Minecraft Command Block

To gain the command block you will have to use a certain console command. Bring up your console command bar and enter the syntax as follows:

Syntax: /give @s command_block

If this does not work, in place of @s enter your username so that the game knows to specifically give the command block to you when playing.

There are a multitude of ways to use the command block, but for today let's go over one of the basics. In order to truly use this block, you will need to fulfill certain conditions beforehand.

Step 1: Enter the Command Block UI

First, you need to enter a command into the block so that it has something that it can act upon. In this case, let's summon a pillager captain. To summon your own pillager captain put in the console command as follows in the picture below.

Keep in mind however that the bar that you insert your command into can expand and grow larger if you press the plus sign that is right next to it.

Step 2: Power your Command Block

Once you have your command to summon this illager in, you need to attach a device that will allow you to summon it in the first place. In this case, we will use a wooden button.

Once you have that wooden button, make sure that you are crouching before you press the use button to attach the item properly. If you do not crouch you will instead go into the command block’s menu.

Step 3: Activating your Command Block

After the button is properly attached to the side of your command block, all you need to do is press the button and your pillager captain should appear in front of you.

This mob is but one example of what you can summon with this particular item, so imagine the possibilities of what else you can bring into your world. With the command block, it can allow you to summon certain modded enemies or enemies with mounts, weapons, enchantments or other add ons that separate them from their generic counterparts that you would normally find in their spawn egg.

When you first open a command block, it may seem intimidating to learn what each function does. However, each function is relatively simple and learning its function can help you get exactly what you want out of your command block.

Block Type

On the top left, Block Type represents how a command block will function after receiving power. There are three different block types to choose from: Impulse, Chain, and Repeat.

1. Impulse: The command block activates when it receives a redstone signal.
2. Chain: The command block activates when a command block pointing into it is activated.
3. Repeat: The command block will repeat itself once every in-game tick. There are 20 ticks per second in Minecraft.

Condition

Below Block Type is the Condition function. This function will determine when a command block executes its command. There are two different conditions to choose from: Conditional and Unconditional.

1. Conditional: The command blocks’ command will only complete if the previous block in the chain was successful.
2. Unconditional: The command block’s command will complete regardless of if the previous command block completed or not.

Redstone

This line simply dictates whether the command block requires a redstone pulse to activate or not. There are two options to pick between: Needs Redstone and Always Active.

1. Needs Redstone: The command block will only activate once it receives redstone power.
2. Always Active: The command block will always activate with or without redstone.

Execute on First Tick

This setting is only available for repeating command blocks with a delay. If this setting is enabled, the command will execute as soon as the block receives power. If it is disabled, the command will not run the first time until the delay is finished.

Delay in Ticks

This setting will define how long a command block needs to wait before executing its command after receiving power.

Command blocks are versatile in what they can do and should be fully taken advantage of those capabilities so you can experience the full potential of the game. Just keep in mind that if you are not spawning anything on your first try, always double and even triple-check to make sure that your command is entered correctly. You may not get it right the first couple of times. Eventually, however, it will become second nature with enough practice.