The South/West rule is an unintentional mechanic in "Minecraft" wherein various effects occur based on compass rose directions. Generally, these effects occur in a South/West variant.
This mechanic may be used to help determine direction without the use of a compass, if one is in the Nether and it does not function properly, or if the player is underground without a compass and cannot see the sun. Since a compass does not determine direction, merely direction towards the spawn point, in SMP one might wish to find another's base which would require use of a compass.
Block directionality
Blocks are placed at a fixed orientation. Knowing this, it is possible to use the textures on the vertical faces of the blocks to orientate oneself as if with a compass.
| Block | South/West Quirk (from above) |
|---|---|
| Bedrock | Similar to Stone. It contain a lightly colored 2x2 square which orients West. |
| Bookshelf | Bookshelves contain North-South striations like planks, as well as 9 additional dark spots. Of these 5 are on the South side and create an "arrow" pointing North. |
| Brick | The short horizontal stripes running from East to West. |
| Cactus | |
| Cake | Cake contains four 2x2 squares, three of which orient Southwest. |
| Chest | Chests, when placed will face by default West, or if surrounded by two blocks dominantly South, and then West. Chest direction is not affected by glass or stone slabs. |
| Clay | |
| Coal Ore | This applies to all ores except Lapis Lazuli. On one edge are two "L" shaped structures with a distance of 1 pixel. This edge is pointing east. |
| Cobblestone | Cobblestone contains an "L" whose arms orient Northeast. |
| Diamond Ore | This applies to all ores except Lapis Lazuli. On one edge are two "L" shaped structures with a distance of 1 pixel. This edge is pointing east. |
| Diamond Block | Diamond blocks contain one corner which is darkened, this orients Southwest. |
| Dirt | One corner of the dirt block is darker. This orients Southwest. |
| Farmland | Farmland contains 4 blue specks which orient Northeast. |
| Fence | |
| Fire | A player, boat, or mob touching the Northeast corner of a block which is on fire can be burned even if block on the South and West sides. Fixed in 1.6. |
| Furnace | This texture is like Cobblestone. It contains an "L" whose arms orient Northeast. |
| Glass | Glass contains one diagonal sequence of 4 which orients Southwest. |
| Glowstone | Glowstone contains one darkened L-shaped corner which orients Southwest. Note that glowstone is an inefficient choice for orienting yourself, since it does not return its full value when broken. |
| Gold Block | The gold block contains one darkened corner. This orients Southwest. |
| Gold Ore | This applies to all ores except Lapis Lazuli. On one edge are two "L" shaped structures with a distance of 1 pixel. This edge is pointing east. |
| Grass | Grass contains one dark spot. This orients West. |
| Gravel | In one corner there is a light colored square with a distance of 1 pixel to the corner. This bright Point is pointing northeast. |
| Ice | Ice, like glass, contains one diagonal row of 4, the final dot being nearly invisible. This orients Southwest. |
| Iron Block | The iron block contains one darkened corner. This orients Southwest. |
| Iron Door | |
| Iron Ore | This applies to all ores except Lapis Lazuli. On one edge are two "L" shaped structures with a distance of 1 pixel. This edge is pointing east. |
| Jack-O-Lantern | Similarly to the pumpkin, there is a "U" on top of the pumpkin which orients Southwest. |
| Jukebox | The slot is always directed from east to west. |
| Lava | A player, boat, or mob touching the Northeast corner of a lava block can be set on fire even if block on the South and West sides. This is fixed in 1.6. |
| Lapis Lazuli Block | This contains one gray corner which is near a small "L" shape. This corner orients Northeast. |
| Lapis Lazuli Ore | |
| Leaves | |
| Minecart Tracks | When placing minecart tracks, they will favor linking to their North or East edges. An individually placed track will orient East-West. |
| Monster Spawner | |
| Moss Stone | Contains a similar "L" to cobblestone which orients Northeast. |
| Netherrack | Contains a similar "L" to cobblestone which orients Northeast. |
| Note Block | One corner of the checkerboard-styled pattern is darker than its counterpart, this orients Southwest. |
| Obsidian | Obsidian blocks contain one string of 3 diagonal light pixels. This orients East. |
| Portal | |
| Pumpkin | There is a "U" on top of the pumpkin which orients Southwest. |
| Redstone Ore | This applies to all ores except Lapis Lazuli. On one edge are two "L" shaped structures with a distance of 1 pixel. This edge is pointing east. |
| Redstone Wire | Disconnected redstone wire contains two single dots on two separate ends, these orient North and East. When connected unilaterally, it will contain an "S" shape on the Northern or Eastern side. |
| Sand | Sand, like dirt, contains one darkened corner which orients Northeast. |
| Sandstone | Sandstone is hard to distinguish, but it contains one lightly colored square. This orients East. |
| Snow | Snow contains one darkened edge, this orients South. |
| Snow Block | Snow blocks, like snow, contain one darkened edge which orients South. |
| Soul Sand | |
| Sponge | |
| Stone | Stone blocks contain a lightly colored 2x2 square which orients West. |
| Stone Pressure Plate | Stone pressure plates blocks contain a lightly colored 2x2 square which orients West. |
| Stone Slab | This also contains a lightened 2x2 square which orients West. |
| Double Stone Slab | This contains a lightened 2x2 square which orients West. The stone slab is a lighter version of the stone block, with the addition of a darkened border. |
| Stone Stairs | |
| TNT | When ignited, it goes slightly to the north |
| Water | A player, boat, or mob touching the Northeast corner of a water block can swim even if blocked on the South and West sides. Water striations go North-South. |
| Wood | Wood contains one lightened square which is oriented North. |
| Wooden Door | |
| Wooden Plank | Planks contain North-South striations, as well as 9 additional dark spots. Of these 5 are on the South side and create an "arrow" pointing North. |
| Wooden Pressure Plate | Wooden pressure plates contain North-South striations like planks, as well as 9 additional dark spots. Of these 5 are on the South side and create an "arrow" pointing North. |
| Wooden Stairs | Wooden Stairs contain North-South striations, as well as 9 additional dark spots. Of these 5 are on the South side and create an "arrow" pointing North. |
| Wool | Wool contains one lightened corner which orients Southwest. |
| Workbench | A workbench contains two sides which have one tool, these orient South and West. |
The South/West rule also occurs in certain other items.
- Minecarts will favor south or west motion at a "+" intersection due to the fact they favor "starting" at the North or East edge.
- The North and East faces of a block on fire will burn a player who touches those sides, while the South and West sides do not.
- If the player is standing adjacent to a sand block with a cactus on it, the North and East faces of the cactus will damage the player, if touched, while the South and West faces will not.
- A dispenser will fire arrows, eggs, or snowballs through a solid block right next to the dispenser if the dispenser is facing West or South. (Fixed in 1.6)
- When a block is being broken, its cracks always maintain a certain cardinality.