Crying Obsidian is one of Minecraft’s most distinctive blocks, but unlike regular Obsidian, you cannot create it by pouring water over lava.
In Survival Mode, there are three ways to get Crying Obsidian in Minecraft: mine it from Ruined Portals, obtain it through Piglin bartering, or find it inside certain Bastion Remnant chests.
For most players, finding a Ruined Portal is the easiest way to get a few blocks. If you need a large amount, however, Piglin bartering is the better renewable method.
Ways to Get Crying Obsidian
You can obtain Crying Obsidian in three ways:
- Mine it from Ruined Portals
- Barter Gold Ingots with Piglins
- Loot Bastion Remnant chests
You cannot craft Crying Obsidian from regular Obsidian, smelt it in a furnace, or buy it from villagers.
Method 1: Mine Crying Obsidian From Ruined Portals
The easiest place to find Crying Obsidian is a Ruined Portal.
Ruined Portals can generate in both the Overworld and the Nether. Their frames are made from a mixture of regular Obsidian and, in many cases, Crying Obsidian.
Crying Obsidian is easy to recognize because it has bright purple cracks and produces purple particles.
Once you find one, simply mine the purple blocks from the portal frame.
However, you need the correct tool.
What Pickaxe Do You Need for Crying Obsidian?
You must use either a:
- Diamond Pickaxe
- Netherite Pickaxe
Breaking Crying Obsidian with an Iron, Stone, Wooden, or Golden Pickaxe will destroy the block without dropping it.
You also do not need Silk Touch.
A normal Diamond or Netherite Pickaxe will drop the Crying Obsidian block normally.
Fortune does not increase the number of blocks you receive either. One Crying Obsidian block mined equals one Crying Obsidian item.
Method 2: Get Crying Obsidian From Piglins
Piglin bartering is the best method if you want a renewable supply of Crying Obsidian.
To barter with a Piglin:
- Travel to the Nether.
- Find a normal adult Piglin.
- Give or throw a Gold Ingot to it.
- Wait for the Piglin to inspect the Gold Ingot.
- Collect the random item it throws back.
- Repeat until you receive Crying Obsidian.
When Crying Obsidian is selected as the barter reward, the Piglin gives you 1 to 3 blocks.
The chance of getting Crying Obsidian from a barter is approximately 8.7% per Gold Ingot.
That means there is no guaranteed number of Gold Ingots required. You might receive Crying Obsidian immediately, or you may need to barter many times.
On average, you can expect roughly one successful Crying Obsidian barter for every 11 to 12 Gold Ingots.
Because each successful trade gives between one and three blocks, Piglin bartering becomes especially useful when you have access to a large supply of Gold.
Tips for Bartering With Piglins
Wear at least one piece of Gold Armor before approaching normal Piglins. This prevents them from attacking you simply for being nearby.
Keep in mind that Piglin Brutes remain hostile even if you are wearing Gold Armor, so be careful when bartering near Bastion Remnants.
Also make sure you are dealing with an adult Piglin. Piglin Brutes and Zombified Piglins cannot perform normal bartering.
If you eventually build a Gold Farm and an automated Piglin bartering setup, Crying Obsidian becomes effectively renewable.
Method 3: Find Crying Obsidian in Bastion Remnants
Crying Obsidian can also appear inside chests found in Bastion Remnants.
Bastions generate throughout the Nether and contain several different types of chests. The chance of finding Crying Obsidian depends on the chest.
Typical Crying Obsidian loot rates include:
| Bastion chest | Amount | Approximate chance |
|---|---|---|
| Bridge chest | 1–5 | 11.2% |
| Generic Bastion chest | 1–5 | 19.0% |
| Hoglin Stable chest | 1–5 | 22.8% |
| Treasure chest | 3–5 | 33.7% |
Treasure chests offer the best individual chance and can contain several blocks at once.
The advantage of this method is that you do not need a Diamond Pickaxe to collect Crying Obsidian from a chest.
The disadvantage is that Bastion Remnants are dangerous.
They contain Piglins and Piglin Brutes, and opening containers near Piglins can make them hostile even if you are wearing Gold Armor.
For that reason, Bastions are better treated as an additional source of Crying Obsidian rather than the safest method for beginners.
What Is the Best Way to Get Crying Obsidian?
The best method depends on how much you need.
If you only need a few blocks, search for Ruined Portals. They can appear in the Overworld, making them accessible before you spend much time exploring the Nether.
If you already have Nether access and plenty of Gold, Piglin bartering is the best long-term method.
Unlike Ruined Portals and Bastion chests, bartering is renewable. As long as you can keep producing Gold Ingots, you can continue attempting to obtain Crying Obsidian.
Bastion Remnants are worth looting when you encounter them, especially Treasure Bastions, but searching for Bastions exclusively for Crying Obsidian is usually less efficient than bartering.
