You’ve got full diamond gear. You’ve slain the Ender Dragon. You’ve built a throne made of obsidian and disappointment.
It’s time.
Netherite is the top-tier material in Minecraft — stronger, more durable, and it doesn’t burn in lava. But it’s also buried in one of the most hostile environments in the game.
Here’s how to find it, upgrade to it, and not lose your pickaxe to molten doom in the process.
What is Netherite, actually?
Netherite isn’t just a new ore — it’s an upgrade material for diamond gear.
Why it’s better than diamond:
- Higher durability
- Higher knockback resistance
- Higher damage/tools efficiency
- Fireproof (if dropped — not you, just the gear)
You can’t craft Netherite tools from scratch. You upgrade existing diamond gear at a smithing table.
Step 1: Get the right gear (and nerves)
You’ll need:
- Diamond pickaxe (you can’t mine Ancient Debris without it)
- Food and armor (Nether is dangerous)
- Fire Resistance potions (trust me)
- Bed or TNT (yes, really — we’ll explain)
- Blocks for building/bridging
- Shulker box or chest (optional but handy)
Step 2: Head to the Nether (and go deep)
Ancient Debris, the source of Netherite, spawns between Y-level 8 and 15. Best spot: Y = 14.
To check your coordinates, press F3 (Java) or use a debug screen mod on Bedrock.
Step 3: Mining methods (aka “controlled explosions”)
Option 1: Strip mining
- Dig long tunnels at Y=14
- Use branch mining technique
- Safe, boring, lava-prone
Option 2: Bed bombing
- Beds explode in the Nether
- Dig a small room, place a bed, try to sleep — BOOM
- Stand behind a block wall to avoid full damage
- Check for Ancient Debris in the blast area
Option 3: TNT mining
- Same idea, but more expensive
- Place TNT in a line, light one end, BOOM
- Clear the area afterward
Pro tip:
Ancient Debris spawns in veins of 1–3 blocks. Don’t stop at the first piece — check the surrounding area.
Step 4: Smelt and upgrade
Step-by-step:
- Smelt Ancient Debris in a furnace/blast furnace → gives Netherite scrap
- Combine 4 Netherite scrap + 4 gold ingots → makes 1 Netherite ingot
- Use a smithing table to upgrade:
- Insert diamond item + Netherite ingot = upgraded gear
- No enchantments are lost!
How much you need:
- 1 Netherite ingot = 1 upgrade
- Full armor set + tools = 10 ingots minimum
Step 5: Gear up and flex
Your Netherite gear won’t burn in lava, takes a beating, and looks very serious. It’s the true endgame armor.
Good gear combos:
- Sword: Netherite + Sharpness V + Looting
- Pickaxe: Netherite + Efficiency V + Fortune/Silk Touch
- Armor: Protection IV + Unbreaking + Mending
You are now the apex predator. Try not to trip into a hole and die anyway.
Tips to not die while mining Netherite
- Carry Fire Resistance potions — lava is everywhere
- Bring Ender chest or Shulker box to stash debris safely
- Never dig straight down (ever)
- Use blocks behind your bed or TNT setup to block blast damage
- Don’t mine too close to lava oceans — dig under, not through
Final thoughts: Blast, loot, repeat
Getting Netherite isn’t quick — but it’s worth every step. Once you upgrade, everything feels smoother, tougher, and more forgiving. You’ll last longer, hit harder, and lose fewer items to fiery accidents.
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