20 Minecraft Things That Are Totally Broken

Minecraft is a game full of creativity and surprises, but it’s not without its quirks. Over the years, players have uncovered many glitches, bugs, and unintended features that make the game even more fascinating. From visual oddities to mechanical exploits, here are 20 broken things in Minecraft that have puzzled and entertained players.

1. Immovable Clouds That Follow You

In version 20W22A, Minecraft’s clouds stopped behaving as expected. If you toggled clouds off and then back on, they would freeze in place. However, as soon as the player moved, the clouds would eerily follow their every step. This strange glitch created an almost supernatural atmosphere, as if the world itself was watching you. While purely visual, it’s a great reminder of how even small bugs can leave a big impression.

2. Infinite Redstone Signals from Cake

In one of the more peculiar redstone glitches, eating a slice of cake while it’s connected to a comparator can create an infinite redstone signal. This happens because the block update required to stop the signal never triggers unless you physically interact with the setup. For redstone enthusiasts, this is a fun trick, but it’s far from how cake is supposed to work.

3. Creepers Can’t Explode at Build Height

At the maximum build height (Y-level 320), explosions simply don’t work. Whether it’s a Creeper, TNT, or a bed in the Nether, the game’s mechanics fail to calculate blast resistance correctly at this altitude. As a result, any explosive effects are nullified, leaving players safe from destruction. This quirk may be unintentional, but it’s a handy feature for builders who want to avoid accidental explosions.

4. Transparent Water Through Glass

In Bedrock Edition 1.19.2, placing a glass block or item in water can make the water appear completely transparent when viewed through the glass. This visual bug turns bodies of water into invisible voids, which can be useful for locating hidden structures like shipwrecks or buried treasure. While it’s not game-breaking, it’s a surprising and sometimes helpful oversight.

5. Shulker Boxes That Open Anywhere

Shulker boxes are meant to follow the rules of spatial logic, but they often don’t. You can open a Shulker box even when it’s completely surrounded by blocks. This creates bizarre visual effects, as the lid clips through solid objects. While this doesn’t break the game’s functionality, it’s a clear case of the mechanics not aligning with the visuals.

6. Duplicating Items with Bundles

Bundles, an experimental feature in certain snapshots, introduced an unexpected glitch. By using a bundle to pick up items from a crafting table, players could duplicate those items. For example, crafting a diamond block and then collecting the leftover diamonds with a bundle allowed players to end up with both the block and the original diamonds. It’s a dream for resource hoarders but definitely unintended.

7. Wardens vs. Ender Dragon

The Warden is one of Minecraft’s strongest mobs, but even it struggles against the Ender Dragon. When Wardens attempt to attack the dragon, their sonic booms fail to inflict damage. However, the combined force of multiple Wardens can knock the dragon off its flight path, creating chaotic battles that feel more like a glitchy spectacle than an intended feature.

8. Fireworks Can’t Hurt Endermen

Firework rockets, launched from crossbows, are effective against most mobs. However, Endermen seem immune. The explosions fail to damage them, and they simply teleport away. This odd interaction raises questions about whether it’s a bug or an intentional design choice. Either way, it makes fighting Endermen with fireworks frustratingly ineffective.

9. Walking on the Void

In Bedrock Edition, the void beneath the world has an invisible floor. By using enchanted golden apples and proper timing, players can survive the drop and walk on this hidden layer. While there’s little practical use for this glitch, it’s a fascinating quirk that adds another layer of mystery to Minecraft’s mechanics.

10. Mangrove Trees Breaking Blocks

Mangrove trees have unique root systems that interact with blocks differently. If you plant a mangrove propagule and grow it with bone meal under a solid cube of mud, the tree’s roots will break through the mud blocks above it. This interaction was likely overlooked during development, as it’s a rare scenario. Still, it’s a fun detail for players experimenting with mangrove trees.

11. Striders Warm Up in Powdered Snow

Striders, which are normally cold when removed from lava, regain their warmth when placed in powdered snow—but only in Bedrock Edition. This interaction makes no logical sense, as powdered snow is freezing. The glitch adds a humorous contradiction to the game’s usual consistency.

12. Speed Boosting Boats

Boats have always been fast on ice, but a Bedrock glitch allows players to store potential energy in boats. After repeated jumps, sitting in the boat will launch you into the sky. This unintended feature turns boats into makeshift rockets, adding a chaotic and entertaining twist to transportation.

13. Unbreakable Blocks at the Nether Roof

Using dripstone plants and bone meal, players can destroy bedrock blocks in specific conditions. By growing large plants underneath bedrock, the game glitches and removes the unbreakable block. This exploit allows players to access the Nether roof, creating unique opportunities for building and exploration.

14. Elytra Hovering with Scaffolding

Elytra wings are meant for flying, but a glitch involving scaffolding allows players to hover in mid-air. By rapidly placing and breaking scaffolding while wearing Elytra, players can maintain a stationary position, which is useful for precision tasks like building or mining.

15. Invisible Waterlogged Blocks

In Bedrock Edition, certain blocks like glass appear waterlogged when placed inside bubble columns. However, this is purely a visual glitch, as the blocks aren’t actually waterlogged. The odd appearance can confuse players, but it’s harmless once the blocks are updated or removed.

16. Snow Golems as Flamethrowers

In Bedrock Edition, snowballs can catch fire when thrown through lava. By placing snow golems near Nether blocks, players can turn their friendly snowmen into fire-spewing defenders. This accidental feature adds a creative way to protect bases, even if it defies logic.

17. Horses Breeding for Super Speed

Using potions of swiftness and jump boost on horses before breeding passes those effects to their offspring. Over generations, this glitch can produce horses with absurd speed and jumping abilities, making them more effective than any other mount in the game.

18. Infinite Lava with Glow Lichen

For a brief time, placing glow lichen in lava would turn it into water, allowing players to effectively create infinite water sources in the Nether. This oversight was quickly patched, but for a short period, it was a game-changing exploit for resourceful players.

19. Floating Sand and Gravel

Minecraft’s terrain generation sometimes creates floating sand and gravel blocks. While these should fall when unsupported, they remain suspended until updated. This quirk has been repurposed as a feature, with dust particles added to warn players of potential cave-ins.

20. TNT Duplication Machines

TNT duplication is one of Minecraft’s longest-standing glitches. By using slime blocks, pistons, and coral fans, players can create machines that generate endless TNT. Mojang has left this feature in the game, as it’s essential for large-scale builds and automation, even if it’s technically a bug.

Minecraft’s broken features may not always align with the developers’ intentions, but they’ve added layers of creativity and fun to the game. These quirks remind us that even in a carefully designed world, imperfections can lead to unexpected opportunities.