Combination locks in Minecraft can be really simple or frustratingly difficult, but no matter how complicated they are, some of them fall victim to the same simple exploits.
First, I suggest you watch this video, which will explain the whole thing for you. Then I'll go over it again in greater detail with some pictures!
How to Make a Simple Combination Lock
Before we look at breaking them, let's start with how to make them. For this example, I made the simplest combination lock possible, which is known as an OR lock because it's essentially an OR gate.
Essentially, it uses a combination (no pun intended) of normal and inverted power sources to create a "combination". That is, in order to change the state of power, the switches with the torch behind them must be switched on, and the other two must be switched off. Here's a picture:
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In this particular case, because I'm using a regular metal door, I inverted the signal with a simple inverter.
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Here's what the whole thing looks like from the front:
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Breaking In: The Classy Way
With this approach, you don't do any lasting damage to their build, and it's akin to using a skeleton key to enter a door.
If the door is unpowered, and requires power to open, all you do is either put a lever next to the door and flip it, or stick a redstone torch on the wall next to it. As the door is now receiving power, it will open!
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Yeah, it really is that simple, and you can bypass the locking mechanism entirely.
Breaking In: Brute Force
Sometimes trying to guess a password by manually entering (or writing a program to enter) all possible combinations until you guess the right one is called the "brute force" method.
However, that's slow and obnoxious, and there's an easier way: just breaking the door down.
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When in doubt, you can quite literally just break the door. It's not very classy, and it won't win you any points for style, but it's a valid technique.
If you know other ways to bypass locking mechanisms, please let us know!
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