(Estimated Read Time: 3 Minutes)

Trial chambers are a mountain of fun, but experienced players will find that they are quickly done. So, today, we explain step by step how to activate the hidden trial chambers hard mode.

Step 1: Find a Trial Chamber

The most time-consuming part of this process is typically finding the trial chamber itself. They generate between layers -20 and -40 of the overworld with no indications on the surface. This leaves strip mining and caving as the most common ways of stumbling across them. However, should anyone have some emeralds to spare, purchasing a trial explorer map from a cartographer villager will provide the exact location of a nearby trial chamber.

Step 2: Collect Ominous Bottles

To activate trial chambers hard mode, one must first collect ominous bottles. This is most easily done by heading to a trial chamber, collecting trial keys, and looting vaults. The drop rate of an ominous bottle sits at around 18.6%, so it shouldn’t take too long.

Step 3: Drink an Ominous Bottle

Consuming the contents of an ominous bottle provides a status effect titled “bad omen.” If within a trial chamber, “bad omen” will transform into a second status effect titled “trial omen.” This second status effect marks that the trial chambers hard mode has been activated. Ominous trial spawners should then begin taking the place of any nearby regular trial spawners. With that, it is merely a matter of surviving until the end. Happy hunting!

How to Activate Trial Chambers Hard Mode in Minecraft 1.21

Ominous trial spawners and ominous vaults provide an abundance of loot, including heavy cores which are needed to craft maces! But be warned. They’re called ominous for a reason. Expect stronger mobs, incoming projectiles, and even spontaneously spawned potions that drop from above. Until Next Time, Bisecthosting =)