You’ve probably spent hours trying to wire up a complicated trap or a hidden door in your base, only to realize that getting a Redstone signal exactly where you need it is a total nightmare. Honestly, it’s frustrating. Before the 1.16 Nether Update, we were stuck using wooden buttons or pressure plates that looked ugly or required a physical entity to step on them. Then Mojang gave us the target block. It changed everything. It isn’t just a block for archery practice; it's a redirection tool that makes your wiring cleaner and your mini-games actually functional. If you want to know how to make target block in Minecraft, you're looking at a pretty simple recipe, but using it correctly? That takes a bit more finesse.
The Ingredients You’ll Actually Need
Don’t overcomplicate this. To get a target block into your inventory, you need two specific items: one Hay Bale and four pieces of Redstone Dust. That’s it.
You get Hay Bales by filling a 3x3 crafting grid with Wheat. If you’re hanging out near a village, you can usually just steal them from the local farmers—look for those yellow decorative stacks near the composters. Redstone is easy enough to find if you’re mining down around deepslate levels, specifically between $Y=-64$ and $Y=15$.
Once you have your items, open your crafting table. Put the Hay Bale right in the center slot. Then, place your four Redstone Dust pieces in the spots directly above, below, to the left, and to the right of the hay. It forms a little cross shape. Pull the target block out of the result box, and you’re ready to start shooting.
Why the Physics of This Block is Weird
Here’s the thing about the target block that most players overlook. It doesn't just "turn on" when you hit it. It’s a temporary power source. When you hit it with a projectile—an arrow, a trident, a snowball, or even an egg—it emits a Redstone signal.
But wait. The strength of that signal depends entirely on your aim.
If you nick the very edge of the block, you’re only going to get a signal strength of 1. If you nail a bullseye? You get a full signal strength of 15. This makes it a built-in analog-to-digital converter. You don't need a bunch of complicated logic gates to measure how good your shot was. The block does the math for you.
- Arrows and Tridents: These stay stuck in the block. As long as the projectile is stuck there, the block keeps emitting power.
- Snowballs, Eggs, and Potions: These break on impact. Because they disappear instantly, the target block only gives off a quick pulse. It’s basically a remote-controlled button.
- Ender Pearls: Yes, these work too, but they’ll teleport you to the block, which might ruin your testing if you aren't careful.
Redstone Redirection: The Secret Feature
If you’re a Redstone nerd, the "target" part of the target block is actually the least interesting thing about it. Its real superpower is its ability to redirect Redstone wire.
In Minecraft, Redstone dust likes to travel in straight lines or connect to adjacent blocks. Usually, if you want a line of dust to "point" into a specific block to power it, you have to do some awkward maneuvering. Target blocks are "conductive" in a way that attracts Redstone dust. If you place a target block next to a line of Redstone, the dust will automatically curve and point directly into the target block.
This allows for incredibly compact builds. You can line up pistons or lamps right next to each other and use target blocks to ensure each individual component gets the signal it needs without the wires "bleeding" into each other. It’s a game-changer for anyone building massive automated farms or piston doors.
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Common Mistakes and Misconceptions
I see people trying to use target blocks as permanent power sources. They aren't levers. If you hit it with an arrow, that arrow will eventually despawn after one minute (in Java Edition), and your power will cut out. If you're on Bedrock Edition, the behavior is slightly different regarding how long signals last, but the core principle remains: it’s a trigger, not a toggle.
Also, don't expect it to work with "fake" projectiles. You can't just stand next to it and punch it to get a signal. It requires an actual entity impact. Interestingly, firework rockets also trigger it, which opens up some cool possibilities for celebratory displays that trigger even more effects once the rocket hits a wall.
Building Your First Archery Range
If you’re just starting out, try building a simple reward system. Place your target block at the end of a long hallway. Run a line of Redstone dust from the back of the block to a Dispenser filled with cooked steak or gold nuggets.
Because the signal strength varies, you can get creative. Put a Redstone Lamp at the very end of a 15-block long wire. If you hit the edge of the target, the signal won't reach the lamp. Only a perfect bullseye will provide enough "juice" to travel all 15 blocks and light up the lamp. It's a simple, low-tech way to prove to your friends that you're the better shot.
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Practical Steps for Your Next Session
Now that you know how to make target block in Minecraft, go find a village and grab some hay. Start by replacing the messy wiring in your existing Redstone builds with target blocks to see how much space you can save. If you’re feeling ambitious, try linking a target block to a T-Flip-Flop circuit; this will turn the momentary pulse of a snowball hit into a permanent ON/OFF switch for your secret base entrance.
Experiment with different projectiles to see how the timing affects your specific builds. A trident with Loyalty will hit the block, trigger the signal, and then fly back to your hand, making it a reusable "remote control" for your world.