7 Ultimate Ways To Find Netherite FAST In Minecraft 1.20+ (The Y-Level Secret)

Finding Netherite in Minecraft remains one of the most challenging and rewarding late-game pursuits, requiring players to venture deep into the perilous Nether dimension to locate its raw form: Ancient Debris. As of the current date in December 2025, the most efficient methods rely on explosive power and knowing the exact coordinates where this rare ore is most likely to spawn, especially following the major changes introduced in the 1.20+ update regarding gear upgrades.

Forget the slow, outdated strip mining techniques of the past. The modern Netherite hunter utilizes powerful explosions to clear massive amounts of Netherrack, quickly exposing the blast-resistant Ancient Debris. This guide breaks down the essential Y-level, the necessary toolkit, and the superior explosive strategies to ensure you upgrade your Diamond Gear to the powerful, fire-proof Netherite standard as quickly as possible.

The Essential Netherite Hunter's Toolkit

Before you even step into the Nether, preparation is paramount. The Nether is an inherently dangerous environment filled with lava oceans, hostile mobs like Ghasts and Piglins, and treacherous terrain. To maximize your efficiency and survival rate, you need a specific set of tools and consumables tailored for explosive mining.

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• Diamond Pickaxe (or Netherite Pickaxe): Must be enchanted with Efficiency IV or V to quickly mine the exposed Ancient Debris and surrounding Netherrack. Fortune does not affect the drop rate of Ancient Debris, so it is optional.
• Explosives: Either hundreds of Beds (for Bed Bombing) or stacks of TNT (for TNT Mining).
• Obsidian: Used to protect yourself from the explosions. You will need a significant amount, often 3-5 stacks, to create a safe tunnel and blast shield.
• Fire Resistance Potions: Absolutely crucial. A single lava pocket exposed by an explosion can end your run. Bring multiple 8-minute Fire Resistance Potions (brewed with Magma Cream) to ensure continuous protection.
• Food & Armor: Full Diamond armor (at minimum) and plenty of high-saturation food.
• Water Bucket: While water evaporates in the Nether, an Ice block or a simple water bucket can be used to convert exposed lava into Obsidian or Crying Obsidian in certain circumstances, or just as a quick panic block placement.

The Best Y-Level and Biome for Striking Netherite Gold

The single most important factor for maximizing your Ancient Debris yield is mining at the correct vertical coordinate, or Y-level. Unlike diamonds, which favor Y=11, Ancient Debris is concentrated much lower in the Nether's crust.

Optimal Y-Level: Y=15

The consensus among expert miners is that Y=15 is the absolute sweet spot for finding Ancient Debris.

• Spawn Range: Ancient Debris can spawn anywhere between Y=8 and Y=22.
• Concentration Peak: The highest chance of a block containing Ancient Debris is specifically at Y=15. Mining at this level ensures the explosion radius is centered where the ore is most abundant.
• Lava Mitigation: Mining slightly above the massive lava oceans (which are typically at Y=10) helps reduce the risk of falling directly into a fiery death, a common hazard when using explosives.

Biome Considerations

While Ancient Debris spawns in all Nether biomes, some are more favorable for mining than others:

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• Nether Wastes: The default biome, often the easiest to navigate, but can be open and exposed to Ghast attacks.
• Soul Sand Valley / Basalt Deltas: These can be challenging due to the uneven terrain and the presence of dangerous mobs. The Basalt Deltas, in particular, are visually noisy and can make spotting the dark Ancient Debris difficult.
• Crimson Forest / Warped Forest: These biomes are generally considered ideal due to their relatively flat terrain and the abundance of wood, which can be useful for crafting tools or emergency shelter.

Advanced Netherite Mining Strategies: Bed Bombing vs. TNT

Since Ancient Debris is blast-resistant, using high-power explosions is the fastest way to expose it from within the surrounding Netherrack. The two dominant methods are Bed Bombing and TNT Mining.

