Advanced Respawn Anchor Tactics: Master the Explosion Meta

Want to dominate your next duel? The Respawn Anchor isn’t just for the Nether. It is a high-stakes weapon that can one-shot opponents if you know the secrets.

We break down the explosion mechanics and precise tactics you need to master the blast radius meta today.

Advanced Respawn Anchor Tactics: Mechanics and the Blast Radius Meta

The biggest difference between crystals and anchors lies in their fundamental mechanics.

A charged Respawn Anchor is engineered differently from an End Crystal explosion.

Understanding these subtle mechanical distinctions is absolutely crucial for advanced tactics.

The Glowstone Charge Mechanic

The core mechanic centers around the Glowstone charge. You must load the anchor with up to four pieces of Glowstone before it can be detonated.

Each piece you add drastically increases the final power of the explosion. This gives you a scalable weapon, unlike the fixed output of an End Crystal.

A fully charged (Level 4) anchor has an explosion power of 5.0. This is actually lower than a standard End Crystal’s power of 6.0.

However, the anchor’s blast characteristics and vertical damage application make it uniquely effective for certain plays.

Knowing the exact charge level is vital.

The difference between a Level 3 and a Level 4 charge can be the reason your opponent survives or pops their final totem.

We can visualize this mechanical scaling.

Verticality and the Spherical Blast Radius

While the overall damage power is lower than a crystal, the anchor’s blast radius is powerful and highly focused. It also features intense damage fall-off.

Imagine the anchor blast as a perfect sphere or bubble surrounding the block. It covers about 5 blocks in radius from the anchor itself in every direction.

This spherical shape is what elevates advanced Respawn Anchor usage, especially when dealing with vertical combat.

If you trap an enemy under a low ceiling-perhaps just two blocks above their head-and detonate an anchor right above them, the damage is immense.

The enemy’s body is deep within the blast zone. This setup often guarantees a totem pop or even an instant kill.

This verticality strategy works beautifully when you master advanced vertical knockback and spacing techniques.

Anchor vs. Crystal: Strategic Differences

The standard Crystal PvP meta relies on area denial and large, predictable damage. Anchors provide a calculated, high-burst option.

The Respawn Anchor is perfect for punishing opponents who rush into confined spaces or for finishing fights quickly.

It demands a faster, riskier setup, but the damage payload is worth it.

The primary defense against this tactic is the Blast Protection meta. High-level players nearly always use armor with this crucial enchantment.

To survive anchors, players invest heavily in mitigating explosion damage. Our guide on the Blast Protection armor meta explains why this defense is mandatory.

Here is a quick comparison of the two primary explosion tools:

Notice that the anchor, once charged, is nearly instant to detonate with a right-click. This makes it a major advantage in fast, close-quarters PvP duels.

What environmental factors do you think impact the anchor’s spherical blast radius the most when fighting inside a narrow choke point?

The Anchor’s Blueprint: Charge and Yield

The Respawn Anchor (RA) is more than just a crystal substitute. It’s a precision weapon with very specific rules you must master.

If you want to use it effectively, you need to understand its technical guts: the power, the reach, and how armor stops the blast.

The power of the blast is tied directly to how many glowstone blocks you feed it before activation.

You can load up to four glowstone blocks into the anchor, and four is always the optimal choice for a PvP engagement.

A fully charged Anchor has an explosion power of 5.0. This is huge, but slightly less than a standard Ender Crystal, which sits at 6.0.

Your primary goal is always to hit that maximum charge to guarantee the highest damage output and effective radius.

Here is how the power scales based on the number of glowstone blocks used:

Understanding Blast Radius and Vertical Reach

The damage isn’t applied in a perfect sphere. It’s a complex calculation based on the distance from the epicenter, modified by air and block obstacles.

The practical radius for lethal damage from a fully charged RA (Power 5.0) extends about 5-6 blocks horizontally from the anchor.

The most important factor in advanced tactics is the vertical reach. Unlike crystals placed directly on the floor, RAs often sit higher.

This verticality is a major advantage. The explosion travels about 4-5 blocks upwards effectively, and slightly less downwards.

Use this height advantage to catch enemies trying to employ advanced vertical knockback techniques while they float above you.

If you place the RA below your opponent’s feet, you maximize the vertical damage coefficient before they can react or totem out.

The Ultimate Defense: Blast Protection IV

Blast Protection IV is the only reliable counter to constant, high-power anchor usage. It is absolutely essential in the current meta.

