You've just dug your first hole in the dirt. It’s getting dark. That low-pitched groan of a zombie is echoing somewhere in the distance, and honestly, if you don't get some light fast, your first night is going to be a short, miserable disaster. Understanding how to make a torch minecraft style is basically the "Hello World" of Mojang's blocky universe. It is the literal dividing line between being a victim of the dark and being a master of your own domain.
Light matters. It isn't just about seeing where you're going; it’s about the mechanics of light levels and mob spawning. In the current versions of Minecraft, hostile mobs like Creepers and Skeletons need a light level of 0 to spawn. Torches provide a block light level of 14. This means a single torch covers a decent radius, keeping your base a "no-spawn zone." If you mess this up, you're waking up to a Creeper hiss in your bedroom. Nobody wants that.
The Basic Recipe: Sticks and Stones (or Coal)
The recipe is deceptively simple. You need one stick and one piece of coal or charcoal. Open your crafting grid—even the 2x2 one in your inventory works fine for this—and place the coal directly above the stick. Boom. You get four torches.
Where do you get the stuff?
Sticks are easy. Punch a tree, get logs, turn logs into planks, turn planks into sticks. It's the circle of life. But the fuel source? That’s where new players sometimes get tripped up. Coal ore is found almost everywhere in stone cliffs or underground. It looks like a stone block with black flecks. You’ll need a pickaxe to mine it; using your fist will just break the block and give you nothing but regret.
But what if you can't find coal? It happens. Sometimes you're stuck in a biome where the surface stone is scarce, or you’ve burrowed deep and missed the coal veins. This is where Charcoal comes in.
✨ Don't miss: Mass Effect Andromeda Gameplay: Why It’s Actually the Best Combat in the Series
- Step 1: Craft a furnace using eight cobblestone.
- Step 2: Put a wood log (the raw stuff from the tree) in the top slot.
- Step 3: Put a fuel source (like wooden planks or another log) in the bottom slot.
- Step 4: Wait for it to smelt.
The result is Charcoal. Functionally, it is identical to coal for making torches. You can't stack them together in the same inventory slot, which is a bit of a pain, but for crafting, they work exactly the same way.
Why Most Players Over-Light Their Bases
There is a common misconception that you need a torch on every single block. You don't. Since the "Caves & Cliffs" update (Version 1.18), Mojang changed the spawning rules significantly. Before, mobs could spawn at light level 7 or lower. Now, they only spawn when it is pitch black (level 0).
This means you can space your torches out much further than you used to. In a flat area, you can place a torch, count 12 blocks, and place another. It saves resources. It looks less cluttered. It’s just smarter. Expert builders often use "hidden lighting"—placing torches under carpet or moss carpets—to keep the area safe without making it look like a construction site.
Soul Torches and Underwater Adventures
Once you get to the Nether, the game changes. You’ll find Soul Sand and Soul Soil. If you take that same torch recipe—Coal + Stick—and add a glob of Soul Soil or Soul Sand at the bottom, you get Soul Torches.
🔗 Read more: Marvel Rivals Emma Frost X Revolution Skin: What Most People Get Wrong
They're blue. They look cool. But there's a catch: they actually provide less light (level 10 instead of 14). So why use them?
- Piglin Repellent: Piglins are terrified of soul fire. If you’re trying to build a bridge in the Nether and don’t want to be bothered, soul torches are your best friend.
- Atmosphere: They don't melt ice or snow. If you’re building an ice palace, regular torches will turn your floor into a swimming pool. Soul torches keep things frozen.
Then there are Underwater Torches. You won't find these in standard Survival mode unless you're playing the Education Edition or have "Education Features" toggled on in Bedrock. You combine a regular torch with Magnesium. It lets you light up the ocean floor. In standard Java or Bedrock survival, however, torches pop right off if they touch water. For deep-sea exploration, you’re stuck using Sea Pickles or Glowstone.
Redstone Torches: Not for Seeing
Don't ever try to light your house with Redstone Torches.
Seriously. They have a light level of 7. That's not enough to stop mobs from spawning right next to them. Redstone torches are components, not lamps. They act as an inverter for signals or a constant power source for rails. Using them for lighting is like trying to use a AA battery as a flashlight—it’s the power source, not the bulb.
💡 You might also like: Finding the Right Words That Start With Oc 5 Letters for Your Next Wordle Win
The Math of Light Decay
Minecraft uses a taxicab geometry for light.
The torch is 14.
The block next to it is 13.
The block after that is 12.
It drops by 1 for every block of distance (including vertically). If you place a torch on a wall three blocks up, the ground level directly beneath it is 11. Knowing this helps you map out exactly how many torches you need for a massive cavern or a long tunnel.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
A big one is placing torches on "transparent" blocks. You can't place a torch on top of a glass block or a leaf block. Well, in some versions of Bedrock, the rules are slightly looser, but generally, torches need a solid surface. If you try to place one on a chest, you’ll just open the chest. Pro tip: Hold the 'Shift' key (crouch) to place a torch on a functional block like a crafting table or a furnace without opening the interface.
Another thing? Gravity. If the block a torch is attached to is destroyed, the torch breaks and drops as an item. This is actually a great way to mine sand or gravel. If you have a massive pillar of sand, dig the bottom block and quickly replace it with a torch. All the sand falling onto the torch will instantly break into items. It's a classic veteran move.
Actionable Next Steps for Your World
Now that you've got the hang of the basics, it's time to move beyond just sticking bits of burning wood on the walls.
- Audit your base: Go around with the F3 screen open (on Java) and look at the "Client Light" or "Server Light" values. If you see a 0 anywhere on the floor, place a torch.
- Switch to Lanterns: Once you have an iron farm or plenty of ingots, wrap a torch in eight iron nuggets to make a Lantern. They have a light level of 15 (brighter than torches!) and look significantly better in professional builds.
- Automate your fuel: Set up a simple "super smelter" to turn your excess wood into charcoal. This ensures you never run out of torches even if you stop mining for coal.
- Vertical Lighting: In deep ravines, don't just light the floor. Mobs can spawn on ledges high above and fall on your head. Place torches every few levels on the walls to prevent "death from above" scenarios.
Light is your strongest weapon in Minecraft. It's more consistent than a sword and cheaper than armor. Whether you're using coal found in a surface vein or charcoal from a burnt oak tree, keeping your surroundings bright is the only way to survive the long haul.