You're standing at the bottom of a deep, dark ocean biome, drowning bubbles are popping, and a Drowned with a trident is looking at you like a snack. You've got the Conduit in your inventory, but it’s just a weird, glowing salty heart right now. It does nothing. To actually get that sweet, sweet Conduit Power—which basically turns you into Aquaman with night vision and infinite air—you need a specific structure. Most players mess this up because they try to use the wrong blocks or they don’t understand the 5x5 cage requirement.
Getting the Conduit is actually the "easy" part, even though it requires a Heart of the Sea from a buried treasure chest and eight Nautilus Shells. The real headache starts when you're underwater trying to place blocks while fighting the physics of the game. Honestly, if you aren't prepared with some doors (for air pockets) or a Potion of Water Breathing, you're going to die before you even place the first prismarine brick.
The Materials You Actually Need
Forget what you heard about using any old block. To activate a conduit, you need specifically "prismarine-type" blocks. This means Prismarine, Prismarine Bricks, Dark Prismarine, or Sea Lanterns. Nothing else works. Don't try cobble. Don't try dirt. It won't wake up.
You’ll need at least 16 blocks for a basic activation, but if you want the full 96-block range and the ability for the conduit to actually attack nearby mobs, you’re looking at 42 blocks total. Most people just scavenge these from an Ocean Monument. If you haven't conquered a monument yet, you can craft them, but that involves a lot of prismarine shards and crystals which, let’s be real, are a pain to farm without an automated guardian farm.
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Building the Frame: The 5x5 Method
The most common way to do this is the "three-axis" frame. Start by placing the Conduit itself. It needs to be in the center of a 3x3x3 volume of water. Basically, it can't be touching any solid blocks. I usually just place a temporary block, put the conduit on top, and then break the block underneath. It’ll just float there.
Now, build a 5x5 square around it. This is your first ring. If you do this correctly, the conduit should start to open its shell slightly. You’ll see some blue particle effects. This is the "Level 1" activation. It gives you the Conduit Power buff, but the range is tiny—only about 32 blocks. That’s barely enough to cover a small underwater base.
Expanding for Maximum Power
To get the full effect, you need more rings. Think of it like a cage. You add another 5x5 ring intersecting the first one vertically. Then, a third ring horizontally. When you hit 42 blocks, the Conduit changes. The "eye" inside the blue sphere opens.
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Once that eye is open, the Conduit becomes a weapon. It will target any Drowned or Guardians within 8 blocks and zap them for 2 hearts of damage every 2 seconds. It’s not a machine gun, but it keeps the riff-raff away while you’re trying to build your underwater glass dome or whatever project you've got going on.
Why Your Conduit Isn't Working
If you’ve built the frame and nothing is happening, check these three things immediately. First, is the Conduit touching a block? It must be surrounded by water on all sides. Second, are you using the right blocks? Again, it has to be prismarine-based. Third, is there a "gap" in your rings? The 5x5 rings must be complete squares. Even one missing corner can nerf the whole setup.
Also, remember that the Conduit only works in water or rain. If you’re trying to set this up in a dry cave for the "vibe," it’s just going to sit there looking like a dead fish. It needs to be fully submerged.
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Technical Nuances and Range Scaling
The math behind the range is actually pretty linear. For every 7 blocks you add to the frame, the range increases by 16 blocks.
- 16 blocks = 32 block range
- 42 blocks = 96 block range
At max power, the buff reaches out 96 blocks in every direction. That is a massive area. You can basically clear an entire ocean floor section without ever coming up for air. It’s a total game-changer for end-game exploration.
Real-World Application: The Ocean Monument Raid
If you're using a conduit to take over an Ocean Monument, don't build it outside. Swim into the center, find a large room, and set it up there. This gives you a "safe zone" where you don't have to worry about the Mining Fatigue debuff from the Elder Guardians as much because you'll have the visibility and breath to find them quickly.
A lot of veteran players, like those you'll see on the Hermitcraft servers or technical Minecraft forums, suggest using Sea Lanterns for the corners of your conduit frame. It’s functional and provides light, which prevents random mob spawns in the dark corners of your build.
Practical Steps to Finish Your Setup
- Gather 42 Dark Prismarine blocks for the highest contrast and 1 Heart of the Sea.
- Clear a 5x5x5 area underwater. Ensure there are no kelp or seagrass strands inside the frame area, as they can sometimes interfere with placement.
- Place the Conduit first using a temporary block to float it exactly in the center.
- Construct the first 5x5 vertical ring around the conduit.
- Construct the second 5x5 vertical ring perpendicular to the first.
- Construct the final 5x5 horizontal ring around the middle.
- Verify the 'Eye' has opened in the center of the conduit. If it’s just a floating sphere, you’ve missed a block somewhere in the 42-count structure.
- Remove any remaining temporary blocks used for scaffolding to ensure the 3x3x3 water buffer around the conduit heart is clear.
Once the eye is open, your underwater base is officially online. You can now mine, build, and fight without the constant ticking clock of an oxygen bar. It makes the ocean biome go from the most annoying place in Minecraft to arguably the coolest place to live.