The enchantment reduces damage based on a complex formula, but practically, it offers massive mitigation against explosive force.

Most competitive players aim for full Blast Protection IV (BP IV) on their Netherite armor set.

If you are hit directly by a Power 5.0 blast, a player in full Netherite without BP IV will likely die instantly.

A full set of BP IV, however, reduces the effective damage by up to 80% if the blast radius calculation is favorable.

This extreme reduction is why fully armored players can often survive a direct anchor blast with their totem still ready.

Even two pieces of BP IV on your chestplate and leggings make a colossal difference in survivability against these explosions.

You can see exactly how critical this defense is for mitigating large explosive damage in the data comparison below.

Knowing this, if you see an opponent with full BP IV, you must rely more on creative placement, suffocation, or quick follow-up sword damage.

The Respawn Anchor is a predictable weapon, but its raw power is undeniable when fully charged.

Your ability to consistently manage its glowstone and exploit its vertical damage field will separate good players from great ones.

If you want to be ready for the explosive meta, make sure your loadout includes these critical protections.

For more detail on ideal gear, check out our guide on the optimal crystal PvP inventory.

Considering the raw power of the anchor, what unblockable placement trick do you think provides the highest chance for a critical one-shot kill?

Offensive Mastery: Baiting, Positioning, and Anchor Popping Combos

Offensive Respawn Anchor tactics are all about mind games.

You aren’t just placing a block; you are setting a brilliant, high-risk trap.

Mastering this involves perfect baiting, rapid positioning, and linking the explosion into a deadly follow-up combo.

The Art of the Anchor Bait

Baiting is the key to making the Respawn Anchor work for you.

If you just place it randomly, your opponent will easily dodge the huge blast radius.

Your goal is to trick them into a tight space right above where the anchor is going to go off.

One powerful method is using the “Health Lure.”

If you have a totem, drop to half health and pretend to panic-run away.

Most aggressive PvP players will sprint right after you to secure the kill.

This pursuit forces them to ignore their surroundings.

You can also use feints-running one way and then quickly turning back-to lock their movement.

Learning how to use advanced PvP feinting and trapping techniques helps guide them right to the blast zone.

Optimal Anchor Positioning

Where you place the anchor determines if the combo lands or misses.

Respawn anchors cause massive vertical knockback-much stronger than standard crystal pops.

Because of this, you want the explosion to happen when they are trying to gain high ground, or when you have them cornered against a wall.

The best setup is a low-block setup, perhaps hiding the components one block below the path they are running on, if possible.

If you are in an open area, focus on the “Vertical Commitment Bait.”

This means placing the anchor after you have knocked them slightly upward with a sword hit or a Wind Charge.

Quick Placement Sequence

The speed of your hotkeying is critical here.

You must place the glowstone, swap, place the anchor, swap, and right-click incredibly fast.

This needs to happen in under one second to catch a sprinting opponent.

A sequence performed by elite players looks like this:

1. Bait opponent into a close chase (1-3 blocks behind you).
2. Instantly turn, place Glowstone block (Hotbar Slot 1).
3. Quick swap and place Respawn Anchor on the Glowstone (Hotbar Slot 2).
4. Quick swap to any activator (e.g., Flint and Steel or Fire Charge) and right-click to explode (Hotbar Slot 3 or 4).

Practice this swap sequence until it feels like a single fluid motion in your hands.

The Vertical Knockback Combo

The biggest payoff of the Respawn Anchor is the incredible launch it provides.

A successful anchor pop sends the enemy flying straight up into the air.

They are now disoriented, immobile, and an easy target for a clean-up shot.

This sets up the ultimate follow-up move: the air combo.

You have about 1.5 to 2 seconds before they recover or pearl out of danger.

Anchor Explosion Follow-Up Options

Use the anchor explosion to create massive vertical space, then finish with a high-damage weapon.

• The Mace Nuke: If you are running the 1.21 gear, the anchor pop gives the enemy maximum fall height.
• You can quickly follow their vertical trajectory and use the momentum for a powerful Mace nuke to bypass their armor.
• The Instant Arrow: If you have a crossbow loaded with an Instant Damage II arrow, fire it immediately as they ascend.
• The enemy is unable to shield or crystal effectively mid-air, guaranteeing massive damage.
• Double Crystal Finish: As they peak their ascent, place two End Crystals on the ground where they are about to land.
• The timing is tricky, but the impact and subsequent crystal pops are often enough for an instant kill.

