Updated 25 October 2026. Facts on this page come from minecraft.wiki, community sites named in the text and the live Artemis PvP server; sources are listed at the bottom.
How TNT Works: Fuse, Prime Motion and Power
Lit TNT turns into a falling entity called primed TNT that explodes 80 game ticks (4 seconds) later with power 4. Every cannon is built around those numbers: the fixed fuse, the small random jump TNT makes when lit, and the fact that explosions push other primed TNT.
How long does TNT take to explode?
TNT lit by fire, flint and steel or a redstone signal explodes after 80 game ticks, which is 4 seconds. TNT lit by another explosion is different: it explodes after a random 10 to 30 game ticks (half a second to a second and a half).
The countdown is stored on the entity as a value called fuse. It drops by one every game tick and the TNT explodes at zero. Because the fuse is fixed, a normal cannon shot must reach the target before its four seconds run out. Special lazy-chunk cannons work around this; see lazy chunk cannons.
What is prime motion?
When TNT is lit, the block is replaced by a primed TNT entity placed at the bottom centre of the block space. In Java Edition it is given a small push: 0.2 blocks per tick upward and 0.02 blocks per tick in a random sideways direction. Cannoners call this prime motion.
Prime motion is the enemy of accuracy. Two pieces of TNT lit side by side will never sit in exactly the same spot unless something stops them. That is why cannon chambers push TNT into a wall before firing: the wall cancels the random drift. See cannon accuracy.
What can move primed TNT?
Primed TNT is a gravity-affected entity with a hitbox of 0.98 by 0.98 blocks. It falls, and it can be pushed by:
- Flowing water and lava, which is how most cannon chambers line TNT up.
- Pistons, used to slide TNT into a firing position.
- Other explosions, which is the whole idea of a cannon: one explosion throws another piece of TNT.
- In current Java, spear attacks can shove it sideways.
Because it is 0.98 blocks wide rather than a full block, the side you push it from changes its final position by tiny amounts. Advanced cannons use this to aim with sub-pixel precision.
How strong is a TNT explosion?
Primed TNT explodes with power 4. The explosion centre sits about 0.06 blocks above the entity's feet. Power 4 can break most blocks but not ones with very high blast resistance such as obsidian; see blast resistance for raiders. Blocks broken by TNT always drop as items, as if mined with the right tool.
A player caught right next to TNT can take up to 56 points of damage on Normal difficulty and 84.5 on Hard, plus heavy knockback. Explosions do not hurt players on Peaceful.
Does TNT work underwater?
Usually it explodes but breaks no blocks. Java has a few exceptions that matter a lot for raiding; they are covered on TNT and water.
What TNT does ArtemisPvP use for raiding?
Normal TNT works, and ArtemisPvP adds custom TNT such as Gigantic, Lethal, Lucky and Tactical TNT that you place and light like normal TNT or load into cannons. It does nothing inside a faction's land while its shield is up. See Custom TNT.
Frequently asked questions
How many seconds is a TNT fuse?
4 seconds, which is 80 game ticks, when lit by fire or redstone. TNT lit by another explosion goes off after 10 to 30 ticks.
What explosion power does TNT have?
Power 4.
Sources
Every fact on this page was checked against these pages; the wording is ours.