Minecraft Tips and Tricks FAQ - Survival, Hardcore, Time

Question 1

How do you survive in Hardcore mode?

Accepted Answer

Light everything, carry a shield and blocks, keep your hunger full, wear your best armor, and never fight two creepers or skeletons at once. Feather Falling IV boots stop most fall deaths. Sleep every night, and avoid going out at night until you have iron or diamond gear.

Question 2

What kills most players in Hardcore?

Accepted Answer

Creepers, which are nearly silent, ghast fireballs from far away, and falls are among the most common deaths.

Question 3

What should you do first in Hardcore?

Accepted Answer

Set small goals: a safe base, a farm, iron gear and a bed. Practice on normal Hard worlds first, then take only the risks you need.

Question 4

What are the best time-saving tips in Minecraft?

Accepted Answer

Automate farms and smelting, carry a bed to skip nights, block off mined-out tunnels, and mark your path in caves.

Question 5

How do you mark your way in a cave?

Accepted Answer

Put torches on one side only, for example the left when you go in. On the way out, keep the torches on your right.

Question 6

How do you harvest sugar cane fast?

Accepted Answer

Break the second block and leave the bottom one, so it regrows without replanting. Running along a row while aiming slightly up clears it fast.

Question 7

How do you get rid of lava quickly?

Accepted Answer

Pour water on it to turn it to stone or obsidian, or drop sand or gravel into it. In the Nether, fill it with cheap blocks instead.

Question 8

Should you carry a bed with you?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Sleeping wherever you are skips the night and stops phantoms. Breaking that bed later can reset your respawn to the world spawn.

Question 9

How do you find north without F3?

Accepted Answer

Watch the sun, moon and clouds: they always move from east to west. On Java the cracks on a block you are mining also show north.

Question 10

Does a compass point north in Minecraft?

Accepted Answer

No. A normal compass points to the world spawn, not north. Use the sun or the F3 screen to find directions.

Question 11

What is the best biome to build a base in?

Accepted Answer

Plains, forests and savannas are popular: flat land, wood, animals and often villages nearby. Pick a biome near the resources you use most.

Question 12

How do you hide chests in Minecraft?

Accepted Answer

Put chests behind or under blocks and open them through a hidden gap, or use barrels in walls. Ender chests keep items private from everyone.

Question 13

What is a Nether hub?

Accepted Answer

A Nether hub is a central spot in the Nether with tunnels to portals for all your Overworld bases, using the 1-to-8 distance rule.

Question 14

How do you manage hunger well?

Accepted Answer

Eat high-saturation food like steak and golden carrots, avoid sprinting and jumping when you do not need to, and eat before your bar is low.

Question 15

Can you change game rules without cheats?

Accepted Answer

Yes, when creating a world: since 1.16 you can set game rules on the create screen without turning on cheats.

Question 16

What do you do in the Minecraft endgame?

Accepted Answer

Get elytra and shulker boxes from End cities, upgrade to netherite, build a full beacon, beat the Wither, and set up big farms and builds.

Question 17

What should you do when Minecraft gets boring?

Accepted Answer

Set a new goal: a big build, a full set of farms, every advancement, a Hardcore world, a new server or a modpack.

Question 18

What goals can you set in Minecraft survival?

Accepted Answer

Beat the Ender Dragon and the Wither, collect every music disc, get every advancement, build a mega base, or fill a map wall.

Question 19

How do you get every advancement?

Accepted Answer

Work through the advancement tabs (press L): the Nether, End, Adventure and Husbandry tabs list what is left. The hardest ones need every biome and every mob.

Minecraft tips and tricks, answered