Updated 23 October 2026. Facts on this page come from minecraft.wiki, minecraft.net and the live Artemis PvP server; sources are listed at the bottom.
Copper and Oxidation
Copper blocks oxidise over time through four looks, from copper to exposed, weathered and oxidised. Wax them with honeycomb to freeze the look, scrape with an axe to go back one stage, and lightning strips the oxidation completely.
How does copper oxidise?
Unwaxed copper blocks pass through four stages: normal, exposed (discoloured with green spots), weathered (green with brown spots) and oxidised (teal with green spots). It happens slowly on its own.
| Action | Result |
|---|---|
| Use honeycomb | Waxes the block: it stops oxidising and otherwise works the same |
| Use an axe on waxed copper | Removes the wax |
| Use an axe on oxidised copper | Goes back one stage |
| Lightning strike | Fully clears the struck block and randomly clears nearby copper |
You cannot scrape while holding a shield in your offhand, so fighting near copper does not scrape it by accident.
What is a block of copper for?
A block of copper stores nine copper ingots and needs a stone pickaxe or better to mine. Only the unoxidised block (waxed or not) crafts back into ingots. Cut copper, stairs and slabs come from crafting or a stonecutter, and copper blocks, waxed copper and waxed oxidised copper generate in trial chambers.
What copper items are there now?
1.21 (Tricky Trials) added the copper bulb, door, trapdoor, grate and chiseled copper. 1.21.9 (The Copper Age) added copper tools and armour, the copper chest, copper bars, chain, torch and lantern, and the copper golem, which is built on a copper block, oxidises like copper and turns into a statue when fully oxidised. See The Copper Age and Tricky Trials.
Copper building tips
- Wax copper as soon as it reaches the colour you want.
- Scrape with an axe to step back through the stages.
- Honeycomb comes from bee nests; see bees and honey.
Is copper on ArtemisPvP?
Frequently asked questions
How do you stop copper oxidising?
Wax it with a honeycomb.
How do you remove oxidation?
Scrape it with an axe one stage at a time, or let lightning strike it.
Sources
Every fact on this page was checked against these pages; the wording is ours.