Table of Contents
Who this is for: Minecraft players looking to build with ice blocks near light sources or create permanent frozen structures.
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Packed Ice and Blue Ice Never Melt
In Minecraft, there are two types of ice blocks that will never melt regardless of light level or heat sources: packed ice and blue ice. Unlike regular ice, these variants maintain their solid form even when placed next to torches, lava, or other light-emitting blocks.
Packed Ice Properties
Packed ice appears as a darker, more compressed version of regular ice with a slightly blue tint. You can craft it using 9 regular ice blocks in a crafting table, or find it naturally in ice spikes biomes and frozen ocean floors. This block is completely immune to melting and provides a slippery surface perfect for creating fast transportation systems.
Blue Ice Characteristics
Blue ice takes non-melting properties even further. It has a distinctive bright blue color and is the slipperiest block in the game – even more slippery than packed ice. You can craft blue ice by combining 9 packed ice blocks, making it quite expensive. It’s also found naturally in frozen ocean biomes and icebergs.
Why Regular Ice Melts
Standard ice blocks will melt when exposed to light levels of 12 or higher, or when placed adjacent to heat sources like torches, glowstone, or lava. This makes regular ice impractical for builds that require permanent lighting or decoration.
Practical Applications
Both packed ice and blue ice are excellent for:
- Building ice highways and boat racing tracks
- Creating decorative frozen structures that won’t disappear
- Constructing farms or redstone contraptions near light sources
- Making permanent ice rinks or winter-themed builds
If you’re planning any Minecraft building projects that involve ice and lighting, these non-melting variants will save you from constantly replacing melted blocks.
TL;DR
Packed ice and blue ice are the only ice types in Minecraft that never melt, regardless of light level or heat sources, making them perfect for permanent builds.
