Datapack Codex

Iron Chain

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This article is reproduced from Iron Chain on the Minecraft Wiki. Mirrored from revision 3636416. It is licensed CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 by the Minecraft Wiki contributors — not under the Codex’s CC BY-SA 4.0, and it may not be used commercially. Edits belong upstream, not here.

On this page
Iron Chain
Invicon Iron Chain.png: Inventory sprite for Iron Chain in Minecraft as shown in-game with description: Iron Chain
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Iron chains are metallic decoration blocks and the iron variant of the chain.

Obtaining

Breaking

Iron chains can be mined using any pickaxe. If mined without a pickaxe, they drop nothing.

Block Iron Chain
Hardness 5
Tool
Breaking time (sec)[A]
Default 25
ItemSprite wooden-pickaxe.png: Sprite image for wooden-pickaxe in MinecraftWooden 3.75
ItemSprite stone-pickaxe.png: Sprite image for stone-pickaxe in MinecraftStone 1.9
ItemSprite copper-pickaxe.png: Sprite image for copper-pickaxe in MinecraftCopper 1.5
ItemSprite iron-pickaxe.png: Sprite image for iron-pickaxe in MinecraftIron 1.25
ItemSprite diamond-pickaxe.png: Sprite image for diamond-pickaxe in MinecraftDiamond 0.95
ItemSprite netherite-pickaxe.png: Sprite image for netherite-pickaxe in MinecraftNetherite 0.85
ItemSprite golden-pickaxe.png: Sprite image for golden-pickaxe in MinecraftGolden 0.65
Options
Efficiency
000
Haste
001
1JEBE
Legend
  • incorrect tool, drops nothing
  • correct tool, drops nothing or something other than the block itself
  • correct tool, drops the block itself
  • italicized can be instant mined
  1. ↑ These durations ignore any other influential factors (e.g., Mining Fatigue) and are measured in seconds. For more information, see Breaking § Mining efficiency.

Crafting

Ingredients Crafting recipe
Iron Nugget +
Iron Ingot
Invicon Iron Nugget.png: Inventory sprite for Iron Nugget in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Iron Nugget with description: Iron NuggetInvicon Iron Ingot.png: Inventory sprite for Iron Ingot in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Iron Ingot with description: Iron IngotInvicon Iron Nugget.png: Inventory sprite for Iron Nugget in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Iron Nugget with description: Iron Nugget
Invicon Iron Chain.png: Inventory sprite for Iron Chain in Minecraft as shown in-game with description: Iron Chain

Natural generation

Iron chains can generate in treasure room bastion remnants and sometimes in ruined portals that generate in the Nether. They always generate above magma cube spawners, also found in treasure room bastions.

Iron chains can also generate in mineshafts. They generate on the sides of a wooden bridge (a mid-air corridor) when the distance between the bridge and the highest solid block below it is higher than the distance to the lowest solid block above it. Iron chains here generate vertically in a pillar between the bridge and the ceiling. The lowest block of the pillar, connecting the chain to the bridge, is always an oak fence.

In addition, iron chains can also generate in trial chambers making up various hanging platforms in certain rooms.

Generated loot

Item Structure Container Quantity Chance
Java Edition
Iron Chain Bastion Remnant Generic chest 2–10 24.4%
{ "item": "Iron Chain", "stacksize": "2–10", "chance": 0.24372395924512447, "structure": "Bastion Remnant", "container": "Generic chest" }
Bedrock Edition
Iron Chain Bastion Remnant Generic chest 2–10 27.2%
{ "item": "Iron Chain", "stacksize": "2–10", "chance": 0.2724236654071044, "structure": "Bastion Remnant", "container": "Generic chest" }

Usage

Iron chains share several common block placement functionalities with copper chains.

In Bedrock Edition, iron chains are not conductive, but the comparator can work in being separated from the measured block by a chain.

Crafting ingredient

Name Ingredients Crafting recipe
Hanging Sign Iron Chain +
Matching Stripped Log or 
Block of Stripped Bamboo or 
Matching Stripped Stem

Sounds

Java Edition:

BlockSprite iron-chain.png: Sprite image for iron-chain in Minecraft chain sound type
SoundClosed captionsSourceDescriptionIdentifierTranslation keyVolumePitchAttenuation
distance
​Block brokenBlocksOnce the block has brokenblock.chain.breaksubtitles.block.generic.break​0.50.816
​Block placedBlocksWhen the block is placedblock.chain.placesubtitles.block.generic.place​0.50.816
​Block breakingBlocksWhile the block is in the process of being brokenblock.chain.hitsubtitles.block.generic.hit​0.20.516
​Something falls on a blockEntity-DependentFalling on the block with fall damageblock.chain.fallsubtitles.block.generic.fall​0.50.7516
​FootstepsEntity-DependentWalking on the blockblock.chain.stepsubtitles.block.generic.footsteps​0.151.016

Bedrock Edition:

