How to Make and Activate a Conduit in Minecraft

Guide Java Bedrock

Quick answer: Craft a conduit from 8 nautilus shells around a heart of the sea, place it underwater, and surround it with 16-42 prismarine-type blocks. An active conduit gives Conduit Power - water breathing, night vision and faster mining - in a 32-96 block radius.

What you need

8 nautilus shells
1 heart of the sea
16-42 prismarine blocks, dark prismarine, prismarine bricks or sea lanterns

Step by step

Craft the conduit: 8 nautilus shells in every outer slot with a heart of the sea in the center.
Pick a spot underwater with room for a frame - conduits only activate when the block itself is waterlogged.
Build the activation frame: three 5x5 open squares centered on the conduit (one per axis), made of prismarine, prismarine bricks, dark prismarine or sea lanterns.
Use at least 16 frame blocks to activate; a full 42-block frame maxes the range at 96 blocks.
Touch water or rain within range and you get Conduit Power: water breathing, underwater night vision and faster underwater mining.
Bonus weapon: a fully framed conduit damages drowned, guardians and other hostile water mobs within 8 blocks.
One conduit can anchor an entire underwater base - add frames later to extend coverage.

Java vs Bedrock

Crafting, activation frames and Conduit Power are identical in Java and Bedrock: 8 shells + heart of the sea, 16-42 prismarine-family blocks, 32-96 block spherical range, and the 8-block hostile-mob damage zone in both.

Versions: Conduits were added in 1.13 (the Update Aquatic), completing the ocean trilogy with tridents and hearts of the sea. Their recipe and frame mechanics have stayed unchanged since release.

Frequently asked questions

What does Conduit Power actually do?

It bundles Water Breathing, underwater Night Vision and Haste-like faster mining underwater into one infinite-duration effect - as long as you stay in range and touching water or rain. It is the reason underwater bases are viable.

How many prismarine blocks do I need?

16 blocks activate the conduit at 32 blocks of range, and every 7 additional blocks add 16 more range, up to 42 blocks for the full 96-block sphere. Prismarine, bricks, dark prismarine and sea lanterns all count.

Is a conduit worth the 8 nautilus shells?

For any underwater project, yes - it replaces water-breathing potions forever, lights the depths, speeds mining and even zaps guardians. Farm shells from drowned and wandering traders, and grab the heart from buried treasure.