How to Make a Target Block in Minecraft

Guide Java Bedrock

Quick answer: Craft a target block with 1 hay bale surrounded by 4 redstone dust (top, bottom, left, right). Shoot it with any projectile and it emits a redstone signal whose strength depends on how close to the bullseye you hit.

What you need

1 hay bale (9 wheat)
4 redstone dust

Step by step

Craft a hay bale from 9 wheat (fill the grid).
Mine 4 redstone dust.
Open the crafting table.
Place the hay bale in the center slot.
Place 1 redstone dust above, below, left, and right of it.
Take the target block.
Shoot it with an arrow, trident, snowball, or egg: bullseye hits output strength 15, edge hits as low as 1.

Java vs Bedrock

The target block recipe is the same in Java and Bedrock and was added in 1.16. Two tricks make it unique: its signal strength encodes your accuracy (1 to 15 by ring), so archery minigames and skill doors read your aim, and it redirects redstone dust toward itself, pulling stray dust lines into tidy corners for compact wiring. Mine it fastest with a hoe.

Versions: javabedrock

Frequently asked questions

What does a target block do in Minecraft?

When a projectile hits it, it outputs a redstone pulse whose strength depends on hit accuracy: strength 15 for a bullseye, fading to 1 at the edge. It also attracts and redirects redstone dust placed nearby.

How does the target block redirect redstone?

Redstone dust placed next to a target block points into it, even around corners, letting you steer dust lines without repeaters. It is a wiring tool as much as a game block.

What projectiles trigger a target block?

Arrows, tridents, snowballs, eggs, fire charges, ender pearls, and even fishing bobbers, basically anything thrown or shot. Melee hits do nothing.

How do you make a hay bale?

Fill all 9 crafting slots with wheat. Hay bales also reduce fall damage by 80% when you land on them and feed horses and llamas.