Redstone · Mechanic · Java & Bedrock

How to Use a Target Block

A target block is redstone you trigger by shooting it. Any projectile sets it off, and the closer to the centre you hit, the stronger the signal, from 1 at the rim to a full 15 on a bullseye.

1583

redstone out

Hit closer to the centre = stronger signal (15 bullseye, 1 edge)

Shoot a target block and it outputs redstone based on how close to the centre you hit. A dead-centre arrow gives a full 15; the rim barely a flicker.

How the score works

Signal strength is just how close to the middle you landed.

15

Bullseye

11

Inner

7

Middle

4

Outer

1

Edge

What sets it off

Arrows, snowballs, eggs, ender pearls, tridents and even a fishing bobber all trigger it. Arrows stick in the block and hold the signal a touch longer; everything else bounces off but still scores.

What to build with it

Archery ranges that score every shot and light up on a bullseye.

Hidden doors and traps you trigger by shooting an arrow from across the room.

Remote redstone switches you fire with a snowball instead of walking over.

Parkour and mini-game checkpoints that react to a thrown egg or trident.

Skeleton or dispenser contraptions that hit a target on a timer.

Quick answers

What does a target block do?

It outputs a redstone signal whenever a projectile hits it. The strength depends on how close to the centre you land: a bullseye gives the full 15, the outer rim as little as 1.

How long does the signal last?

About a second. A loose hit pulses briefly, while an arrow that sticks in the block holds the signal a little longer before it stops and resets.

What can you hit a target block with?

Any projectile works: arrows, snowballs, eggs, ender pearls, tridents, even a fishing bobber. Arrows stick in it; the others bounce off but still trigger the pulse.

How do you make a target block?

Surround one hay bale with four redstone dust in a plus shape on the crafting grid: redstone top, left, right and bottom, hay bale in the middle.

How is the signal strength calculated?

Purely by distance from the centre. Dead centre is 15 and it steps down ring by ring to 1 at the very edge, so accuracy maps straight onto redstone power.

What can I build with a target block?

Archery scoring ranges, arrow-activated hidden doors and traps, remote switches you shoot from a distance, and mini-game checkpoints that react to a thrown projectile.

Database →

Target block & arrows

Look up the target block, arrows and redstone parts.

Guide →

Use a daylight sensor

Another block that turns the world into a redstone signal.

The block that measures your aim

Signal strength is accuracy

A target block outputs a redstone signal that gets stronger the closer to the centre your projectile lands, from one at the edge up to fifteen for a bullseye. Nothing else in the game turns aim into a number, which is why target blocks are the core of every archery minigame.

It answers to anything thrown

Arrows, tridents, snowballs and eggs all register, so a target block can be the trigger for a door that only opens for someone carrying a bow. It also means a stray snowball from a snow golem will open that door, and golems near a target block are worth keeping away.

The pulse is short by design

The signal drops back after a moment, so a target block is a button, not a lever. If you need something to stay on, latch the pulse with a repeater loop or a comparator rather than expecting the block to hold the state for you.