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Chain

This article is about the block. For the enchantment in Minecraft Dungeons, see MCD:Chains. For the armor tier named chainmail, see Armor. For the armor material called chainmail, see Armor materials.
Chain
Chain Axis Y.pngChain Axis X.pngChain Axis Z.png
Renewable

Yes

Stackable

Yes (64)

Tool

Blast resistance

6

Hardness

5

Luminant

No

Transparent

Yes

Flammable

No

Catches fire from lava

No

Chains are metallic decoration blocks.

Obtaining

Breaking

Chains can be mined using any pickaxe. If mined without a pickaxe, it drops nothing.

Block Chain
Hardness 5
Tool
Breaking time[A]
Default 25
Wooden 3.75
Stone 1.9
Iron 1.25
Diamond 0.95
Netherite 0.85
Golden 0.65
  1. Times are for unenchanted tools as wielded by players with no status effects, measured in seconds. For more information, see Breaking § Speed.

Natural generation

Chains generate in bastion remnants and sometimes in ruined portals that generate in the Nether. They always generate above magma cube spawners, also found in bastions.

Chains can also generate in mineshafts. They generate on the sides of a wooden bridge (a mid-air corridor) when the distance between the bridge and the highest solid block below it is higher than the distance to the lowest solid block above it. Chains here generate vertically in a pillar between the bridge and the ceiling. The lowest block of the pillar, connecting the chain to the bridge, is always an oak fence.

Chest loot

Item Structure Container Quantity Chance
Java Edition
Chain Bastion remnant Generic chest 2–10 24.4%
Bedrock Edition
Chain Bastion remnant Generic chest 2–10 24.4%

Crafting

Ingredients Crafting recipe
Iron Nugget +
Iron Ingot

Usage

Chains can be used to suspend bells or both types of lanterns (normal lanterns and soul lanterns), as the chain texture connects to the chain of the lantern seamlessly as if it were part of it. Chains do not require a supporting block to be placed whether it is on the top, next to it or at the bottom. It can exist completely free-standing in mid air[1] and it can be rotated. Chains connect horizontally or vertically, but not across different orientations (so a chain with N orientation does not connect to a chain with E orientation in the adjacent block). Horizontal chains one block above a surface may be walked over. Horizontal chains two blocks above a surface prevent players from traveling past them. Vertical chains block travel if targeted directly, but may be skirted.

Precision is required, but chains can be walked on, allowing for inconspicuous, although somewhat costly, bridges.

Chains can be pushed by pistons without being broken.

Crafting ingredient

Name Ingredients Crafting recipe Description
Hanging Sign Chain +
Matching Stripped Log or Stem or
Block of Stripped Bamboo
[upcoming: JE 1.20 & BE 1.20.0]

Sounds

Java Edition:

SoundSubtitlesSourceDescriptionResource locationTranslation keyVolumePitchAttenuation
distance
Block brokenBlocksOnce the block has brokenblock.chain.breaksubtitles.block.generic.break0.50.816
None[sound 1]Entity-DependentFalling on the block with fall damageblock.chain.fallNone[sound 1]0.50.7516
Block breakingBlocksWhile the block is in the process of being brokenblock.chain.hitsubtitles.block.generic.hit0.20.516
Block placedBlocksWhen the block is placedblock.chain.placesubtitles.block.generic.place0.50.816
FootstepsEntity-DependentWalking on the blockblock.chain.stepsubtitles.block.generic.footsteps0.151.016
  1. a b MC-177082

Bedrock Edition:

SoundSourceDescriptionResource locationVolumePitch
BlocksOnce the block has brokendig.chain1.00.8-1.0
PlayersFalling on the block with fall damagefall.chain0.41.0
BlocksWhile the block is in the process of being brokenhit.chain1.00.8-1.0
PlayersJumping from the blockjump.chain0.121.0
PlayersFalling on the block without fall damageland.chain0.221.0
PlayersWalking on the blockstep.chain0.31.0
BlocksWhen the block is placeddig.chain1.00.8-1.0

Data values

ID

Java Edition:

NameIdentifierFormTranslation key
ChainchainBlock & Itemblock.minecraft.chain

Bedrock Edition:

ChainIdentifierNumeric ID FormItem ID[i 1]Translation key
Blockchain541Block & Ungiveable Item[i 2]item.chaintile.chain.name
Itemchain619Itemtile.chain.name
  1. ID of block's direct item form, which is used in savegame files and addons.
  2. Unavailable with /give command

Block states

See also: Block states

Java Edition:

Name Default value Allowed values Description
axisy xThe chain is oriented east–west.
yThe chain is oriented vertically.
zThe chain is oriented north–south.
waterloggedfalsefalse
true
Whether or not there's water in the same place as this chain.

Bedrock Edition:

NameMetadata Bits Default value Allowed valuesValues for
Metadata Bits
Description
pillar_axis0x1
0x2
y x1The chain is oriented east–west.
y0The chain is oriented vertically.
z2The chain is oriented north–south.

History

Java Edition
1.1620w16aChain (item) JE1 BE1.png Chain Axis Y JE1 BE1.png Added chains.
Chains generate in the newly added bastion remnants, and can be found in their chests.
Chains currently use the generic metal block sounds.
20w17aUnique sounds have been added for chains.
20w18aChains can now be waterlogged.
1.16.220w30aThe chance of finding chains in bastion remnant chests is decreased from 31.5% to 24.4%.
Pre-release 1Chain Axis X JE1 BE1.pngChain Axis Z JE1 BE1.png Chains can now be placed in all orientations.
1.1721w07aChains can now generate in mineshafts.
21w13aChain (UD) JE2.pngChain (NS) JE2.pngChain (EW) JE2.png The model of chains has been changed so that the backside texture is mirrored.
1.20
(Experimental)
22w42aChains are now used to craft hanging signs.
Bedrock Edition
1.16.0beta 1.16.0.57Chain (item) JE1 BE1.png Chain Axis Y JE1 BE1.png Added chains.
beta 1.16.0.63Unique sounds have been added for chains.
1.16.100beta 1.16.100.54Chain Axis X JE1 BE1.pngChain Axis Z JE1 BE1.png Chains can now be placed in all orientations.
1.20.0
(Experimental)
beta 1.19.50.21Chains are now used to craft hanging signs.

Issues

Issues relating to "Chain" are maintained on the bug tracker. Report issues there.

Trivia

  • Chain is made out of two iron nuggets and one iron ingot, but its blast resistance is the same as the block of iron.
  • A vertical chain, being a solid, but not a full block, allows for many sizes of mobs and players to pass alongside each piece horizontally.
  • Despite its name, it cannot be crafted into chainmail armor.[2]
  • If a sticky piston pulls a chain that is more than 1 block long, the chain breaks.

Gallery

References