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The Ultimate Player’s Guide toMINECRAFTStephen O’Brien800 East 96th Street,Indianapolis, Indiana 46240 USA

iiThe Ultimate Player’s Guide to MinecraftThe Ultimate Player’s Guide to MinecraftCopyright 2014 by Que PublishingAll rights reserved. No part of this book shall be reproduced, stored ina retrieval system, or transmitted by any means, electronic, mechanical,photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission fromthe publisher. No patent liability is assumed with respect to the use ofthe information contained herein. Although every precaution has beentaken in the preparation of this book, the publisher and author assumeno responsibility for errors or omissions. Nor is any liability assumed fordamages resulting from the use of the information contained herein.ISBN-13: 978-0-7897-5223-9ISBN-10: 0-7897-5223-9Library of Congress Control Number: 2013946682Printed in the United States of AmericaSixth Printing February 2014Editor-in-ChiefGreg WiegandExecutive EditorRick KughenDevelopment EditorRick KughenManaging EditorSandra SchroederProject EditorSeth KerneyCopy EditorGill Editorial ServicesIndexerKen JohnsonTrademarksProofreaderAll terms mentioned in this book that are known to be trademarks orservice marks have been appropriately capitalized. Que Publishing cannotattest to the accuracy of this information. Use of a term in this book shouldnot be regarded as affecting the validity of any trademark or service mark.Jess DeGabrieleMinecraft is a trademark of Notch Development AB.PublishingCoordinatorWarning and DisclaimerKristen WattersonEvery effort has been made to make this book as complete and as accurateas possible, but no warranty or fitness is implied. The information providedis on an “as is” basis. The author and the publisher shall have neitherliability nor responsibility to any person or entity with respect to any loss ordamages arising from the information contained in this book.Book DesignerBulk SalesQue Publishing offers excellent discounts on this book when ordered inquantity for bulk purchases or special sales. For more information, pleasecontactU.S. Corporate and Government or sales outside of the U.S., please contactInternational Salesinternational@pearsoned.comTechnical EditorTimothy L. WarnerMark ShirarCompositorBronkella Publishing

iiiContents at a GlanceIntroduction1CHAPTER 1Getting Started7CHAPTER 2First-Night SurvivalCHAPTER 3Gathering ResourcesCHAPTER 4MiningCHAPTER 5Combat SchoolCHAPTER 6Crop Farming103CHAPTER 7Taming Mobs125CHAPTER 8Creative ConstructionCHAPTER 9Redstone, Rails, and More23476983137159CHAPTER 10 Enchanting, Anvils, and BrewingCHAPTER 11 Villages and Other Structures195217CHAPTER 12 Playing Through: The Nether and The EndCHAPTER 13 Mods and MultiplayerAPPENDIX A251Crafting Recipes (Online)Index273231

ivThe Ultimate Player’s Guide to MinecraftTable of ContentsIntroduction1What’s in This Book2How to Use This BookCrafting Recipes44There’s More Online Chapter 1Getting Started57Registering and Downloading7Registering a Mojang AccountPurchasing MinecraftLaunching Minecraft81012Starting a New Game14Choosing a World Generation StyleSingleplayer Game Modes 16Seeding Your WorldControls19The Bottom LineChapter 21820First-Night Survival23Survive and Thrive23Head for the Trees25Using Your Inventory27Build a Crafting Table29Let’s Build Some ToolsCreating a Shelter3033The Furnace Is Your FriendLet There Be Light39Slumber with LumberThe Bottom LineChapter 3384144Gathering ResourcesIntroducing the HUD47Improving Your Tools5147Chests: Safely Stash Your Stuff5416

Table of ContentsAvoiding Monsters55Hunger Management58Your Mission: Food, Resources, and ReconnaissanceFood on the Run61Finding a Building Site63A Resourceful Guide to the Creative Mode InventoryThe Bottom LineChapter 4Mining6869Dig Deep, My Friend69The Mining Layer Cake Guide71Lava Lakes and Other Pitfalls73Descending to Layer 1174The 2x1 Ladder DescentThe Straight StaircaseThe Spiral Staircase747677Layouts for Fast, Efficient MiningStaying Safe While You MineThe Bottom LineChapter 583Introducing the MenagerieSpiders8486Skeletons 87Cave Spiders88Spider Jockeys 89CreepersSlimes8990Endermen91Zombie Pigmen 91Defensive Mobs92Snow Golems92Iron Golems8182Combat SchoolZombies5993837866v

viThe Ultimate Player’s Guide to MinecraftWeapons and ArmorSwordcraft95Bows and ArrowsArmor-All949598Color Coordinate Your LeatherChapter 6The Bottom Line101Crop Farming103Choosing a Crop103100Establishing a Farm 106Automated Farms 113Creating a Piston HarvesterSticky Piston Harvesting119Creating a Water HarvesterHarvesting Other Crops117119122The Bottom Line 123Chapter 7Taming Mobs125Farming and Working with Friendly Mobs125Using Leads 128Breeding Animals129Taming and Riding Horses, Donkeys, and MoreArmoring Your Horse132Loading Up the Pack 133Riding Pigs 134Fishing 134The Bottom LineChapter 8135Creative ConstructionLeaving the Cave137137Unleashing Your Interior DecoratorBuilding Underwater147Protecting Your PerimeterBecome a Ditch WitchMob Pitfalls155Thick as a Brick 157The Bottom Line 157153153140130

