How to Rotate 90 Degrees in WorldEdit

To rotate a selection 90 degrees in WorldEdit, you will typically use the //rotate command. This command can rotate your selection around your current position's Y-axis by default, or around specific X, Y, and Z axes if specified.

Understanding WorldEdit Rotation

WorldEdit's //rotate command operates on your currently copied clipboard content, not directly on your active selection. This means you must first copy what you want to rotate.

There are two primary ways to rotate 90 degrees:

1. Default Rotation (around player's Y-axis): This is the most common and simplest method.
2. Specific Axis Rotation (X, Y, Z): This allows for precise rotation around any of the three axes.

Rotating 90 Degrees Around the Player's Y-Axis

This method rotates your copied selection 90 degrees around the vertical axis (Y-axis) relative to your current standing position.

Steps:

1. Select Your Region: Use your WorldEdit wand (default: wooden axe) to make a selection.
   • Left-click for position 1.
   • Right-click for position 2.
   • Alternatively, use //pos1, //pos2 or //hpos1, //hpos2.
2. Copy the Selection: Stand at the point you want to be the "pivot" for your copy, then type:
   //copy
   • Tip: The paste location will be relative to where you copied from.
3. Rotate the Clipboard: Once copied, you can rotate the content in your clipboard. To rotate 90 degrees around your current Y-axis, type:
   //rotate 90
   • You can also use //rotate -90 for the opposite direction.
   • To rotate by 180 degrees, use //rotate 180.
4. Paste the Rotated Selection: To apply the rotated content, type:
   //paste
   • If you want to paste and ignore air blocks (so existing blocks are not replaced by air from your clipboard), use:
     //paste -a
   • Practical Insight: It's often safer to paste rotated objects "somewhere safely without touching the default build" first, then copy the newly rotated object and paste it precisely where you need it. This prevents accidental overwrites.

Rotating 90 Degrees Around a Specific Axis (X, Y, or Z)

For more precise control, you can specify the rotation angles for the X, Y, and Z axes. This command rotates the clipboard content around the specified axes, independent of your player's orientation.

Command Syntax:

//rotate <x-degrees> <y-degrees> <z-degrees>

• <x-degrees>: Rotation around the X-axis (horizontal, usually East-West).
• <y-degrees>: Rotation around the Y-axis (vertical).
• <z-degrees>: Rotation around the Z-axis (horizontal, usually North-South).

Example: 90-Degree Z-Rotation

To perform a 90-degree rotation specifically around the Z-axis, as often needed for certain building orientations, follow these steps:

1. Select Your Region: Define your desired region with your WorldEdit wand.
2. Copy the Selection: Stand at your desired pivot point for copying, then type:
   //copy
3. Rotate the Clipboard Around Z-Axis: To rotate 90 degrees around the Z-axis, type:
   //rotate 0 0 90
   • This command rotates 0 degrees around X, 0 degrees around Y, and 90 degrees around Z.
4. Paste the Rotated Selection: To place the rotated content, type:
   //paste -a
   • Using -a is recommended to prevent air blocks from overwriting existing structures.
   • Always consider pasting to a "safe" location first to avoid unintended modifications to your main build.

Summary of Rotation Commands

Command	Description	Effect on Clipboard
//copy	Copies the current selection into your clipboard.	Prepares for rotation.
//rotate 90	Rotates the clipboard content 90 degrees around the player's Y-axis.	Quick, orientation-relative rotation.
//rotate 0 0 90	Rotates the clipboard content 90 degrees around the global Z-axis.	Precise Z-axis rotation.
//rotate 90 0 0	Rotates the clipboard content 90 degrees around the global X-axis.	Precise X-axis rotation.
//paste	Pastes the rotated content from your clipboard.	Places the rotated structure, including air blocks.
//paste -a	Pastes the rotated content, ignoring air blocks.	Places the rotated structure, preserving existing blocks from air.
//undo	Reverts the last WorldEdit action.	Essential for correcting mistakes.

Important Considerations and Tips

• Pivot Point: The point where you stand when you //copy is crucial. When you //paste, the copied content will be pasted relative to your current position, matching the initial copy position.
• Undo Command: Always remember the //undo command. If you make a mistake or don't like the rotation, simply type //undo to revert your last action.
• Experimentation: It's highly recommended to experiment with these commands in a blank, safe area to get a feel for how they work before applying them to your main builds.
• Axis Orientation: In Minecraft, the X-axis typically runs East-West, the Z-axis North-South, and the Y-axis is vertical (up-down).

By following these steps, you can effectively rotate your WorldEdit selections 90 degrees, whether around your player's perspective or specific global axes. For more detailed information on WorldEdit commands, you can refer to the official WorldEdit documentation.