So, you’ve finally spawned into a blocky, pixelated world. The music is calm, the sheep are baaing, and everything looks peaceful. But make no mistake: when the sun goes down, things get dangerous.

Minecraft is the best-selling video game of all time, but it is notoriously bad at teaching you how to play. There are no tutorials and no obvious goals. If you are looking for a **Minecraft guide for beginners**, you have come to the right place.



Here is everything you need to know to survive your first day, craft your first tools, and start building your empire.

## Part 1: The First 10 Minutes (Race Against the Sun)

A Minecraft day lasts only 10 minutes in real-time. You have exactly that long to gather resources and build a shelter before monsters (Mobs) spawn.

### Step 1: Punch a Tree

It sounds silly, but it’s the foundation of the game. Walk up to a tree and hold down the attack button (Left Click on PC / Right Trigger on Console).

*   **Goal:** Collect 6 to 10 blocks of Log.

 

### Step 2: Open Your Inventory

Press 'E' (PC) or 'Triangle/Y' (Console). You will see a small 2x2 grid labeled "Crafting."

*   Drag your logs into that grid.

*   Collect the **Wooden Planks** from the output box.

 

### Step 3: The Crafting Table

This is the most important item in the game. With your Planks, fill all four slots of your 2x2 grid. This creates a **Crafting Table**.

*   Place the table on the ground.

*   Right-click (or Left Trigger) to open it. You now have a 3x3 grid, allowing you to craft advanced items.

### Step 4: Tool Up

Don't explore empty-handed. Use your crafting table to make:

1.  **Sticks:** Two planks stacked vertically.

2.  **Wooden Pickaxe:** Three planks across the top row, two sticks down the middle.


## Part 2: The Upgrade (Wood to Stone)

**Pro Tip:** *Wooden tools are terrible.* Use your wooden pickaxe immediately to dig into the ground or a nearby mountain to find Stone (gray blocks).

 

Once you have mined about 20 blocks of **Cobblestone**, go back to your crafting table and craft:

*   **Stone Pickaxe:** Faster and more durable than wood.

*   **Stone Sword:** Essential for defense.

*   **Stone Axe:** Chops trees much faster.


## Part 3: Surviving the Night

The sky is turning orange. You have three options to survive the night.

 

### Option A: The Bed (Best Option)

If you saw sheep during the day, kill three of them for **Wool**.

*   **Recipe:** 3 Wool across the top row, 3 Planks across the middle row.

*   **Why:** Sleeping in a bed skips the night instantly and sets your "Spawn Point." If you die, you reappear at your bed, not in the middle of nowhere.

 

### Option B: The Dirt Hut

If you can't find sheep, dig a hole in a hill or build a small shack out of dirt or wood. Close yourself inside completely. It isn't glamorous, but it keeps the zombies out.

 

### Option C: Digging for Coal

You need light. Monsters cannot spawn in light.

*   Look for stone blocks with black specks (**Coal Ore**).

*   Combine **1 Coal + 1 Stick** to make **Torches**.

*   Place torches inside your shelter.


## Part 4: Managing Hunger and Health

You will notice a row of "Drumsticks" on your screen. This is your Hunger Bar.

*   **Full Bar:** You slowly regenerate health.

*   **3 Drumsticks or less:** You cannot sprint.

*   **0 Drumsticks:** You start taking damage (starving).

 

**How to get food:**

Kill cows, pigs, or chickens. **Do not eat the meat raw!** raw chicken can poison you. Instead, craft a **Furnace** (8 Cobblestone in a circle). Place the raw meat in the top slot and fuel (coal or wood) in the bottom slot to cook it.


## Part 5: Know Your Enemies

In this Minecraft guide for beginners, identifying threats is half the battle. Here are the "Big Four" mobs you will see at night:

 

1.  **Zombies:** Green and slow. They attack by touching you. Easy to handle with a sword.

2.  **Skeletons:** The most annoying mob. They shoot arrows from a distance. Hide behind trees or use a Shield to block.

3.  **Creepers:** The iconic green monster. They are silent. If they get close, they hiss and explode, destroying your house and likely killing you. **Hit them once and run back.**

4.  **Endermen:** Tall, black creatures with purple eyes. **Do not look directly at their face.** If you look at them, they become hostile and teleport to attack you.


## Part 6: Mining for Iron and Diamonds

Once you have a house and food, it’s time to go underground.

 

*   **Iron Ore:** Look for beige/pinkish specks in the stone. You need a Stone Pickaxe to mine this. Smelt the ore in a furnace to get Iron Ingots. Iron Armor and Iron Tools are the standard for mid-game survival.

*   **Diamonds:** The holy grail. Diamonds are found deep underground (usually Y-level -58). You generally need an Iron Pickaxe to mine them.

 

### The Golden Rule of Mining

**Never dig straight down.** You might fall into a pit of lava or a deep cavern and lose all your items. Always dig in a staircase pattern.


## Summary Checklist

If you follow this **Minecraft guide for beginners**, your first hour should look like this:

1.  Get Wood.

2.  Make a Crafting Table.

3.  Get Stone tools.

4.  Get Food.

5.  Build a Shelter or Bed before the sun sets.

6.  Light up your area with Torches.

 

Minecraft is a game of creativity. Once you have survived the first night, the world is yours. You can build a castle, create a farm, or hunt the Ender Dragon. Good luck, and happy mining!