Shahrukh Sial is a gaming content writer at Sparked Host. He covers game guides, tips, and updates to help players improve their skills and enjoy a better gaming experience.

Welcome to a guide on one of the game's most interesting blocks. We are talking about crying obsidian. This block is not like regular obsidian. It is a luminous variant with a unique look. If you have seen these purple-dripping, glowing blocks and wondered how to get them, you are in the right place. This article will tell you everything you need to know. We will cover finding it, using it, and more.

Crying obsidian is more than just a purely decorative block. It looks amazing, but it also has special features. We will talk about what makes this block special. We will also cover how it came to be in the game. Most importantly, we will tell you how you can get some for yourself. Get ready to add some style and usefulness to your builds with this glowing block.

What Does Crying Obsidian Do In Minecraft?

Crying obsidian stands out because of how it looks. It gives off a light level of 10. This makes it a useful light emitting blocks in the game. It can help you keep hostile mobs away from your builds. What makes crying obsidian truly unique is the constant purple dripping particles that come from its surface. These purple particles give it a mysterious look. Some players even say it looks like cutting onions.

Besides giving off light and having captivating purple particles, crying obsidian has a very important job in Minecraft. It is a crafting ingredient for the Respawn Anchor.

The Respawn Anchor allows you to set your spawn point in the Nether. This is very useful for exploring that dangerous dimension. It saves you from having to rebuild a Nether portal every time you die. It is important to note that crying obsidian has the same high blast resistance as regular obsidian.

When Was Crying Obsidian Added?

Crying obsidian was an idea for a block that was planned to be added to Minecraft many versions ago, as early as 2009, before the Nether was even first introduced.

The idea of crying obsidian came from the early development of Minecraft. The team considered using it as a way to spawn in the Nether, but that idea was removed. The block did not make it into the game for a long time. The developer, Markus "Notch" Persson, had wanted crying obsidian to be a spawn point. This is an interesting connection to what it is used for today with the Respawn Anchor.

It was officially added in Java Edition 1.16, in the Nether Update. This update brought a lot of new features to the Nether. This includes new biomes, mobs, and blocks. The developers, led by Jens "Jeb" Bergensten, brought back crying obsidian.

They made it a material for the Respawn Anchor. This was due to high player demand. It also fit the Nether theme well. The texture for crying obsidian has been changed a bit over time. Some players still like the old texture or programmer art textures that can be used with resource packs. The purple particles and glowing nature of the block quickly made it a popular item. This was true even after waiting so long for it to be added to the game.

Step 1: Get A Diamond Or Netherite Pickaxe

Before you can think about mining crying obsidian, you need the right tools. Unlike other blocks that can be mined with lesser pickaxes, obsidian requires a diamond or netherite pickaxe. If you try to mine crying obsidian with anything less, the block will just break. It will not drop anything. This would be a huge waste of time and effort. So, be sure you have the right tool before you start your search.

If you do not have a diamond pickaxe yet, your first goal should be to get one. You must mine diamond ore and craft the pickaxe. You can typically find diamonds deep underground. They are usually found below Y-level 16. If you have played the game for a while and defeated the ender dragon, you might have a netherite pickaxe. A netherite pickaxe is even faster and stronger than a diamond pickaxe. This makes mining much quicker. Having the correct pickaxe is a must for breaking any kind of obsidian block and getting it. The developers made it this way to add a challenge.

Step 2: Find A Ruined Portal

Once you have your pickaxe, your next step is to find a ruined portal. This is the main way to find crying obsidian in the game. Ruined portals are incomplete Nether portals. They spawn in both the Overworld and the Nether. They often have some crying obsidian blocks in their frames.

These ruined portals are your best chance to get crying obsidian early in your game. They are fairly common. But finding one that has a lot of crying obsidian can take a bit of exploring. The portals come in many sizes and shapes. Some have more crying obsidian blocks than others. Always look for these structures as you explore your world.

Finding A Ruined Portal In The Overworld

Finding a ruined portal in the Overworld is often the easiest way for new players to get crying obsidian. These structures can spawn in almost any biome. This includes plains, deserts, and mountains. They are usually easy to see. They are often made of a mix of obsidian, crying obsidian, gold blocks, and cobblestone. Sometimes they can even be partly underground. So, keep an eye on the ground and listen for sounds that mean a structure is nearby.

When you find a ruined portal in the Overworld, it will have some crying obsidian already placed in its incomplete frame. You may also find chests nearby. In the chests, you can find gold ingots, golden tools, flint and steel, and more obsidian or crying obsidian. This can be very helpful for early game play. Remember, you must use your diamond or netherite pickaxe to mine it.

Finding A Ruined Portal In The Nether

Finding a ruined portal in the Nether is another great way to obtain crying obsidian. Just like in the Overworld, these structures spawn in different Nether biomes. This includes the Nether Wastes, Crimson Forests, and more. The Nether versions of ruined portals have a similar mix of blocks as the ones in the Overworld. But they blend in with the dangerous Nether environment.

Be careful when exploring the Nether for ruined portals. It is a dangerous dimension. It is filled with hostile mobs like Piglins, Ghasts, and Blazes. The chests near Nether ruined portals can have similar items as the ones in the Overworld. They might have a higher chance for gold-related items. Gold is useful for trading with Piglins. Jeb states that the team considered many ways to add crying obsidian to the game. They decided that tying it to ruined nether portals made the most sense. Once you find one, just mine the crying obsidian blocks with your pickaxe.

Step 3: Mine And Pickup The Crying Obsidian

Now that you have found a ruined portal and have the right tool, it is time to get the crying obsidian. Go to the ruined portal and find the crying obsidian blocks. You can easily see them because of their unique look and the purple particles that are always coming from them. Stand in front of the block you want to mine.

Use your diamond or netherite pickaxe to start mining the crying obsidian. It will take some time because obsidian is a very hard block to break. The game will play "break" subtitles and "hit" subtitles as you mine. After the block is broken, it will drop as an item. You can pick it up by walking over it. Be careful not to let the broken block fall into lava, especially in the Nether. If it does, it will be destroyed. Also, the crying obsidian produces light, so it will make the area brighter as you mine. You will see the purple dripping particles right away when you hold the item.

What Can You Build And Make With Crying Obsidian?

The main use for crying obsidian is for crafting the Respawn Anchor. This important block lets you set your spawn point in the Nether. This is a great benefit. To craft a Respawn Anchor, you need six crying obsidian and three Glowstone blocks. You use a crafting table to make it. This is the key crying obsidian crafting ingredient. The Respawn Anchor is a block that really changes how you play in the Nether. It can save you from long trips back to your portal after you die.

Besides the Respawn Anchor, crying obsidian has other uses. It gives off a light level of 10. This makes it a great decorative block. You can use it to light up your builds or make cool looking effects with its purple particles. It has the same blast resistance as regular obsidian. So it is a very strong building block for protective structures. It cannot make a Nether portal frame. But it is a great block for decorating. It adds a special look to any build. It is important to note that crying obsidian also makes a "bass drum" sound when it is hit by a note block. This is similar to stone or obsidian. It also has unique "place" subtitles and "step" subtitles. These small details are a nice part of the game.

Conclusion

Crying obsidian is a very useful block in Minecraft. It offers both practical use and a great look. Its journey from a discarded idea to its role for Nether survival is a great story. Its ability to give off light and let you spawn in the dangerous Nether makes it a must-have for any serious player. Learning how to obtain and use crying obsidian well will make your Minecraft experience better. This is especially true when exploring the large and dangerous Nether.

Final Thoughts

We have covered everything about crying obsidian. We have talked about its developer history. We have also talked about how it is used. The block with its purple dripping particles is truly one of a kind. Remember, you need a diamond or netherite pickaxe to get it from a ruined portal.

Do not waste your time using other tools. The broken block will just disappear. Its blast resistance and glowing nature make it perfect for Nether bases and decorative structures in the Overworld. Crying obsidian might seem like a small detail. But it opens up a whole new world of possibilities for your Minecraft adventure. So go out there, find those ruined portals, and start collecting this great block!