How deep and wide should flowing moats be in Minecraft?

How deep and wide should flowing moats be in Minecraft? - Grand Canyon Under Blue and White Cloudy Sky

I'm currently flatting out a big jungle mountain top to build my castle in Minecraft.

I want to have my castle surrounded by flowing moats (that mostly plunge off big cliffs).

To prevent mobs from crossing the moats how deep and wide do I need to dig them?

Is it correct I'll need to make them shallower in the middle and deeper at each end to get the water to flow correctly?

minecraft-java-edition

Best Answer

You can dig them two wide and one deep, and then place water only on the inside.

    mobs here                     protected here
+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| solid | solid |flowing| water | solid | solid |
| block | block | water | source| block | block |
+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| solid | solid | solid | solid | solid | solid |
| block | block | block | block | block | block |
+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+

i.e. place water on the inside of the moat: enter image description here

And let it flow to the outside: enter image description here

Hungry zombies wanting my brains, but unable to cross moat: enter image description here

My fully protected castle (unless mobs spawn inside the moat): enter image description here

If the water isn't flowing, mobs will be able to cross the moat no matter how deep or wide it is. Mobs can even swim across oceans, if they need to.

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How deep and wide should flowing moats be in Minecraft? - Sandy smooth coast washed by foamy peaceful waves of deep powerful ocean in sunlight

How deep and wide should flowing moats be in Minecraft? - Group of glowing blue transparent jellyfish swimming on black background in dark sea in deep water in bright neon light

How do you make a moat in Minecraft?

Build a Moat

Create a sketch or blueprint before building.

Add to the challenge by choosing a specific threat to protect against.

Challenge yourself to use at least one redstone circuit.

Use the camera and portfolio to share yourr creations with your class.

Minecraft - How to build a Moat with a trap and looter (Part 1)

More answers regarding how deep and wide should flowing moats be in Minecraft?

Answer 2

The moat really won't do anything unless it's pushing them. If you're hanging out within their agro-range, the mobs will swim through the water even if it's deep, long, or flowing sideways. They may get stuck in the current, but they will keep trying until they get to you. My advice is to make a moat where all of the water source blocks are on the inside of your island. Basically the water will push the mobs away from the castle. i suggest 3-wide and maybe 1-3 deep. Experiment a little.

Answer 3

All of the given examples will work just fine. But however they are all missing one small detail. How do you expect to get across the moat? I am pretty sure your first thought will be a bridge of some kind... but this is the flaw in the moat, not all mobs will fall into the depths of your moat some will manage to get across your bridge and invade your castle. As there is no way of making a lift able Bridge, Rexdaboss from Planet Minecraft has made this:

http://www.planetminecraft.com/project/moat-fix/

Take a look. It is a castle entrance which shuts at night and re-opens during the day. This will stop mobs from entering your castle at night time by crossing your bridge, and also means you have a way of crossing your Moat at the same time.

Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Images: Pixabay, Mariana Montrazi, Ben Mack, Ryutaro Tsukata