To craft a sea lantern in Minecraft, arrange 8 prismarine shards around 1 prismarine crystal in a 3x3 crafting grid. This creates the brightest underwater light source (level 15), essential for ocean bases and monument exploration.
Why Craft Sea Lanterns? Your Ultimate Underwater Lighting Solution
Sea lanterns aren't just decorative—they're Minecraft's most powerful underwater light source, emitting level 15 brightness without air bubbles. Unlike glowstone or torches, they function perfectly submerged, making them indispensable for:
- Building sustainable ocean monuments
- Illuminating deep ocean bases without suffocation risk
- Creating stunning underwater gardens and pathways
- Preventing hostile mob spawns in submerged structures
Gathering Materials: Where to Find Prismarine
You'll need two specific ocean monument drops. Here's how to farm them efficiently:
Prismarine Shards (8 required)
- Dropped by: Guardians and elder guardians
- Best farming spot: Ocean monument courtyards (target guardians near prismarine blocks)
- Pro tip: Use Impaling IV trident for 2.5x faster guardian kills
Prismarine Crystal (1 required)
- Dropped exclusively by: Elder guardians
- Spawn locations: Only in monument center chambers (3 per monument)
- Critical strategy: Mine monument walls to access chambers without triggering elder guardians
Step-by-Step Crafting Guide
Follow this foolproof method to avoid common mistakes:
| Shard | Shard | Shard |
| Shard | Crystal | Shard |
| Shard | Shard | Shard |
- Open your 3x3 crafting grid (inventory or crafting table)
- Place prismarine crystal in the center slot
- Surround it with 8 prismarine shards in all remaining slots
- Drag the sea lantern into your inventory
Warning: Using regular prismarine blocks instead of shards/crystals is the #1 crafting mistake. Shards have a rough texture; blocks are smooth.
Advanced Usage Tips You Won't Find Elsewhere
Maximize your sea lantern investment with these pro techniques:
Light Optimization
- Place every 12 blocks for full illumination (vs 8 for torches)
- Combine with glow berries for purple accent lighting
Alternative Acquisition Methods
- Villager trading: Librarian villagers (level 4) offer 1 sea lantern for 24 emeralds
- Loot chests: Found in ocean ruins (5.3% chance) and shipwrecks (3.1%)
Eco-Friendly Farming
Create a guardian farm using monument mechanics—no killing required! Trap guardians in water streams to auto-collect drops while preserving elder guardians for crystal farming.
Sea Lantern vs. Alternatives: When to Choose What
Not every underwater project needs sea lanterns. Use this decision guide:
| Light Source | Underwater Use | Materials Needed | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sea Lantern | Perfect (level 15) | 8 shards + 1 crystal | Main bases, monuments |
| Glowstone | Works (level 15) | 4 glowstone dust | Temporary underwater shelters |
| Shroomlight | Works (level 15) | 1 block | Cave oceans, mushroom biomes |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can sea lanterns be crafted without visiting ocean monuments?
Yes—librarian villagers at master level trade 1 sea lantern for 24 emeralds. You can also find them in ocean ruin chests (5.3% chance) or shipwrecks (3.1%).
Why isn't my sea lantern recipe working in the crafting grid?
You're likely using prismarine blocks instead of shards/crystals. Shards have a rough texture and drop from guardians; blocks are smooth and mined from monuments.
Do sea lanterns prevent drowned from spawning?
Absolutely. At light level 15, they completely prevent hostile mob spawns—including drowned—in underwater areas, making them superior to regular torches.
Can sea lanterns melt ice or frost?
No—they emit light without heat, so they won't melt blue ice or frosted ice. This makes them ideal for frozen ocean bases where heat sources would cause structural damage.
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