Table of Contents
Who this is for: Minecraft players looking to gather redstone for circuits, contraptions, and automation projects.
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Underground Mining: Your Primary Source
Redstone ore generates naturally in the Overworld between Y-levels -64 and 15, with the highest concentration found at Y-level -59. You’ll need an iron pickaxe or better to mine it successfully – stone and wooden tools won’t work. When you break redstone ore, it drops 4-5 redstone dust, though you can increase this yield using a Fortune enchanted pickaxe.
Best Mining Strategies
Strip mining at Y-level -59 proves most effective for redstone collection. Create horizontal tunnels spaced 2-3 blocks apart to maximize ore exposure while minimizing effort. Branch mining works well too – dig a main tunnel and create perpendicular branches every few blocks. Cave exploration can be faster but less systematic, so combine both methods for optimal results.
Alternative Redstone Sources
Several other methods can supplement your mining efforts:
- Witch drops: Witches drop 0-6 redstone dust when killed, making witch farms valuable for automation
- Village trading: Cleric villagers sometimes offer redstone dust trades
- Jungle temple loot: Chests in jungle pyramids occasionally contain redstone
- Dungeon chests: Various structures may have redstone in their loot tables
Maximizing Your Redstone Yield
A Fortune III enchanted pickaxe can dramatically increase your redstone output, potentially giving you up to 8 redstone dust per ore block. Combine this with Efficiency for faster mining and Unbreaking for tool longevity. Consider using a Silk Touch pickaxe to collect the ore blocks themselves if you want to save them for later or use them decoratively.
Whether you’re building complex contraptions or simple circuits, these mining techniques will keep your redstone supplies well-stocked for all your engineering projects.
TL;DR
Mine redstone ore between Y-levels -64 and 15 (best at Y-59) using iron+ pickaxe. Strip mining and Fortune enchantments maximize yield.
