You’ve been swimming through shipwrecks for hours. You finally find that buried treasure map, dig up the chest, and there it is—a glowing blue orb that looks like it belongs in a sci-fi movie. But then you realize it doesn't actually do anything when you hold it. Honestly, it’s kinda frustrating. Most players just toss it into a chest and forget about it, which is a massive mistake because the Heart of the Sea is basically the only way to survive underwater long-term without constantly gasping for air.
Getting your hands on one is step one. Understanding how to use heart of the sea to actually change your gameplay is a whole different beast. You can’t eat it. You can’t craft armor out of it. It’s a core component for a Conduit, which is essentially an underwater beacon that gives you superpowers. If you’ve ever wanted to build an Atlantic-style base or clear out an Ocean Monument without drowning every thirty seconds, you need this.
The Buried Treasure Grind
Let's be real: you aren't finding this thing in a random village chest. The Heart of the Sea is strictly found in Buried Treasure. To get that, you need a map. Look for Shipwrecks or Ocean Ruins.
Inside those soggy structures, you're looking for a chest that contains a "Buried Treasure Map." Pro tip: look at the map and head toward the red X. Once you're on the X, don't just dig one hole. The chest is usually buried under sand or gravel, but sometimes it’s tucked under sandstone if the game’s feeling mean. Dig in a 9x9 area around the center of the X.
It’s always there. 100% spawn rate in those chests.
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Crafting the Conduit (The Hard Part)
Once you have the heart, you need shells. Nautilus Shells, specifically. You need eight of them. This is where most people give up because hunting Drowned for shells feels like a chore. You can find Drowned holding them, or you can get lucky with a Wandering Trader who sells them for five emeralds a pop. Fishing is also an option if you have a "Luck of the Sea" rod, but it's slow.
Combine that Heart of the Sea in the middle of a crafting table with eight Nautilus Shells surrounding it. You get a Conduit. It looks like a little blue eye trapped in a cage.
How to Use Heart of the Sea: Building the Frame
Placing the Conduit in the water does nothing. It just sits there, looking pretty. To "activate" it, you have to build a specific cage around it using Prismarine blocks. This is non-negotiable. You can use Prismarine, Prismarine Bricks, Dark Prismarine, or Sea Lanterns.
You need a minimum of 16 blocks for a basic activation. Build a 5x5 vertical square frame, then place the Conduit in the very center. It must be surrounded by water on all sides. If there’s even one air block touching the Conduit or inside the frame, it won't wake up.
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When it works, the shell opens. A blue eye appears.
Maxing Out the Range
A basic 16-block frame gives you a small radius of protection. If you want the full effect—which covers a massive 96-block radius—you need to add two more intersecting 5x5 rings. Total block count: 42. When you hit this "complete" stage, the Conduit starts attacking hostile mobs like Drowned or Guardians within 8 blocks. It’s like having a personal underwater bodyguard that never sleeps.
What Do You Actually Get?
The "Conduit Power" effect is arguably one of the strongest buffs in the game. It combines three major things:
- Infinite Oxygen: Your bubbles stop disappearing. You can stay down there forever.
- Underwater Vision: Everything becomes bright and clear, like you’re wearing night vision goggles.
- Mining Speed: You can actually mine blocks at a normal speed instead of the slow, sluggish underwater pace.
It’s a game-changer for anyone trying to drain an Ocean Monument or build a deep-sea laboratory. Without it, you're stuck chugging Water Breathing potions every eight minutes, which is just annoying.
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Common Mistakes People Make
Most players think the Conduit works like a regular beacon where you can pick different powers. It doesn't. You get Conduit Power, and that's it. Also, it only works if you are in contact with water or rain. If you walk onto a dry island, the effect wears off almost instantly.
Another thing: don't build your frame out of Cobblestone. It won't work. It has to be Prismarine-based. If you're struggling to find Prismarine, you're going to have to raid an Ocean Monument. It’s a bit of a "chicken and egg" problem—you need the Conduit to raid the monument easily, but you need the monument's blocks to build the Conduit. Usually, the best move is to go in with some milk (to clear Mining Fatigue) and TNT, grab enough blocks to build a starter frame, and then set up your base.
Advanced Tactics: The "Mobile" Conduit
If you're exploring a massive coral reef or a long underwater trench, don't feel like you have to build a permanent structure. You can carry your 42 Prismarine blocks and your Conduit with you. Set it up, do your work, break it down, and move it. It takes a couple of minutes to set up, but it saves you hours of swimming back to the surface for air.
Also, keep in mind that the Heart of the Sea is a rare, non-renewable resource per chest. While you can find multiple buried treasures in a world, you can't farm them like you can farm iron or gold. Treat that blue orb with some respect.
Actionable Next Steps
To get the most out of your Heart of the Sea, follow this sequence:
- Hunt for Shipwrecks: Focus on cold ocean biomes; the wrecks are easier to spot against the gravel.
- Farm the Shells: Set up a small turtle-breeding area or a simple Drowned farm to get your Nautilus Shells quickly.
- The 16-Block Minimum: Don't wait for a full stack of Dark Prismarine. Build the smallest 5x5 frame first just to get the breathing buff, then expand as you mine more materials from the ocean floor.
- Check for Air Pockets: If your Conduit won't activate, check every block inside the 3x3x3 space around the Conduit. One single air bubble or a misplaced kelp strand can prevent the Heart from "beating."