How to Get Honeycomb in Minecraft Without Being Attacked

How to get honeycomb in Minecraft without being attacked is simple: wait until a bee nest or beehive is full, place a lit campfire directly underneath so smoke passes through the block, then use shears on the nest or hive. The bees stay calm if the smoke is reaching it, and you will collect 3 honeycomb.

What you need to harvest honeycomb

You need two items: shears and a lit campfire. Shears are used to harvest the honeycomb from the nest or hive. Shears can be crafted from two iron ingots by placing one in the center and one in the first slot of the third row of the crafting grid. A lit campfire placed underneath the nest produces smoke that calms the bees, preventing them from attacking you. A campfire is crafted using 3 sticks, 1 coal or charcoal, and 3 wood, logs, or stems.

Step 1: Find a bee nest and wait for it to be full

Bee nests generate naturally on oak or birch trees in specific biomes: plains, sunflower plains, forests, flower forests, birch forests, old-growth birch forests, and meadows. A bee nest has a 100% chance of generating in a Meadow biome. A bee nest has a 5% chance of generating in Plains or Sunflower Plains biomes. A bee nest has a 3% chance of generating in a Flower Forest biome. A bee nest has a 0.035% chance of generating in Forest, Birch Forest, or Old Growth Birch Forest biomes. If you have trouble spotting a nest, follow a bee. Bees return to their nest when it rains or at night, making them easier to track. In Creative Mode, honeycomb is found in the Nature menu in the inventory. A nest is ready to harvest when you see honey dripping from the block, which indicates honey level 5.

Step 2: Place a lit campfire to calm the bees

Place a lit campfire directly underneath the nest or hive so that smoke rises into it. The smoke calms the bees, and they will not become hostile when you harvest. To avoid killing bees with the campfire, place it four to five blocks below the nest, and dig a hole if the tree is too short. The maximum distance between the campfire and the nest for the smoke to work is five blocks. If the campfire is not lit or the smoke is blocked from reaching the nest, the protection does not work and the bees can still attack.

Step 3: Use shears to collect the honeycomb

Equip the shears in your hotbar.
Use the shears on the full nest or hive. In Minecraft PE, you harvest by tapping and holding on the bee nest.
Pick up the 3 honeycomb that drop from the block.

What to make with honeycomb in Minecraft

Honeycomb is a crafting ingredient with several uses. You can craft a beehive using 3 honeycomb and 6 planks of any kind. A honeycomb block requires 4 honeycomb. Candles are made from 1 honeycomb and 1 piece of string. You can also use honeycomb to wax copper blocks, slabs, and stairs, which stops them from oxidizing and preserves their original color.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you craft honeycomb?

No, there is no crafting recipe for honeycomb. It can only be obtained by harvesting it from a full bee nest or beehive with shears.

When can you harvest honeycomb?

You can harvest honeycomb at any time of day or in any weather, as long as the bee nest or beehive is full (honey level 5, shown by dripping honey).

Can you eat honeycomb?

No, honeycomb cannot be eaten. It is used only as a crafting ingredient and for waxing copper blocks.

Does the campfire have to be directly under the nest?

Yes, the lit campfire must be placed directly underneath the nest or hive so the smoke passes through it. If the smoke is blocked or the fire is too far away, the bees may still attack.

Can you get honeycomb from a beehive you crafted?

Yes, a crafted beehive works the same as a naturally generated bee nest. You can place it, let bees fill it with honey, and harvest it using the same campfire and shears method.

What happens if you break a nest without shears?

Breaking a bee nest or beehive without shears destroys it and drops nothing. You must use shears on a full nest to collect honeycomb without breaking the block.