Chain

Chains are metallic decoration blocks.

Chain

Renewable	Yes
Stackable	Yes (64)
Tool
Blast resistance	6
Hardness	5
Luminous	No
Transparent	Yes
Waterloggable	Yes
Flammable	No
Catches fire from lava	No
Map color (Java)	0 NONE

{
    "title": "Chain",
    "rows": [
        {
            "field": "Yes",
            "label": "(link to Renewable resource article, displayed as Renewable)"
        },
        {
            "field": "Yes (64)",
            "label": "Stackable"
        },
        {
            "field": "<span class=\"sprite-file\" style=\"height:32px;width:32px;--vertical-align:middle\">(link to File:Invicon Wooden Pickaxe.png article, displayed as 32x32px|link=Wooden Pickaxe|alt=|class=pixel-image|A wooden pickaxe or better is required to mine this block)</span>",
            "label": "Tool"
        },
        {
            "field": "6",
            "label": "(link to Explosion#Blast resistance article, displayed as Blast resistance)"
        },
        {
            "field": "5",
            "label": "(link to Breaking#Blocks by hardness article, displayed as Hardness)"
        },
        {
            "field": "No",
            "label": "(link to Light article, displayed as Luminous)"
        },
        {
            "field": "Yes",
            "label": "(link to Opacity article, displayed as Transparent)"
        },
        {
            "field": "Yes",
            "label": "(link to Waterlogging article, displayed as Waterloggable)"
        },
        {
            "field": "No",
            "label": "(link to Flammable article, displayed as Flammable)"
        },
        {
            "field": "No",
            "label": "Catches fire from (link to lava article, displayed as lava)"
        },
        {
            "field": "<span style=\"display: inline-block; white-space: nowrap;\"><span style=\"display: inline-block; background-color:  rgb()\n; border: 1px solid #888; border-radius: 0.3em; width: 1em; height: 1em; vertical-align: -0.36em; margin-right: -0.1em\"><br></span>  0 NONE\n</span>",
            "label": "(link to Map color article, displayed as Map color) <small>((link to Java Edition article, displayed as Java))</small>"
        }
    ],
    "invimages": [
        "Chain"
    ],
    "images": [
        "Chain.png",
        "Chain Axis Z.png"
    ]
}

Obtaining

Breaking

Chains can be mined using any pickaxe. If mined without a pickaxe, they drop nothing.

Block	Chain
Hardness	5
Tool
Breaking time (sec)
Default	25
Wooden	3.75
Stone	1.9
Iron	1.25
Diamond	0.95
Netherite	0.85
Golden	0.65
Options
Efficiency	0
Haste	0 JEBE

Legend

• incorrect tool, drops nothing
• correct tool, drops nothing or something other than the block itself
• correct tool, drops the block itself
• italicized can be instant mined

Natural generation

Chains can generate in treasure room bastion remnants and sometimes in ruined portals that generate in the Nether. They always generate above magma cube spawners, also found in treasure room bastions.

Chains can also generate in mineshafts. They generate on the sides of a wooden bridge (a mid-air corridor) when the distance between the bridge and the highest solid block below it is higher than the distance to the lowest solid block above it. Chains here generate vertically in a pillar between the bridge and the ceiling. The lowest block of the pillar, connecting the chain to the bridge, is always an oak fence.

In addition, chains can also generate in trial chambers making up various hanging platforms in certain rooms.

Generated loot

Item	Structure	Container	Quantity	[hide]Chance
Java Edition and Bedrock Edition
Chain	Bastion Remnant	Generic chest	2–10	24.4% { "item": "Chain", "stacksize": "2–10", "chance": 0.24372395924512447, "structure": "Bastion Remnant", "container": "Generic chest" }

Crafting

Ingredients	[hide]Crafting recipe
Iron Nugget + Iron Ingot

Usage

Chains can be used to suspend bells, hanging signs, lanterns, and soul lanterns, as the chain texture connects to the chain of the lantern seamlessly as if it were part of it, and it connects the hanging sign chains together. Chains do not require a supporting block to be placed whether it is on the top, next to it or at the bottom. It can exist completely free-standing in mid air and it can be rotated. Chains connect horizontally or vertically, but not across different orientations (so a chain with N orientation does not connect to a chain with E orientation in the adjacent block). Horizontal chains one block above a surface may be walked over. Horizontal chains two blocks above a surface prevent players from traveling past them. Vertical chains block travel if targeted directly, but may be skirted.

Precision is required, but chains can be walked on, allowing for inconspicuous, although somewhat costly, bridges.

Chains can be pushed by pistons without being broken.

In Bedrock Edition, chains are not conductive, but the comparator can work in being separated from the measured block by a chain.

