Description
Blue ice is a heavy feeling solid block that behaves like a super smooth floor. If you place a boat or an item on top it will slide a very long way with very little slowing down. In everyday words blue ice gives you speed without complex builds. It looks glossy and it stays solid even when it is close to light sources so you can use it indoors or outside without worrying that it will change. Many players use blue ice to build long travel lanes where they ride boats or move items in water flows. For technical systems it helps items reach distant targets faster which can make farms and sorting setups simpler and smaller. Blue ice is harder to make than regular ice but it can be found in cold ocean areas and in certain village chests which means explorers can gather it without crafting long chains. When you mine it you need a tool that keeps the block intact or it will not drop. As a decorative material it gives a clean cool look that works well with glass and stone for modern builds and with packed ice for more natural ice themed areas. The block also has a useful interaction with lava and certain ground material where it will help produce basalt which some players use in simple generators. For everyday building blue ice brings a sense of motion and shine to floors and channels and it is a favourite for any project that needs quick travel or fast item delivery.
What is Blue Ice?
Blue ice is an ice block that is much more slippery than regular ice or packed ice. In clear language it means anything moving on it will travel farther and faster than on other surfaces. Players use it when they want to build fast travel corridors or to speed up item movement under water. The block is solid and can carry placed objects and walking players while still offering very low friction. It does not melt from light so it is safe to use around lamps and indoor features. While it looks similar to other ice it behaves like a compact slab of ice that keeps its shape while making things slide. That makes it a practical block for builders and for technical players who need reliable quick movement.
Where to find Blue Ice
You will usually find blue ice in very cold regions of the world. It generates in frozen ocean biomes often at the base of large floating ice formations and inside some ice based structures. Village chests in snowy areas sometimes hold blue ice as a reward and in some underground ancient sites blue ice can appear as a small deposit. Because it only appears in cold biomes you will not encounter it in warm areas like deserts or forest land. If you want to gather a supply of blue ice the best method is to travel to frozen oceans and search for icebergs and tall ice arches where the block commonly forms.
How to get Blue Ice
Blue ice will drop only if you mine it with a tool that prevents the block from being destroyed on break. The simplest route is to use a pickaxe with the silk touch enchantment which keeps the block so you can carry it home. Without silk touch the block does not drop and so you will not gain a usable piece. Blue ice can sometimes be bought from wandering traders and can also be created by combining many pieces of packed ice in a special crafting chain for players who invest the effort. For most players mining it with silk touch after finding it in cold areas is the fastest practical way to collect it.
Release Information
First introduced: Added in Minecraft update called Update Aquatic in the year 2018
Give Command
/give @p minecraft:blue_ice 64
How to use Blue Ice
Place blue ice for very low friction floors to make fast moving tracks and transport lanes. Builders lay it under water streams to speed up item travel and they use it in boat highways to reach very high speeds with minimal effort. It is a good choice for decorative floors that need a glossy smooth look and for technical builds that rely on item movement under water. In addition to travel uses blue ice can be used in simple basalt producing setups when combined with lava and the right ground material. The block provides both a strong practical use and a neat visual style so it appeals to players who like speed and to players who like clean modern aesthetics.
Recipes for Blue Ice
Shapeless Crafting Items can be placed in any arrangement in a crafting table
Packed Ice
Packed Ice
Packed Ice
Packed Ice
Packed Ice
Packed Ice
Packed Ice
Packed Ice
Packed Ice
Blue Ice