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.
Levers, Buttons and Pressure Plates: Redstone Inputs
Redstone inputs are the blocks that start a signal: a lever stays on until flipped, a button gives a short pulse, a pressure plate turns on while something stands on it, a tripwire fires when something walks through the string, a daylight detector reacts to sunlight, and a target block lights up when a projectile hits it.
How does each input work?
| Input | Recipe | Signal |
|---|---|---|
| Lever | 1 stick + 1 cobblestone | On or off until you flip it |
| Stone button | 1 stone | 1-second pulse |
| Wooden button | 1 planks | 1.5-second pulse; arrows can press it |
| Wooden pressure plate | 2 planks | Any entity, including dropped items |
| Stone pressure plate | 2 stone | Players and mobs only |
| Light weighted (gold) plate | 2 gold ingots | Stronger the more entities are on it |
| Heavy weighted (iron) plate | 2 iron ingots | Like gold, but needs many more entities |
| Tripwire hook | 1 iron ingot + 1 stick + 1 planks (makes 2) | String between two hooks; fires when crossed |
| Daylight detector | 3 glass + 3 nether quartz + 3 wooden slabs | Stronger in more daylight; right-click to invert |
| Target block | 1 hay bale + 4 redstone | Stronger the closer to the center a projectile hits |
Which input should you use?
- Doors: buttons or pressure plates. Stone plates stop items opening the door; wooden plates let arrows and items trigger it.
- Lights or machines that stay on: a lever.
- Traps: tripwire with string is almost invisible; see jungle temple traps.
- Automatic street lights: an inverted daylight detector turns on at night.
- Archery games: target blocks reward accurate shots; see bows and crossbows.
What other blocks give a signal?
Observers fire when the block in front changes; sculk sensors hear vibrations; lightning rods pulse when struck; trapped chests give a signal when opened; and a redstone block is always on. See observers and sculk sensors.
What is the difference between strong and weak power?
A lever or button powers the block it is attached to strongly, so that block can power redstone dust next to it, while redstone dust only powers blocks weakly. Full basics: redstone basics.
Are there custom redstone blocks on ArtemisPvP?
Frequently asked questions
How long does a button stay on?
A stone button about 1 second, a wooden button about 1.5 seconds.
What does a target block do?
It gives a redstone signal when a projectile hits it, stronger nearer the center.
Sources
Every fact on this page was checked against these pages; the wording is ours.