Why Do Speedrunners Use Crying Obsidian?
Crying obsidian plays a critical, albeit specific, role in Minecraft speedrunning, primarily because it is the key ingredient for crafting respawn anchors. These anchors allow players to set a respawn point within the Nether, a crucial ability for any speedrun aiming to defeat the Ender Dragon quickly. Without this, dying in the Nether would send a player back to their original overworld spawn point, resulting in a massive time loss and essentially ending the run. The ability to respawn in the Nether is therefore not just a convenience, but a necessity for efficient progression through the game’s critical late-game stages.
The Role of Crying Obsidian
The Respawn Anchor Connection
The primary function of crying obsidian in speedrunning is tied directly to its use in creating a respawn anchor. This block, made from six crying obsidian and three glowstone, allows players to respawn in the Nether instead of the Overworld. Speedrunners must navigate the Nether to gather the blaze rods needed for ender eyes, which are essential to activate the End Portal and access the final boss fight. The risk of dying in the Nether is high due to dangerous mobs and precarious landscapes. The respawn anchor dramatically reduces the risk associated with Nether exploration by providing a vital “save point” within the dimension.
Efficient Navigation and Risk Mitigation
The respawn anchor’s strategic importance isn’t only about respawning, it is also about efficient navigation within the Nether. Speedrunners can create a respawn point close to specific landmarks or areas where they expect to engage in dangerous activities, like hunting blazes, bartering with Piglins, or searching for Nether fortresses. If they die, they’ll instantly return to the Nether, reducing the impact of setbacks and ensuring they can stay in the Nether efficiently.
Acquisition of Crying Obsidian
Crying obsidian cannot be crafted or mined, this means speedrunners are reliant on bartering with Piglins. Piglins are a mob in the Nether, and when you give them gold, they will randomly give you items. A percentage of these exchanges result in you receiving crying obsidian. This adds an element of unpredictability to the start of speedruns, as the speedrunner needs to obtain crying obsidian efficiently to craft the respawn anchor and make their run more viable. Speedrunners need to locate and establish a safe Piglin bartering spot, spending precious time and resources to acquire the essential crying obsidian.
The Efficiency Factor
Why not just stick with Overworld beds? The ability to respawn in the Nether is critical for optimal routing, allowing speedrunners to stay within the critical dimension. Speedrunners aim to minimize time spent traveling between dimensions, and having a respawn anchor allows for that. Without this, deaths would force a return to the Overworld, a lengthy process of portal creation, re-entry, and backtracking.
The Impact on Speedrunning Strategies
The necessity of crying obsidian and respawn anchors has significantly impacted how speedrunners approach the game. It dictates their early-game priorities and shapes the overall structure of a successful run. The acquisition of crying obsidian is a high-priority task right at the beginning of a run. The Piglin bartering process has become a minigame in itself, and runners have developed tactics to maximize the chances of getting the essential blocks quickly.
The existence of the respawn anchor affects a speedrunners’ risk tolerance. Knowing they have a respawn point in the Nether, runners can make riskier plays while collecting resources, fighting mobs, or navigating difficult landscapes. This allows for aggressive speedrunning styles that are not possible without the respawn anchor.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is Crying Obsidian Used For?
Crying obsidian is primarily used for crafting respawn anchors, which allow players to respawn in the Nether. It also has a decorative aspect, with purple droplets appearing occasionally.
Is Crying Obsidian Stronger than Regular Obsidian?
No, crying obsidian has the same hardness as regular obsidian (50). Both can only be mined with diamond or netherite pickaxes.
Can I Use Crying Obsidian to Make Nether Portals?
No, crying obsidian cannot be used to create Nether portals. You must use regular obsidian for this purpose.
How Do I Get Crying Obsidian?
Crying obsidian can only be obtained through bartering with Piglins in the Nether. Piglins have a 9% chance of giving crying obsidian in a trade, which involves giving them gold ingots.
Can a Stone Pickaxe Break Crying Obsidian?
No, a stone pickaxe and any other non-diamond or netherite pickaxe will not mine obsidian, or crying obsidian. It will break the block after roughly a minute without yielding any obsidian.
How Long Does it Take to Break Crying Obsidian By Hand?
It takes approximately 250 seconds to break obsidian or crying obsidian with your bare hands, without dropping any items.
Can Pistons Move Crying Obsidian?
No, crying obsidian cannot be moved by pistons, as it is considered a heavy and immovable block in the game’s mechanics, similar to obsidian and bedrock.
Can You Make an Ender Chest With Crying Obsidian?
No, while it was suggested as an idea, you cannot make an ender chest with crying obsidian. Ender chests are made with 8 obsidian and an eye of ender.
Does Crying Obsidian Attract Mobs?
No, crying obsidian does not attract any specific mobs. It’s just a normal block as far as mobs are concerned.
How Much Obsidian Do I Need to Make a Nether Portal?
You need 10 blocks of obsidian to create a Nether portal, but most players will collect 14 to make construction easier.
Why Can’t Pistons Push Obsidian?
Obsidian (and crying obsidian) are too heavy for pistons to push. They are one of the few blocks that can’t be moved by a piston.
What are the Hardest Blocks to Break in Minecraft?
Some of the hardest blocks to break in Minecraft are bedrock, command blocks, end portal frames, reinforced deepslate, obsidian, crying obsidian, and respawn anchors.
How Was Crying Obsidian Created?
Crying obsidian was added to Minecraft in a beta version by Jeb, the developers wanted it to be a way of setting a respawn point, but removed it again in the following beta. It was then added in version 1.16
Why is it Called Crying Obsidian?
Crying obsidian is named for its visual characteristic of emitting purple particles, creating the effect of it “crying.”
What is the Best Bastion for Speedrunning?
While there isn’t a “best” bastion as luck will dictate what you find, Bridge bastions are generally the easiest for newer speedrunners due to the exposed gold.