Block Strength

Block Strength is a metric based upon a vanilla mechanic that is Mining Efficiency.

• Block Strength does not exist for every instance and for every block, as the mechanics vary from one instance to another. Indeed, using the same tools on the same block in the same circumstances might not yield the same results.

An historic example of this is stonking: one could break blocks with limited success in  The Catacombs but in the  Dwarven Mines, the mining progress on the block would be "capped" to a certain point from the perspective of the player, as if they suffered the Mining Fatigue effect, despite using the same tools and targeting the same block type. Since then,  Dungeonbreaker effectively replaced the reliance on this exploit for navigating in  The Catacombs.

That said, difference in the breaking behavior can be observed as of version 0.25.0.25 and has been documented in the table below. The finer details of this system are only theorized and it is unknown whether the  Dungeonbreaker relies on Block Strength, ⧉ Toughness or something else entirely.

Mining behaviors in instances

Instances	Block Hardness (Vanilla-like)
 Private Island	✔
 The Garden	✔
 Hub	✔
Rift Dimension	✔
 Dungeon Hub	✕
 The Catacombs	✕
 The Barn	✔
 Mushroom Desert	✔
 Spider's Den	✕
 The End	✕
 Crimson Isle	✕
 Kuudra's Hollow	[More Info Needed]
 Gold Mine	✕
 Deep Caverns	✕
 Dwarven Mines &  Glacite Tunnels	✕
 Crystal Hollows	✕
 Glacite Mineshafts	[More Info Needed]
 The Park	✔
 Galatea	✕
 Backwater Bayou	✕
 Lotus Atoll	✕

• Block Strength is a metric that determines how fast a block can be broken by the player, tailored for the  Mining skill^[1].
• While mining,  Mining Speed is dealt as damage to the block every tick. When enough damage is dealt, the block will break, dropping an item and turning into an unbreakable block for a set period before respawning.^[Confirm]
  • If the  Mining Speed is high enough, the block will be mined in 1 tick (or 0.05 second). This is known as the block's Instamining threshold, or 1-tick threshold.
  • Otherwise, damage is limited to 7.5x a block's strength, limiting the break time to 4 ticks (or 0.20 second). This is known as a block's Softcap.
• The time taken to break a block can be calculated using the following formula :
  • $\text{Mining Time}=\lfloor \frac{\text{Block Strength}\times 30}{\text{Mining Speed}}\rceil$
    • It is rounded to the nearest integer.
    • Mining Time is measured in ticks, where 1 tick is 0.05 second. To convert the time in seconds, divide the result by 20.

• They are conditions that apply x5 on the breaking time.
• A Mining penalty is applied if at least 1 of the following conditions is fulfilled :
  • The player's feet are not on ground;
  • The player's head is in  Water without a  Helmet enchanted with Aqua Affinity.
• Unlike in vanilla Minecraft, they do not stack.

• Softcap limits how fast a block can be mined to at least 4 ticks (or 0.2s). To determine the mining speed needed to hit the softcap of a given block, use the following formula:
  • $\text{Softcap}=\lceil \frac{20}{3}\left(\text{Block Strength}\right)\rceil$
  • The softcap can be bypassed by breaking a block instantly.

• The softcap can be bypassed if the block is mined within a single Minecraft tick (0.05 second). In this case, the block will break instantly.
• To instantly break a Block,  Mining Speed needs to be >30x higher than a its Block Strength, or >30x if it's an Ore.

 calcpage  = Calculator:Mining Speed
 template  = Template:Calculator/Mining Speed
 form      = miningSpeedFromTicksCalcForm
 calcname  = Mining Speed Calculator
 result    = inner

 param     = block_strength|Block Strength|50|number
 param     = ticks|Ticks|3|number
 param     = block|Block Mined|Any other blocks|select|Netherrack / Stone / Cobblestone / Hard Stone,Any other blocks

 calcpage  = Calculator:Ticks
 template  = Template:Calculator/Ticks
 form      = ticksFromMiningSpeedCalcForm
 result    = inner

 param     = block_strength|Block Strength|50|number
 param     = mining_speed|Mining Speed|500|number
 param     = block|Block Mined|Any other blocks|select|Netherrack / Stone / Cobblestone / Hard Stone,Any other blocks

• Note: Calculator yields the "real" ticks. Ping makes it feel "fake".

• Unlike  Sand and  Red Sand, the predicted conditions for 1-ticking  Gravel and  Mycelium based upon the vanilla breaking mechanics are inconsistent with reality.
  • Theory: the calculator predicts 1-ticking  Gravel and  Mycelium should be possible using at least a (A) Golden Shovel enchanted with Efficiency III or (B) an un-enchanted Golden Shovel under the effect of Haste III. This supposes that clicking the block instantly breaks it, skipping the block mining animation entirely.
  • Reality: Clicking the block plays the block mining animation for a split second before breaking it. Because Minecraft runs at 20 ticks per second, this implies that ≥2 ticks lapsed since clicking the block. With that said, pressing the Attack Button (without holding it) results in to block being broken.
• Conclusion : with the conditions fulfilled, Gravel and  Mycelium…
  • can be 1-ticked with a low enough ping;
  • are instamined regardless of ping.
• Discussion:
  • Block toughness difference: has been taken into account when testing all 4 "dig-able" blocks, does not seem be the discriminant.
  • Ping: Ping-gliding has been developed to overcome the delay introduced by higher pings, in which the player assumes his time is "one step ahead" of the server's. For example, instead of waiting to witness the block physically breaking, the player will turn his head prematurely and start mining another block expecting the server to stay "a bit behind" and continue chewing through the packets sent by the player earlier. This balance is lost when the player's ping is too inconstant or him being not "gentle enough" with anticipating the server's delay. For example, turning the head around too early/late…or too fast: from the player's perspective, it appears as if some packets were lost.
  • Tampered breaking mechanics: most plausible yet this remains a theory as there is no official documentation to this day.

• Breaking Power
• Toughness
• Handy Block Guide

SkyBlock Prototype
Jun 11, 2019	0.1	Added Block Strength.
Unknown Date		Lowered  Opal's  Breaking Power to 7 and Block Strength to 3000.