Bubble Column

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Bubble Column
Bubble Column.png: Infobox image for Bubble Column the block in Minecraft
Invicon Bubble Column.png: Inventory sprite for Bubble Column in Minecraft as shown in-game with description: Bubble Column
Renewable

Yes

Stackable

Yes (64)‌[BE only]

Tool

None

Blast resistance

100

Hardness

0

Luminous

No

Transparent

Yes

Flammable

No

Catches fire from lava

No

A bubble column is a non-solid block generated by placing magma blocks or soul sand in water (source). Bubble columns push or pull entities and items in certain directions.

Obtaining[edit | edit source]

Breaking[edit | edit source]

In Java Edition, bubble columns cannot be obtained as an item, and can be placed only by a block-placement command such as /setblock.

In Bedrock Edition, it may be obtained as an item via inventory editing, add-ons, or bugs.

Natural generation[edit | edit source]

Java Edition bubble column. (Click to see the animation)

Whirlpool bubble columns appear naturally when magma blocks generate underwater, in clusters on the floor of aquifers, or as part of ocean ruins and ruined portals generated below the water surface.

Post-generation[edit | edit source]

When a magma block is placed underwater, a whirlpool bubble column is generated.

When soul sand is placed under source water blocks, an upward bubble column is generated.

A bubble column is created 20 game ticks after placing a magma block or soul sand, and is destroyed 5 game ticks after destroying the magma block or soul sand. A bubble column is created or destroyed in all water source blocks of the bubble column simultaneously.

Usage[edit | edit source]

Players and air-breathing mobs can enter a bubble column to replenish their air supply, at the same speed that they would when they leave the water entirely. The slower mining speed when underwater, however, still applies to players inside bubble columns. Water-breathing mobs avoid bubble columns because they suffocate if trapped in one. A bubble column is destroyed when moved by a piston. Bubble columns propagate only through water source blocks, stopping at any flowing water or waterlogged block. The height of a bubble column is limited only by the water's surface or by any obstructing blocks underwater.

Bubble columns cannot be created in downward flowing water.[1] This can be circumvented by placing kelp in downward-flowing water, which converts it into a source block.

Whirlpool[edit | edit source]

A whirlpool, or downward bubble column, is the only type that naturally generates in the Overworld, often originating from magma at the bottom of underwater canyons. A whirlpool can be identified by the presence of air bubbles wandering downward. They drag entities downward. A boat ridden over a whirlpool shakes and eventually sinks if kept above the whirlpool for too long.

Upward[edit | edit source]

Upward bubble columns can be identified by the presence of vertically rising air bubbles. An upward bubble column accelerates entities upward. The longer an object rises through the bubble column, the faster it travels. At high enough speeds, players and entities can be launched out of water by several blocks. Sitting on the surface above a rising bubble column causes entities to bounce upward repeatedly by about 1 block.

Transport[edit | edit source]

In Java Edition, entities move at a speed of approximately 11 blocks per second when in an upward bubble column, or 4.9 blocks per second when in a downward bubble column.

In Bedrock Edition, entities move at a speed of approximately 8 blocks per second when in an upward bubble column, or 6 blocks per second when in a downward bubble column.

Redstone component[edit | edit source]

An observer can detect when a bubble column is created or destroyed in a water source block.

Ender pearl stasis chamber[edit | edit source]

Projectiles such as ender pearls are affected by bubble columns. An ender pearl can remain afloat on top of an upward bubble column, allowing it to be stored indefinitely. A mechanism can then be triggered to make the ender pearl hit a solid surface (e.g. by closing a trapdoor), teleporting the thrower back to the setup wherever they are.

