How To Get Netherite Ingot
Netherite ingots are the most valuable upgrade material in Minecraft, allowing players to improve diamond gear without losing durability. Unlike other resources, Netherite cannot be found in the Overworld; it must be harvested from the Nether, processed, and then crafted. This guide walks you through each step, from locating the raw material to turning it into a usable ingot, while offering practical tips to speed up the process.
What You Need to Begin
Before you set foot in the Nether, make sure you have the following items:
- Diamond gear or at least a diamond pickaxe (iron tools cannot mine the required block).
- Blast furnace or a regular furnace for smelting.
- Gold ingots – you will need four per Netherite ingot.
- Obsidian and a flint and steel to build a Nether portal.
- Food and armor to survive the hostile environment.
Finding Ancient Debris
Netherite ingots start as ancient debris, a block that spawns deep in the Nether. Here’s how to locate it efficiently:
- Build a Nether portal and step through to the Nether.
- Travel to a Y‑level between 8 and 22; the highest concentration of ancient debris appears around Y‑15.
- Use a diamond or netherite pickaxe with the Silk Touch enchantment to mine ancient debris without breaking it.
- Consider the branch mining technique: dig a main tunnel and create side branches every two blocks to expose more surface area while minimizing effort.
Smelting Ancient Debris into Netherite Scrap
Once you have collected ancient debris, the next step is to turn it into Netherite scrap:
- Place ancient debris in a blast furnace (or regular furnace) with any fuel source.
- Each block yields one Netherite scrap after smelting.
- Smelting in a blast furnace is faster, but a regular furnace works just as well if you lack a blast furnace.
Gather at least four scraps, as this is the minimum needed for the final crafting step.
Crafting Netherite Ingots
After you have four Netherite scraps, combine them with four gold ingots in a crafting table. The recipe is simple:
- Open the crafting grid (3×3).
- Place the four gold ingots in the four corners.
- Place one Netherite scrap in each of the remaining slots (center and edges).
- Collect the resulting Netherite ingot from the output slot.
Each set of four scraps and four gold ingots produces one Netherite ingot, ready for upgrading your gear.
Upgrading Your Equipment
To apply a Netherite ingot, use a smithing table:
- Place the diamond tool or armor piece in the first slot.
- Place one Netherite ingot in the second slot.
- The output will be the same item now made of Netherite, retaining all enchantments and durability.
This process does not consume the original diamond item; it simply transforms it, preserving any invested upgrades.
Tips for Faster Collection
Gathering enough ancient debris can be time‑consuming. Use these strategies to accelerate the process:
- Bedrock removal: In the Nether, you can break bedrock with a technique involving TNT and a piston, exposing more blocks for mining.
- Efficiency enchantments: An Efficiency V pickaxe reduces mining time dramatically, especially when combined with Haste from a beacon.
- Explosives: TNT or beds (which explode in the Nether) can uncover large areas quickly, but be careful to collect the debris before it’s destroyed.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Many players waste resources by overlooking a few key points:
- Mining ancient debris with a non‑Silk Touch pickaxe destroys the block, yielding nothing.
- Attempting to smelt ancient debris in a furnace without fuel will halt progress.
- Using the wrong gold-to-scrap ratio results in excess materials; remember the recipe requires exactly four of each.
Conclusion
Getting Netherite ingots involves a clear, repeatable process: locate ancient debris in the Nether, smelt it into Netherite scrap, combine the scrap with gold, and finally upgrade your equipment at a smithing table. By preparing the right tools, mining at optimal depths, and employing efficient techniques, you can secure enough Netherite to transform your diamond gear into the most durable, powerful set in the game. Happy mining, and may your adventures in the Nether be both safe and rewarding.