In Minecraft, a lightning rod is a block that can be used to divert lightning strikes. When a lightning strike occurs within the rods range, it will hit the rod instead of any other blocks surrounding it. This can be useful to prevent the creation of Charged Creepers, but it can also be used in mechanisms, as lightning rods produce a redstone signal when struck. The electrical energy contained within the lightning is converted to a redstone signal, and nothing catches fire. Lightning rods can be placed both on top of or on the sides of blocks, but they should be mounted on a block that isnt flammable, such as stone, otherwise the base and other nearby flammable blocks could be ignited by a strike. Struck lightning rods can still damage mobs around the area and can start fires if mounted on a flammable block. The crafting recipe for a lightning rod is simple: place three copper ingots on top of each other, which is the same shape as the lightning rod itself.