Lightning Rod is a new block that was added in the Minecraft 1.17 update. It has the model somewhat like the end rod and is covered with a copper texture. But what is the purpose of this block? Let’s find out!
What Does a Lightning Rod Do in Minecraft
Besides building purposes, Lightning Rod in Minecraft can be used to redirect nearby lightning to hit itself instead of a random block in the area. In Java Edition, the area the Lightning Rod can affect is all the way to 128 blocks around it, and 64 blocks in Bedrock Edition.
If you’re already built a house with flammable materials like wood and planks, it’s likely your house will be burnt by lightning in the rain. That’s why it’s important to build your roof from any non–flammable blocks and put the Lightning Rod on the roof.
And be careful, a redirect lightning not only can cause a fire to start but also can deal damage to every mob around a 5×5 area of it. If you’re looking for skeleton horses, redirected lightning strikes do not summon them. So make sure to remove the Lightning Rod and wait for the real lightning bolt.