BlockSprite iron-chain.png: Sprite image for iron-chain in Minecraft chain sound type
SoundClosed captionsSourceDescriptionIdentifierTranslation keyVolumePitch
​Block brokenBlocksOnce the block has brokendig.chain​ ?1.00.8–1.0
​Block placedBlocksWhen the block is placeddig.chain​ ?1.00.8–1.0
​Block breakingBlocksWhile the block is in the process of being brokenhit.chain​ ?1.00.8–1.0
​FootstepsPlayersFalling on the block with fall damagefall.chain​ ?0.41.0
​FootstepsPlayersWalking on the blockstep.chain​ ?0.31.0
​FootstepsBlocksJumping from the blockjump.chain​ ?0.121.0
​FootstepsBlocksFalling on the block without fall damageland.chain​ ?0.221.0

Data values

ID

Java Edition:

NameIdentifierFormBlock tagsItem tags Translation key
BlockSprite iron-chain.png: Sprite image for iron-chain in Minecraft Iron Chainiron_chainBlock & Itemchainschains block.minecraft.iron_chain

Bedrock Edition:

NameIdentifierAlias ID Numeric ID FormItem ID[i 1]Block tags Translation key
BlockSprite iron-chain.png: Sprite image for iron-chain in Minecraft Iron Chainiron_chainchain541Block & Giveable Item[i 2]Identical[i 3]
(Numeric: -286)		minecraft:is_pickaxe_item_destructible tile.iron_chain.name
  1. ↑ ID of block's direct item form, which is used in savegame files and addons.
  2. ↑ Available with /give command.
  3. ↑ The block's direct item form has the same ID as the block.

Block states

Java Edition:

Name Default value Allowed values Description
axisy xThe chain is oriented east–west.
yThe chain is oriented vertically.
zThe chain is oriented north–south.
waterloggedfalsefalse
true		Whether or not there's water in the same place as this chain.

Bedrock Edition:

NameMetadata Bits Default value Allowed valuesValues for
Metadata Bits		 Description
pillar_axis0x1
0x2		y x1The chain is oriented east–west.
y0The chain is oriented vertically.
z2The chain is oriented north–south.

History

Java Edition

Java Edition
1.1620w16a Added chains.
Chains generate in the newly added bastion remnants, and can be found in their chests.
Chains currently use the generic metal block sounds.
20w17aUnique sounds have been added for chains.
20w18aChains can now be waterlogged.
1.16.220w30aThe chance of finding chains in bastion remnant chests is decreased from 31.5% to 24.4%.
pre1 Chains can now be placed in all orientations.
1.1721w07aChains can now generate in mineshafts.
21w13a The model of chains has been changed so that the backside texture is mirrored.
1.19.3
Experiment
Update 1.20		22w42aChains are now used to craft hanging signs.
1.20.3
Experiment
Update 1.21		23w45aChains can now generate in trial chambers.
1.21.925w32a"Chain" has been renamed to "Iron Chain".

Bedrock Edition

This section is missing information about: When was the UV mirrored?
 
Please expand the section to include this information. Further details may exist on the talk page.
Bedrock Edition
1.16.0beta 1.16.0.57 [verify] Added chains.
beta 1.16.0.63Unique sounds have been added for chains.
1.16.100beta 1.16.100.54 Chains can now be placed in all orientations.
1.19.50
Experiment
Next Major Update		Preview 1.19.50.21Chains are now used to craft hanging signs.
1.20.30Preview 1.20.20.21Increased the blast resistance of chains from 3 to 6.
? Changed the UV mapping of chains.
1.21.111Preview 1.21.110.23"Chain" has been renamed to "Iron Chain".

Data history

Java Edition
Java Edition
1.21.925w35aRenamed chain to iron_chain.
Bedrock Edition
Bedrock Edition
1.21.111Preview 1.21.110.23Merged the Iron Chain's inventory item chain with the block's direct item form item.chain into the iron_chain item, which uses the same numeric ID as the former item.chain.

Issues

Issues relating to "Iron Chain" are maintained on the bug tracker. Issues should be reported and viewed there.

Trivia

  • A vertical iron chain, being a solid, but not a full block, allows for many sizes of mobs and players to pass alongside each piece horizontally.
  • Despite its name, it cannot be crafted into chainmail armor.[1]
  • Iron chains do not stick together when moved by pistons, regardless of orientation.

Renders

  • A lantern hanging from an iron chain.
    A lantern hanging from an iron chain.
  • A monster spawner hanging with an iron chain found in the bastion remnants.
    A monster spawner hanging with an iron chain found in the bastion remnants.

Mojang screenshots

  • Iron chains and stone bricks.
    Iron chains and stone bricks.
  • Iron chains and chiseled blackstone.
    Iron chains and chiseled blackstone.
  • An evoker lifting weights.
    An evoker lifting weights.

References

  1. ↑ MC-178979 – resolved as "Invalid".

Sources