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Flint and steel is a tool used for setting anything on fire, from activating the Nether Portal or igniting TNT blocks to make them explode.

Behavior[]

The Flint and Steel will create a fire on the targeted surface of a block when used. Some blocks, such as wood and wool, will burn down when being set on fire, but other blocks, such as stone, will not be affected. Interestingly, any use on an item will reduce its Durability by one, regardless of whether it's set on fire or not. If used on the top of a non-flammable block, like stone, it will set a fire for about a minute and then it will burn out, but if used on the side of the block, the fire will burn out immediately. If one places fire near flammable blocks, like wood, it will spread to the flammable blocks, but it will not spread to Netherrack. Flint and steel was also a very infamous griefing tool back before Beta 1.6 when the fire spread indefinitely, and is still somewhat dangerous.

Obtaining []

Crafting[]

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Flint and Steel

(Shapeless recipe)
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Iron Ingot
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Flint
None


Generated Structures []

Flint and steel can sometimes be found in dungeons and in the chests of Nether Fortresses.

Uses[]

Flint and steel can be used to light blocks on fire, activate TNT, and activate the Nether Portal. However, flint and steel is an infamous griefing tool, explaining why so many beta servers ban flint and steel. When flint and steel are placed within a dispenser, it will set fire to the adjacent block.

Flint and steel can be used as a weapon. If one is being chased by a player in multiplayer PVP, flint and steel can be used to light the pursuing player on fire, thus damaging the enemy player. It can also be used against mobs that are not immune to fire damage. This is easier to accomplish on passive and neutral mobs, as it will not aggravate any passive mobs.

Trivia[]

  • In early versions of Indev, a player started with a flint and steel in their inventory. Flint and steel were also found as loot from killing mobs.
  • Following the release of survival multiplayer, furnaces did not work. There was a mod that turned flint and steel into a "lighter" that lit the furnace and made it work.
  • Before Beta 1.6, a fire could spread indefinitely, making flint and steel an effective weapon of mass destruction in areas with large, interconnected sections of flammable blocks. Many servers banned and continue to ban the use of flint and steel as it can be used for griefing. As of Beta 1.6, a fire will no longer spread infinitely.
  • Before furnaces and blast furnaces, flint and steel could be used to smelt ore.
  • Flint and Steel have 65 durability. 
  • As of Beta 1.7, left-clicking a block of TNT with a flint and steel will ignite it.
  • If a player uses flint and steel on any animal that can drop meat, the meat they drop will be cooked, a faster method than using the furnace, and useful if looking to limit the usage of cooking materials such as coal or charcoal.
  • Although it is called "Flint and Steel", the name is inaccurate as there is no steel in the game – it is made with Iron Ingots instead.
  • Flint and steel can be used to ignite creepers, making them explode prematurely.
  • Flint and steel can receive the curse of vanishing, unbreaking, and mending enchantments, but only on an Anvil.
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