How to Turn Lava into Obsidian: A Comprehensive Guide

Turning lava into obsidian in Minecraft is a fundamental skill, essential for creating nether portals and accessing other valuable resources. The process, while straightforward, requires a clear understanding of the game mechanics. This article will provide a detailed guide on how to transform lava into obsidian, along with answers to frequently asked questions, ensuring you become a master of obsidian creation.

The Core Process: Water Meets Lava

The key to creating obsidian is the interaction between water and lava. When a water source block comes into contact with lava, it transforms the lava into obsidian. Here’s a step-by-step breakdown:

1. Gather your materials: You will need a bucket (craftable using 3 iron ingots) and a source of water. You can collect water by right-clicking on any water source block with your empty bucket.
2. Locate lava: Find a source of lava. This could be in caves, ravines, or even in the Nether.
3. Positioning is key: Carefully position yourself near the lava source.
4. Pour the water: Right-click on the lava block using the bucket filled with water. This will create a flowing water source. The water must come into contact with the lava directly. This is important as just placing water near lava can create cobblestone rather than obsidian. Place the water block above the lava source so the water flows downwards onto the lava.
5. Observe the transformation: The lava will quickly turn into obsidian where the water meets it.
6. Remove the water: Using the bucket, right-click on the water source block again to retrieve the water and your bucket back to being filled with water.
7. Mine the obsidian: You will now need to mine the obsidian using a diamond pickaxe, as no other tool can effectively mine obsidian. Be patient it takes roughly 10 seconds to mine.

Understanding Lava Sources

It’s crucial to distinguish between flowing lava and lava source blocks. Flowing lava will not create obsidian; it needs to be a stationary lava source block, the one that looks like a block, before it turns into obsidian. If you put water on flowing lava, it will generally produce cobblestone.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are 15 frequently asked questions regarding turning lava into obsidian, addressing common issues and providing valuable insights:

Can you turn Nether lava into obsidian?

Yes, absolutely. The same process applies to Nether lava as it does in the Overworld. You can use water to convert Nether lava into obsidian. This is extremely useful for creating obsidian structures like Nether portals without relying solely on a diamond pickaxe.

Does lava cool into obsidian naturally?

In real life, obsidian is indeed formed from the rapid cooling of viscous lava. In Minecraft, lava only turns into obsidian if water is introduced. Without water, lava in Minecraft will not naturally cool into obsidian.

Why is my lava not turning into obsidian?

There are several reasons why your lava might not be turning into obsidian:

• Incorrect placement of water: Water must directly come into contact with a lava source block. Placing water nearby or onto flowing lava will usually result in cobblestone instead.
• Lava source vs. flowing lava: Ensure you’re placing water on a lava source block and not flowing lava.
• Not a bucket: It is also possible that you are not using a bucket that is filled with water.
• Version issues: Rarely, bugs in specific versions of Minecraft could cause issues. If this is the case, ensure the game is updated.

Can you make a portal with crying obsidian?

No, you cannot create a Nether portal with crying obsidian. Crying obsidian is a decorative variant of obsidian, identified by its unique purple droplet effect and not as strong and obsidian. Nether portals require standard obsidian to be built.

Can an iron pickaxe break obsidian?

No, an iron pickaxe or any other tool apart from a diamond or netherite pickaxe can’t mine obsidian. They will slowly damage the block, taking around a minute, but never break it to allow for it to be obtained. The only tool that can collect obsidian is the Diamond Pickaxe and the Netherite Pickaxe.

How long does it take for lava to cool into obsidian in real life?

While a Minecraft lava source block can turn to obsidian instantly with water, in real life, it can take months or even years for a lava flow to fully cool into rock. This process also forms crystals in the core of the rock, which are larger in the center.

How much obsidian do I need for a portal?

A standard Nether portal requires 10 obsidian blocks to be built, forming the rectangular frame. It’s recommended to have 14 blocks if you’re building it without using pre-existing structures for the four corners as this makes the process easier and less error-prone.

What won’t lava burn in Minecraft?

Certain entities are immune to lava damage, including:

• Vexes
• Zoglins
• Nether Mobs (except Piglins and Hoglins)
• Withers
• Wardens
• Players and mobs affected by the Fire Resistance effect.

Lava embers and fireballs that sometimes come out of lava are purely visual and won’t cause fire or damage.

Can rain turn lava into obsidian?

No, rain in Minecraft will not turn lava into obsidian, it does not interact with lava.

Can magma turn into obsidian?

While obsidian is formed from cooled magma in real life, in Minecraft, magma doesn’t transform into obsidian on its own. It requires the introduction of water.

What is the fastest way to get obsidian in Minecraft?

The quickest method is to find a lava source, bring a bucket of water and a diamond pickaxe, and convert the lava to obsidian by combining the water with the lava source.

How many TNT can break obsidian?

Obsidian has a very high blast resistance. It can only be broken by the wither, or with an explosion created by the equivalent of 562 TNT. Obsidian is commonly used to protect bases from explosive damage.

How rare is crying obsidian?

Crying obsidian is considered relatively rare due to the limited and unreliable ways of acquiring it.

Can a nether portal be sideways?

No, a Nether portal must be built vertically, and not horizontally. Adjacent portals can share obsidian blocks. Once the frame is constructed, it’s activated with fire (using flint and steel).

Can you break crying obsidian with your fist?

Yes, you can break crying obsidian and regular obsidian with your fist, but it will take a very long time and will not drop any block to pick up. To be able to obtain obsidian you must break it with a diamond or netherite pickaxe.

Conclusion

Turning lava into obsidian is a simple yet essential skill in Minecraft. By understanding the correct way to introduce a water source to lava and by knowing the difference between a lava source block and flowing lava, you will be able to create obsidian with ease. With a diamond pickaxe, you will be well on your way to making Nether portals, enchanting tables and other vital aspects of Minecraft. Armed with the knowledge provided here, you are well-equipped to gather obsidian efficiently and embark on your next adventure.