Netherite starts with Ancient Debris in almost every world. Mining Ancient Debris and crafting the ingot yourself is the primary route, though finished Netherite Ingots can also turn up in Bastion Remnant loot chests. To get Netherite, mine or loot Ancient Debris in the Nether, smelt it into Netherite Scrap, craft Netherite Ingots, then upgrade diamond gear with a Netherite Upgrade Smithing Template. Start with the fastest Survival path, then use Bastions, Creative Mode, or commands when those fit your world.
Start with Ancient Debris in the Nether
The main Survival route is Ancient Debris, because that block smelts into Netherite Scrap.
Enter the Nether and mine in the lower Nether. Ancient Debris generates in veins between Y-levels 8-22 and 8-119, with Y=15 best on average.
Mine Ancient Debris with a Diamond Pickaxe or Netherite Pickaxe.
Put the Ancient Debris in a Furnace or Blast Furnace to smelt it into Netherite Scrap.
Open a Crafting Table and combine 4 Netherite Scrap with 4 Gold Ingots to make 1 Netherite Ingot.
If mining one tunnel at a time feels too slow, use bed explosions to expose more Nether blocks faster.
Check the Y level before you dig
The most common cause of slow Netherite hunting is mining too high or wandering without a fixed Y level.
Dig around Y=15 when you want the best average Ancient Debris layer.
Stay within the known Ancient Debris ranges, since it generates between Y-levels 8-22 and 8-119.
Use only a Diamond Pickaxe or Netherite Pickaxe when you find Ancient Debris.
Move back to Y=15 before expanding new branches so the search stays focused.
Use bed explosions carefully
Enter the Nether and dig a tunnel at Y=11, Y=12, or Y=15.
Place a Bed at the end of the tunnel.
Stand behind a block before triggering the Bed.
Use the Bed so it explodes and exposes nearby blocks.
Mine exposed Ancient Debris with a Diamond Pickaxe or Netherite Pickaxe.
Smelt the Ancient Debris in a Furnace or Blast Furnace.
Open a Crafting Table and craft 4 Netherite Scrap with 4 Gold Ingots into 1 Netherite Ingot.
Treat each bed placement as a blast zone and reset your cover before the next explosion.
Loot Bastion Remnants for faster finds
Use this route when generated structures are enabled and you are ready to enter a hostile Nether structure. Bastion Remnants can appear in almost all Nether biomes except Basalt Deltas.
Enter the Nether and locate a Bastion Remnant.
Fight or avoid Piglins, Piglin Brutes, and sometimes Hoglins as you move through it.
Open Bastion chests for Ancient Debris, Netherite Scrap, finished Netherite Ingots, Netherite items, and Netherite Upgrade Smithing Templates.
Find the Netherite Upgrade Smithing Template
This fixes the current-version upgrade block: a Diamond item and a Netherite Ingot are not enough.
Enter the Nether and locate a Bastion Remnant.
Open Bastion Remnant chests as you explore.
Take any Netherite Upgrade Smithing Template you find.
Prioritize Treasure Room Bastion Remnants when you find them, because they contain 2 Smithing Templates.
Keep each template until you are ready to use a Smithing Table.
Duplicate templates before upgrading everything
Once you have one Netherite Upgrade Smithing Template, duplicate it before upgrading a full gear set. Open a Crafting Table and place 1 Netherite Upgrade Smithing Template, 7 Diamonds, and 1 Netherrack block to output 2 of the same Smithing Template.
The duplication recipe matters because the Smithing Table consumes the Smithing Template during each upgrade. Make the copies first, then spend them on the diamond armor, tools, and weapons you want to convert to Netherite.
Upgrade diamond gear at the Smithing Table
Use this exact order once you have the template, ingot, and diamond item.
- 1.Collect 1 Netherite Upgrade Smithing Template, 1 Diamond armor, tool, or weapon item, and 1 Netherite Ingot.
- 2.Open a Smithing Table.
- 3.Put the Netherite Upgrade Smithing Template in the template slot.
- 4.Put the Diamond item in the equipment slot and the Netherite Ingot in the material slot.
- 5.Take the Netherite item from the output slot.
Use Creative Mode or commands when progression does not matter
This applies when you are building, testing, managing a world, or playing outside normal Survival progression. Switching a Bedrock Survival world to Creative or enabling cheats disables achievements for that world.
In Creative Mode, open the inventory or Creative inventory.
Search for netherite or browse the inventory.
Take Ancient Debris, Netherite Scrap, Netherite Ingots, Netherite Upgrade Smithing Templates, or Netherite gear directly.
For commands, enable commands first. In Java, turn on Allow Commands when creating a world, or turn it on later from the existing world's World Options screen. To let other players who join your world run commands, open Open to LAN, then Settings for Other Players, then Allow Commands — that toggle covers the players who join you, not your own command access. In Bedrock, open Settings, then Game, then Allow Cheats.
Open chat and run /give @s minecraft:ancient_debris 4, /give @s minecraft:netherite_scrap 4, /give @s minecraft:netherite_ingot 1, /give @s minecraft:netherite_upgrade_smithing_template 1, or /give @s minecraft:netherite_sword 1.
Find Bastions with commands
Use this route in a world where you have command permission and want the Bastion loot path without searching manually.
Enable commands or get the needed permission from the world owner.
Open chat and run /locate structure minecraft:bastion_remnant to get Bastion Remnant coordinates.
Travel to the coordinates, or use /teleport to move there.
Loot Bastion chests for Netherite Upgrade Smithing Templates, Ancient Debris, Netherite Scrap, and Netherite materials.
Handle servers Realms and old advice
On private servers and Realms, the owner or admin can grant command access or run commands directly. Minecraft lists /op <playername> for making a player an operator, and commands can also run from command blocks, data packs, behavior packs, or a server console.
After permission is granted, use /give for Netherite item IDs or use /locate and /teleport to reach Bastion Remnants. This is useful for family servers, private worlds, and admin-managed builds, not locked public servers where you are not an operator.
Old tutorials that use only a Diamond item and a Netherite Ingot at a Smithing Table describe the pre-1.20 upgrade method. Current vanilla Minecraft requires a Netherite Upgrade Smithing Template, the Diamond item, and the Netherite Ingot.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fastest normal way to get Netherite in Survival?
Mine Ancient Debris around Y=15 in the Nether, smelt it into Netherite Scrap, then craft 4 Netherite Scrap with 4 Gold Ingots to make 1 Netherite Ingot.
Do I need a Netherite Upgrade Smithing Template?
Yes. Current Java and Bedrock versions require a Netherite Upgrade Smithing Template, a Diamond item, and a Netherite Ingot at a Smithing Table.
Where do Netherite Upgrade Smithing Templates come from?
Netherite Upgrade Smithing Templates come from Bastion Remnant chests. Treasure Room Bastion Remnants contain 2 Smithing Templates.
Can I get Netherite with commands?
Yes. With commands enabled, use /give for Netherite materials or gear, or use /locate and /teleport to reach a Bastion Remnant.