Sounds[edit | edit source]

Java Edition:

Sounds
SoundSubtitlesSourceDescriptionResource locationTranslation keyVolumePitchAttenuation
distance
​Bubbles popNoneUnused sound event[sound 1]block.bubble_column.bubble_popsubtitles.block.bubble_column.bubble_pop0.11.016
​Bubbles flowBlocksRandomly from an upward bubble columnblock.bubble_column.upwards_ambientsubtitles.block.bubble_column.upwards_ambient0.12-0.240.9-1.0516
​Bubbles wooshPlayersWhen a player enters an upward bubble columnblock.bubble_column.upwards_insidesubtitles.block.bubble_column.upwards_inside0.71.016
​Bubbles whirlBlocksRandomly from a downward bubble columnblock.bubble_column.whirlpool_ambientsubtitles.block.bubble_column.whirlpool_ambient0.12-0.250.9-1.0516
​Bubbles zoomPlayersWhen a player enters a downward bubble columnblock.bubble_column.whirlpool_insidesubtitles.block.bubble_column.whirlpool_inside0.71.016

Bedrock Edition:

Sounds
SoundSourceDescriptionResource locationVolumePitch
Blocks?bubble.pop0.4-0.60.9-1.05
BlocksRandomly from an upward bubble columnbubble.up0.4-0.60.9-1.05
BlocksWhen a player enters an upward bubble columnbubble.upinside1.0-1.50.9-1.05
BlocksRandomly from a downward bubble columnbubble.down0.4-0.60.9-1.05
BlocksWhen a player enters a downward bubble columnbubble.downinside1.0-1.50.9-1.05

Data values[edit | edit source]

ID[edit | edit source]

Java Edition:

NameIdentifierFormTranslation key
BlockSprite bubble-column.png: Sprite image for bubble-column in Minecraft Bubble Columnbubble_columnBlockblock.minecraft.bubble_column

Bedrock Edition:

NameIdentifierNumeric ID FormItem ID[i 1]Translation key
BlockSprite bubble-column.png: Sprite image for bubble-column in Minecraft Bubble Columnbubble_column415Block & Ungiveable Item[i 2]Identical[i 3]
  1. ID of block's direct item form, which is used in savegame files and addons.
  2. Unavailable with /give command
  3. The block's direct item form has the same ID as the block.

Block states[edit | edit source]

See also: Block states

Java Edition:

Name Default value Allowed values Description
dragtruefalse
true
Determines whether the bubble column is upward or whirlpool.

Bedrock Edition:

NameMetadata Bits Default value Allowed valuesValues for
Metadata Bits
Description
drag_down0x1falsefalse
true
0
1
Determines whether the bubble column is upward or whirlpool.


History[edit | edit source]

November 18, 2017Bubble columns were shown in a video clip during MINECON Earth 2017.
Java Edition
1.1318w07a Added bubble columns.
18w08aBubble columns now generate in underwater ravines.
18w09aBubble columns now generate in ocean ruins.
18w16aBubble columns can no longer be pushed by pistons.
Bedrock Edition
1.5.0beta 1.5.0.4 Added bubble columns.
beta 1.5.0.7 Bubble columns can now be toggled to look similar to Java Edition, but only for devices that can handle them.
Legacy Console Edition
Xbox 360Xbox OnePS3PS4PS VitaWii USwitch
TU69 1.761.761.76Patch 38 Added bubble columns.

Bubble column "item"[edit | edit source]

The following content is transcluded from Technical blocks/Bubble Column.
Bedrock Edition
1.5.0beta 1.5.0.4Bubble columns exist as an item with an ID of -160.


Appearances[edit | edit source]

Bedrock Edition
1.5.0beta 1.5.0.4 Bubble columns use this texture.

Names[edit | edit source]

Bedrock Edition
  • 1.5.0 - now: tile.bubble_column.name

Issues[edit | edit source]

Issues relating to "Bubble Column" are maintained on the bug tracker. Issues should be reported and viewed there.

Gallery[edit | edit source]

Java Edition[edit | edit source]

Bedrock Edition[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. MCPE-85448 — resolved as "Works As Intended".

Navigation[edit | edit source]