How to Find Netherite

AI Coaching Guide — Minecraft

By Sidekick AI Team
★★★☆☆~30-60 minLate Game
Phase 1Prepare
Phase 2Mine Ancient Debris
Phase 3Craft Netherite

What You Need Before Going

Netherite is an upgrade to Diamond gear, so you need diamond equipment first. Before heading to the Nether:

  • Diamond pickaxe (required to mine Ancient Debris)
  • Fire Resistance potions (highly recommended)
  • TNT or beds for blast mining
  • Food and building blocks (cobblestone or netherrack)
Sidekick AI suggested:

Make sure you have a diamond pickaxe — Ancient Debris can only be mined with diamond or Netherite tools. Iron won't work. Bring at least one stack of TNT or 20+ beds for efficient mining.

Step 1: Get to Y-Level 15 in the Nether

Enter the Nether through a Nether Portal. Once inside, dig down to Y-level 15. Press F3 (Java Edition) or enable coordinates in settings (Bedrock Edition) to check your level.

Sidekick AI suggested:

You're at Y-42. Dig straight down carefully — watch for lava pockets. You want to reach Y-15. Place blocks below you as you descend so you don't fall into lava.

Step 2: Mine with TNT or Beds

Ancient Debris is blast-resistant, meaning it survives explosions. This makes blast mining the fastest method.

TNT Method (recommended)

  1. Dig a straight tunnel at Y-15 (1 block wide, 2 blocks tall)
  2. Every 4-5 blocks, place TNT in the wall
  3. Light the TNT and step back
  4. Ancient Debris survives the blast — collect it from the rubble

Bed Method (cheaper)

  1. Dig the same tunnel at Y-15
  2. Every 5 blocks, dig a 1-block hole in the wall at head height
  3. Place a bed in the hole
  4. Stand back 5+ blocks and right-click the bed (beds explode in the Nether)
  5. Collect any Ancient Debris that survived
Sidekick AI suggested:

Using beds? Stand at least 5 blocks away before clicking. The explosion deals heavy damage at close range. Block yourself behind netherrack for extra protection. And always keep Fire Resistance potions active — lava pockets are everywhere.

Step 3: Smelt and Craft

Once you have Ancient Debris:

  1. Smelt Ancient Debris in a furnace or blast furnace to get Netherite Scrap
  2. Combine 4 Netherite Scrap + 4 Gold Ingots on a crafting table to make 1 Netherite Ingot
  3. Use a Smithing Table to upgrade diamond gear to Netherite (diamond item + Netherite Ingot + Netherite Upgrade Smithing Template)
Sidekick AI suggested:

You need the Netherite Upgrade Smithing Template to upgrade gear. Find it in Bastion Remnants in the Nether. You can duplicate the template with 7 diamonds and a block of netherrack on a crafting table.

Tips

  • Ancient Debris never spawns exposed to air. It's always surrounded by other blocks, so you won't find it by exploring caves.
  • Bring extra pickaxes. Mining at Y-15 in the Nether burns through durability fast.
  • Prioritize your sword first. A Netherite sword is the biggest combat upgrade. Armor can wait.
  • Fortune does NOT work on Ancient Debris. Each block always drops exactly 1 item.

Summary

Netherite mining is straightforward once you know the method: go to Y-15 in the Nether, blast mine with TNT or beds, smelt the Ancient Debris into scraps, and combine with gold. Let Sidekick AI track your Y-level and warn you about lava while you focus on mining.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Y-level is best for finding Ancient Debris?

Y-level 15 is the optimal level for Ancient Debris in the Nether. The ore generates most frequently between Y-8 and Y-22, with Y-15 being the sweet spot. Always check your coordinates with F3 (Java) or the coordinates setting (Bedrock).

How many Ancient Debris do I need for a full set of Netherite armor?

You need 16 Ancient Debris for a full set of Netherite armor (4 per piece). Each Netherite Ingot requires 4 Ancient Debris (smelted into Netherite Scrap) plus 4 Gold Ingots. One ingot upgrades one piece of diamond gear.

Is bed mining or TNT mining better for Netherite?

Bed mining is cheaper (wool + planks) but riskier since beds explode in the Nether and deal damage to you. TNT mining is safer and more consistent but requires gunpowder and sand. TNT has a larger blast radius, making it more efficient per explosion. Use beds early game, switch to TNT when you have resources.

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