Finding ancient debris can be one of the most challenging parts of Minecraft, but it is also a venture that can be made easier with a few simple techniques. So, today, we explore how to find ancient debris in an easy guide to netherite mining.

Required Supplies

Before the mining can commence, there are a few items we highly recommend and some that are required. Fire resistance potions, blast-resistant diamond armor, and gold boots will all go a long way, but those are not necessarily needed, unlike the next few ahead. The first required item is a diamond pickaxe, which is probably not very surprising. Fortune will not help here, so any diamond pickaxe will do. The second required item is beds, and as many of them as you can get. That may sound odd, but beds will be the key to the most efficient method of netherite mining. Once a full inventory of beds has been crafted and a diamond pickaxe is in hand, you are good to go, and the Nether can be entered. For those who have not yet made their portal, it requires ten obsidian alongside flint & steel to ignite it.

Netherite Mining

Ancient debris, which smelts into netherite scraps, can generate anywhere between Y-level 1 and Y-level 119 in the Nether. If “Y-level” does not sound familiar, it refers to the player character’s vertical position within the world and will be essential for the next few steps. Java Edition players can view their Y-level by clicking F3, while Bedrock Edition players can see theirs by using the /gamerule showCoordinates command. Once the coordinates are visible, safely dig down to Y-level 16. This level is special because it has the least amount of lava on it, making it perfect for mining. From there, dig a few blocks ahead and then place down a bed. Ideally, the bed should be as far away as possible while still remaining within range to be clicked. If some blocks or a corner can be used as cover, that is even better. Why all the precautions for a bed? It is because they explode when used in the Nether, providing a very cheap alternative to TNT. And, using those cheap explosions, tunnels can rapidly be created in the Nether to search for ancient debris. Worry not about accidentally exploding any ore either, as ancient debris are resistant to explosions. Repeat this process, creating bed tunnels all across the Nether, and eventually, you will have as many ancient debris and netherite scraps as you need.