How can I build a secure shelter in Minecraft? [duplicate]

minecraft-java-edition

I've recently started playing Minecraft, and I only have a little experience with enemies (I've been playing with the peaceful setting so I can figure out what the heck I'm doing). When I did play some survival mode, I happened to be at the top of a pretty large cliff when night hit, and this seemed to protect me - the baddies just piled up at the bottom of the cliff.

However, it seems like this probably only worked due to pathing flukes. The terrain behind me was pretty easy going, so I suspect if enemies spawned in the right areas, they could still come up and visit.

That said, how can I set up a quick protective shelter for the first night or two? The days don't seem to last very long, so I don't expect I would be able to generate a lot of high-end materials, tools, etc. to work with.

Also, the zombies caught fire nicely when the sun came up, but there were still some spiders and some other things (creepers? - they were explosive) that didn't go away at daybreak. Do I need multiple exits for my shelter or some other way to avoid running into all the enemies outside the front door that have accumulated overnight?

Solution 1:

If you're willing to carry a door on you, the quickest shelter you can throw up is to just dig a 1x2 hole into the side of any hill and throw down a door to seal it off.

If you don't have a door I suggest the following:

  ▓▓▓ ▓▓▓
    ▓▒▓   top down view 
    ▓▒▓   
    ▓▒▓▓  ▓ 2 rocks
    ▓▒•▓  ▒ 1 rock
    ▓▓▓▓  •   you

The key thing here is that by being off to the side you aren't in range of arrows, but you still maintain a path to light so you can see the sun up (you can also listen for music, but I often disable sound). You close off the entrance with single rocks so you leave a 1x1 path which zombies can't come down.

Solution 2:

The big trick here is wooden blocks, and some coal for the lights. Each log block you get from a tree will give you 4 wooden blocks, which you can use to build a seperation and a door.

Now, here is a step-by-step tutorial, assuming a completely new spawn.

The First Day

Punch down a single tree, this'll give you usually 4-5 logs. (you'll need at least 4)
Find a place with some coal.
Turn all logs into wood.
Create a workbench
Turn 4 wood into sticks.
Make a wooden pickaxe.
Mine 3 cobblestone.
Create stone pickaxe, use that one from now on.
Mine at least 8 more cobblestone and all the coal.
Create a stone woodcutters axe.
Cut down at least 4-5 more trees.
Turn all logs into wood.
Create a door.

You should now have enough wood to create a safe shelter for the first night, with a nice door allowing you to look outside and see when the morning has started.

Ensure your hideout is at least 5x5 on the inside, to protect you against creepers when you stand in the center.

You are now ready to prepare yourself during the night for the second day.

The First Night

Stay in the center, or at the back wall this will ensure you that creepers won't be able to get close enough to explode.
Create a stone sword, and a box to store your stuff in.
Store your stuff in the box, only take the stone sword.

The Second Day

Wait until the zombies and skeletons have burned to death.
Run outside for about 10 blocks, leaving those mobs that stand near the front door behind you.
Secure your surroundings using the sword we made in the night. (use hit and run tactics when needed)
Stash your rewards when it is safe to do so.

Now, the only mob you need to be afraid of, is the creeper, which explodes when he is near you. If you hear the telltale creeper fuse sound, make distance between you and the creeper. Killing the creeper is the easiest when using hit-and-run tactics.

Just a note on the spider, while big and annoying and still dangerous, it is far less less dangerous compared to the creeper.