To make netherite, mine ancient debris in the Nether with a diamond or netherite pickaxe, smelt it into netherite scrap, then craft scrap with gold ingots into a netherite ingot. You then combine that ingot, a netherite upgrade template and a diamond item at a smithing table. The route is the same on Java and Bedrock, but ore generation and some loot chances differ.
What netherite is and why it is worth getting
Netherite is a metal alloy from the Nether, used primarily to upgrade diamond gear. Netherite items are more powerful and durable than diamond, and in dropped item form they resist fire and lava. Blocks of netherite survive the strongest explosions of normal gameplay, with the exception of blue wither skulls. Dropped netherite items can still be destroyed by regular explosions.
The trade-off is supply. Ancient debris is not renewable, so every ingot costs a real mining trip. You cannot craft netherite gear from scratch either. It is always an upgrade of diamond gear you already own.
What you need before you start
- A diamond pickaxe or a netherite pickaxe. Ancient debris drops itself only when mined with one of these, and any other tool drops nothing. If you have no diamonds yet, start with how to find diamonds.
- A furnace or blast furnace, plus any fuel.
- Gold ingots to craft each netherite ingot.
- A netherite upgrade, which is a smithing template found in bastion remnants.
- The diamond gear you want to upgrade, and a smithing table.
Find ancient debris in the Nether
Ancient debris is a rare ore in the Nether. It generates as scattered ore that is never naturally exposed to air, so you will not spot it from an open cave. You have to dig to it. On average, Y-level 16 has the most ancient debris, and it can only replace netherrack (plus basalt and blackstone on Java).
- Java, cluster one: 0 to 3 ancient debris with a triangle distribution from levels 8 to 24.
- Java, cluster two: 0 to 2 ancient debris spread evenly from levels 8 to 119. Up to two clusters can generate per chunk.
- Bedrock, clusters one and two: 0 to 3 ancient debris each, spread evenly from levels 8 to 23.
- Bedrock, three more clusters: 0 to 2 ancient debris each, spread evenly from levels 8 to 119. Up to five clusters can generate per chunk.
So the low band around Y 8 to 24 on Java, or 8 to 23 on Bedrock, is where to dig. A diamond pickaxe breaks a block in 5.65 seconds and a netherite pickaxe in 5 seconds, so plan on patient mining rather than fast clearing.
Bastion remnants are the other source. Their chests can hold ancient debris, netherite scrap and even netherite ingots, and they are also where the upgrade template lives.
Smelt scrap and craft a netherite ingot
- 1.Put the ancient debris in a furnace or blast furnace with any fuel.
- 2.Take out the netherite scrap. Each one gives you 2 experience points.
- 3.Craft netherite scrap with gold ingots to make a netherite ingot. Netherite scrap is used solely for this recipe.
Upgrade diamond gear with a smithing template
The netherite upgrade is a smithing template found only in bastion remnants. The treasure chest always holds one (100%). The bridge, hoglin stable and generic chests each have a 10% chance. The template is consumed when used, but you can duplicate it from an existing template, netherrack and seven diamonds.
- 1.Open a smithing table.
- 2.Place the netherite upgrade, the diamond item and a netherite ingot in the slots.
- 3.Take the netherite item from the output.
You can upgrade the sword, pickaxe, axe, shovel, hoe and spear, plus the helmet, chestplate, leggings, boots, horse armor and nautilus armor. The new piece keeps the enchantments, prior work penalty and trim of the diamond piece, along with the durability points already lost. Unlike an anvil, the smithing table costs no experience. Enchant your diamond gear first if you like, using an enchanting table, and it carries over.
Stay safe while mining in the Nether
The ore facts above are what this guide covers, so mob and lava tactics are outside its scope. A few mechanics still help you protect your haul.
- Ancient debris in item form floats on lava and is immune to fire. Netherite items resist fire and lava as well.
- Dropped netherite items can still be destroyed by regular explosions, so pick them up promptly.
- Ancient debris blocks have a blast resistance of 1,200, which makes them immune to normal explosions.
Java and Bedrock differences
- Generation. Java spreads clusters as described above, with up to two per chunk. Bedrock allows up to five per chunk, concentrated on levels 8 to 23.
- Replaced blocks. Ancient debris replaces basalt and blackstone on Java only.
- Bastion debris. A hoglin stable chest gives a single ancient debris 12% of the time on Java and 5.7% on Bedrock.
- Bastion scrap. A treasure chest gives netherite scrap 19.9% of the time on Java and 21.7% on Bedrock.
- Template supply. The netherite upgrade is not renewable on either, except on Bedrock via a vault.
For a wider comparison of the two, see Java vs Bedrock.
Frequently asked questions
What pickaxe do you need to mine ancient debris?
You need a diamond pickaxe or a netherite pickaxe. Ancient debris drops itself only when mined with one of those two. Any other tool drops nothing, and ancient debris is not a renewable resource, so bring the right pickaxe before you start digging.
What Y level has the most ancient debris?
On average, Y-level 16 has the most ancient debris. Most of it sits between levels 8 and 24 on Java and between 8 and 23 on Bedrock. A smaller cluster type can spread anywhere from level 8 up to 119 on both.
Do you keep enchantments when upgrading to netherite?
Yes. The netherite piece keeps the enchantments, prior work penalty and trim of the diamond piece, plus the durability points already lost. Using a smithing table for the upgrade also costs no experience and adds nothing to the prior work penalty.
Can you get netherite without mining ancient debris?
Partly. Bastion remnant chests can hold ancient debris, netherite scrap and netherite ingots, all with modest chances. You still need a netherite upgrade template and diamond gear to finish an upgrade, and the template is found only in bastion remnants unless you duplicate one.
