How to build a Dispenser in Minecraft: Step by Step Guide

Dispensers are a useful combination of chests and Redstone. These automatable blocks are able to both store items as well as spit them out! Dispensers can be quite necessary in certain contexts, despite its similarity to the Dropper block. Unlike the Dropper, the Dispenser activates all the items that it releases.

Activating an item will allow players to use the “active” form of an item. This is not well-defined in Minecraft, but one example is that Dispensers will fire an arrow as if shot by a bow, while Droppers simply drop one on the ground like mob loot. These blocks are very flexible in their usage, and there are dozens of items that are able to be dispensed.

Required Materials to craft a Dispenser

To craft a Dispenser in Minecraft, you will need the following:

Cobblestone (7x)
Bow (1x)
Redstone Dust (1x)

How to make a Dispenser in Minecraft?

In a Nutshell:

Place a Bow in the center of the crafting grid, with one Redstone Dust directly below it. Fill the rest of the grid with Cobblestone blocks to

Step-by-Step Guide (with Pictures):

Step 1- Open up your Crafting Menu by pressing the use button on your Crafting Table.

Step 2- Craft a bow using the recipe below:

Step 3- Stone and Redstone are both quite common in caves. Mine at least 7 Stone and 1 Redstone.

Step 4- Now, combine all 3 of these materials into the recipe shown below:

Step 5- Place your Dispenser down and it will be ready for use!

How to use a Dispenser in Minecraft?

Redstone does not need to be complicated! It can be simple in practice to use and while there are many structures that require the use of a Dispenser, this guide will only be covering the mechanics of the item. Players should open the Dispenser UI and place items in it for a demonstration. Use anything you have on hand, but arrows can be a fun way to test this item.

For this example, craft a Button to place on the side of the Dispenser. This will make it easy to activate. By placing this button on the Dispenser, players are giving it instructions to drop its inventory when the Button is pressed. Go ahead and activate the Dispenser by pressing the use key on the button, and watch your chosen projectile/item fly out of the block! Notice that the hole shown on the texture of the block is where the items are released from.

The Dispenser UI, with arrows in its inventory

Button Crafting Recipe

Button placed on the side of Dispenser

Arrows, fired by the Dispenser itself

Explainer Video

FAQs

Q. How do Dispensers work with buckets of water or lava?

Be warned… The Dispenser will immediately dump your water or lava, which can actually result in its own destruction. Run a few tests before risking any of your materials or items.

Conclusion

Dispensers are incredibly versatile blocks, and when combined with Redstone, the possibilities for complex contraptions are endless. One of the best ways to utilize Dispensers is actually chaining them together, as well as feeding Droppers directly into Dispensers! Start experimenting and find out for yourself.