Understanding the knockback intensity helps you decide which combo to use.

If the opponent has low blast protection, the anchor often deals more than 7 hearts of damage instantly, making the clean-up easier.

Always watch the “Totem Pop” indicator.

If they pop a totem from the anchor blast, they are still extremely vulnerable as they land.

You must maintain the offensive pressure immediately after the explosion to prevent their recovery.

What is your favorite follow-up weapon when you launch an enemy high into the sky?

Aggressive Anchor Popping: The High-Burst Finisher

Respawn anchors aren’t just for defense or healing breaks.

In advanced Crystal PvP, they are used aggressively as the ultimate high-burst finisher, often called “anchor popping.”

This tactic aims to dump massive, unblockable damage onto an opponent, forcing them to use a totem or die instantly.

Optimal Positioning for Maximum Damage

The Respawn Anchor explosion is highly concentrated. If you are not close enough to the center, the damage drops significantly.

Your goal is to bait the enemy into the absolute center of the blast radius, which is usually the block the anchor is sitting on.

Think of the anchor explosion like a focused shotgun blast. You need to be muzzle-to-chest to get the one-shot kill potential.

This aggressive style demands instant movement and swapping. Make sure your PvP keybinds allow you to access the anchor and the glowstone instantly.

Baiting into the Kill Zone

To ensure they land on the sweet spot, you need to predict where they will move in the next half-second.

Most players react instinctively when they see an anchor placed down.

They often rush the location to try and punish the placement or break the anchor before you can ignite it.

Use this psychology against them.

A classic move is the “Run-and-Snap.” You run toward a wall, place the anchor, and then immediately turn to face your opponent.

If you’ve masterfully practiced advanced PvP feinting and trapping techniques, you can treat the anchor spot as a temporary trap.

The enemy rushes the place you just were, walking right onto the anchor block itself.

You then detonate it with the glowstone while maintaining eye contact and distance to minimize your own damage.

Combo Integration: Snowballs, Eggs, and Guaranteed Kills

One major downside of the anchor is the massive knockback it generates.

If you detonate it and the enemy survives, they will fly far away, making it hard to secure the follow-up kill.

This is where combo integration with simple projectiles becomes essential for high-level anchor popping.

Snowballs and eggs deal no health damage, but they apply momentary knockback and interrupt enemy movement.

You use them to “lock” the opponent into the fatal blast zone.

If you see an opponent trying to strafe out of the way of the placed anchor, throw a snowball at them just before the glowstone detonation.

The tiny, rapid knockback from the projectile often shifts their hitbox back toward the center.

This guarantees they take the maximum explosion damage, securing the kill or forcing the immediate totem pop.

Mastering the Timing

The sequence must be extremely fast: Anchor Placement -> Glowstone Charge -> Projectile Throw -> Detonation.

Many players use a quick-swap hotkey setup to cycle instantly from the anchor (slot) to the glowstone (slot) to the snowball (slot).

It sounds complex, but it boils down to muscle memory and reaction time.

Practicing this burst combination in a controlled environment will dramatically increase your kill-to-anchor ratio in real fights.

This aggressive mindset turns a utility block into the ultimate weapon.

If you had to choose one projectile to combo with the anchor (snowball, egg, or fishing rod), which one offers the most reliable “pin” and why?

Telltale Signs and Disruption: Countering the Anchor Prime

The Respawn Anchor is incredibly powerful, but it’s not a silent killer. You have a small window to react and completely shut down this deadly strategy.

Learning to spot the “Anchor Prime” sequence is crucial for survival in high-level Crystal PvP. This is all about anticipating your opponent’s moves.

Listen for the Telltale Setup Sequence

Every successful anchor blast requires three distinct phases from your opponent, and each phase has a unique sound or visual cue.

If you can react during Phase 1 or 2, you win the encounter.

1. The Foundation Block: The anchor must be placed on a non-flammable block like obsidian. Listen closely for the deep thunk sound of the obsidian placement.
2. The Anchor Placement: The anchor itself has a distinct texture. Watch for the opponent placing the gray, glowing block, usually right next to a crystal.
3. The Glowstone Prime: This is the most critical cue. The opponent inserts four glowstone blocks, one after the other. Each one makes a loud, distinct psst charging sound.

