

Unlike in real life, a lightning rod doesn't require a direct connection to ground in order to work. Lightning rods do not divert the lightning created by a channeling trident thrown at an entity, or the lightning summoned by commands. Lightning will also strike a lightning rod hit by a trident enchanted with Channeling during a thunderstorm, even if there are solid blocks above it blocking rainfall, as long as all the blocks are fully transparent (sky light level 15 at rod position).

If multiple lightning rods are in range, the closest to the original location of the strike is chosen. The block emits particles during thunderstorms as an indicator. Lightning rods that are the highest block in the column redirect lightning strikes within a spherical volume having a radius of 128 blocks in Java Edition and 64 blocks in Bedrock Edition. Lightning rods can be oriented in different directions.
