Netherite: the complete guide

What netherite is

Netherite is a material added in the 1.16 update (the Nether Update). It beats diamond almost across the board: more durability, higher damage, faster mining, and a unique resistance to fire and lava. Netherite items do not burn: if you throw a netherite sword into lava, it just floats on the surface.

Unlike diamond, you do not mine netherite straight from an ore. The process goes like this: mine ancient debris in the Nether → smelt it into netherite scrap → combine the scrap with gold into a netherite ingot → upgrade a diamond item in a smithing table. It takes several steps, but the reward is worth it.

What Y level netherite (ancient debris) is at

Ancient debris, the ore of netherite, generates in the Nether mostly between Y=8 and about Y=22, with the highest concentration around Y=15. That is the best level to dig at.

How it is distributed:

• Y=8 to about Y=22: the main zone. On average 1-3 blocks of ancient debris per chunk (16×16 blocks).
• Y=15: statistically the best level. Your chance of finding it is highest here.
• Y=8 to Y=119: a second, smaller generation zone (1 extra block per chunk, very rare).

Ancient debris never generates exposed: it is always surrounded by netherrack or other blocks. You will not spot it while walking through caves. You have to actively dig at the right level.

Check your Y level by pressing F3 (Java Edition) or by turning on coordinates in the settings (Bedrock).

Mining methods: beds, TNT, branch mining

Bed mining

The fastest and cheapest method. Beds explode in the Nether when you try to sleep in them. The explosion destroys blocks in a radius of about 5 blocks, but ancient debris is blast resistant: it stays in place while everything around it is destroyed.

How to do it:

1. Go down to Y=15 in the Nether.
2. Dig a 1×1 tunnel at eye level.
3. Place a bed at the end of the tunnel and cover yourself with a block (netherrack in front of you as a shield).
4. Click the bed: explosion. Look around for ancient debris (a dark brown block with a yellow spiral pattern).
5. Repeat every 5-6 blocks.

Warning: the explosion deals damage and starts fires. Always shield yourself with a block. Bring a Fire Resistance potion and food. Protection IV armor reduces the damage significantly.

TNT mining

Works the same as beds, but TNT needs gunpowder (from creepers) and sand, so it costs more, though it is more controlled. TNT does not set the surroundings on fire. Place the TNT, ignite it, and look for ancient debris in the crater.

Branch mining

The traditional method: dig a main tunnel at Y=15, and every 2 blocks dig 1×2 branches 30-50 blocks to the side. Slower than explosions, but safe and predictable. Use Efficiency V on a netherite or diamond pickaxe: netherrack breaks instantly.

Crafting: ancient debris → netherite ingot

Here is how to turn ancient debris into a finished netherite ingot:

1. Ancient debris → netherite scrap: smelt ancient debris in a furnace or blast furnace. One block gives one netherite scrap. A blast furnace smelts 2× faster.
2. 4× netherite scrap + 4× gold ingot → 1× netherite ingot: combine them in a crafting table: 4 scrap and 4 gold ingots in any arrangement.

One netherite ingot takes 4 blocks of ancient debris and 4 gold ingots. A full armor set (4 pieces) plus a sword and a pickaxe = 6 ingots = 24 ancient debris + 24 gold ingots.

You can get gold in the Nether from Nether Gold Ore (scattered through netherrack and easier to spot than ancient debris) or by bartering with piglins.

Upgrading diamond gear

You do not craft netherite items from scratch: you upgrade existing diamond items in a smithing table.

Since 1.20 you need three things:

1. Netherite Upgrade smithing template: you find it in chests in bastion remnants in the Nether. It is single-use, but you can duplicate it: 7 diamonds + 1 netherrack + the template in a crafting table.
2. A diamond item: armor, a sword, pickaxe, axe, shovel or hoe.
3. Netherite ingot.

The key advantage: upgrading keeps all enchantments from the diamond item. A sword with Sharpness V, Unbreaking III and Mending still has those enchantments after the upgrade, plus the better netherite stats. You do not have to enchant it again.

Netherite vs diamond: stats compared

Unique properties of netherite

• Fire and lava resistance: netherite items and blocks do not burn. If you die over lava, your netherite gear floats on the surface instead of burning up.
• Knockback resistance: each piece of netherite armor adds 10% knockback resistance (40% for a full set). Enemies knock you back 40% less. That is a huge advantage in PvP and in boss fights.
• Higher toughness: 3.0 per piece (vs 2.0 for diamond). Toughness reduces the effectiveness of strong attacks, so netherite armor protects better against attacks that deal a lot of damage at once.
• Beacon base: blocks of netherite can be used as the base of a beacon. It is the most expensive material, but fully functional for a beacon pyramid.

Netherite mining tips

Related pages

• Complete Nether guide: preparing for and surviving in the Nether
• Nether portal: how to build a portal and how coordinates work
• Nether biomes: an overview of the five biomes of the hellish dimension
• Basalt Deltas: a biome with lots of magma and lava
• End portal: the next goal after netherite gear
• All biomes: the encyclopedia of Minecraft biomes