When you hear those four psst sounds, you know the anchor is fully primed and ready for instant detonation.

You can greatly improve your ability to spot these subtle signals by practicing with a refined Minecraft PvP audio guide.

Immediate Disruption Tactics

Once you see the setup begin, you must act instantly. You have two main routes for disruption: destroying the anchor or punishing the player.

Counter-Route 1: Anchor Destruction

The anchor block itself is surprisingly fragile compared to obsidian.

While a pickaxe is best, a powerful axe can often break it fast enough if the player is slow.

If the opponent has just started charging, try to break the anchor before they can insert the fourth glowstone.

Counter-Route 2: Player Punishment

Sometimes, the best defense is a devastating offense. When an enemy is focused on setting up the anchor, they are distracted and momentarily defenseless.

Hit them with a sudden crystal or sword attack immediately after they place the anchor block.

This forces them to eat damage or use their totem, causing them to abandon the anchor setup entirely.

Escape and Evasion: When to Back Off

If you hear the four charging sounds, you are past the point of disruption. The anchor is armed, and you have mere milliseconds before detonation.

Your goal shifts entirely to creating distance from the explosion zone.

Remember that the blast radius is deadly, especially if you are on the same level as the anchor.

• Vertical Evasion: Jump onto a block or start pillar bridging upwards immediately. The explosive force is less potent when you are above the source.
• Ender Pearl Escape: This is the ultimate counter. Throw an ender pearl away from the anchor location as fast as possible.

The pearl flash might save you from 90% of the damage, turning a fatal blow into a manageable hit.

If you react fast enough to the glowstone charging noise, you can often escape before the enemy even gets a chance to trigger the crystal.

Do you prioritize destroying the anchor itself, or do you always try to punish the enemy player when they are distracted by the setup?

Reading the Opponent: The Defensive Gap

The Telltale Signs of an Anchor Trap

In high-level Crystal PvP, defense often wins the battle.

When someone is trying to blow you up with a Respawn Anchor, they need two things: space and time.

Your job is to identify when they are trying to steal that space and time.

This is what we call analyzing the defensive meta-analysis gap.

The “gap” is the brief moment where they transition from combat to construction.

Reading the Opponent’s Intent

Respawn Anchor traps are complex because they involve multiple item swaps: Obsidian, Anchor, and Glowstone.

You can watch for specific movements that reveal their plan.

• Inventory Flicker: If you see their hotbar flicker rapidly through the needed items, they are preparing the trap immediately.
• The Slowdown: Crystal PvP is usually fast-paced. A sudden, unexplained deceleration or jump usually means they are trying to place Obsidian precisely beneath you.
• Off-Axis Placement: They might quickly place Obsidian one block away from the main fight area, intending to bait you toward it for the nuke.
• Shield Use Transition: They might use their shield just long enough to stabilize their camera and place the first block, dropping the shield right after.

If you see these signals, you have about 0.75 seconds to react before the explosion is charged.

Disrupting the Priming Process

Once the Anchor is placed, the most vulnerable step is the charging phase, where they right-click it with Glowstone.

Stopping this charge is the key to defense.

Strategy 1: High-Knockback Assault

If they are close enough to use an Anchor, they are close enough to hit.

The goal isn’t necessarily to kill them but to move them away from the block they placed.

A high-knockback hit disrupts their line of sight and breaks their block-placing rhythm.

You can use a quick mace swap to launch them away, stopping their close-range trap entirely.

Learning how to master integrating Mace swaps into standard sword PvP combos provides fantastic displacement.

This forces them to abandon the attempt or reposition, buying you valuable healing time.

Strategy 2: Projectile Denial

If they are setting up the Anchor at mid-range, use ranged items to apply immediate pressure.

A well-timed bow shot is faster than placing and priming an Anchor.

Hitting them forces a re-evaluation of their position, often causing them to switch to a shield or a totem.

Arrows or Instant Damage Potions are fantastic for denial.

If their armor durability is low, an Instant Damage Arrow Strategies is a huge deterrent against them standing still.

Strategy 3: Predictive Crystal Counter

This is the fastest, highest-risk counter-tactic.

The moment you see the Obsidian base placed, immediately place and detonate your own End Crystal next to it.

You are banking on the fact that your End Crystal explosion will happen slightly before, or at the same moment as, their Anchor explosion.

A successful predictive Crystal forces the opponent to eat massive damage from their own trap.

