If you’re looking to zoom in on distant builds or spot mobs from a safe distance, learning how to make telescope Minecraft is your first step. This handy item is a fantastic addition to your inventory, and crafting it is simpler than you might think.
Let’s get straight into what you need and how to put it together. The process is quick, and you’ll be enjoying a closer look at the blocky horizon in no time.
How To Make Telescope Minecraft
To craft a telescope, you only need two specific items. You won’t need a crafting table, as the recipe fits right in your personal crafting grid. Here’s the straightforward recipe.
Required Materials
- 2 Amethyst Shards
- 1 Copper Ingot
That’s it! Just those two materials. Now, let’s break down exactly where to find each of them in your world.
Finding Amethyst Shards
Amethyst shards come from Amethyst Clusters. You can find these deep underground in geodes. Geodes are large, spherical structures with a layer of smooth basalt, a layer of calcite, and an inner hollow lined with amethyst blocks and buds.
- Look for Geodes: They can spawn anywhere between Y-level 70 and -64. They’re often exposed in ocean ravines or cave systems, making them easier to spot.
- Harvesting Correctly: You must mine a fully-grown Amethyst Cluster with an iron pickaxe or better to get shards. Using a lesser tool or breaking the smaller buds will drop nothing. Each cluster drops 4 amethyst shards.
Getting Copper Ingots
Copper is a common ore found in the Overworld. You’ll need to smelt the raw copper you mine into ingots.
- Mining Copper Ore: Copper ore generates from Y-level 112 all the way down to -16, with the best range around Y-level 48. It’s most common in dripstone cave biomes.
- Smelting: Place the raw copper in a furnace with any fuel to create copper ingots. Each raw copper block drops 2-5 raw copper items, which each smelt into one ingot.
Crafting Steps
Once you have your materials, follow these simple steps.
- Open your inventory (press ‘E’ by default).
- Place the Copper Ingot in the center square of the 2×2 crafting grid.
- Put one Amethyst Shard in the square directly above the ingot.
- Place the second Amethyst Shard in the square directly below the ingot.
- The telescope will appear in the result box. Drag it to your inventory.
And your done! The telescope is now ready to use. The vertical line of materials is the key to the recipe.
How to Use the Telescope
Using the telescope is intuitive. Hold it in your hand and right-click (or use the secondary action button on your platform). Your view will zoom in, and a circular lens effect will appear around the edges.
- Zoom Level: It offers a fixed zoom level, which is significantly closer than normal view.
- Exiting the View: Simply right-click again or switch to another item to return to normal vision.
- Practical Uses: Perfect for scouting out villages, pillager outposts, or distant terrain features before traveling. It’s also great for appreciating the details of far-away builds.
Advanced Tips and Tricks
Now that you have your telescope, let’s look at some ways to get the most out of it.
Combining with a Spyglass
Wait, isn’t a telescope the same as a spyglass? In Minecraft, they are the same item! “Spyglass” is its official game name, but players commonly call it a telescope. So you’ve already made one. There’s no difference at all.
Using with Optifine or Shaders
If you use the Optifine mod or shader packs, the telescope view might look even more stunning. Some shaders add depth-of-field effects or lens distortions that make the zoom feel more realistic. Just ensure your mods are compatible with your Minecraft version.
Building a Observatory
For fun, consider building an observatory structure to house your telescope. Use lots of glass, stone bricks, and a dome roof. You can create a stand using fences and item frames to display your telescope when your not using it, adding a cool decorative element to your base.
Multiplayer and PvP Uses
In multiplayer servers, a telescope can be a strategic tool. Use it to observe player activity from a hidden location or to plan your approach in PvP battles. Remember, while zoomed in, your field of view is limited, so be aware of your immediate surroundings.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Sometimes things don’t go as planned. Here are solutions to common problems players face.
Recipe Isn’t Working
If the telescope won’t craft, double-check these points:
- Are you using Amethyst Shards and not Amethyst Blocks? They are different.
- Is the Copper Ingot in the center slot, with shards directly above and below? The pattern is strict.
- Are you playing on a version before 1.17? The telescope was added in the Caves & Cliffs update (Part 1). It is not available in older versions.
Can’t Find Amethyst Geodes
Geodes can be elusive. Try these methods:
- Explore large, open cave systems thoroughly. They often cut through geodes.
- Use spectator mode if you’re okay with cheats to fly through the world and locate one.
- Consider using a seed from online resources that has a known geode near the spawn point.
Telescope View is Too Dark or Glitchy
This is usually related to resource packs or mods. Try disabling any custom resource packs first. If you’re using mods, check for updates or conflicts related to rendering or optics.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can you enchant a telescope in Minecraft?
No, the telescope cannot be enchanted in the game. It has no durability bar and doesn’t break with use, so enchantments like Unbreaking or Mending are not applicable. It’s a simple, permanent tool.
Is there a way to adjust the zoom level on the telescope?
No, the zoom level is fixed. The game does not provide a way to increase or decrease the magnification. You get one zoom level, which is roughly equivalent to a FOV (Field of View) setting of about 10-15 degrees.
What’s the difference between a telescope and spyglass in Minecraft?
There is absolutely no difference. “Spyglass” is the official in-game name for the item. However, many players in the community refer to it as a telescope because it functions like one. The crafting recipe and use are identical because they are the same item.
Can you use a telescope on the Nether roof?
Yes, you can use it anywhere you can use a normal item. The Nether roof (the bedrock ceiling above the Nether) is no exception. It can be helpfull for planning where to build tunnels or bridges up there.
Does the telescope work in the End dimension?
Yes, it functions normally in the End. You can use it to get a better look at the End islands from the central platform or to spot End Cities from a distance before bridging across the void.
How do you make a colored telescope?
You cannot dye or color the telescope itself. However, if you are using a resource pack, you can customize its appearance, including the tint of the glass lens. This requires creating or downloading a custom resource pack.
Beyond the Basics: Integration and Ideas
With the simple task of how to make telescope Minecraft complete, think about how it fits into your larger game.
Redstone and Automation
While the telescope itself isn’t a redstone component, you can incorporate it into automated displays. Use a dispenser to shoot it out for a player to pick up, or build a rotating item frame display using redstone clocks to show it off in your base.
Adventure Maps and Roleplay
Map makers can use the telescope as a key item for quests. For example, a player might need to “survey the land” from a specific point. In roleplay servers, it’s a perfect prop for sailors, explorers, or astronomers, adding depth to your character.
Educational Connections
Minecraft is often used in learning. The telescope can be a starting point for discussions about real-world optics, the history of navigation, or astronomy. You could even build a scale model of a real telescope like the Hubble inside the game.
Mastering how to make telescope Minecraft is a small but satisfying achievement. It opens up new ways to see and interact with the vast worlds you create or explore. The recipe is easy once you know where to find its components, and its utility is suprising for such a simple tool. So gather your amethyst and copper, craft your lens, and start seeing your blocky world in a whole new way. The details from afar are waiting for you.