Crying Obsidian in Minecraft - How to Find It & Use It
Last updated: Mar 31, 2025 • 5 min readIf there’s something we love about Minecraft world is the enormous variety of items that it has to offer. From shiny blocks to ender chests and spectacular places, this game has so many things to do that it is simply astonishing, whether you play it on Nintendo Switch, Xbox, or PC.
Hence, today, we want to present you with a relatively new block (it isn’t new to old-school players, though). We are talking about Crying Obsidian in Minecraft, an extraordinary block that you will find in some specific parts of this world.
So, what’s so unique about this purple block? We are about to find out.
After reading this article, you will now understand:
- What’s the Crying Obsidian block;
- How to find Crying Obsidian easily;
- Crying Obsidians’ uses for your journey.
What is Minecraft Crying Obsidian?
Crying Obsidian is a variant of the normal Obsidian block that can be used mainly for decorative purposes. They are purple blocks that are vital to crafting respawn anchors, but we’ll get to it.
Some years ago, when Minecraft was first released (it didn’t exist on Nintendo Switch and Xbox at the time), Mojang decided to create the Crying Obsidian to serve as a spawn point.
Nonetheless, Mojang then changed its mind and decided that beds were the best option for this purpose, but they can still be used to produce a respawn anchor.
Crying Obsidian Block vs. Regular Obsidian: The Differences
The main physical difference between these two purple blocks is their color. Crying Obsidian emits purple particles that can also serve a decorative purpose, while Classic Obsidian is aesthetically simpler.
| Regular Obsidian | Crying Obsidian |
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Crying Obsidian in Minecraft: What Can You Use It For?
It is safe to say that Minecraft Crying Obsidian is the most resistant source of light in the game. It’s a very hard-to-destroy block so that you can light entire places with it.
Besides, just as we mentioned before, Crying Obsidian in Minecraft is necessary to create a respawn anchor.
Pro tip:
Do you know what Respawn Anchors are? They are useful blocks that allow you to set a spawn point anywhere in The Nether!
Some players use the purple particles emitted by this block to remember some locations, but that’s a more specific use beyond the intended in the game. Still, their cosmetic benefits are just unlimited!
Is It Possible to Craft Crying Obsidian?
No. Crying Obsidian can only be obtained by finding it in the world. There’s no recipe to produce Crying Obsidian since they were first introduced in the Nether Update.
Did you know?
Developers considered that cracked Obsidian would teach players how to repair a ruined portal intuitively. Still, they needed creative alternatives to create spawn points when releasing the Nether Update. Thus, Crying Obsidian became the ideal solution.
Nevertheless, keep in mind that you will need a diamond or netherite pickaxe to mine Crying Obsidian.
| Diamond Pickaxe | Netherite Pickaxe |
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Crafting a Respawn Anchor
After you’ve used your diamond or netherite pickaxe to mine this material, you can now use the Crying Obsidian in the crafting table. In order to produce this block, you just need two main ingredients: 3 Glowstone blocks and 6 Crying Obsidian. Place them as the following image shows:
Acquiring Crying Obsidian: How To Do It?
Okay, now you know that crafting Crying Obsidian is impossible, but where do you find it? There are three primary sources to find it, although you can also try to trade with Piglins - if you give them one gold ingot, there’s a possibility for them to provide you with Crying Obsidian.
Nether Ruined Portals
You can find these portals anywhere. They have missing pieces, so the Crying Obsidian block will be just around the destroyed structure.
Overworld Ruined Portal
As with the portals mentioned above, an Overworld portal can also spawn anywhere, even underwater. Keep your eyes open to find the right one!
Bastion Remnants
Bastion Remnants can be found all over The Nether. They are large structures that look like castles and contain sweet Crying Obsidian waiting for you!
You now have all the information you need to find and make good use out of Crying Obsidian. The world of Minecraft is waiting for you, so it’s time to conquer every corner of this game!
Crying Obsidian FAQ
Is Crying Obsidian useless in Minecraft?
It’s not useless. Without it, you wouldn’t be able to produce a respawn anchor. Besides, they are shiny and good-looking for decorating your house!
How do you make Crying Obsidian in Minecraft?
You can’t craft this material with ingredients; you need to find it and mine it. Luckily for you, we know exactly where you can find it!
Can you explode Crying Obsidian in Minecraft?
No. We suggest you don’t waste your precious TNT since it can’t destroy Crying Obsidian!