What are Structure blocks in Minecraft?

Structure blocks can be obtained using the /setblock, /fill, or /give commands in Minecraft. In Java Edition, they are also available in the Creative inventory. When placed, structure blocks are unbreakable in Survival mode and have the same blast resistance as bedrock. In Bedrock Edition, only save-mode structure blocks are obtainable through commands.

To use a structure block, players must first place it and then open the structure block GUI. The GUI only appears if the player is in Creative mode and has the necessary permissions. Once a structure is named, its name appears above the structure block when highlighted, preceded by the block mode. For instance, "Save: House" indicates that the block is currently set to save mode and the structure's name is "House".

The settings of the structure block are preserved when switching between modes wherever possible. Before being placed, the structure block uses a "blank" texture in the inventory, which is not used when on a placed block. It is important to note that a piston cannot move a structure block. They cannot be pushed or pulled by sticky pistons, and they cannot be destroyed by the ender dragon.

Save mode allows players to highlight a structure in the world and save it to memory, a level file, or a separate file. In the GUI, players can enter the name of the structure, which cannot contain capital letters or special characters but can have underscores and hyphens. In Bedrock Edition, the structure name has the "mystructure:" prefix by default.

Players can also enter the X, Y, and Z values for the structure's relative position based on the position of the structure block. This sets the origin of the structure outline. The maximum allowed distance from the structure block in Java Edition is 48 blocks in any direction, while in Bedrock Edition, it is 64 blocks horizontally and 256 blocks vertically.

The GUI also includes the option to show invisible blocks, which displays them as small colored cubes. In Java Edition, invisible blocks are shown as white, while in Bedrock Edition, they are shown as green, blue, or red, depending on the axis. The maximum structure size is 48x48x48 in Java Edition and 64x256x64 in Bedrock Edition.

To save the structure, players can click the "Save" button. In Java Edition, this saves the structure to a file, with the name of the structure being the name of the file. Players can save structures to a local folder or share them with other players by sending them the file. The structure block is a very useful tool in creating detailed Minecraft worlds.

Players can also load structures using the load mode of the structure block. This allows players to use a saved structure in the world or level. Like the save mode, players must enter the structure name and relative position. Additionally, players must specify the corner of the structure they want to load. The corner block can be placed anywhere within the structure's bounds.

The "Detect structure size and position" option can be used to automatically calculate the size and position of the structure using a corner block placed on the opposite corner of the structure. The name of the structure in the save block must match the name within the corner block, or the size calculation will fail.

The structure block GUI also includes several other features in addition to the save mode. These include load mode, corner mode, data mode, and 3D export mode.

Load mode is used to load a structure that has been previously saved using save mode. In the GUI, the player must enter the name of the structure they wish to load, and then select either "Load" or "Data". The former simply loads the structure into the world, while the latter allows the player to edit the structure's block data before loading it. In Java Edition, the player can also choose whether to load the structure relative to the position of the structure block or to the world spawn.

Corner mode is used to set the corner positions of a structure without actually saving it. This can be useful for previewing the size and shape of a structure before committing to saving it. To use corner mode, the player must place two structure blocks in the positions that will serve as opposite corners of the structure. Once this is done, the player can enter corner mode and select the structure name, which will automatically detect the size and position of the structure based on the two corner blocks. The player can then adjust the size and position as necessary before saving the structure.

Data mode allows the player to edit the block data of a saved structure before loading it into the world. This includes things like block states, NBT tags, and other properties that can affect the appearance and behavior of the structure. To use data mode, the player must first load a saved structure using load mode, and then select the "Data" button in the GUI. From here, the player can make any necessary changes to the structure's block data before loading it into the world.

3D export mode allows the player to export a saved structure as a 3D model file in either .obj or .stl format. This can be useful for importing the structure into other programs or using it for 3D printing. To use 3D export mode, the player must first save a structure using save mode, and then select the "3D Export" button in the GUI. From here, the player can choose the format of the exported file and select the desired location to save it.

A structure block is a powerful tool that allows Minecraft players to create and manipulate structures in a variety of ways. With its ability to save, load, and export structures, as well as its various modes for setting corner positions and editing block data, a structure block is an essential tool for any serious Minecraft builder. Whether you're building a massive castle, a complex redstone contraption, or just a simple house, the structure block is sure to be a useful addition to your toolbox.