Longtime Minecraft players are familiar with the different types of building blocks in Minecraft: wood, stone, sand, iron, etc. Update 1.17 added a new material: copper. You can’t use copper to make tools like axes or swords, but it adds many new options in terms of both utility and aesthetics.
Copper is also the first block to take advantage of the new weathering element. While usage is still limited, there’s a lot of exciting potential for this new block, and Mojang will likely expand copper usage as the game progresses.
Table of Contents
Where to find copper in Minecraft
Copper is not a particularly rare resource in Minecraft. It is more common than iron and can be created anywhere in the Overworld, but is most commonly found between Y-47 and Y-48. In the Java version of Minecraft, copper ore tends to appear about six times per chunk in circuits from 0 to 16 blocks.
Copper blocks can replace other blocks during creation. If a copper vein develops in a deep groove, it becomes a deep copper mass. Despite different names, deep copper and common copper have the same function.
When mined, a copper block will drop two to three pieces of raw copper. If you mine with a Fortune enchanted pickaxe, it can drop 12 raw copper pieces per block.
How to use copper in Minecraft
Raw copper must be melted like any other raw ore using a Furnace or Blast Furnace. A single piece of raw copper produces an ingot.
Copper can craft three main items:
- Spyglass
- Lightning rod
- Copper block
New items have different functions:
- With Spyglass, you can zoom in on what you can see in your field of view, which can be very useful when searching for a Nether Fort or a village. Note that it does not blur the fog. If you’re looking for things that are right at the edge of your field of vision, then Spyglass won’t make it any easier for you to see blurred objects.
- One Lightning rod redirect lightning to a single location within a given radius. It also emits a redstone signal, so if you want to make a lightning-based machine, the Lightning Rod is the best choice. Its effective range is 128 blocks in the Java version or 64 x 64 x 64 blocks in the Bedrock version.
- One Copper block is an ornament you can put down to build buildings. It is unique in that it oxidizes over time. After being exposed to the elements, it will slowly turn green until it turns completely green. You can put Beeswax paper on top of copper to prevent oxidation.
You can also place four Bronze Blocks in a 2 x 2 grid in the Crafting Panel to create Brass Cuts. It’s another decorative block, and it will also oxidize over time at the same rate as a Bronze Block.
How to make a spy glasses
To craft Spyglass requires a Crafting Table, an Amethyst Shard, and two Copper Ingots.
Place two Bronze Ingots in the bottom center and center of the 3 x 3 crafting table, with the Amethyst Shard at the top center.
How to make a lightning rod
Crafting the Lightning Rod requires a Crafting Table and three Copper Ingots.
In the center of the 3×3 crafting grid, place the Copper Ingots in a row from top to bottom.
Lightning Rods can be placed on items, below items, and next to blocks.
How to make a copper block
To craft a Bronze Block, you will need a Crafting Table and nine Copper Ingots.
Fill the crafting grid with ingots. You can craft more than one Bronze Block at a time if you have enough ingots.
If you want to use Copper Blocks for their decorative elements, know that it takes between 50 and 82 in-game days for the copper to fully oxidize. When a block oxidizes, you can change it back to normal by using an ax to “shave” it clean.
Achievements related to copper
If you want to chase achievements in the game, Minecraft added a bronze-related achievement with a recent update. It’s called Wax On, Wax Off. The wording is a bit confusing: It says you have to apply and remove wax from all the copper blocks.
The results obtained mean that you need to apply and remove wax from the copper mass during each oxidation stage. There are four stages described in the game:
- Copper block
- Co-contact
- Co-weathering
- Co-oxidation
The remaining Copper blocks to oxidize will slowly move from block to block as time goes on. If you’re looking for achievements, craft three Bronze Blocks. Place them on the ground outside and wax the first part and remove it. Then the blocks will continue to be oxidized. Pay attention to each type and use wax on it as it reaches each stage.
You will need three blocks because when you remove the wax from a block it will restore to its original state and you will have to start over.
Currently, there are no other uses of coins in the game; however, many players require Minecraft and Mojang adds bronze tools to the game as an alternative to wood, stone, iron, and diamonds. It will happen? It’s not obvious – but since there are many updates planned for Minecraft, you should keep an eye on the patch notes.
