How to Get Blaze Rods in Minecraft
Blaze rods come only from blazes in Nether fortresses. This guide covers where to find blazes, how to kill them, their drop rates, and what the rods are used for.
Blaze rods have one source: blazes, the fiery mobs that spawn in Nether fortresses. A blaze drops 0 to 1 blaze rod by default, and more with Looting. You need blaze rods to craft a brewing stand, to make blaze powder for fueling brewing stands, and to craft eyes of ender. This guide explains where to find blazes, how to kill them, and where the process can go wrong.
Where to find blazes
Blazes do not wander the whole Nether. They spawn only in Nether fortresses, at light level 11 or less. You will find them at monster spawners inside those structures, and they can also spawn on Nether bricks within the fortress. In Java Edition they appear in groups of 2 to 3. If you are still working on reaching the Nether, see our nether portal guide.
How to kill blazes and what they drop
Blazes fight with melee attacks at close range and by shooting volleys of three small fireballs. A fireball deals 3.5 to 7.5 HP depending on difficulty, and its fire deals 1 HP per second for 5 seconds. Fire resistance potions and a shield help keep you alive. Blazes often float upward while targeting you, so a bow or snowballs are useful.
| Looting level | Quantity | Chance |
|---|---|---|
| None | 0 to 1 | 50% |
| Looting I | 0 to 2 | 75% |
| Looting II | 0 to 3 | 87.5% |
| Looting III | 0 to 4 | 91.67% |
Blazes are immune to fire, lava, and falling damage. They do take damage from rain or water at 1 HP every 0.5 seconds, from a snowball at 3 HP, from a thrown water bottle within 4 blocks at 1 HP, and from powder snow at 5 HP freezing when fully frozen. Snowballs are a cheap ranged option if you do not have a good bow. For Looting III, see our level 30 enchanting table guide.
What blaze rods are for
- A brewing stand: 1 blaze rod plus any stone-tier block, including cobblestone and its variants.
- Blaze powder: 1 blaze rod crafts 2 blaze powder.
- Brewing fuel: blaze powder fuels a brewing stand.
- Eyes of ender: blaze powder is a crafting ingredient.
- End rods: 1 blaze rod plus popped chorus fruit yields 4.
- Furnace fuel: one blaze rod lasts 120 seconds and smelts 12 items.
Picking up your first blaze rod also grants the Into Fire advancement.
Where it goes wrong
Not finding a fortress wastes the most time. Blazes spawn only in Nether fortresses, so wandering the open Nether will not produce rods. Fighting with fire or lava is another common mistake; blazes are immune to both. Getting caught by their fireball volley can quickly kill you, so use a shield or fire resistance potion. Without Looting, a blaze has a 50% chance to drop 0 rods, so getting nothing on many kills is normal. Finally, do not expect rods from any other mob, because blazes are the only source.
FAQ
Do I need a brewing stand before collecting blaze rods?
No. Blazes drop rods whether or not you have a brewing stand. You can collect rods first and craft the stand later.
Does Looting III guarantee a blaze rod?
No. Looting III gives a 0 to 4 drop with a 91.67% chance, so the quantity can still be zero on some kills.
Can I get blaze rods without killing blazes?
No. Blazes are the only source of blaze rods in the game.
