How to Make a TNT Cannon in Minecraft

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Last Updated: May 9, 2025 Fact Checked

This wikiHow teaches you how to build a large cannon in Minecraft's Creative Mode. While it is technically possible to create a cannon in Survival, the amount of time and energy needed to select all of the resources makes doing so impractical. You can build the cannon outlined here in all versions of Minecraft, including on computer, mobile, and console versions.

Steps

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1
Open the Creative menu. To do so:
- Computer - Press the E key.
- Pocket Edition - Tap ⋯
- Console Edition - Press the X (Xbox) or square (PlayStation) button.
2
Place the cannon's building materials in your inventory. Move the following items from the creative inventory to your equip bar:^{[1]
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- 16 blocks - These can be anything from wool to diamond, but iron or obsidian is preferred.
- 1 slab - This can be any material. The best material to use is quartz.
- 11 redstone
- 1 bucket of water
- 2 levers
- 5 TNT blocks
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Make sure that at least one end of this row is facing the direction in which you want to shoot.^{[3]
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You should now have a seven-block-long row with a reverse "L" shape.
This row should run parallel to the first row, starting on the left side of the last block you placed. Doing so will create a "U" shape that is seven blocks long and three blocks wide.^{[4]
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This block is the top-left block in the "U" shape.
The slab should fit directly in between the front-left and front-right blocks.
At the bottom of the "U" shape, place the water to form a channel from the back of the cannon all the way up to the slab.^{[5]
X
Research source} This is what will move your TNT forward when you place it later.^{[6]
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9
Place a switch on the back-left and back-right blocks. These switches will function as your cannon's triggers.^{[7]
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- Leave the middle block blank. You won't put anything here, especially not redstone.
The line of redstone should go all the way up to the last block, including the one you placed on top of the final block on the left side.^{[8]
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11
Place a line of redstone from the right switch up to the second-to-last block. The line of redstone must go all the way up to the block that comes before the block that's touching the slab.^{[10]
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- The redstone line should essentially extend the length of the water channel.
This will be your projectile.^{[11]
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These TNT blocks can go all the way back to the second-to-last block of water, but the source water block must remain.
14
Fire your cannon. When you're ready, flick the right switch, then immediately hit the left one. The front piece of TNT will drop onto the slab as the four TNT blocks move toward it; when the TNT blocks explode, the front one will be propelled forward.^{[13]
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- This TNT's height will vary depending on how quickly you hit the left switch. If you do very quickly, the TNT will fly straight. Delay it 2-3 seconds, and the TNT will fly much higher. If you wait too long, however, the first block of TNT will just fly upward and explode.
- Don't hit the left switch first, or your cannon might explode.

Community Q&A

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Question

What did I do wrong? All of the TNT just explodes and does not shoot!

Community Answer

Did you flip the left switch first or not at all? That would cause it to just explode.

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Question

How do I shoot different types of TNT?

Arden Peng

Community Answer

You cannot get different types of TNT in vanilla Minecraft, you would have to use a mod, but if you do have a mod, you just replace the TNT at the very front with whatever TNT you want.

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Question

When I did it, nothing happened its 2020, so was there an update to make it different?

Khang4312

Community Answer

Try again, I can do it in 2020. Press the right lever and then the left lever. Try again and again. It will work.

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Tips

Adding many layers of TNT filled dispensers will increase the range of your cannon. Just experiment with different kinds of mechanisms to achieve what you want in your cannon.^{[14]
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When reloading your cannon, be sure to flip the levers off. Otherwise, they will begin to explode immediately! You can switch the levers with buttons to prevent this from happening.

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The higher your cannon is, the better your range will be.

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The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.

You can also create TNT fireworks by making a 3x3 platform. Extend each side 4 blocks high and fill the empty space with TNT. Stick one TNT block out. Then, break one block in the middle of a slab, two blocks high. You should be able to see the bottom TNT. Place a lever there, then flick the lever and watch the magic happen! You can stand on top of the TNT to make the ultimate jumper.
Use redstone repeaters instead of 2 levers. Attach a redstone on either side of the lever. Then, use however many clicks until you get the height you want.
In the event of misplaced redstone or TNT, build the cannon out of obsidian so the cannon won't be obliterated.
When making a TNT cannon, point it away from your guarded area, unless you want a scorched path.
Remember, you can also add more TNT, you just need to make the cannon longer.
You can also use End Stone as a block because of its high blast resistance.

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Warnings

Build your cannon far enough from your house, storage, and anything else you love in case it malfunctions and sends TNT flying all over.

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This is exceedingly difficult to build in Survival mode since you must kill Creepers in order to get the materials needed to craft TNT.

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