Why is lodestone so important in Minecraft?

Lodestone is one of the lesser-known blocks in Minecraft. It is a special type of block that can be highly useful for players for one particular reason. It is mainly used to navigate in the right direction. Once they have a lodestone connected compass, they can never be lost, even in the Nether and End realms.

As players enter the world of Minecraft, they have an almost endless map to explore. Players usually travel far and wide in search of valuable items and blocks in all three realms. However, they can easily get lost and not return from where they started, this is where this block comes in.

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Why is lodestone so important for players in Minecraft

How to craft the block

This block is a little tricky to craft, needing eight chiseled stone blocks and one netherite ingot. Netherite is a rare material that is the strongest one for making armor, tools and weapons.

Crafting recipe (Image via Minecraft)

Players obtain the material after a long search and usually don't want to waste it in making these blocks, hence it is not used by many players. However, if players want to accurately return back to their location, this block comes in handy.

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How the block works and why is it important

To understand why the block is so important, players must first understand how it works. When players craft the block, it can be placed anywhere important like a base, nether portal or an end city, where the player might want to go to.

After being placed in a particular location, players can simply craft a compass and right click on the block.

Connected compass pointing towards the block (Image via Mojang)

As soon as the compass is used on the block, it converts into a special compass that will only point at the block. This feature works in the Nether and End as well, where normal compasses won't work.

Players can freely roam around the world without worrying about being lost, because they have a compass that will lead them back to that particular location. This is why a lodestone can be highly useful in certain scenarios while players are out exploring.

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