Why Netherite Is a Big Deal
Diamond gear is great, but netherite is just on another level. It lasts longer, hits harder, and keeps you alive in fights that would’ve killed you otherwise. Plus, it doesn’t melt when you die in lava, which has saved me more times than I’d like to admit.
Still, it’s not something you can just craft right away. You have to earn it. And that grind makes it feel worth it when you finally put the full set on.
What You Need Before You Start
Before you start blowing up the Nether, get your gear ready. You’ll need a few essentials first, or you’re not making it out alive.
| Item | Why It Matters | Quick Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Diamond Armor | Netherite upgrades your diamond armor – you can’t craft it from scratch. | Fix all your diamond gear first, or the durability carries over. |
| Diamond Pickaxe | You’ll need it to mine Ancient Debris – no other pick works. | Enchant with Efficiency and Unbreaking to save time and tools. |
| Food | Because you’ll get hurt. A lot. | Cooked steak or golden carrots work best. |
| One Gold Armor Piece | Keeps Piglins from turning you into a chew toy. | Swap it in when exploring, then back to diamond for fights. |
| Fire Resistance Potions | Because falling into lava isn’t “if” – it’s “when.” | Bring extras. You’ll thank yourself later. |
Alright, now that you’re prepped, it’s time to dive into the fun (and mildly terrifying) part – finding Ancient Debris.
Finding Ancient Debris Without Losing Your Mind
Ancient Debris is the key to everything. It’s rare, buried deep in the Nether, and surrounded by lava – basically Minecraft’s way of saying “earn it.” You’ll want to dig between Y-levels 8 and 22. Most players stick to level 15; it’s the sweet spot.
There are a few ways to find it, depending on how much chaos you enjoy:
- Branch Mining: Calm, boring, safe. You’ll find debris eventually, just slowly.
- Bed Mining: Beds explode in the Nether. Use that to your advantage. Risky but fast.
- TNT Mining: Same idea as beds, but less likely to kill you instantly.
Ancient Debris doesn’t spawn in big clusters – one or two blocks at a time is normal. You’ll need four to make one ingot, and each armor piece needs one ingot. Yeah… it’s a grind. Put on a podcast or something.
Smelting and Crafting the Good Stuff
Once you’ve got your debris, it’s time to turn it into something useful. Smelt the debris in a furnace or blast furnace to get Netherite Scraps. Combine four of those with four gold ingots to make a single Netherite Ingot. Painful, but satisfying.
| Craft | What You Need | What You Get |
|---|---|---|
| Netherite Ingot | 4 Netherite Scraps + 4 Gold Ingots | 1 Netherite Ingot |
| Armor Upgrade | 1 Netherite Ingot + 1 Diamond Armor Piece | 1 Netherite Armor Piece |
To upgrade your armor, head to a Smithing Table. Place your diamond armor in the first slot and the netherite ingot in the second. That’s it. You keep all your enchantments, which makes the upgrade even sweeter.
How to Make Netherite Armor (The Short Version)
If you just want the steps, here’s how to make netherite armor in plain English:
- Go to the Nether and mine Ancient Debris at Y=15.
- Smelt it into Netherite Scraps.
- Mix four scraps with four gold ingots to make one ingot.
- Use a Smithing Table to upgrade your diamond gear.
- Repeat for each piece – helmet, chestplate, leggings, boots.
Once you’re done, you’ll look like a walking tank. And yeah, everyone on your server will notice.
Tips From Someone Who’s Messed Up Before
I’ve burned more debris than I care to admit, so learn from my mistakes:
- Always carry extra Fire Resistance potions. Lava will find you.
- If you use TNT, keep your distance. You can’t outrun explosions underwater or in lava.
- Don’t waste netherite on random tools. Focus on armor and your best pickaxe first.
- Keep a respawn anchor nearby. Dying in the Nether sucks less when you don’t have to start over.
Also, make sure your inventory isn’t full when mining. Ancient Debris doesn’t stack high, and nothing hurts more than seeing it drop into lava because your inventory was full of netherrack.
Why the Grind Is Worth It
When you finally get your first full set of netherite, something clicks. You feel unstoppable. Zombies barely scratch you, creepers aren’t scary anymore, and falling into lava becomes a minor inconvenience instead of a rage-quit moment.
It’s not just about stats – it’s about the feeling. You worked for it. You earned it. You know every single piece came from hours of mining, dodging ghasts, and nearly dying to fire.
Final Thoughts
At the end of the day, how to make netherite armor isn’t just about crafting – it’s a little adventure on its own. It’s frustrating, sure, but it also makes you appreciate the game more. When you’re walking through the Nether in that black-and-gold armor, nothing feels cooler.
So grab some beds, dig deep, and stay alert. Netherite isn’t easy to find, but once you’ve got it, you’ll never want to wear anything else.
