The easiest infinite lava source in modern Minecraft uses one lava source block, pointed dripstone and a cauldron. The lava source is not consumed, so the cauldron can keep refilling and you can collect renewable lava buckets indefinitely.
This works because pointed dripstone hanging beneath a block with lava above it can slowly drip lava into a cauldron below. Mojang added the mechanic with the Caves & Cliffs dripstone system.
| You need | Amount |
|---|---|
| Lava bucket | 1 per farm cell |
| Solid, non-flammable block | 1 |
| Pointed dripstone | 1 |
| Cauldron | 1 |
| Extra non-flammable blocks | Optional, for safely containing the lava |
How to make an infinite lava source
- Place a cauldron where you want to collect the lava.
- Place a solid block above it, leaving room underneath for the pointed dripstone.
- Attach pointed dripstone to the underside of that block so the pointed end hangs down toward the cauldron.
- Place a lava source block directly above the support block. Contain it with non-flammable blocks so it cannot flow into your build.
- Wait. Lava droplets will fall from the pointed dripstone. Eventually the cauldron fills completely with lava.
- Use an empty bucket on the full cauldron. The lava source above remains in place, so the process starts again.
Mojang’s dripstone cave guide confirms that a cauldron beneath a lava pool and pointed dripstone will slowly fill with lava.
The block layout
From top to bottom, the simple farm should look like this:
Lava source Solid block Pointed dripstone Air / gap if desired Cauldron
The important part is alignment. The lava source must be directly above the block holding the stalactite, and the cauldron must sit beneath the dripstone tip with no solid obstruction between the tip and the cauldron.
How long does infinite lava take?
There is no fixed countdown. Cauldron filling is based on random ticks, so one cauldron may fill quickly while another beside it takes longer.
The Minecraft Wiki’s current lava-farming documentation estimates an average of roughly 19 minutes per fill under normal Java Edition random-tick conditions. Treat that as an average, not a timer.
If you need a lot of lava, scaling the farm horizontally is far more useful than staring at one cauldron. Ten independent cells give you ten chances to fill at the same time.
Does this work in Java and Bedrock?
Yes. The renewable-lava dripstone mechanic is available in both modern Java and Bedrock editions. Interface details and random-tick behaviour can differ between editions, but the basic build is the same: lava source above, pointed dripstone below it, cauldron underneath.
Why isn’t my lava farm working?
1. You used flowing lava
The lava above the dripstone setup needs to be a source block. If you place lava off to the side and only a flowing stream sits above the support block, the farm will not work correctly.
2. The dripstone is not directly under the lava
The pointed dripstone must hang from the underside of the block directly below the lava source. If the source is offset by a block, move it into alignment.
3. Something is between the dripstone and cauldron
The path from the pointed dripstone tip down to the cauldron needs to be clear. Decorative blocks, trapdoors or other solid obstructions can stop the setup working.
4. You have not waited long enough
A dripstone lava farm is renewable, not fast. Seeing lava particles does not mean the cauldron will fill on the next drip. Leave it running while you do something else.
5. Your setup is unnecessarily tall
A single piece of pointed dripstone is easiest. Current Minecraft Wiki mechanics limit how far below the stalactite tip the cauldron can be and how tall the lava-dripping stalactite can become, so there is little benefit in building a giant hanging column.
Do you need a dripstone block?
No. A pointed dripstone is the important item. It can hang from a suitable solid block with the lava source above that block. A dripstone block looks thematically appropriate, but the farm does not need one specifically.
How to find pointed dripstone
Pointed dripstone naturally generates in dripstone caves and can also grow from dripstone blocks when the conditions are right. If you only need a small lava farm, one pointed dripstone per cauldron is enough.
Dripstone caves can be awkward places to explore because stalagmites cause extra fall damage. If you’re building out a broader Minecraft utility setup, our Potion of Slow Falling guide is useful for cave and height-heavy builds.
How to scale the farm
For a larger lava farm, repeat the same cell side by side:
- one contained lava source above each support block;
- one pointed dripstone underneath each source;
- one cauldron below each pointed dripstone.
Use stone, deepslate or another non-flammable material around the lava. A single accidental lava flow is much less funny when it reaches a wooden storage room.
Is lava really infinite now?
Yes, in the renewable-resource sense. The original lava source remains above the dripstone while the cauldron generates new collectable lava. Emptying the cauldron with a bucket does not consume that source block.
This is different from the old pre-1.17 advice. A 2×2 arrangement of lava does not regenerate source blocks the way a 2×2 water pool does. Pointed dripstone and cauldrons are the reliable modern method.
Quick answer
Put a lava source above a solid block, hang pointed dripstone from the underside, and place a cauldron below the tip. Wait for the cauldron to fill, collect it with a bucket, and leave the original source in place. Repeat the setup side by side if you need lava faster.
