How to Make a Torch
Light is survival. A torch is the cheapest way to hold back the dark, keep monsters from spawning, and actually see what you are mining. One coal and one stick makes four.
The recipe
Coal (or charcoal) directly above a stick. One craft yields four torches.
x4Coal or charcoal
No coal yet? Build a furnace and smelt a few logs into charcoal first.
How torches keep you safe
- ◆They glow at light level 14, one below the maximum.
- ◆Hostile mobs only spawn in the dark, so a lit area is a safe area.
- ◆Place roughly one every 6 to 7 blocks to cover open ground.
- ◆Water or rain breaks them, and they cannot be placed underwater.
- ◆They never burn out, so light up your mines without a second thought.
Quick answers
Coal or charcoal, does it matter?
Not for the torch. They make identical torches. Charcoal is renewable (smelt any log), while coal is mined and also used for blocks and fuel.
How much light does a torch give?
Light level 14, just below the maximum of 15. Hostile mobs need darkness (light 0) to spawn, so torches keep an area safe.
How far apart should I place them?
Roughly one every 6 to 7 blocks on flat ground stops spawns. Corners, ledges and overhangs need a few extra.
Why did my torch break?
Water or rain running onto it pops it off, and torches cannot be placed in water at all. Use sea lanterns or glowstone for underwater light.
Do torches ever burn out?
Never. Once placed they light forever, so place them freely while mining.
What about soul torches?
Soul torches (soul sand or soil instead of coal) give less light (10) but scare piglins. Different recipe, same idea.
Make charcoal at a furnace, then look up coal, charcoal and torches on the items database or grab the recipe on Astroworld crafting.