Netherite ingots are crafted by smelting ancient debris into scraps, then combining scraps with gold. Exploding beds in the nether is the quickest way to gather ancient debris. This guide is current for 2026 (Minecraft 26.2, Chaos Cubed).
Netherite is the strongest equipment tier in the game. It’s stronger than diamond, quicker, knockback-resistant, and netherite items have the unique ability to not burn in lava. Drop your sword in lava and it just floats there waiting for you! Getting it can be a lot of work though, so here’s the full guide on how to find netherite.
Step 1: Find Ancient Debris (Y 14 to 16)
Ancient debris is the rare brown block that netherite comes from. It generates only in the nether (between Y 8 and Y 119), with the sweet spot at Y 14 to 16. Press F3 (Java) or turn on coordinates (Bedrock) and tunnel at Y 15.
Two things make it different. It never generates exposed to air and you won’t find it on cave walls while you wander. Second, it only breaks with a diamond or netherite pickaxe. Any lower quality tool drops nothing.
Expect roughly one or two ancient debris per chunk at the right level. Mining netherite can be a grind, so it can be smart to bring enough supplies for a long trip.
Step 2: Bed Mining
Beds explode in the nether, and this mechanic can be used to gather netherite quicker. Since netherrack has low blast resistance and ancient debris has high blast resistance, an explosion removes the netherrack and leaves the debris visible, ready to be mined.
- Tunnel to Y 15 and dig a 1×2 tunnel.
- Place a bed at the end of the tunnel, take one step back.
- Right-click the bed and it explodes instantly (you can’t sleep in the nether).
- Stand back far enough or shield the blast with a block so you don’t die with it!
- Collect any exposed ancient debris, repeat every 8 to 10 blocks.
Beds cost 3 wool and 3 planks each, which makes them the cheapest explosions in the game. On my nether trips I bring a shulker of beds, a fire resistance potion, and an ender chest so the debris goes straight into safe storage. TNT works too if you have some extra handy.
Tip: Fire resistance potions are very helpful here. One bed blast into a hidden lava pocket ends a gathering session fast, and at Y 15 lava can be found everywhere.
Step 3: Smelt Scrap, Craft Ingots
Smelt ancient debris in a furnace or blast furnace to get 1 netherite scrap. Then combine 4 netherite scraps with 4 gold ingots (any arrangement in the crafting grid) to make 1 netherite ingot.
Each upgrade costs 1 ingot, so 4 armor pieces plus a sword and pickaxe costs 6 ingots: 24 ancient debris and 24 gold.
Step 4: Netherite Upgrade Template
Since version 1.20 you can’t just add a netherite ingot to your gear in the crafting grid. Upgrading requires a Netherite Upgrade smithing template, and the only place they can be found is bastion remnant chests (every bastion type can have one, and the treasure room type guarantees one).
The nice part is that you only need to find one. A template can be duplicated in the crafting table with 7 diamonds + 1 netherrack + the template, giving you two.
Step 5: Upgrade at a Smithing Table
Place the template, your diamond equipment, and a netherite ingot in a smithing table (not an anvil!). Your diamond equipment will be upgraded into netherite. All enchantments carry over untouched, so upgrade your best enchanted diamond gear with confidence.
READ MORE: The best enchantments to have on that gear before you upgrade it
Can You Get Netherite From Chests?
Yes, but not very much. Bastion remnant chests can hold ancient debris or netherite scrap, and rarely even a full ingot. Treat it as a bonus and not the main method. Tunneling and bed mining at Y 15 is faster than bastion-diving for scraps.
Netherite Questions
Does Fortune work on ancient debris?
No. Ancient debris always drops itself as a block, so Fortune does nothing here. Every debris is exactly one scrap’s worth, no multipliers.
Why can’t I upgrade my diamond gear to netherite?
You need three things at a smithing table: the diamond item, a netherite ingot, and a Netherite Upgrade smithing template from a bastion remnant. Without the template the smithing table won’t accept the upgrade. Anvils can’t do it at all.
That’s all our information on netherite! Are you using beds or TNT for mining? Leave a comment below!
