Minecraft: How to Make a Firework

For many people, setting off fireworks is a fun way to celebrate events during the night. Minecraft offers a similar experience, allowing you to create fireworks to set off either in your single-player world or on multiplayer servers with others. Alternatively, you can also use them to fly around with an Elytra. This guide will teach you how to make firework rockets and stars in Minecraft Java and Bedrock Editions.

How to Make a Firework in Minecraft Java and Bedrock

To create a regular, low-powered firework rocket in Minecraft, you need one paper and one gunpowder. However, you can add up to three gunpowder to the recipe to increase the strength of the firework rocket. The strength of the firework determines how high it’ll fly into the air. If you do not know where to find paper or gunpowder, below is a description of their locations:

Paper: Created using three sugarcane stalks or from Shipwreck and Stronghold chest loot. There is also a chance to find paper in Cartographer’s chests in villages.
Gunpowder: Creepers, ghasts, and witches have a chance to drop some after death. There is also a chance to find gunpowder in Dungeon, Desert Temple, Shipwreck and Woodland mansion chests.

Firework Stars in Minecraft Java and Bedrock

In Minecraft, using the recipe above to craft a firework rocket will result in no explosion effects if you launch it into the air. Instead, it’ll just fizzle out after briefly flying up into the sky. Add a Firework Star to the crafting recipe to create a firework rocket with explosion effects. While Firework Stars may seem complicated to craft at first, below are some uses and crafting recipes for them:

Every Firework Star requires one Gunpowder and one Dye of your choice. The dye color you use determines the firework explosion color.
Using a Gold Nugget in the recipe adds a star-shaped pattern to the firework explosion.
Obtaining and using a player or monster skull in the recipe adds a creeper face pattern to the firework explosion.
Using a Feather in the recipe adds an upwards burst effect to the firework explosion.
Adding either a Diamond or Glowstone Dust to the Firework Star crafting recipe results in a twinkling, trailing effect after the firework explosion.

After crafting your Firework Star, add it to the recipe for your Firework Rocket. Doing this will create a rocket with explosion effects that you can look at yourself or enjoy with others. Alternatively, if you don’t add any effects, you can use the firework to fly using an Elytra or as ammunition for a crossbow.