Does the Ruined Portal Chest Contain Crying Obsidian?
No.
This is an easy source of confusion.
The chest found next to a Ruined Portal can contain regular Obsidian, but Crying Obsidian is obtained from the portal structure itself.
If you find a Ruined Portal, inspect the purple blocks in the portal frame instead of relying on the chest.
Can You Craft Crying Obsidian?
No.
Crying Obsidian does not have a crafting recipe in vanilla Minecraft.
You cannot combine regular Obsidian with Ghast Tears, Glowstone, Amethyst, or any other material to create it.
Some Minecraft mods and custom datapacks add Crying Obsidian recipes, which may explain why you sometimes see recipes online. Those recipes are not part of the standard game.
Can You Smelt Obsidian Into Crying Obsidian?
No.
Regular Obsidian cannot be placed in a Furnace, Blast Furnace, or Smoker to turn it into Crying Obsidian.
You must obtain Crying Obsidian through Ruined Portals, Piglins, or Bastion Remnants.
Can Crying Obsidian Make a Nether Portal?
No.
Despite looking similar to regular Obsidian, Crying Obsidian cannot be used as part of a working Nether Portal frame.
This is particularly important when repairing a Ruined Portal.
If Crying Obsidian occupies one of the required positions in the portal frame, remove it and replace it with regular Obsidian before attempting to light the portal.
What Is Crying Obsidian Used For?
The most important use for Crying Obsidian is crafting a Respawn Anchor.
A Respawn Anchor allows you to set a respawn point inside the Nether.
To craft one, you need:
- 6 Crying Obsidian
- 3 Glowstone
After crafting the Respawn Anchor, you must charge it with Glowstone before using it as your Nether respawn point.
Crying Obsidian is also popular as a decorative building block because of its animated purple texture and particles.
Its dark color works particularly well in Nether builds, portals, magical builds, ancient ruins, and other dark-themed structures.
Is Crying Obsidian Renewable?
Yes.
Although naturally generated Crying Obsidian from Ruined Portals and Bastion chests is limited, Piglin bartering provides a renewable source.
If you have a renewable Gold supply, you can repeatedly barter with Piglins and continue obtaining more Crying Obsidian.
This makes Piglin bartering the preferred method for players who need large quantities for building.
Crying Obsidian vs. Regular Obsidian
Although the two blocks look similar, they have some important differences.
| Feature | Crying Obsidian | Obsidian |
|---|---|---|
| Can build Nether Portals | No | Yes |
| Used for Respawn Anchors | Yes | No |
| Found in Ruined Portals | Yes | Yes |
| Obtained from Piglin bartering | Yes | Yes |
| Requires Diamond/Netherite Pickaxe | Yes | Yes |
| Silk Touch required | No | No |
| Produces purple particles | Yes | No |
The easiest visual difference is the purple animated texture on Crying Obsidian.
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
Where can I find Crying Obsidian?
You can find Crying Obsidian in Ruined Portals, Bastion Remnant chests, and through Piglin bartering in the Nether.
What is the easiest way to get Crying Obsidian?
Finding a Ruined Portal is usually the easiest method if you only need a few blocks. Bring a Diamond or Netherite Pickaxe and mine the purple blocks directly from the portal structure.
Can you make Crying Obsidian from regular Obsidian?
No. There is no vanilla crafting or smelting recipe that converts regular Obsidian into Crying Obsidian.
Do you need Silk Touch to mine Crying Obsidian?
No. Crying Obsidian drops normally when mined with a Diamond or Netherite Pickaxe.
Can an Iron Pickaxe mine Crying Obsidian?
You can break the block with an Iron Pickaxe, but it will not drop anything. Use a Diamond or Netherite Pickaxe if you want to collect it.
How rare is Crying Obsidian from Piglins?
Crying Obsidian has approximately an 8.7% chance of being selected as a Piglin barter reward. A successful barter gives between one and three blocks.
Can villagers sell Crying Obsidian?
No. Villagers and Wandering Traders do not sell Crying Obsidian in vanilla Minecraft.
Can Crying Obsidian be used for a Nether Portal?
No. You must use regular Obsidian for the required Nether Portal frame blocks.
Final Thoughts
There are three legitimate ways to get Crying Obsidian in Minecraft: Ruined Portals, Piglin bartering, and Bastion Remnant chests.
For a small amount, Ruined Portals are usually the easiest option. Just remember to bring a Diamond or Netherite Pickaxe.
If you need dozens or even stacks of Crying Obsidian, Piglin bartering is the better strategy because it provides a renewable supply.
And if you are exploring a Bastion Remnant anyway, make sure to check its chests—especially Treasure chests, which can contain several Crying Obsidian blocks at once.
