BLOCK OF REDSTONE
A solid block that provides a constant redstone signal of 15 in all directions. Can be pushed by pistons, making it essential for movable power sources in flying machines and piston circuits.
Crafting Recipe
9 Redstone Dust → 1 Block of Redstone
Signal Behavior
Input
InputNone (always active)
Output
OutputPowers adjacent redstone components and dust with signal 15
Max Signal Strength
Max Signal Strength15
Delay
DelayNone (instant)
Modes
- Always on
Overview: what the Block of Redstone is and does
A solid block that provides a constant redstone signal of 15 in all directions. Can be pushed by pistons, making it essential for movable power sources in flying machines and piston circuits.
As a power source it sits at the start of a circuit, generating the signal that everything downstream reacts to. Because it is a full movable block rather than a placed component, it is the standard way to carry power inside flying machines and piston feed tapes.
The Block of Redstone was added to Minecraft in 1.5 and everything described here reflects its behaviour in Java Edition 1.21.
How it works: the redstone mechanics
On the input side, none (always active). On the output side, powers adjacent redstone components and dust with signal 15.
It outputs signal 15 to every adjacent redstone wire and component in all six directions at once, with no delay and no off state. Unlike a torch it does not strongly power the block above it, so dust laid on top of an adjacent solid block will not light up from it.
Powering note: Weakly powers adjacent dust and components only; does not strongly power neighbouring solid blocks.
It acts instantly with no redstone-tick delay of its own, so it adds nothing to the timing of a circuit.
It can output a maximum signal strength of 15, which travels 15 blocks through bare redstone dust before fading to nothing.
It operates in the following modes: always on.
How to set it up
- 1Craft the Block of Redstone: 9 Redstone Dust → 1 Block of Redstone.
- 2Decide where the signal needs to start or land, then place the Block of Redstone against a solid surface so it can feed the rest of your circuit.
- 3Run redstone dust away from it toward the component you want to control, remembering the signal will fall by 1 per block.
- 4Test in a creative-mode plot first: trigger the input and confirm the Block of Redstone behaves exactly as the timing above predicts before committing it to a survival build.
Uses & applications
- ▸Movable power source with pistons
- ▸Flying machines
- ▸Compact power in builds
- ▸Piston feed tapes
Tips & common mistakes
- !Cannot be turned off, no conditional use alone
- !Does not power adjacent solid blocks (only components/dust)
- !Pistons treat it as an ordinary pushable block, so it counts toward the 12-block push limit and can be moved to make or break a circuit on demand.
Block of Redstone FAQ
What is the Block of Redstone used for in Minecraft redstone?
The Block of Redstone is most often used for movable power source with pistons, flying machines, compact power in builds, and piston feed tapes. As a power source it sits at the start of a circuit, generating the signal that everything downstream reacts to.
What signal strength does the Block of Redstone output?
Powers adjacent redstone components and dust with signal 15. Its maximum signal strength is 15.
How do you craft the Block of Redstone?
9 Redstone Dust → 1 Block of Redstone. It was introduced in 1.5.
What is the most common mistake with the Block of Redstone?
Cannot be turned off, no conditional use alone. Does not power adjacent solid blocks (only components/dust).