of the water or a solid block above the magma block.
Post-generation
When a magma block is placed underwater, a whirlpool bubble column is generated.
When soul sand is placed under source water blocks, an upward bubble column is generated.
Usage
Players and other air-breathing mobs can enter a bubble column to replenish their air supply, at the same speed that they would when they leave the water entirely. Water-breathing mobs avoid bubble columns because they suffocate if trapped in one. A bubble column is destroyed when moved by a piston. Bubble columns propagate only through water source blocks, stopping at any flowing water or waterlogged block. The height of a bubble column is limited only by the water's surface or by any obstructing blocks underwater.
Bubble columns cannot be created in downward flowing water.[1] Placing a kelp plant in downward-flowing water converts it into a source block.
Whirlpool
A whirlpool, or downward bubble column, is the most common type that generates in the Overworld, often originating from magma at the bottom of underwater canyons. A whirlpool can be identified by the presence of air bubbles wandering downward. They drag entities downward. A boat ridden over a whirlpool shakes and eventually sinks if kept above the whirlpool for too long.
Upward
Upward bubble columns can be identified by the presence of vertically rising air bubbles. An upward bubble column accelerates entities upward. The longer an object rises through the bubble column, the faster it travels. At high enough speeds, players and entities can be launched out of water by several blocks. Sitting on the surface above a rising bubble column causes entities to bounce upward repeatedly by about 1 block.
Transport
In Java Edition, Entities move at a speed of approximately 11 blocks (meters) per second when ascending a bubble column or 4.9 blocks per second when descending a bubble column.
In Bedrock Edition, Entities move at a speed of approximately 8 blocks (meters) per second when ascending a bubble column or 6 blocks per second when descending a bubble column.
Sounds
| Sound | Subtitles | Source | Description | Resource location | Translation key | Volume | Pitch | Attenuation distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bubbles pop | None | Unused sound event[sound 1] | block.bubble_column.bubble_pop | subtitles.block.bubble_column.bubble_pop | 0.1 | 1.0 | 16 | |
| Bubbles flow | Blocks | Randomly from an upward bubble column | block.bubble_column.upwards_ambient | subtitles.block.bubble_column.upwards_ambient | 0.12-0.24 | 0.9-1.05 | 16 | |
| Bubbles woosh | Players | When a player enters an upward bubble column | block.bubble_column.upwards_inside | subtitles.block.bubble_column.upwards_inside | 0.7 | 1.0 | 16 | |
| Bubbles whirl | Blocks | Randomly from a downward bubble column | block.bubble_column.whirlpool_ambient | subtitles.block.bubble_column.whirlpool_ambient | 0.12-0.25 | 0.9-1.05 | 16 | |
| Bubbles zoom | Players | When a player enters a downward bubble column | block.bubble_column.whirlpool_inside | subtitles.block.bubble_column.whirlpool_inside | 0.7 | 1.0 | 16 |
| Sound | Source | Description | Resource location | Volume | Pitch |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blocks | ? | bubble.pop | 0.4-0.6 | 0.9-1.05 | |
| Blocks | Randomly from an upward bubble column | bubble.up | 0.4-0.6 | 0.9-1.05 | |
| Blocks | When a player enters an upward bubble column | bubble.upinside | 1.0-1.5 | 0.9-1.05 | |
| Blocks | Randomly from a downward bubble column | bubble.down | 0.4-0.6 | 0.9-1.05 | |
| Blocks | When a player enters a downward bubble column | bubble.downinside | 1.0-1.5 | 0.9-1.05 |
Data values
ID
| Name | Identifier | Form | Translation key |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bubble Column | bubble_column | Block | block.minecraft.bubble_column |
| Name | Identifier | Numeric ID | Form | Item ID[i 1] | Translation key |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bubble Column | bubble_column | 415 | Block & Ungiveable Item[i 2] | Identical[i 3] | — |
Block states
| Name | Default value | Allowed values | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| drag | true | falsetrue | Determines whether the bubble column is upward or whirlpool. |
| Name | Metadata Bits | Default value | Allowed values | Values for Metadata Bits |
Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| drag_down | 0x1 | false | falsetrue | 01 | Determines whether the bubble column is upward or whirlpool. |
History
| November 18, 2017 | Bubble columns were shown in a video clip during MINECON Earth 2017. | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Java Edition | |||||
| 1.13 | 18w07a |  Added bubble columns. | |||
| 18w08a | Bubble columns now generate in underwater ravines. | ||||
| 18w09a | Bubble columns now generate in underwater ruins. | ||||
| 18w16a | Bubble columns can no longer be pushed by pistons. | ||||
| Bedrock Edition | |||||
| 1.5.0 | beta 1.5.0.4 |   Added bubble columns. | |||
| beta 1.5.0.7 | Bubble columns can now be toggled to look similar to Java Edition, but only for devices that can handle them. | ||||
| Legacy Console Edition | |||||
| TU69 | 1.76 | Patch 38 | Added bubble columns. | ||
Bubble column "item"
- The following content is transcluded from Technical blocks/Bubble Column.
| Bedrock Edition | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Bubble columns exist as an item. | ||||
Appearances
| Bedrock Edition | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ? |  Bubble columns use this texture. | ||||
Names
- ? - ?: tile.bubble_column.name
Issues
Issues relating to "Bubble Column" are maintained on the bug tracker. Report issues there.
Gallery
Bubble columns naturally generated as part of an underwater ruin.
Bubble columns created by placing magma blocks under water.
A player inside of an upward bubble column.
A bubble column shaking a boat ridden by the player. (Click image to view the animation)
A bubble column sinking a boat ridden by the player.
Java Edition
Bedrock Edition
An upward bubble column in Bedrock Edition with fancy bubbles disabled.
Bubble columns seen in an underwater ruin in Bedrock Edition with fancy bubbles disabled.
Bubble columns created by soul sand and magma block in Bedrock Edition with fancy bubbles disabled.
