How to make Minecraft Netherite

Everything you need to know about Minecraft Netherite, including why it's the highest-level material, where you can find it, and how to upgrade your gear

A Minecraft player character wearing a full set of Netherite armour, holding a Netherite sword

What is Minecraft Netherite? Available ever since the 1.16 update, you can find it in the deepest depths of the Nether, and you can also make it from a new ore called ancient debris. Netherite isn’t for the faint-hearted, it’s a high-level material, and you better believe it does something special worth venturing for.

You can use it to update your diamond gear, but instead of diamond+ it’s a whole new thing by itself, opening up possibilities for making Minecraft Netherite items, gear, tools, weapons, and more. In order to get your cube-like mitts on the strongest material in one of the best PC games, you’ll need to take a trip to the Nether in search of rare ancient debris, which you’ll craft into Netherite ingots before creating the best weapons and armour in Minecraft.

Wondering how to find Netherite? Nether fear, we’ll guide you through the whole journey, from digging in the spooky dirt to showing off your full set of Netherite equipment.

Minecraft Netherite - an ancient debris block in the Nether.

How to find Netherite in Minecraft

To get Netherite, you must first make and travel through a Minecraft Nether portal. Unlike diamond, you can’t find Minecraft Netherite in ore form in the ground. Instead, you’re looking for a block in the Nether called ancient debris – and it’s astronomically rare. You’ll need at least a diamond pickaxe to harvest it, so come prepared.

Ancient debris spawns in veins and always spawns completely covered by blocks (or lava) on each side, so you won’t be able to spot them from the surface. Instead, you’ll need to dig down – ancient debris can be found from y=22 to y=8, though it’s most common at y=15.

Minecraft Netherite - smelting ancient debris into Netherite scrap in a blast furnace.

How to craft Minecraft Netherite

Once you’ve found some ancient debris, it’s time for the next step – crafting Netherite scrap. After smelting an ancient debris block in a furnace or blast furnace, you’ll have one Netherite scrap. You need four Netherite scraps and four gold ingots, arranged in any shape, to make a single Netherite ingot.

Minecraft Netherite - upgrading diamond armour into Netherite armour with the help of a smithing table and a Netherite ingot.

How to craft Netherite weapons and armour

The good news is, after scouring the Nether for enough ancient debris to make a Netherite ingot, you only need a single Netherite ingot for each piece of equipment you want to make. Instead of crafting your new tools out of pure Netherite, you upgrade existing diamond armour (learn where to find Minecraft diamonds here) and weapons by combining them with your Netherite ingot using a smithing table.

Smithing tables can be found in the blacksmith’s building in a village, or you can craft one yourself with wood planks and iron ingots. Enchantments placed on your diamond equipment will be transferred, but the durability won’t be reset, so you’ll need to use an anvil if your diamond equipment needs restoration.

Minecraft Netherite effects

So what can you do with your shiny new Netherite in Minecraft? All Netherite items float, handy for traversing the crafting game‘s lava-filled underworld, and it means any items you create won’t sink – so you can just watch them float away instead.

Netherite items are an all-around upgrade from diamond. They have a high enchantment value for use on a Minecraft enchantment table, the tools work faster, too, and are more durable. Netherite weapons also deal more damage, and Netherite armour has a higher toughness and lasts longer than your average diamond gear. If you’re dressed in your Netherite fineries, you’ll barely get knocked back when hit. That’s an added benefit of this cool new material, especially if you’re preparing to take on the Minecraft Wither boss or a Minecraft Warden and need some extra padding.

Once you’re all geared up with your Netherite gear, find out how to find Minecraft blackstone in Minecraft, and what you can expect from the Minecraft 1.20 update that releases later this year.