How to Duplicate Netherite Smithing Templates in Minecraft

Netherite remains the pinnacle of equipment material in Minecraft, offering superior durability, knockback resistance, and the unique ability to float in lava. However, since the 1.20 Trails & Tales update, upgrading diamond gear to Netherite is no longer as simple as combining an ingot with a tool. The introduction of the Netherite Upgrade Smithing Template added a significant layer of challenge and resource management. Because these templates are consumed upon use, understanding how to duplicate them is essential for any player looking to outfit themselves—and their friends—in full Netherite gear without spending hundreds of hours raiding dangerous structures.

To duplicate a Netherite Upgrade Smithing Template, you must combine one existing template, seven diamonds, and one block of Netherrack in a standard 3x3 crafting grid. This process yields two templates: the original one you placed in the grid and a brand-new copy.

The Definitive Crafting Recipe for Duplication

In Minecraft, the duplication of smithing templates occurs exclusively within the Crafting Table. While some community guides incorrectly suggest using a Loom or a Smithing Table for this specific action, the 3x3 crafting grid is the only interface that supports the duplication recipe.

Required Materials

To perform one duplication cycle, you need:

1x Netherite Upgrade Smithing Template: This is the "seed" item. You must have at least one to create more.
7x Diamonds: These act as the high-value catalyst for the replication process.
1x Netherrack: This block defines the theme of the template. For Netherite upgrades, which originate from the Nether, Netherrack is the mandatory base material.

Crafting Table Arrangement

Open your crafting interface and arrange the items in the following pattern:

Top Row: Diamond | Netherite Upgrade Template | Diamond
Middle Row: Diamond | Netherrack | Diamond
Bottom Row: Diamond | Diamond | Diamond

Once placed correctly, the output slot will show two Netherite Upgrade Smithing Templates. It is a one-to-one duplication—you spend one to get two back.

Why Duplication is Necessary for Survival Progression

Before the 1.20 update, a player only needed Ancient Debris and Gold to reach the endgame. Now, the Smithing Template acts as a "gatekeeper." If you find a single template in a Bastion Remnant, you can upgrade exactly one piece of gear (e.g., your pickaxe). If you want a full set of armor and a complete toolset, you would theoretically need to find eight separate templates.

Raiding eight Bastion Remnants is an incredibly high-risk endeavor. These structures are guarded by Piglin Brutes, who ignore gold armor and deal massive damage even to players in diamond gear. In our testing and survival runs, we found that it is significantly more efficient to find one template and then focus on diamond mining to duplicate it. Diamonds are a renewable resource through mining, whereas Bastion Remnants are non-renewable structures that require constant exploration into new chunks, increasing world file size and travel time.

Strategies for Gathering Seven Diamonds Efficiently

The cost of seven diamonds per duplication is steep. To fully upgrade a set of armor (4 pieces), a sword, a pickaxe, an axe, and a shovel, you would need eight templates. Excluding the first one you find, you would need to duplicate seven times, costing a total of 49 diamonds.

The Fortune III Requirement

Mining diamonds with a standard pickaxe is a waste of potential in the late game. Before you begin duplicating templates, ensure you have a Diamond or Netherite Pickaxe enchanted with Fortune III. On average, Fortune III yields 2.2 diamonds per ore block. This reduces your required ore count from 49 blocks to approximately 23 blocks.

Optimal Mining Levels

Following the 1.18 world generation changes, diamond ore distribution increases as you go deeper into the world. The absolute best level to find diamonds is Y-level -59, just above the bedrock layer. At this depth, the concentration of Deepslate Diamond Ore is at its peak. We recommend "branch mining" or "strip mining" at this level, leaving two blocks between each tunnel to maximize visibility of hidden ores.

Exploring Large Caves

With the addition of mega-caves, flying through deep underground caverns with an Elytra and Night Vision potions is often faster than traditional branch mining. Look for exposed ore on the ceilings and floors of these massive voids. However, be aware that "air exposure" reduces the spawn rate of diamond ore slightly; blocks completely encased in deepslate are more likely to generate in larger veins.

Finding Your First Netherite Upgrade Smithing Template

You cannot craft a template from scratch; you must find your first one in the "wild." These templates are located exclusively within Bastion Remnants in the Nether dimension.

Bastion Types and Loot Probabilities

Not all Bastions are created equal. There are four distinct variants, and the odds of finding a template vary:

Treasure Room: This is the "Holy Grail" for players. It features a central platform surrounded by lava, often with a Magma Cube spawner. The chests at the bottom of the treasure room have a 100% chance to contain a Netherite Upgrade Smithing Template. If you find a Treasure Room Bastion, you are guaranteed at least one.
Hoglin Stables: These contain many chests in the stable areas. The chance of finding a template here is approximately 10%.
Bridge Bastions: These have chests scattered along the walkways with a roughly 10% chance.
Housing Units: Similar to stables and bridges, the chests here offer about a 10% chance.

Combat Tactics for Bastions

When entering a Bastion, your primary threat is the Piglin Brute. Unlike regular Piglins, Brutes cannot be distracted by gold and will attack on sight.

