Netherite is the strongest tier of gear in Minecraft, and getting it is a proper end-game project. It all starts with Ancient Debris, a rare ore buried deep in the Nether that never touches air and shrugs off explosions. This guide walks through exactly where to dig, how to smelt and craft netherite, and how to upgrade your diamond gear without wasting a single ingot.
What Is Ancient Debris (and Where It Hides)
Ancient Debris only generates in the Nether. It spawns as scattered ore that is never naturally exposed to air, replacing netherrack (and, in Java Edition, basalt or blackstone too). It generates between Y-levels 8 and 119, but on average Y-level 16 has the most Ancient Debris in both editions, which is why most miners settle there.
It is genuinely rare. In Java Edition you get up to two clusters per chunk, averaging about 1.65 ores per chunk. Bedrock Edition allows up to five clusters per chunk. Either way, you will be doing a lot of mining, so it pays to be efficient.
The Best Way to Mine Ancient Debris
You need at least a diamond pickaxe to mine Ancient Debris. Using anything weaker yields nothing, so bring a diamond or netherite pickaxe. The block takes about 5.65 seconds to break with a diamond pickaxe and 5 seconds with a netherite one.
- Strip mine at Y=16. Dig a one-block-tall tunnel and branch out every couple of blocks. This is the steady, reliable method.
- Bring fire resistance. Lava pockets are everywhere at this depth, and Ancient Debris has a blast resistance of 1,200, meaning it is immune to normal explosions but the lava around it is not the threat the TNT is.
- TNT and bed mining can clear netherrack fast because Ancient Debris survives blasts that destroy everything around it. The ore is left floating, easy to spot and collect. Beds explode when used in the Nether, making them a cheap bombing tool.
- It floats on lava. In item form, Ancient Debris floats on lava and is completely immune to fire, so a dropped chunk will not burn away.
From Ancient Debris to Netherite Ingot
Raw Ancient Debris is not usable yet. Smelt each block in a furnace or blast furnace (using any fuel) to get one netherite scrap, which also grants 2 experience points. A blast furnace is faster, so it is the better choice when you have a stack to process.
To craft a netherite ingot, combine four netherite scraps with four gold ingots on a crafting table. It is a shapeless recipe, so placement does not matter. That means every single ingot costs four pieces of Ancient Debris plus four gold, which is why a full kit is such a grind. If you need gold quickly, an automated Nether farm is the fastest source.
Short on patience? Netherite ingots can also be found as loot in bastion remnant treasure chests, with a 35% drop chance in Java Edition.
Upgrading Diamond Gear to Netherite
Since the 1.20 update (Java snapshot 23w12a and Bedrock 1.20.0), you cannot just slap an ingot onto diamond gear. You need a Netherite Upgrade Smithing Template. These are found exclusively in bastion remnants.
- Treasure chest: 100% drop chance (guaranteed).
- Bridge, hoglin stable, and generic chests: 10% drop chance each.
You only ever need to find one. Duplicate it by combining 1 template + 7 diamonds + 1 netherrack to produce two templates, making it effectively renewable in Java Edition. To upgrade, place the template, your diamond item, and one netherite ingot in a smithing table. The big advantage over an anvil: this costs no experience and does not increase the prior work penalty. The upgraded item keeps its enchantments, trims, and the amount of durability already lost.
Netherite vs Diamond: Is It Worth It?
Netherite is a clear upgrade across the board. A full netherite armor set gives the same 20 armor points as diamond, but adds extra armor toughness and a unique knockback resistance that diamond lacks. Tools last longer and hit harder. Best of all, dropped netherite items float on lava and are immune to fire, so you will not lose your gear to a lava death.
| Property | Diamond | Netherite |
|---|---|---|
| Pickaxe durability (Java) | 1,561 | 2,031 |
| Pickaxe durability (Bedrock) | 1,562 | 2,032 |
| Pickaxe mining speed value | 8 | 9 |
| Full armor set armor points | 20 | 20 |
| Armor toughness per piece | +2 | +3 |
| Knockback resistance per piece | 0 | +1 |
| Floats on lava / fire-immune (item form) | No | Yes |
A complete netherite gear set (armor plus the core tools and a sword) takes 10 ingots, which is 40 Ancient Debris and 40 gold. It is a marathon, not a sprint, but the durability and lava safety make it the obvious end-game goal.
Other Uses for Netherite Ingots
- Beacon power: A netherite ingot can be used to activate a beacon, just like emeralds, diamonds, gold, or iron.
- Armor trim material: Ingots can be used as a trim material for decorative armor patterns.
- Repairs: They are the repair material for all netherite-tier equipment in an anvil.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Y-level is best for finding Ancient Debris?
Ancient Debris generates between Y-levels 8 and 119, but on average Y-level 16 has the most Ancient Debris in both Java and Bedrock Edition, making it the recommended height to strip mine.
How many Ancient Debris do I need for a full set of netherite?
One netherite ingot needs four netherite scrap (from four Ancient Debris) plus four gold ingots. A complete set of armor and tools takes 10 ingots, so you need 40 Ancient Debris and 40 gold ingots in total.
Do I still need a smithing template to make netherite gear?
Yes. Since the 1.20 update, upgrading diamond gear to netherite at a smithing table requires a Netherite Upgrade Smithing Template, found only in bastion remnants (guaranteed in treasure chests). You can duplicate it with 1 template, 7 diamonds, and 1 netherrack.
Bastion hunting and deep strip-mining are far more fun with friends watching your back, and grinding netherite together on a shared world is one of the best co-op end-game projects there is. Spinning up your own Minecraft server to play with friends means everyone can pool gold and split bastion loot. For setup walkthroughs and admin tips, see the Minecraft hosting docs.
Want to keep building out your end-game kit? Read our guide to building a gold farm in the Nether to mass-produce the gold ingots netherite needs, line up smithing patterns with our armor trims guide, and put your new gear to the test in our how to beat the Ender Dragon walkthrough.
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