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How to Survive in Minecraft: Building a Campfire

by Owen Apr 23,2025

If you're just starting to master the basics of survival in Minecraft, learning how to light a campfire is one of the most essential skills you'll need right from the start. Far from being just a decorative element, as some new players might assume, a campfire serves multiple critical functions in the game.

campfire in minecraftImage: ensigame.com

A campfire in Minecraft acts as a light source, a cooking station, and a defense mechanism against enemies. In this guide, we'll walk you through how to create one, the materials you'll need, and how to maximize its potential in your gameplay.

Table of Contents

  • What is it?
  • How to create?
  • Main functions of the fire
  • Extra features and life hacks
  • What is the difference between a campfire and a soul campfire?
  • How to effectively use a campfire in survival?

What is it?

A campfire is a versatile block in Minecraft that serves multiple purposes: it illuminates the area, cooks food, acts as a signal fire, and can be used in mechanisms and decorations. Unlike other sources of fire, it doesn't require fuel, and its smoke can rise high into the sky, making it an effective landmark.

You can walk through the flames without taking damage, as long as you don't stand directly on it. However, it does inflict damage on mobs and players who linger too long on it. In addition to the standard campfire, there's also a soul campfire, which emits a blue flame, repels piglins, and provides slightly less light.

campfire in minecraftImage: ensigame.com

To extinguish a campfire, you can use water or a shovel, and then relight it with flint and steel, lava, or fire arrows.

How to create?

Crafting a campfire in Minecraft is straightforward and essential for surviving your first night amidst the creepers. You'll need three logs of any type (spruce, birch, etc.), three sticks, and one piece of coal or charcoal.

campfire in minecraftImage: ensigame.com

To craft it, open your crafting table, arrange the logs in the bottom row, place the sticks in a triangle above them, and position the coal in the center. Voila! You now have a campfire that provides light, heat, and doesn't need fuel, won't be extinguished by rain, and is always ready to crackle warmly.

campfire in minecraftImage: ensigame.com

Unfortunately, Minecraft doesn't allow you to start a fire by rubbing sticks together, so it's best to gather the necessary materials beforehand.

Main functions of the fire

A campfire in Minecraft is far more than just a decorative item; it's an indispensable survival tool. Here are its key functions:

  • Lighting and Mob Protection: It emits light comparable to a torch, helping to keep zombies, skeletons, and other mobs at bay, though creepers remain undeterred.
  • Free Kitchen: Unlike a furnace, a campfire lets you cook up to four pieces of meat simultaneously without needing coal. Just be quick to collect your cooked food before it falls to the ground and gets lost.
  • Signal Fire: The smoke from a campfire can be seen from a distance, and if you place hay above it, the smoke column rises even higher, perfect for navigation or signaling to friends.
  • Mob Trap: Standing on a campfire causes damage over time, making it useful for trapping mobs or even playful pranks on friends.
  • Decorative Element: It adds charm to medieval villages, campsites, or fireplaces. Extinguish it with a shovel for a cozy hearth texture.

Don't underestimate this small block; it enhances both your survival and the atmosphere of your Minecraft world.

Extra features and life hacks

Beyond its basic uses, a campfire offers several handy features:

  • Smoke Beacon: Adding hay above a campfire makes its smoke rise up to 25 blocks high, serving as a great landmark.
  • Safe Honey Harvesting: Placing a campfire under a beehive calms the bees, allowing you to gather honey or honeycombs without getting stung.
  • Extinguished Campfire Decoration: Hit a campfire with a shovel to extinguish it, turning it into a decorative element for sidewalks, fireplaces, or minecart tracks.
  • Automatic Mob Trap: Since it deals damage but doesn't destroy items, you can use it to create mob traps, especially effective for chicken or cow farms.
  • Safe Fire in Wooden Structures: Unlike lava or fire, a campfire won't ignite surrounding wood, making it safe for use in wooden buildings.
  • Controllable Fire: You can extinguish and relight a campfire using a shovel, water, or flint and steel, providing control over its use in various settings.

What is the difference between a campfire and a soul campfire?

While they appear similar, the soul campfire has unique properties. It emits a blue flame and slightly less light than the regular campfire. Its distinctive feature is repelling piglins, making it invaluable in the Nether.

campfire in minecraftImage: ensigame.com

The soul campfire is not just decorative; it's useful in mechanisms and for specific mob interactions, like creating traps or special effects. For cozy camps or village fireplaces, the regular campfire is preferred due to its brighter light, while the soul campfire suits more mystical or Nether-themed structures.

How to effectively use a campfire in survival?

To make the most of a campfire in survival mode, consider these strategies:

  • Placement: Position it near your camp or in the center of your base to light up the area and deter mobs. Surround it with a fence or wall to protect against creepers.
  • Cooking: Use it to cook meat, fish, or potatoes without coal. Remember to collect the cooked food promptly to avoid losing it.
  • Beehive Management: Place a campfire under a beehive to harvest honey safely, calming the bees.
  • Decoration: Use campfires to create a cozy atmosphere in camps or homes. The crackling sound adds to the realism.
  • Defense: Incorporate campfires into mob traps or playful pranks. They're effective in farms for trapping zombies or skeletons.

campfire in minecraftImage: ensigame.com

A campfire is not merely a decorative element but a versatile tool that enhances survival, illuminates, cooks, and protects. Used creatively, it significantly expands your gameplay possibilities, ensuring comfort and safety in the Minecraft world.