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The Minecraft Respawn Anchor is a must-have tool for players who spend a lot of time in the Nether dimension. As the name suggests, Respawn Anchors are used to create respawn points within this fiery realm, so you can restart your game inside the Nether if you die - as opposed to respawning in the Overworld.
Beware that crafting a Minecraft Respawn Anchor is difficult as you'll need Crying Obsidian, a rare material found near Ruined Portals. This guide will help you find those materials and obtain your very own Respawn Anchor.
Minecraft Respawn Anchor explained
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If you're a Minecraft veteran, you'll know that beds do not work in the Nether dimension. In fact, they blow up if you try to use one. However, a Respawn Anchor allows you to set a spawn point within the Nether and, best of all, it doesn't explode. Using a Respawn Anchor makes the Nether a little more habitable, allowing you to focus on obtaining Netherite tools. Don't confuse the Respawn Anchor with the Minecraft Recovery Compass, which doesn't set a specific respawn point but points to the location of your demise instead.
When you've got one (details on how to craft a Respawn Anchor in Minecraft below), you need to charge it with Glowstone. One Glowstone block is equivalent to one respawn and you can add up to four blocks, meaning you can respawn four times before needing to replenish the Respawn Anchor. You do need to ensure the surrounding area is not obstructed however, otherwise you'll see "You have no home bed or charged respawn anchor, or it was obstructed" when you die.
Interestingly, Hoglins will flee from Respawn Anchors, meaning you don't run the risk of one being next to you when you respawn. Using a Respawn Anchor in the overworld will cause it to explode though, so don't even test it out.
How to craft a Minecraft Respawn Anchor
To make a Respawn Anchor, you're going to need three Glowstone blocks and six Crying Obsidian. The recipe is pictured above; three Crying Obsidian in the top row, three Glowstone in the middle row, with another three Crying Obsidian below it.
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To get Crying Obsidian, you need to find a Ruined Portal, and they can be found in either the Overworld or the Nether. They can be found in every biome in both dimensions and there's also a 5% chance it's a Giant Ruined Portal. Once you've found some blocks, just mine it with a Diamond Pickaxe like normal Obsidian. Blocks of Crying Obsidian can also be found in Bastion Remnant chests, and can be obtained through bartering with Piglins when you give them a Gold Ingot, although the chances are quite low.
To get Glowstone, you need to mine it in the Nether and is frequently found hanging from ceilings in large clusters. When you mine it with a regular pickaxe, it'll turn into Glowstone Dust, but four bits of Glowstone Dust can be reformed into a Glowstone Block. If you've been doing some Minecraft enchanting and have a Silk Touch pickaxe, you can mine the Glowstone without breaking it down into dust.
The Respawn Anchor is currently the only use for Crying Obsidian, other than as a decorative block. As long as you don't explode it in the Overworld, one Respawn Anchor will suffice for a while if you keep restocking it with Glowstone.
To reduce your chances of needing the Respawn Anchor, be sure to equip the strongest Minecraft Netherite Armor.
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