NapNodes
Free tool · Minecraft Java

Minecraft beacon calculator

Pick how many layers and which material and we'll tell you how many blocks (and ingots) you need, how far it reaches and which effects you can choose. And with your F3 coordinates, whether it reaches your base.

Pyramid layers

Which blocks

Layer by layer (top to bottom)

Layer 1: 3×3
9 blocks
Layer 2: 5×5
25 blocks
Layer 3: 7×7
49 blocks
Layer 4: 9×9
81 blocks

Does it reach my base?

The “Block” or “XYZ” line from F3, a /tp or three plain numbers all work.

Yes: with 4 layers it reaches. 3 would be enough.

4 layers pyramid

Iron blocks164
In iron ingots1,476 (23 stacks and 4)
Range each way50 blocks
Area101×101
Effect lasts after leaving17 s

Primary effect: Speed, Haste, Resistance, Jump Boost, Strength.

Secondary effect: Regeneration, or the primary at level II.

Plus the beacon itself: 5 glass, 3 obsidian and a Nether Star (dropped by the Wither).

Try it on your free server

A Minecraft server for you and your friends, 3 GB and no card.

The four pyramids at a glance

1 layer · 9 blocks20 blocks each way (41×41 area); the effect lasts 11 s after leaving. Unlocks: Speed and Haste.
2 layers · 34 blocks30 blocks each way (61×61 area); the effect lasts 13 s after leaving. Unlocks: Resistance and Jump Boost.
3 layers · 83 blocks40 blocks each way (81×81 area); the effect lasts 15 s after leaving. Unlocks: Strength.
4 layers · 164 blocks50 blocks each way (101×101 area); the effect lasts 17 s after leaving. Unlocks: secondary effect (Regeneration or the primary at level II).

What each effect does

Speed (from 1 layer)You walk 20% faster (40% with Speed II).
Haste (from 1 layer)You mine and break blocks faster: the one to pick for mining or digging.
Resistance (from 2 layers)You take 20% less damage (40% with Resistance II).
Jump Boost (from 2 layers)You jump higher and take less fall damage.
Strength (from 3 layers)Your melee attacks hit harder.
Regeneration (from 4 layers)You slowly get health back. Only as the secondary effect, with the full pyramid.

How the range works

Every 4 seconds the beacon checks who is in its area and gives them the effect for a few seconds longer than it takes to check again; that's why it lingers for a bit after you leave. The area is a box: as many blocks each way as the table says, the same downwards and, upwards, all the way to the top of the world. If your house is in a corner of the area, it reaches it too.

The numbers come from the game code (Java, the one Paper uses). In Bedrock the pyramid and the blocks are the same.

A beacon on a server

  • One for everyone in the middle: with the houses less than 50 blocks from a full beacon, Haste II for everyone mining nearby, without handing out potions.
  • Gather the iron together: a full pyramid is 1,476 ingots. With an iron farm and several players it's done in a few days; it's a good first group build on an SMP with friends.
  • The Nether Star drops from the Wither: warn everyone before summoning it and do it far from the houses.
  • As an admin, to test the spot before gathering the blocks, you can give yourself the materials with the /give generator in a test world.

Frequently asked questions

How many blocks do you need for a beacon?

With one layer (3×3), 9 blocks; with two, 34; with three, 83; and the full four-layer pyramid, 164. Each block is 9 ingots or gems, so a full iron pyramid takes 1,476 ingots.

How far does a beacon reach?

20, 30, 40 or 50 blocks each way depending on the layers, counted from the beacon. Downwards it reaches those same blocks and upwards all the way to the top of the world. The area is a square, not a circle: the corners count too.

Can you mix materials in the pyramid?

Yes. Any mix of iron, gold, emerald, diamond and netherite blocks works the same: the material changes neither the range nor the effects. Most people build it out of iron, which is what an iron farm gives you the most of.

Why isn't my beacon giving the effect?

It has to see the sky: only transparent blocks such as glass can be above it (stained glass changes the beam's colour). The pyramid has to be complete and centred under the beacon, and you have to pay: put an iron, gold or netherite ingot, an emerald or a diamond in the slot and pick the effect.

When can you pick Regeneration or a level II effect?

Only with the full 4-layer pyramid. Then the secondary effect unlocks: Regeneration, or the same primary at level II (Haste II for mining, for example).

Is the world only there when the host is playing?

With a server, the world (and everyone's beacon) stays there even when whoever created it isn't online. At NapNodes the RAM in your plan is yours alone and the load on each machine is public on the status page. Try it with a free 3 GB Minecraft server, no card and no end date.

Create your free server

Already have a server? Link your portals with the Nether calculator.

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