Does Rain Extinguish Netherrack Fire in Minecraft? An In-Depth Guide
The short answer is no, rain does not extinguish fire on netherrack in Minecraft. This is one of the key defining features of netherrack, making it a highly useful, and sometimes dangerous, block. Let’s delve deeper into why this is the case and explore other fire-related mechanics within the game.
Understanding Netherrack’s Unique Properties
Netherrack, a ubiquitous block found in the Nether dimension, is easily broken, even with a wooden pickaxe. However, its most notable characteristic is its infinite flammability. Once ignited, a netherrack block will burn perpetually, unaffected by environmental factors like rain. This behavior is coded into the game to reflect the Nether’s harsh, fiery environment.
The inability of rain to extinguish netherrack fire distinguishes it from regular fires, which can be put out by rain, water, or the absence of flammable blocks nearby.
Minecraft’s Fire Mechanics: A Primer
Before diving further into netherrack, let’s review how fire generally works in Minecraft. Fire, in its vanilla form, is a dynamic entity, meaning it can spread and is influenced by its surroundings. The lifespan of a regular fire is determined by block ticks, and there’s a chance for it to extinguish naturally, especially if it can’t find new fuel sources.
Rain directly interacts with these mechanics, providing a chance to extinguish a fire during each block tick. However, this mechanic specifically excludes netherrack. This exception ensures that the Nether remains a constantly burning landscape.
Why Doesn’t Rain Affect Netherrack Fire?
The immunity of netherrack fire to rain is not merely a visual detail; it’s a fundamental part of the game’s design. The Nether is intended to be a challenging and hostile environment. By making netherrack fire inextinguishable by rain, Mojang reinforces this theme. It also provides players with a reliable and constant source of light and a mechanism for permanent traps or decorative features.
The underlying game code treats netherrack fire differently from ordinary fire. It’s programmed to bypass the usual checks that determine whether a fire should be extinguished by rain. This means that even during a downpour in a modded dimension, if netherrack is present, it will continue to burn.
Practical Applications of Netherrack’s Perpetual Flame
Knowing that netherrack burns forever opens up several possibilities for players:
- Permanent Lighting: Create light sources that never go out, especially useful in dimly lit areas or for marking pathways.
- Traps: Design fire-based traps that remain active indefinitely, posing a persistent threat to unsuspecting players or mobs.
- Decoration: Add a touch of the Nether to your builds with eternally burning braziers or decorative fire pits.
- Resource Management: Netherrack can be used as a fuel source (though less efficient than coal) in a pinch, burning indefinitely while smelting items.
Netherrack vs. Other Flame-Resistant Blocks
While netherrack is unique in its ability to burn infinitely, other blocks in Minecraft exhibit fire-resistant properties.
- Nether Bricks: These are completely non-flammable and immune to Ghast fireballs, making them excellent building materials in the Nether.
- Netherite: The strongest material in the game is entirely immune to fire and lava, meaning items made of netherite won’t be destroyed if dropped into lava.
- Crying Obsidian: While not flammable, crying obsidian can be used to craft a respawn anchor, enabling players to respawn in the Nether.
Campfires: The Other Everlasting Flame
Interestingly, the article correctly mentions Campfires as another block that burns indefinitely. While not native to the Nether like netherrack, campfires offer a similar effect in the Overworld. They provide a constant source of light and smoke, but unlike netherrack, they can be extinguished with water. Soul Campfires have a blue flame variant.
FAQs About Netherrack and Fire in Minecraft
Here are some frequently asked questions to further clarify the properties of netherrack and fire within Minecraft.
Does fire spread from netherrack to other blocks?
Yes, fire can spread from netherrack to other flammable blocks within its vicinity. This is important to consider when using netherrack as a permanent light source or in a decorative setting. Ensure that any surrounding blocks are either non-flammable or far enough away to prevent accidental fires.
Can lava set netherrack on fire?
No, lava cannot directly set netherrack on fire. You must use a flint and steel, a fire charge, or another existing fire source to ignite netherrack.
Does soul sand burn forever like netherrack?
When lit, soul sand burns with soul fire, a blue variant of fire. Like netherrack fire, soul fire burns indefinitely and is not extinguished by rain.
Can Endermen pick up netherrack?
Prior to Minecraft 1.16 (The Nether Update), Endermen could pick up netherrack. However, this was changed in the update, and Endermen can no longer pick up netherrack.
Is netherrack blast resistant?
No, netherrack is not blast resistant. It’s a relatively weak block and is easily destroyed by explosions. Therefore, it’s not a suitable material for building blast-proof structures.
Can you smelt netherrack?
No, you cannot smelt netherrack into anything directly in a furnace. However, netherrack can be smelted to create Nether Bricks. Nether Bricks are used in crafting.
Can you put out netherrack fire with a splash potion of water?
No, a splash potion of water will not extinguish fire burning on netherrack. The fire will continue to burn.
Is netherrack a good building material?
Netherrack is primarily a cheap and abundant building material, particularly useful for temporary structures or scaffolding. However, its lack of blast resistance and low structural integrity make it less suitable for permanent builds.
Can fire resistance potions protect you from netherrack fire?
Yes, fire resistance potions will protect you from the damage inflicted by netherrack fire, just as they protect you from lava or other fire sources.
Does placing water next to netherrack extinguish the fire?
No, placing water directly adjacent to burning netherrack will not extinguish the fire. The water will flow around it, but the netherrack will continue to burn. Only removing the netherrack block itself will stop the fire.
Does fire spread faster on netherrack compared to other blocks?
The rate at which fire spreads on netherrack is similar to other flammable blocks. The speed of fire spread depends more on the proximity and flammability of surrounding blocks than the netherrack itself.
Can you use netherrack in a furnace?
Yes, you can use netherrack as fuel in a furnace. It burns indefinitely, but its smelting efficiency is lower compared to coal or lava buckets.
How do you make soul fire?
To create soul fire, you need to ignite soul sand or soul soil with a flint and steel or another fire source. The resulting fire will have a distinctive blue color.
What are the benefits of using netherrack for building?
The main benefits of using netherrack for building are its abundance, ease of acquisition, and its ability to be lit on fire, providing a constant light source.
Is netherrack flammable?
Yes, netherrack is extremely flammable. Once lit, it will burn forever, making it one of the few blocks in Minecraft with this property.
Conclusion
Rain will never extinguish fire on netherrack in Minecraft. This fundamental aspect of the game contributes to the Nether’s unique and challenging environment, offering players both opportunities and risks. Understanding this property is essential for navigating the Nether and utilizing netherrack effectively in your builds and adventures.
For more information about the game’s influence, check out the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org.