TNT
Ignites when powered by redstone, becoming a primed TNT entity that explodes after 4 seconds (80 game ticks). Destroys blocks and damages entities in blast radius.
Crafting Recipe
5 Gunpowder + 4 Sand → 1 TNT
Signal Behavior
Input
InputAny redstone signal ignites it
Output
OutputNone (becomes entity)
Max Signal Strength
Max Signal Strength0
Delay
Delay4 seconds (80 ticks) fuse
Modes
- Primed (4-second fuse)
Overview: what the TNT is and does
Ignites when powered by redstone, becoming a primed TNT entity that explodes after 4 seconds (80 game ticks). Destroys blocks and damages entities in blast radius.
As a mechanical component it converts a redstone signal into physical action rather than passing the signal onward. It is the destructive payload behind cannons, mining machines, and trapped vaults.
The TNT was added to Minecraft in Alpha 1.0.14 and everything described here reflects its behaviour in Java Edition 1.21.
How it works: the redstone mechanics
On the input side, any redstone signal ignites it. It returns no redstone signal of its own — its effect is becomes entity.
Any redstone power ignites it, converting the block into a primed TNT entity that explodes after a 4-second (80-game-tick) fuse. Once primed it obeys gravity and can be pushed, which is exactly how TNT cannons launch a projectile charge. The blast destroys nearby redstone wiring, so keep control circuits clear of the radius.
Its output is a pulse, not a held signal: 4 seconds (80 ticks) fuse.
It operates in the following modes: primed (4-second fuse).
How to set it up
- 1Craft the TNT: 5 Gunpowder + 4 Sand → 1 TNT.
- 2Decide where the signal needs to start or land, then place the TNT against a solid surface so it can act on the blocks in front of it.
- 3Feed it a redstone pulse or signal from a lever, button, or circuit; it will perform its action and ignore further power until the input changes.
- 4Test in a creative-mode plot first: trigger the input and confirm the TNT behaves exactly as the timing above predicts before committing it to a survival build.
Uses & applications
- ▸TNT cannons
- ▸Mining
- ▸Traps
- ▸Blast chambers
- ▸Terrain clearing
Tips & common mistakes
- !Destroys redstone wiring around it
- !Primed TNT is affected by gravity
- !Explosion power varies with distance
- !The 4-second fuse and gravity on primed TNT are what cannons rely on — time the ignition of charge versus projectile carefully or the cannon blows itself up.
TNT FAQ
What is the TNT used for in Minecraft redstone?
The TNT is most often used for TNT cannons, mining, traps, and blast chambers. As a mechanical component it converts a redstone signal into physical action rather than passing the signal onward.
What signal strength does the TNT output?
The TNT does not output a redstone signal of its own; its result is none (becomes entity). Its purpose is physical action, not signal generation.
How do you craft the TNT?
5 Gunpowder + 4 Sand → 1 TNT. It was introduced in Alpha 1.0.14.
How long is the TNT's pulse?
4 seconds (80 ticks) fuse. Because it is a pulse rather than a held signal, use an extender if you need the output to last longer, or an edge detector if you need exactly one trigger.