Use Boats: Placing a boat in the path of a charging Brute will trap them, allowing you to deal with them safely from a distance.
Fire Resistance: Always carry Fire Resistance potions. The Treasure Room is filled with lava, and a single misstep or a knockback from a Magma Cube can end your run.
Looting Without Aggro: If you are not in a Treasure Room, you can sometimes loot chests by placing a hopper underneath them or by breaking the chest and letting the items fall into a hopper. This prevents regular Piglins from becoming aggressive when you "open" their containers.

The Role of Netherrack in the Recipe

While the seven diamonds are the cost, the Netherrack is the thematic anchor. In Minecraft's smithing system, every template duplication recipe requires a specific block that represents where the template is found.

Netherite Upgrade: Uses Netherrack (Nether).
Sentry Armor Trim: Uses Cobblestone (Pillager Outposts).
Vex Armor Trim: Uses Cobblestone (Woodland Mansions).
Spire Armor Trim: Uses Purpur Block (End City).
Wayfinder Armor Trim: Uses Terracotta (Trail Ruins).

Netherrack is the easiest part of the duplication recipe to obtain. A single swing with an efficiency-enchanted pickaxe can gather stacks of it in seconds. This highlights that the real "gate" to Netherite gear is the diamond economy of your world.

Using the Template in the Smithing Table

Once you have successfully duplicated your templates, the final step is the actual upgrade. This requires a Smithing Table. The interface has three slots:

Template Slot: Place your Netherite Upgrade Smithing Template here.
Equipment Slot: Place your Diamond tool or armor piece here. (Note: The item must be at full durability for the best results, although the table does preserve enchantments).
Material Slot: Place one Netherite Ingot here.

The result is a Netherite version of your item. All enchantments, custom names, and even the slight wear on the item are transferred over. The template is consumed in this process, which is why the duplication method described above is so vital.

Comparing Netherite Upgrades to Armor Trims

It is important to distinguish between the Netherite Upgrade and Armor Trims.

Netherite Upgrade: Functional. It changes the stats of your gear, making it stronger and lava-resistant. It is the only "Upgrade" template in the game.
Armor Trims: Cosmetic. There are 18 varieties (such as Silence, Tide, or Snout) that only change the visual appearance of armor.

While the duplication logic is the same (7 diamonds + 1 template + 1 specific block), the value is different. You can live without a "Silence" trim, but you cannot progress to Netherite tier without the "Upgrade" template. This makes the Netherite Upgrade duplication the most important crafting recipe in the late game.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Using a Smithing Table to Duplicate: You cannot duplicate templates inside the Smithing Table. It must be the 3x3 Crafting Table.
Misplacing the Netherite Ingot: Do not try to use a Netherite Ingot in the duplication recipe. The recipe requires 7 diamonds and 1 Netherrack. Using an ingot will not work and is a common point of confusion for players returning after a long break.
Forgetting to Save a Template: Never use your last template to upgrade a piece of gear. If you use it, you lose the ability to duplicate it, and you will have to find another Bastion. Always keep at least one "Master Template" in an Ender Chest or a secure vault.

Summary of the Duplication Workflow

To summarize the most efficient way to manage your Netherite progression:

Locate a Bastion Remnant, ideally a Treasure Room, to secure your first Netherite Upgrade Smithing Template.
Return to your base and set up a diamond mining operation at Y-59 with a Fortune III pickaxe.
Gather at least 7 diamonds and 1 Netherrack.
Use a Crafting Table to turn your 1 template into 2.
Repeat the process until you have enough templates for your entire gear set, plus one extra as a backup.
Use the Smithing Table to combine your Diamond gear, the template, and a Netherite Ingot.

Conclusion

The shift towards using templates for Netherite upgrades has made the endgame more rewarding and deliberate. While the cost of 7 diamonds for a single duplication may seem high initially, it provides a meaningful use for diamonds once you have already crafted your initial set of gear. By mastering the duplication recipe of 7 Diamonds, 1 Netherrack, and 1 Template, you transform a rare, consumable loot item into a sustainable resource. This ensures that losing your gear in the void or to a creeper is no longer a catastrophic setback, provided you have kept a backup template safely stored at your base.

FAQ

Can I duplicate a Netherite Upgrade template with Netherite Scrap?

No. The recipe specifically requires 7 diamonds and 1 block of Netherrack. Netherite Scrap is used to craft Netherite Ingots, but it has no role in the duplication of the template itself.

What is the most efficient block to use for duplication?

For the Netherite Upgrade Smithing Template, you have no choice; you must use Netherrack. For other templates like Armor Trims, the required block changes (e.g., Sandstone for Dune, End Stone for Eye), but Netherrack is the only one that works for the Netherite Upgrade.

Is it possible to find templates in the Overworld?

No. Netherite Upgrade Smithing Templates are exclusive to Bastion Remnants in the Nether. You might find Armor Trims in Overworld structures like Shipwrecks or Ancient Cities, but the upgrade template is strictly a Nether-based item.

Does the duplication recipe work in Bedrock Edition?

Yes. The recipe (7 diamonds, 1 Netherrack, 1 template) and the requirement for a Crafting Table are identical across both Java Edition and Bedrock Edition from version 1.20 onwards.

Why did my duplication fail in the Crafting Table?

Double-check your arrangement. Ensure you are using exactly 7 diamonds, 1 Netherrack, and 1 Netherite Upgrade Smithing Template. Also, ensure you are not accidentally using an Armor Trim template (like the "Snout" trim found in Bastions), as those require different blocks for duplication.