Updated 25 October 2026. Facts on this page come from minecraft.wiki, minecraft.net and the live Artemis PvP server; sources are listed at the bottom.
Recovery Compass in Minecraft: Find Where You Died
A recovery compass points to the spot where you last died, as long as you are in the same dimension; otherwise it spins. Craft it from a compass surrounded by 8 echo shards, which are found in ancient city chests. You still drop it when you die unless keep inventory is on, so store a spare at home.
How do you make a recovery compass?
Put a compass in the middle and 8 echo shards around it. Echo shards are only found in chests in ancient cities, deep in the deep dark; see ancient cities. A compass is 4 iron ingots around redstone; see compasses.
How do you use it?
- Hold it after you respawn; the needle points to your last death point.
- It only works in the same dimension as that death; in another dimension it spins.
- It points to your most recent death only, so each new death moves the target.
- On Bedrock it can be enchanted.
Your items stay for 5 minutes of loaded time; see item despawning.
How do you make the most of it?
Keep the recovery compass in a chest near your bed, not in your inventory, so it is waiting when you respawn. Write down coordinates too, and consider keep inventory in singleplayer.
Is there a way back after dying on ArtemisPvP?
Frequently asked questions
Where do you find echo shards?
In ancient city chests.
Why is my recovery compass spinning?
You are in a different dimension from your last death, or you have not died yet.
Sources
Every fact on this page was checked against these pages; the wording is ours.