How to Build a Viking Longship

Ahoy, future Viking! Ready to sail the seven blocky seas in your very own longship? You’ve come to the right place! Forget boring old rafts—today we’re building a vessel worthy of Odin’s approval (or at least, one that won’t sink the moment a salmon looks at it funny).

First things first: you’ll need materials. Unless you plan on blowing into the screen and hoping the wind does the work (spoiler: it won’t), you’ll want to gather:

• Wood—and lots of it! Oak, spruce, dark oak—whatever makes you feel the most Nordic. Just don’t use birch unless you want a ship that looks like it’s made of toothpaste.
• Wool for your mighty sail. Because let’s be honest, rowing is for skeletons. You’re a Viking! You need wind power!
• A sprinkle of imagination (warning: side effects may include daydreaming about pillaging villages for cookies).

Got everything? Great! Now, let’s get this boat built. You don’t want to be the Viking who shows up to the raid on a door floating in a puddle, do you? I didn’t think so.

The Hull: Don’t Make It a Sinking Feeling

Every great ship starts with the hull—that’s the bottom part that keeps you from becoming fish food. Start by placing a line of wood blocks. Make it long and pointy at the front! Vikings didn’t build brick-shaped boats (though that would be hilarious to watch try to turn).

Curve the sides upward gently. Think of it like a smile, but one that’s about to conquer England. Or at least, the lake near your carrot farm.

Once the base is done, build the sides up about three blocks high. You’re not making a bathtub here—you need walls to keep those pesky waves out. Or, you know, that one friend who always jumps in and shouts “I’m the kraken!”

The Sail: Your New Best Friend

What’s a Viking ship without a sail? It’s basically a fancy raft that goes nowhere unless you paddle. And nobody wants to paddle when there’s exploring to do!

Take your wool—white, light gray, or striped if you’re feeling fancy—and build a big rectangle. Then attach it to a mast made of fence posts or log blocks. Make it tall! You want that sail to catch the wind, or at least catch the attention of any wandering traders so they know you mean business.

Place the mast right in the middle of your ship. Not at the front, not at the back—the middle! If you put it at the front, your ship might tip over. And if you put it at the back… well, let’s just say you’ll be sailing in circles until your villagers get seasick.

Here’s how to make sure your sail isn’t a fail:

• Make it wide and tall—like a superhero’s cape, but for your boat.
• Use a different colored wool for a cool pattern. Stripes? Dots? Your ship, your rules!
• Don’t forget to leave space for the mast! You don’t want it falling over mid-voyage.

The Stern and The Prow: Fancy Words for Front and Back

The prow is the pointy front part designed to look awesome and scare sea creatures. The stern is the back, where you might put a little chair for the person steering (that’s you, captain!).

For the prow, curve your wood upward into a gentle slope. Some Vikings carved dragon heads here—you can use a few blocks to suggest eyes and snarling jaws. Alternatively, just make it pointy and call it a day. Nobody will judge. Well, the dolphins might, but they’re not the ones building it!

The stern can be a bit simpler. Just round it off nicely and maybe add a tiny platform. That’s where you’ll stand to yell “FULL SPEED AHEAD!” or “I THINK I LEFT THE FURNACE ON!”

Decorations: Because Vikings Had Style

You’re not done yet! A true Viking ship needs shields along the sides—it’s like armor for your boat! Use colored wool or terracotta to make round shields. Line them up like cookies on a baking sheet (mmmm, cookies… wait, focus!).

You can also add:

• A chest for your treasure (or your dirt collection, no judgment)
• A crafting table because you never know when you’ll need to build a paddle mid-ocean
• A bed so you can skip the night when far from land
• A jukebox with “Pigstep” playing for maximum Viking vibes

Let’s Talk Oars (Or: How to Move This Thing)

Okay, you’ve built it. It looks amazing. But… how do you make it go? In Minecraft, sadly, boats don’t have sails that actually work (yet!). So you’ve got two choices:

1. The cheater’s method: Place a boat item on the water inside your longship and sit in it. Now you can paddle your gorgeous creation around! It might look silly, but hey—you’re sailing in style.
2. The piston method: If you’re a redstone genius, you can use pistons to push your ship forward. But if you’re like me and still proud of making a working door, maybe stick with option one.

Viking Ship Troubleshooting

Uh oh—ran into a problem? Don’t worry, even the greatest Vikings had moments where their ship looked more like a floating shoe. Here’s how to fix common issues:

• My ship is sinking! – Did you remember to make the bottom? Yes, it sounds silly, but sometimes we get excited and forget important things. Like floors.
• It won’t move! – Remember, your build is decorative—you still need a regular boat to sit in to move around.
• A creeper blew up the mast! – Time to invest in a cat onboard. Or just rebuild it and shake your fist angrily.

Final Touches for Your Voyage

Before you set sail, give your ship a name! Something fierce like “The Blocky Beast” or “The Woolly Wonder.” Write it on a sign and attach it with pride.

Pack supplies! You’ll need:

• Food (cooked chicken beats raw porkchops every time)
• Weapons (in case you meet an illager ship—yes, they sail too!)
• A map so you don’t get lost and end up at that one friend’s house who always asks for cobblestone

Now you’re ready! Launch your ship, invite your friends, and embark on an adventure. Who knows what you’ll find? Sunken treasure? A new island? That one mob that stole your diamond pickaxe last week?

Wherever the current takes you, sail bravely, captain! And if all else fails, just remember: you built a Viking longship. That’s pretty epic already.