It also destroys the Anchor before it can fully expand its damage radius or hit you from its intended angle.

This is a battle of speed and prediction, requiring you to think two steps ahead.

Do you prioritize the fast, aggressive predictive Crystal, or the safer, distance-creating knockback assault when facing an anchor trap?

High-Level Evasion: Negating Max Damage and Minimizing Self-Damage

The Power of Micro-Positioning

Respawn anchors are arguably the most deadly weapon in Crystal PvP. If you mess up your timing or positioning, you can lose half your health instantly.

High-level evasion isn’t just running away. It’s about minimizing the blast radius and preventing the “max damage” scenario entirely.

When an anchor is armed, you have a split second to react. Many players panic and just sprint backward, which is often not enough.

The trick is movement perpendicular to the explosion-strafing-while also moving up or down, depending on the terrain.

Remember that the Respawn Anchor’s blast is directional.

If there is a solid block between you and the center of the explosion, the damage is significantly reduced.

Crouching lowers your hitbox, which might be enough to shelter you behind a low barrier, like a slab or the corner of a block.

The quickest way to put a block between you and the blast is often crouching (sneaking) behind an existing piece of terrain.

Instant Block Placement for Cover

Sometimes evasion is not enough, and you must place a block to save your life. This needs to be done instantly after spotting the charge.

Your goal is to surround the anchor with high blast-resistance blocks, limiting the direction the force can travel toward you.

The best blocks to place right before an anchor explodes are:

• Obsidian: The gold standard. It has the highest blast resistance and minimizes self-damage if you are standing next to it.
• Ender Chests: Easy to cycle and place quickly since they are in a common hotbar spot. They have the same high blast resistance as Obsidian.
• Water Buckets: If you have time, dumping a water source on or next to the anchor reduces explosion damage to zero, but this is often situational.

Minimizing Your Own Anchor Damage

When you are the one setting the trap, minimizing your self-damage is crucial for winning the trade.

One major mistake is hitting the anchor while standing too close and facing it directly without cover.

When you trigger the anchor, ensure your back is toward the blast if possible, or you are crouched behind solid material.

While the blast damage is reduced by Blast Protection, the knockback is still huge. You need to control the direction you fly.

Try to move so the knockback pushes you toward healing resources or a safe area, not off a high cliff or into hostile territory.

This tactical placement and movement relies heavily on superior movement control and predicting where your opponent is placing their next threat.

Finally, never underestimate the power of your gear.

If your build, inspired by the Best Armor Enchantments for Minecraft PvP, focuses heavily on Blast Protection, you gain crucial survival time.

Minimizing self-damage and evading a fully charged Respawn Anchor requires lightning-fast reflexes and great game sense.

When you are trading anchors with a skilled opponent, how do you decide between prioritizing block placement versus simply running away?

Advanced Evasive Movements and Damage Mitigation

Anchor explosions are super powerful, but you aren’t helpless against them. Moving correctly can turn a fatal blast into just a minor knockback.

This isn’t about simply sprinting away; it’s about micro-movements that change your position just enough to manipulate Minecraft’s damage calculation.

The key to avoiding major damage lies in understanding the game’s tick rate. Minecraft operates at 20 ticks per second.

When an anchor explodes, the damage calculation happens instantly on a specific tick.

If you move far enough away from the epicenter between ticks, you lower the radius factor applied to you.

Advanced Evasive Strafing Patterns

The best evasive move here is called Jitter-Strafing or Tick-Strafing.

It’s counter-intuitive because you are intentionally keeping yourself close to the threat.

Instead of running in a wide arc, you rapidly alternate pressing the A and D keys while sprinting and holding W. You look slightly down and spam jump.

This creates a small, chaotic movement bubble. At high speed (especially with Swiftness II), this rapid alternation maximizes your position change per tick.

The game engine struggles to pinpoint your location precisely in the highest damage zone, leading to a noticeable mitigation of 10-15% damage.

If you have a speed potion, aim to activate the strafe pattern during the final 0.5 seconds before the block detonates.

Armor and Potions: The Defense Shield

Even the best movements won’t save you if you aren’t geared up. Anchor PVP requires specific enchantments and immediate reaction speeds.

You absolutely must maximize your Blast Protection enchantment. Blast Protection IV on a chest plate is non-negotiable for anchor fights.

Blast Protection IV can reduce explosion damage by up to 80% on that piece of armor, dramatically increasing your effective health against the anchor.

