Survival · First Night · 1.21
How to Survive the First Night
The sun sets ten minutes in and the dark fills with zombies, skeletons and creepers. You do not need to fight any of them. Punch some wood, throw up a dirt box, drop one torch and a bed, and sleep through to a safe dawn.
Light beats blades on night one
Hostile mobs in the overworld spawn at block light level 7 or below. That single rule wins the whole night: a sealed box plus one torch reads above light 7 everywhere inside, so nothing ever spawns next to you. Skip the sword, win with a torch and a wall, then sleep the night away in a bed that also locks your respawn point.
Quick answers
+What is the fastest first-night shelter?
A 1x1 dirt box. Look straight down, place a block under you while jumping to pillar up three blocks, then wall yourself in and cap the top. Takes under ten seconds and nothing can touch you.
+At what light level do mobs spawn?
Block light level 7 or lower for the overworld. A single torch lights its surrounding blocks well above 7, so one torch inside a small shelter stops all hostile spawns indoors.
+Do I need a bed on the first night?
It is the best option. A bed skips the night to dawn and sets your respawn point, so a creeper or a fall no longer costs you the whole walk back. Three wool and three planks craft one.
+Why won't my bed let me sleep?
You see 'you may not rest now, there are monsters nearby' when a hostile mob is within about 8 blocks. Seal your shelter and kill anything inside, then the bed works.
+How much damage do first-night mobs do?
A zombie hits for about 2-4 (1-2 hearts), a skeleton arrow for around 2-3, and a charged creeper can deal over 40. Walls beat fighting on night one, so hide rather than brawl.
+Should I dig down or build up?
Dig down two blocks and seal the top for the safest option since nothing can path to you. Pillaring up works too but a careless step or a skeleton arrow can knock you off.