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.
The Target Block in Minecraft: Redstone Archery
A target block gives a redstone signal when a projectile hits it, and the closer to the center, the stronger the signal, from 1 to 15. Arrows and tridents power it for 1 second; snowballs, eggs and other projectiles for 0.4 seconds. Craft it from 4 redstone dust around a hay bale.
What can activate a target?
- Arrows and tridents (1 second of power).
- Snowballs, eggs, ender pearls, fire charges, potions and other projectiles (0.4 seconds).
- Firework rockets, even when boosting a gliding player.
- It does not react to a punch or a pressure plate; for those see redstone inputs.
Why does redstone dust point at it?
Unlike most blocks, a target pulls nearby redstone dust toward it, so a wire next to it connects without extra pieces. That makes it easy to hide behind a wall or under a floor. Basics: redstone basics.
What can you build with it?
- Archery ranges that score by how close you hit; see arrows.
- Secret doors opened by shooting a block; see piston doors.
- Snowball-triggered switches in minigames.
- Witch farms and other designs that need a hidden signal.
Where else are targets found?
One sits in the secret room in the center of each ancient city; see ancient cities. Break it fastest with a hoe.
How do you craft a target?
Put a hay bale in the middle of the crafting grid with redstone dust on its four sides. A hay bale is 9 wheat, so targets are cheap once you have a wheat farm. It can be mined with any tool or by hand and always drops itself.
Frequently asked questions
How do you get a 15 signal from a target?
Hit the exact center.
Sources
Every fact on this page was checked against these pages; the wording is ours.