Activation requirements
A beacon sits on a mineral pyramid (iron, gold, emerald, diamond or netherite blocks) with a clear sky view. Tiers: 1 layer = 9 blocks (power range 20 blocks, 1 power), up to 4 layers = 164 blocks (range 50, primary + secondary powers). Each layer must be a full square pyramid step of the same mineral.
Powers worth taking
Speed and Haste are the base-tier workhorses — Haste II at the 4-layer level is why miners build beacons (mining speed doubles). Full beacons add a secondary: take Regeneration or, for the classic setup, Speed II via re-selecting. Strength/Resistance/Jump Boost fill the list; the beam color is cosmetic fun.
The real cost, honestly
A full 4-layer pyramid costs 164 mineral blocks = 1,476 ingots/gems. Iron golem farms make iron-block pyramids the practical route; emerald from trading works too. Mojang structured it so beacons are a mid-game megabuild — worth every ingot when you mine or fight in a fixed area daily.
