What is a respawn anchor and how does it work?

Who this is for: Minecraft players exploring the Nether who want safe respawn points without bed explosions.


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What is a Respawn Anchor?

A respawn anchor is a special block in Minecraft that allows players to set their spawn point in the Nether dimension. Unlike beds, which explode when used in the Nether, respawn anchors provide a safe way to establish a respawn location in this dangerous realm.

How to Craft a Respawn Anchor

To create a respawn anchor, you’ll need:

  • 6 Crying Obsidian blocks
  • 3 Glowstone blocks

Arrange these materials in a crafting table with crying obsidian forming the outer frame and glowstone filling the middle row. Crying obsidian can be obtained through bartering with piglins, finding it in ruined portals, or crafting it with obsidian and ghast tears.

How Respawn Anchors Work

The respawn anchor operates on a charge system using glowstone. Here’s how it functions:

  • Charging: Right-click the anchor with glowstone to add charges (maximum of 4)
  • Setting spawn: Right-click the charged anchor without glowstone to set your respawn point
  • Using charges: Each time you respawn, one charge is consumed
  • Visual indicator: The anchor glows brighter with more charges, and you can see the charge level

Important Mechanics and Tips

Respawn anchors have several key behaviors to understand:

  • They only work in the Nether dimension – using them in the Overworld or End causes an explosion
  • Multiple players can use the same anchor, but each respawn consumes a charge
  • The anchor must have at least one charge when you die, or you’ll respawn at your world spawn instead
  • You can break and move charged anchors, but they’ll lose all stored charges

Strategic Uses

Smart players use respawn anchors for various purposes:

  • Establishing safe bases during long Nether expeditions
  • Creating respawn points near valuable resources like ancient debris
  • Setting up multiple anchor stations throughout large Nether builds
  • Providing backup spawn points when exploring dangerous areas

While some players rarely use respawn anchors due to the resource cost and limited charges, they become invaluable for serious Nether exploration and building projects where quick respawning can save hours of travel time.

TL;DR

Respawn anchors are Nether-exclusive blocks that set spawn points using glowstone charges. Craft with 6 crying obsidian and 3 glowstone, then charge with up to 4 glowstone to create safe respawn locations.

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Joyst1ck

Gaming Writer & HTML5 Developer

Answering gaming questions—from Roblox and Minecraft to the latest indie hits. I write developer‑focused HTML5 articles and share practical tips on game design, monetisation, and scripting.

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