This defensive layering is crucial, especially now that items like the Wind Charge are prominent in PVP. This defense counteracts many modern threats.

Understanding these resistance mechanics is key, as seen in modern meta analysis like Wind Charge Counterplay: The Blast Protection Armor Meta.

Perfecting Absorption Potion Timing

Absorption Potion II gives you 8 seconds of four extra yellow hearts. These hearts are disposable and absorb damage before your actual red hearts are hurt.

The goal is to drink the potion just before or during the damage tick of the anchor explosion. This is extremely difficult to achieve manually.

Since the anchor delay is about 8 game ticks (0.4 seconds) after the glowstone placement, you have to be ready to swap and drink instantly.

Practice drinking the potion just as the glowstone is placed, relying on the client-side delay to ensure those extra hearts are active for the blast.

Anchor Use and Friendly Fire Protocol

In team fights, friendly fire is one of the biggest drawbacks of the respawn anchor. It will damage teammates just as easily as opponents.

Establish a clear “safe distance” with your teammates. The common rule is the 5-Block Buffer. Don’t drop anchors near allied players.

If you are pushing an enemy in a cramped space, you must call out the detonation: “Anchor dropping!” or “Blast in three!”

This gives your allies a precious half-second to start their jitter-strafe or use a gap-heal before the inevitable explosion hits.

Precision and communication are not optional when you are using such a high-risk, high-reward weapon near friendly units.

Considering the huge damage potential, how has the respawn anchor changed the importance of team communication compared to traditional crystal PvP?

Conclusion: The Future of Anchor PvP and Evergreen Strategies

The Role of Anchors in a Changing Meta

You’ve mastered the core anchor tactics. Now, it’s time to look ahead. How do these aggressive strategies fit into Minecraft’s ever-changing PvP landscape?

The game evolves constantly. We see new weapons like the Mace that focus on vertical damage and armor breach.

However, the Respawn Anchor explosion is an evergreen tool. It provides massive, controllable blast damage and superior horizontal knockback.

Anchors are the perfect finisher after you’ve used a Mace combo or landed a critical blow.

They force enemies into predictable spots, making them a cornerstone of positioning warfare.

Mastering these high-damage tools requires absolute commitment to a strategic loadout guide, especially regarding quick hotkey access.

Understanding Blast Radii: Anchor vs. Crystal

Respawn Anchors and Ender Crystals serve similar, yet distinct, roles. Knowing the difference is key to advanced strategy.

The crystal explosion is generally smaller and easier to control for direct, concentrated damage.

The anchor, though, offers a much larger blast radius. This is perfect for area denial and punishing players who try to “pearl flash” away from you.

Because the Anchor’s radius is so large, it demands more precise timing, especially when the enemy is trying to master pearl flashing techniques to escape.

Here is a comparison of the typical explosion reach, showing why the Anchor is the king of area control.

Evergreen Principles of Anchor Mastery

While the specific item interactions change with every update, the core strategies behind using explosions do not.

These evergreen skills will always help you dominate the explosion meta, no matter which version of Minecraft you are playing.

Refining Your Reaction Time

The biggest hurdle in Anchor PvP isn’t placement-it’s execution speed. You need to instantly switch, place, and detonate.

This skill requires practice using tools that test your reaction time and hotkey proficiency.

Focus on maximizing your time efficiency. Every millisecond counts when lighting that Glowstone.

• Perfect Placement: Practice placing the Anchor and the activation block (Glowstone) with zero latency.
• Reading the Damage: Learn to predict exactly how much health an explosion will remove, factoring in the enemy’s Blast Protection enchantments.
• Double Taps: Mastering the rapid-fire deployment of two anchors or an anchor and a crystal simultaneously.
• Escape Routes: Always have an immediate escape plan before you commit to triggering a close-range blast.

The High-Stakes Nature of Anchor Commitments

Remember that the Respawn Anchor is a commitment. Unlike a crystal, you cannot instantly place and detonate it with a right-click.

It takes two key presses (Anchor then Glowstone) and requires perfect timing.

If you miss, you not only waste resources, but you often give your enemy a huge opening to counter-attack.

Treat every Anchor placement like a final move. Commit fully, but be ready to execute a flawless recovery if the explosion fails to secure the kill.

As the meta shifts and new combat items are introduced, do you think the Respawn Anchor will eventually be replaced, or will its massive area damage keep it essential forever?