In Minecraft, you make water go up primarily by creating a water elevator using a soul sand block at the bottom of a water column to generate an upward current. This mechanism provides a fast and efficient way to travel vertically or transport items.
Building an Upward Water Elevator with Soul Sand
The most common and effective method to make water go up in Minecraft is by constructing a water elevator using soul sand. This block creates a powerful bubble stream that pushes players and items upwards through a column of water.
The Core Mechanic: Soul Sand
To create an upward flow, you need to place a soul sand block at the very bottom of a vertical shaft that is completely filled with water source blocks. When soul sand is submerged in water, it generates a continuous stream of bubbles that rise to the surface. These bubbles exert an upward force, lifting anything within the water column.
- Key Insight: Once your shaft is filled with water source blocks, it's time to make it functional. For the upward-flowing part of the elevator, use a soul sand block. Place soul sand at the very bottom of the water column. This will generate bubbles that push you up to the top.
Step-by-Step Construction Guide
Building an efficient upward water elevator is straightforward. Follow these steps:
- Construct a Vertical Shaft: Dig or build a 1x1 (or larger, e.g., 2x1 for easier movement) vertical shaft to your desired height. Enclose it with solid blocks or glass to contain the water.
- Place Temporary Block at Bottom: Place a temporary block (like dirt or cobblestone) at the very bottom of the shaft, directly above where your soul sand will eventually go.
- Fill with Water Source Blocks:
- Go to the very top of your shaft.
- Place a water bucket in the shaft. This will create a flowing water stream.
- To turn the flowing water into source blocks, you can place a piece of kelp at the bottom of the column (on top of your temporary block) and let it grow to the top. Break the kelp, and all water blocks will become source blocks.
- Alternatively, you can place water blocks individually from the top down, one by one, ensuring each block becomes a source block.
- Replace Bottom Block with Soul Sand: Once the entire column is filled with water source blocks, break the temporary block at the bottom and immediately replace it with a soul sand block.
- Observe the Bubbles: You will instantly see a powerful bubble stream erupting from the soul sand, pushing upwards through the water column.
- Add Entry/Exit Points (Optional but Recommended): Use signs or open trapdoors at the entry and exit points of your elevator to prevent water from flowing out while still allowing players to pass through.
Ensuring All Water is Source Blocks
It's crucial for the entire water column to consist of water source blocks. If there are any flowing water blocks, the bubble stream generated by soul sand will not function correctly, or its effect will be severely diminished.
- Kelp Trick: As mentioned, placing kelp at the bottom of a water column and letting it grow to the top is the quickest way to convert all flowing water into source blocks. After the kelp grows, simply break the bottom kelp block, and the entire plant will disappear, leaving behind a column of source blocks.
Benefits of Water Elevators
Water elevators are a versatile and practical solution in Minecraft:
- Efficient Vertical Travel: They offer a much faster way to ascend than ladders or stairs, making them ideal for base access, mining shafts, or reaching high platforms.
- Automatic Item Transport: Items dropped into an upward water elevator will automatically be pushed to the top, which is incredibly useful for farms and automated collection systems.
- Renewable Resource: Once built, they require no power or constant maintenance, making them a sustainable travel method.
By utilizing soul sand, you can easily create reliable upward water currents, transforming how you navigate your Minecraft world.