Table of ContentsChapter 9Redstone, Rails, and More159Seeing Red: A Beginner’s Guide160Power Sources160Redstone Wiring164Powered BlocksModifiers166167Repeaters 168Comparators 170Output Devices171Automatic Doors173Vertical Currents 178Advanced Circuits 180NOT Gates, aka Inverters 180OR Gates, or Any Input Will Do181AND Gates, Two True 182Repeater Loops184Rail Transport 185Have Minecart, Will Travel186Rolling on Rails 188Making Tracks and Stations 190T-Junctions191Halfway Stations192A Word About HoppersThe Bottom Line193194Chapter 10 Enchanting, Anvils, and BrewingEnchanting Wiles195195Creating and Mining Obsidian 197Crafting Books 200Casting Enchantments 200Improving Enchantment Chances with Bookshelves 202Earning and Managing Experience 203Spruce Up Your Weapons 204Enhance Your Armor 205Improve Your Tools 206vii

viiiThe Ultimate Player’s Guide to MinecraftHammer It Out with the AnvilBrewing Potions207209Brewing Up a StormEnhancing PotionsThe Bottom Line211214215Chapter 11 Villages and Other StructuresVillage Life217217Emerald City: Your Ticket to Trade220Hidden Temples and Other StructuresDesert Temples223Jungle Temples224222Witch Huts 224Dungeons 225Abandoned MineshaftsStrongholds226226Nether Fortresses227Mapping, or There and Back AgainCrafting a Clock229The Bottom Line230227Chapter 12 Playing Through: The Nether and The EndAlternate Dimensions231Getting to The Nether234Portal Magic 236Surviving the Nether Fortress239Nether Mobs 240The End Game242Finding a Stronghold 244Defeating the Ender Dragon 246The Bottom Line 250231

Table of ContentsChapter 13 Mods and Multiplayer 251Customizing Your Experience251Changing the Skin You’re In 252Minecraft Skin Editors e Packs: Change Your WorldMind My Mods258Installing Forge ModsToo Many Items261More Explosives262Super Heroes262REI’s MiniMap263Legendary BeastsMore Mobs259263264Multiplayer Madness265Sharing and Joining on LAN 266Joining a Multiplayer ServerHosting a Multiplayer ServerThe Bottom Line272Appendix A Crafting Recipes (Online)Index273267269255ix

xThe Ultimate Player’s Guide to MinecraftAbout the AuthorStephen O’Brien is an Australian-born writer and entrepreneur currently residing in Sydneyafter too many years in Silicon Valley. He has previously written 27 books across multipleeditions with publishers such as Prentice-Hall and Que, including several best-selling titles.He also founded Typefi, the world’s leading automated publishing system, and in hisspare time he invented a new type of espresso machine called mypressi. He has been playing Minecraft since its earliest days and remains astounded at the unparalleled creativity itengenders.

AcknowledgmentsDedicationTo Mika, who at age nine taught his dad to laugh hysterically at the sight of a pig riding up a mountain in aminecart. Laughs and love always, dear boy.AcknowledgmentsIt’s an author’s dream to work with a talented team, and I feel like I’m having a betterdream than most. After 12 years away from Que working on entrepreneurial projects, I wasincredibly fortunate to step straight back into the fold of a fantastic group. I’d like to thankRick Kughen for his outstanding project direction, polished editorial efforts, and alwaysgentle prompting even as I started to run behind schedule. Rick, it’s such a true pleasure towork with you again. Seth Kerney, thank you for so smoothly shepherding this book throughthe numerous stages of the publishing process. Karen Gill, I appreciate your thorough, precise copyediting and constantly joyful feedback. Mark Shirar, you created a fantastic coverand page design. And Tim Warner, thanks for a technical edit that truly left no block uncovered, no cobblestone unturned.Writing a book always feels a long leap into the dark, with the only light often being closefamily and friends. I thank you all, in particular my dad, Tony; my siblings, Justin, Adele,and Siobhan; my dear friend Laura; and everyone else who gave me no end of encouragement, best wishes, and a chorus of variations on the very Australian “goodonya.”Last, but by no means least, thank you, Amy, for your constant love, support, and encouragement.xi

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