Method 1: Bed Bombing (The Budget-Friendly Choice)

Bed Bombing is the most cost-effective method for early-to-mid-game players. Beds, when used (right-clicked) in the Nether, will explode violently because the dimension lacks a sky, preventing the player from sleeping.

• Explosion Power: Beds have an explosion power of 5, which is slightly stronger than TNT's power of 4. This makes them highly effective at clearing blocks.
• Procedure: Dig a 2-block-long tunnel at Y=15. Place the Bed at the end of the tunnel. Step back into the 2-block space and place a solid block (like Obsidian) in front of you for protection. Right-click the Bed and immediately look away or crouch behind your shield block.
• Pros: Wool and Wood are relatively easy to acquire, making this a cost-effective method.
• Cons: It is slower and riskier than TNT, as you must manually place and trigger each bed, increasing your exposure to Piglins and potential lava hazards.

Method 2: TNT Mining (The High-Efficiency Choice)

TNT Mining is the preferred method for late-game players with access to large-scale resource farms, such as Creeper Farms (for Gunpowder) and Sand Duplication (for Sand). It is significantly faster than Bed Bombing.

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• Procedure: Dig a long, straight tunnel at Y=15. Place TNT blocks every 3-4 blocks along the tunnel. Use Redstone Dust, a Lever, or a Redstone Block to chain-detonate the entire line of TNT from a safe distance, usually behind a thick Obsidian wall.
• Pros: It is the fastest and most efficient way to clear large volumes of blocks, drastically reducing the time spent searching for Ancient Debris. It is also safer due to the distance from the blast.
• Cons: The resource cost is high, requiring large amounts of Gunpowder and Sand.

From Ancient Debris to Netherite Gear (The 1.20+ Update)

Once you have successfully mined your Ancient Debris, the journey is not over. You must process it into Netherite Ingots and then use the updated crafting system to upgrade your gear.

Step 1: Processing the Debris

Ancient Debris cannot be used directly. You must first smelt it.

1. Smelt the Ancient Debris in a Blast Furnace (or regular Furnace) to create Netherite Scrap.
2. Combine four Netherite Scrap with four Gold Ingots in a crafting table to create one Netherite Ingot.

Step 2: The Smithing Template Upgrade

The 1.20 Trails & Tales Update introduced a major change to the upgrade process. You can no longer simply combine a Diamond item with a Netherite Ingot in a crafting table.

1. You must first acquire a Netherite Upgrade Smithing Template. This rare item is found in chests within Bastion Remnants in the Nether.
2. Use the Smithing Table to combine three items: the Diamond Tool/Armor, the Netherite Upgrade Smithing Template, and the Netherite Ingot.

The Smithing Template is a single-use item, but you can duplicate it using 7 Diamonds and 1 Netherite Ingot at a crafting table. This makes the initial acquisition of the template the new bottleneck in the Netherite farming process.

Final Tips for Maximum Yield and Survival

To ensure your explosive mining runs are successful and profitable, keep these final strategic tips in mind:

• Trench Mining: When strip mining or preparing for explosions, dig a 1x2 trench and walk down the middle. This exposes three blocks on either side (a total of seven blocks wide) and helps you spot exposed Ancient Debris more effectively.
• Explosion Resistance: Ancient Debris is highly resistant to explosions, meaning it will survive the blast that destroys the surrounding Netherrack. This is why the explosive methods work so well. The debris will drop as an item, so be sure to collect it quickly.
• Piglins and Gold: Always wear at least one piece of Gold Armor when in the Nether to prevent Piglins from becoming immediately hostile. This is a crucial survival mechanic.
• Chunk Borders: Experienced miners sometimes use F3 to locate chunk borders and mine along them, as Ancient Debris is guaranteed to spawn at least one vein per chunk (around 1.65 ores per chunk, on average).

By focusing your efforts at Y=15, utilizing the power of Bed Bombing or TNT, and mastering the new Smithing Template upgrade process, you will quickly amass the Netherite you need to forge the strongest gear in Minecraft.