The Campfire is an active block in Minecraft capable of cooking Food or producing smoke signals. For cooking, players can place up to four pieces of raw Food on each of the Campfire's four sides. Unlike Furnaces or Smokers, the Campfire in Minecraft does not require fuel to cook the food. However, the cooking time is notably longer, requiring 30 seconds compared to the Minecraft Furnace's 10 seconds or Smoker's 5 seconds. Nevertheless, this drawback will pay off regarding its fuel efficiency, which can certainly be a help during the early stages of a Survival playthrough.
Minecraft Campfires can also be used for making smoke signals. For instance, fans who've yet to craft maps but would like assistance locating their base can use a Campfire's naturally produced smoke to guide them back home. The pillar of smoke made by the fire will vertically float up around 10 blocks before vanishing. However, if a hay bale is placed below directly beneath the Campfire, the flames become stronger, sending out a smoke signal that can reach 24 blocks in height. Depending on the set rendering distance, this technique will allow players to spot the fire's location from hundreds of blocks away.
Previously, Minecraft did not have the Campfire block, causing players to make makeshift fires out of Netherrack. However, thanks to the "Village & Pillage" Update of Version 1.14, fans can effortlessly assemble Campfires with relatively accessible resources. The materials needed are 3 Stick, 1 Coal or Charcoal, and 3 Wood of any lumber type, including Logs, Stems, or even Stripped Wood.
Crafting A Campfire In Minecraft
On the 3×3 Crafting Grid, Minecraft players can make a Campfire by first placing the Wood × 3 horizontally along the bottom row. Next, put the single piece of Coal or Charcoal atop the middle Wood block. Finally, placing the three sticks atop the empty slot above every filled block in a tent-like shape will produce a Campfire.
Minecraft fans can also make turquoise-flame Soul Campfires, which produce less light but can look potentially aesthetically cooler, depending on the player's surrounding decor. To craft a Soul Campfire in Minecraft, players will need to replace the Coal or Charcoal slot mentioned above with a block of Soul Sand. Soul Sand can be found within the Nether and underground Ancient City biome. This unique Sand will usually appear in Nether Fortresses and Bastion Remnants when generated in the Nether. Of course, the block will generate in abundance within Soul Sand Valleys. Once Minecraft players have acquired one block, they construct a Soul Campfire.
Minecraft is available on PC, Android, iOS, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch.