Making a Compass in Minecraft

Making a Compass in Minecraft

In Minecraft’s expansive world, navigation can pose a challenge. Finding your way back home can sometimes feel daunting. However, mastering the craft of compass-making can alleviate many navigation woes. This method applies universally across both Minecraft Java and Bedrock editions. We not only provide the crafting recipe but also offer guidance on directing the compass to specific locations within the game. Establishing a home and setting a spawnpoint there prior to crafting the compass ensures it points reliably in that direction. Let’s delve into the process without delay and unravel the art of making a compass in Minecraft.

Creating and Utilizing a Compass in Minecraft (2022)

Our guide focuses on crafting and using a compass in Minecraft. We’ve also included a new type of compass recently added to the game, which points to where the player last died. Use the table below to explore each section conveniently.

How Does a Compass Work in Minecraft

Though a Minecraft compass looks like real-world ones, its functionality differs. Instead of pointing in a specific direction, it points to the spawn point of your world. This is where you first appear in the world upon loading. Follow its red pointer to reach the world spawn point.

As the point is in the overworld, the compass points randomly in the Nether and the End dimension. Regarding activation, the compass always points, whether in your inventory, hand, or item frame. You can customize its direction using a lodestone, but more on that later.

How to Get a Compass in Minecraft

You can find a compass naturally in chests at:

  • Shipwrecks
  • Stronghold Libraries
  • Villages with a Cartographer
  • Ancient Cities

Cartographer villagers’ houses have the highest chance of containing a compass in a chest.

Trading for a Compass

Trade with expert librarian villagers in Minecraft for a compass, exchanging emeralds. The cartographer doesn’t sell the compass.

Items Needed for a Compass

  • 4 Iron Ingots
  • 1 Redstone Dust

Refer to our Minecraft ore distribution guide to quickly locate iron ore and Redstone. Note that mining iron ore yields raw iron, which must be smelted in a furnace or blast furnace for an iron ingot.

Making a Compass in Minecraft

Crafting Recipe for a Compass

Combine the ingredients using a crafting table to craft a compass in Minecraft.

To craft a lodestone, place Redstone dust in the center cell of the second crafting row. Surround the Redstone dust with iron ingots, leaving the diagonal cells empty.

Making a Compass Point to a Bed

To ensure your compass points to a bed or any designated location, create a lodestone. This utility block alters your compass to direct towards the lodestone’s placement, disregarding the original world spawn point.

Lodestone Crafting Recipe

To create a lodestone, combine 8 chiseled stone bricks with a netherite ingot. Utilize our linked guide for easy Netherite location in Minecraft. For bricks, use a stone cutter.The crafting recipe for the lodestone is displayed below. Position the netherite ingot in the center and surround it with chiseled stone bricks.Once prepared, activate the lodestone using a compass. This function operates in the Nether and End dimensions. However, if destroyed, the connection breaks, and the compass reverts to pointing to the world spawn point. Multiple compasses can point to distinct lodestones, aiding in location marking.

Change World Spawn Point

To permanently orient your compass toward a specific location, adjust the world’s spawn point using this command:

/setworldspawn x y z

Replace x, y, and z with the desired coordinates. Alternatively, use “~” to set the spawn point to your current location.

Recovery Compass in Minecraft

In Minecraft 1.19, a new recovery compass was introduced to assist players in locating lost resources during dire situations.

Combine echo shards with a regular compass to craft it. This new compass points to where you last died, aiding resource recovery even if the death location is forgotten.

Crafting and Utilizing a Compass in Minecraft

Now equipped with the knowledge of crafting a compass in Minecraft, you can navigate biomes effortlessly. Develop your Minecraft world with the best house ideas, unencumbered by the fear of losing your way. However, distant travels present another challenge. Lack of teleportation knowledge in Minecraft can make exploration tedious. Consider using the best Minecraft mods or installing Forge to alleviate this issue. What purposes do you envision for the compass? Share your thoughts!