Minecraft resource gathering/Charcoal
Charcoal is a renewable fuel and crafting ingredient obtained by smelting logs. In most recipies that would require coal, charcoal can be used as a substitute. This makes it most valuable in the early game, when coal is scarce.
Obtaining
editYou get Charcoal by smelting logs in a furnace. You can use any source of fuel, such as planks (a sensible choice if you have access to lots of wood), coal or charcoal, and even lava buckets or blaze rods.
Uses
editCharcoal is in many cases, a valid alternative to coal. It can be used as fuel, with each charcoal smelting 8 items. However, you can’t craft charcoal blocks like you can coal blocks.
Also, it’s used in the crafting recipes of campfires, fire charges, torches, and soul torches, as an alternative to regular coal.