Crafting ingredient

Name	Ingredients	[hide]Crafting recipe
Hanging Sign	Chain + Matching Stripped Log or Block of Stripped Bamboo or Matching Stripped Stem	666666666666

Sounds

Java Edition:

[hide] v t e chain sound type
Sound	Subtitles	Source	Description	Resource location	Translation key	Volume	Pitch	Attenuation distance
	​Block broken	Blocks	Once the block has broken	block.chain.break	subtitles.block.generic.break​	0.5	0.8	16
	​Block placed	Blocks	When the block is placed	block.chain.place	subtitles.block.generic.place​	0.5	0.8	16
	​Block breaking	Blocks	While the block is in the process of being broken	block.chain.hit	subtitles.block.generic.hit​	0.2	0.5	16
	​Something falls on a block	Entity-Dependent	Falling on the block with fall damage	block.chain.fall	subtitles.block.generic.fall​	0.5	0.75	16
	​Footsteps	Entity-Dependent	Walking on the block	block.chain.step	subtitles.block.generic.footsteps​	0.15	1.0	16

Bedrock Edition:

[hide] v t e chain sound type
Sound	Source	Description	Resource location	Volume	Pitch
	Blocks	Once the block has broken	dig.chain	1.0	0.8-1.0
	Blocks	When the block is placed	dig.chain	1.0	0.8-1.0
	Blocks	While the block is in the process of being broken	hit.chain	1.0	0.8-1.0
	Players	Falling on the block with fall damage	fall.chain	0.4	1.0
	Players	Walking on the block	step.chain	0.3	1.0
	Blocks	Jumping from the block	jump.chain	0.12	1.0
	Blocks	Falling on the block without fall damage	land.chain	0.22	1.0

Data values

ID

Java Edition:

Name	Identifier	Form	[hide]Translation key
Chain	chain	Block & Item	block.minecraft.chain

Bedrock Edition:

Chain	Identifier	Numeric ID	Form	Item ID	[hide]Translation key
Block	chain	541	Block & Ungiveable Item	item.chain	tile.chain.name
Item	chain	619	Item	—	tile.chain.name

Block states

Java Edition:

Name	Default value	Allowed values	[hide]Description
axis	y	x	The chain is oriented east–west.
		y	The chain is oriented vertically.
		z	The chain is oriented north–south.
waterlogged	false	false true	Whether or not there's water in the same place as this chain.

Bedrock Edition:

Name	Metadata Bits	Default value	Allowed values	Values for Metadata Bits	[hide]Description
pillar_axis	0x1 0x2	y	x	1	The chain is oriented east–west.
			y	0	The chain is oriented vertically.
			z	2	The chain is oriented north–south.

History

[hide]Java Edition
1.16			20w16a				Added chains.
							Chains generate in the newly added bastion remnants, and can be found in their chests.
							Chains currently use the generic metal block sounds.
			20w17a				Unique sounds have been added for chains.
			20w18a				Chains can now be waterlogged.
1.16.2			20w30a				The chance of finding chains in bastion remnant chests is decreased from 31.5% to 24.4%.
			Pre-release 1				Chains can now be placed in all orientations.
1.17			21w07a				Chains can now generate in mineshafts.
			21w13a				The model of chains has been changed so that the backside texture is mirrored.
1.19.3 Experiment Update 1.20			22w42a				Chains are now used to craft hanging signs.
1.20.3 Experiment Update 1.21			23w45a				Chains can now generate in trial chambers.
[hide]Bedrock Edition
1.16.0			beta 1.16.0.57				Added chains.
			beta 1.16.0.63				Unique sounds have been added for chains.
1.16.100			beta 1.16.100.54				Chains can now be placed in all orientations.
1.19.50 Experiment Next Major Update			Preview 1.19.50.21				Chains are now used to craft hanging signs.
1.20.30			Preview 1.20.20.21				Increased the blast resistance of chains from 3 to 6.

Issues

Issues relating to "Chain" are maintained on the bug tracker. Issues should be reported and viewed there.

Java Edition

• MC-158515 – Command block chain errors still appear after disabling command blocks
• MC-181095 – The third person camera can't pass through chains
• MC-247423 – Lush cave features sometimes don't generate above chains that support mineshafts
• MC-253549 – Infinite structure block chain causes server to hang and game to time out/crash
• MC-216987 – Chains supporting a mineshaft can stop unexpectedly
• MC-236374 – Chains are rendered too dark when blocks are placed adjacent to them while smooth lighting is enabled
• MC-262480 – Mobs jump when they get near chains, end rods, bamboos, lightning rods or pointed dripstone
• MC-264125 – All hanging signs' item textures have incorrect chain color palette
• MC-219721 – Paintings can be placed on bamboo and chain
• MC-118269 – Warning message "Command block chain tried to execute more than x steps!" appears even if less / no chain command blocks should run
• And 6 other open issues.

Bedrock Edition

• MCPE-190746 – Chains prevent spawns one block below them
• MCPE-111963 – Horizontal chains play incorrect sounds
• MCPE-94239 – Chain and target block are incorrectly positioned in the creative inventory.
• MCPE-104718 – Twisting vines/weeping vines can be placed on top of/underneath chains, leaves, and chorus plants
• MCPE-113992 – Chains PBR textures don't load and start to emit light in certain locations.
• MCPE-116208 – Placing Sideways Chains In Liquids Causes Liquids To Unrender
• MCPE-133698 – Cauldrons, hoppers, and chains cannot be placed next to blocks at Y=255/256 if the player is standing on the edge of the block
• MCPE-138549 – Comparators can read inventories through chains
• MCPE-147584 – Blocks can be placed on the chain, which should not be placed on them
• MCPE-163425 – Conditional chain command block on repeat command block with always active sometimes ignores the delay in ticks

Trivia

• A vertical chain, being a solid, but not a full block, allows for many sizes of mobs and players to pass alongside each piece horizontally.
• Despite its name, it cannot be crafted into chainmail armor.
• Chains do not stick together when moved by pistons, regardless of orientation.

Gallery

Renders

• 

  A lantern hanging from a chain.

• 

  A monster spawner hanging with a chain found in the bastion remnants.

Screenshots

• 

  Chains and stone bricks.

• 

  Chains and chiseled blackstone.

• 

  An evoker lifting weights.