Finding the mysterious Tears music disc takes more than luck-it demands courage, precision, and a trip straight into the Nether. From mastering the Return to Sender challenge to triggering hidden conditions, here’s how players have turned peril into melody.
But to get the brand new Tears music disc, you will have to go through a simple battle. Want to know what it is and how to get it done? Keep on reading to learn how to get the Tears music disc in Minecraft.
How to Get Tears Music Disc in Minecraft
The Tears music disc can be obtained by completing the Return to Sender challenge, which requires you to defeat a Ghast by hitting one of its fireballs back at it. After completing this task, a chest containing the disc appears as a reward. The challenge can be activated through specific adventure maps, datapacks, or custom servers that include the Tears disc as part of their loot system. Make sure to bring a bow or another projectile weapon for an easier time reflecting the Ghast’s attack.
The Tears Music Disc can be obtained by completing the Return to Senderchallenge in Minecraft. This challenge requires you to enter the Nether dimension, find a giant white flying ghast, and defeat it. However, the only condition is that you must kill the ghast by deflecting its fireballs towards it. Follow the steps below to go through it:
1. Locate a Ghast in the Nether Dimension
To enter the Nether dimension, you’ll need Obsidian blocks and a Flint and Stone to light up the Ruine Portal. But before you go ahead, be prepared for the fight with a sword, a shield, at least complete iron armor, and a few building blocks to create a barricade.
Now, light up the portal and step into the Nether. Here, you can find the ghasts in the following biomes:
- Soul Sand Valley
- Basalt Delta
- Nether Waste
Claiming the disc might get difficult if you’re trying to complete this challenge in Basalt Deltas, since pools of lava cover the whole area, so make sure to lure the ghast away from it.
Also Read: How to Turn On Vibrant Visuals in Minecraft
In Java edition, these can spawn in groups of four. However, in Bedrock, they spawn individually. You won’t find any ghasts inside the structures like Nether Fortresses; instead, they might fly around them, if the biome is correct.
2. Defeat the Ghast with Its Own Fireball
So, once you find a ghast, get ready with your shield, sword, and try placing a few blocks in front of you to create a barricade against the fireballs. The ghast has five hearts of health and will attack you with exploding fireballs when it spots you or if you agro it by shooting arrows. You can easily defeat the ghast if you follow these tips:
- When you spot a ghast and it starts shooting fireballs at you, try blocking a couple by using your shield first. This will let you learning the timing.
- So once you’re ready, watch the fireball during the next attack.
- As soon as it’s within your range, click the left mouse button with your sword equipped to deflect the fireball back at the ghast.
Repeat this a couple of times, and you will defeat this hostile Minecraft mob in just a couple of hits. However, it keeps moving in the air, thereby making it difficult to aim the shot. So, keep practicing till you perfect your aim or get lucky and hit the ghast in a single shot.
3. Pick up the Tears Music Disc
Now that you have defeated the ghast with its own fireball, you’ll get the Tears music disc at the place of its death, and the ‘Return To Sender‘ achievement will be displayed at the bottom.
Apart from the music disc, you can also get a ghast tear or gunpowder as drops. With the disc in your inventory, head back to your base, place or make a Minecraft Jukebox in your home, and interact with it while the disc is equipped to play the Tears music track.
Best way to reflect ghast fireballs safely for Return to Sender
The safest way to reflect ghast fireballs for the Return to Sender advancement involves using rapid melee strikes on incoming fireballs while minimizing exposure to explosions and falls.
Gear and Prep
Equip iron or better armor with Fire Protection enchantments to reduce fireball damage, carry a fast-attacking sword (like iron or diamond for 1.6 attack speed), and have blocks ready to pillar up or create safe footing. Bring a bow as backup for weakening the ghast from afar if needed, and fight in open areas like Soul Sand Valleys to avoid terrain hazards. Stay on solid ground away from lava or edges to prevent accidental falls after explosions.
Positioning
Position yourself so the ghast has line-of-sight but you’re not directly under it-stand still, face where you predict the fireball will come from (aim cursor toward the ghast’s future position), and ensure a clear path for the reflected shot to hit the ghast. Use nearby zombified piglins as temporary shields if they’re between you and the fireball path. Build a 2-3 block platform if the ground is uneven to control your elevation.
Reflecting Technique
Spam left-click (attack) rapidly with your sword as the fireball approaches-no precise timing required, as consistent swinging will hit it automatically if you’re facing it. Walk backward slowly while spamming to keep distance from the explosion, ensuring the deflection sends it back toward the ghast (one hit kills it instantly). If using a bow instead, shoot the fireball mid-flight for the same effect, though melee is more reliable for beginners.
Avoid Risks
After deflection, dodge the ghast’s death explosion by jumping or blocking immediately, and watch for the Tears disc drop-build a platform under the ghast first to prevent it landing in fire or lava. Practice on easier ghasts first, and avoid Hard difficulty until confident, as fireballs deal up to 25 explosion damage there.
Best weapons to use to reflect ghast fireballs safely
Swords with high attack speed provide the safest and most reliable way to reflect ghast fireballs for the Return to Sender challenge.
Top Weapons
-
Iron Sword: Fastest attack speed (1.6), ideal for spamming clicks to hit fireballs without precise timing; minimal cooldown lets you reflect reliably from a distance.
-
Diamond Sword: Same speed as iron but higher damage if you need to finish weakened ghasts; add Looting III for better disc drops post-kill.
-
Axes or other melee: Slower attack speed makes timing harder, increasing explosion risk-avoid unless enchanted for speed.
Safer Alternatives
Snowballs, eggs, or arrows work for deflection without needing close range, but require better aim and don’t benefit from melee spam. Bare fists or any held item technically deflect, yet lack speed for consistent safety. Bows shine for distant shots at fireballs but demand practice to intercept mid-flight.
Safety Tips
Prioritize swords for their spam-friendly speed, face the fireball’s predicted path, and backpedal to dodge the blast radius after reflection. Enchant with Fire Protection on armor to survive misses, and test in open biomes like Soul Sand Valley.
