Mastering the Netherite Upgrade Process in Modern Minecraft

Reaching the endgame in Minecraft is defined by a single transition: moving from the shimmering blue of Diamond gear to the dark, lava-resistant power of Netherite. However, since the release of the 1.20 Trails & Tales update, the process of upgrading to Netherite has become significantly more challenging. It is no longer a simple matter of combining an ingot with a tool. To successfully upgrade, players must navigate dangerous structures, manage rare resources, and master the new Smithing Table mechanics.

This breakdown covers everything required to secure a full set of the strongest equipment in the game, focusing on efficiency, safety, and the technical requirements of the current game version.

The Core Components of a Netherite Upgrade

Before embarking on a journey into the Nether, it is essential to understand the four-item requirement for every single upgrade. In previous versions, you only needed the item and the ingot. Today, the checklist is stricter:

A Diamond Item: The base tool, weapon, or armor piece (must be at full durability or enchanted; all stats carry over).
One Netherite Ingot: Crafted from four Netherite Scraps and four Gold Ingots.
One Netherite Upgrade Smithing Template: A rare item found only in Nether Bastions.
A Smithing Table: The functional block used to combine these three elements.

Each piece of equipment consumes one template and one ingot. Because the templates are consumed upon use, understanding how to find and duplicate them is the most critical part of the modern progression path.

Phase 1: Locating Ancient Debris

Ancient Debris is the raw ore of Netherite. It is blast-resistant, fireproof, and generates only in the Nether. Unlike Diamond ore, it never generates exposed to air, meaning you cannot find it by simply flying through caves or looking at the walls of open ravines. You must dig for it.

Optimal Coordinates and Distribution

Ancient Debris can be found from Y-level 8 to 119. However, our extensive testing and community data confirm that the highest concentration is found at Y-level 15. When mining at this level, we recommend standing on Y=14 and mining the blocks at head and waist level (Y=15 and Y=16). This level provides the best balance between debris frequency and the relative safety of avoiding massive lava lakes that often sit just below Y=10.

Advanced Mining Techniques

Because Ancient Debris is exceptionally rare—typically generating in veins of only 1 to 3 blocks—standard strip mining is often too slow. Most players use one of two high-efficiency methods:

The Bed Explosion Method

In the Nether, beds explode with a higher blast power (power 5) than TNT (power 4). Because Ancient Debris is blast-resistant, it will remain intact while all the surrounding Netherrack is vaporized.

Execution: Dig a long tunnel at Y=15. Every 5 to 7 blocks, dig a small side hole. Place a bed, click it, and immediately back away or place a cobblestone block between you and the bed to mitigate the blast damage.
Pros: Cheapest method; uses renewable wood and wool.
Cons: Extremely dangerous; creates fire and can lead to accidental lava exposure.

The TNT Grid Method

For endgame players with a gunpowder farm, TNT is the superior choice for speed and safety.

Execution: Place TNT every two blocks in a long tunnel. Lighting one will trigger a chain reaction that clears a massive area.
Pros: Cleaner than beds; does not create as much fire; allows for better visibility of the debris.
Cons: Expensive; requires massive amounts of sand and gunpowder.

Phase 2: Processing Scraps into Netherite Ingots

Once you have secured Ancient Debris, the next step involves refining it into a usable state. This is a multi-step crafting process that requires a significant amount of gold.

Smelting for Scraps

Place your Ancient Debris into a Furnace or a Blast Furnace. A Blast Furnace is highly recommended as it processes ores twice as fast. Each block of Ancient Debris yields one Netherite Scrap. To upgrade a full set of armor and a basic toolset (sword, pickaxe, axe, shovel), you will need a minimum of 36 scraps.

The Crafting Recipe

Open a crafting table and combine the following in any arrangement (the recipe is shapeless):

4x Netherite Scrap
4x Gold Ingot

This produces one Netherite Ingot. Many players underestimate the amount of gold required. A full set of gear requires nine ingots, which translates to 36 gold ingots. We recommend setting up a basic Piglin gold farm or mining in the "Nether Wastes" biome, where Gold Ore is most abundant, to meet this demand.

Phase 3: The Hunt for the Netherite Upgrade Smithing Template

This is the "gatekeeper" step introduced in version 1.20. To upgrade your gear, you must find a Smithing Template. These items are exclusively located within Bastion Remnants—massive, dark blackstone fortresses inhabited by Piglins, Hoglins, and the deadly Piglin Brutes.

Where to Look

The Netherite Upgrade templates are found in chests throughout the Bastion. However, the drop rates vary based on the type of chest:

Treasure Chests: Found in the "Treasure Room" variant of the Bastion (usually guarded by a Magma Cube spawner). These have a 100% chance to contain at least one Netherite Upgrade template.
Hoglin Stable, Bridge, and Generic Chests: These have roughly a 10% chance to contain a template.

Survival Tips for Bastions

Bastions are among the most dangerous structures in Minecraft.

Wear Gold: Ensure at least one piece of your armor is gold to keep regular Piglins neutral.
Beware the Brutes: Piglin Brutes have high health, deal massive damage, and are not distracted by gold. Use boats or leads to trap them, or use a shield and an axe to disable their guard.
Fire Resistance: Never enter a Bastion without Fire Resistance potions. One accidental fall into the central lava pool of a Treasure Room will end your run.
Block Off Entrances: Use blocks to control the flow of mobs. Piglins cannot open doors or climb efficiently if you create bottlenecks.

Phase 4: Duplicating the Template

Because the Smithing Template is consumed every time you use the Smithing Table, finding one template is not enough for a full set of gear. While you could technically hunt for nine separate templates in nine different Bastions, the standard practice is to duplicate the first one you find.

The Duplication Recipe

This is an expensive recipe but far safer than raiding multiple Bastions. In a Crafting Table, combine:

1x Netherite Upgrade Smithing Template
7x Diamonds
1x Netherrack

This recipe yields two templates. Effectively, you are "paying" seven diamonds to create a copy of the template. This makes diamonds a valuable resource even after you have crafted your initial gear set. To upgrade a full suit of armor (4 pieces) and five tools (Sword, Pickaxe, Axe, Shovel, Hoe), you will need a total of nine templates. Starting with one, you would need to perform the duplication eight times, costing a total of 56 diamonds.

Phase 5: Using the Smithing Table

With the template, the ingot, and the diamond gear in hand, you are ready for the final step. The Smithing Table interface has three slots:

The Template Slot (Left): Place your Netherite Upgrade Smithing Template here.
The Base Item Slot (Middle): Place your Diamond tool or armor piece here.
The Ingredient Slot (Right): Place your Netherite Ingot here.

The output slot will display your new Netherite item.

Why the Order Matters

Crucially, the Smithing Table preserves all existing enchantments, durability, and custom names. If you have a "Silk Touch" Diamond Pickaxe with "Unbreaking III" and "Mending," the resulting Netherite Pickaxe will retain every one of those traits.

Pro Tip: It is much cheaper to enchant your gear while it is still in Diamond form. Enchanting Netherite items directly at an Enchantment Table is possible, but using an Anvil to add books to Diamond items is often more efficient before the final upgrade, as it ensures you don't waste Netherite on a "failed" enchant roll.

The Quantitative Benefits of Netherite Gear

Is the massive effort of mining, raiding, and diamond-spending worth it? The data says yes. Netherite provides several hidden and visible buffs that Diamond gear lacks.

Durability and Efficiency

Netherite tools have 2,031 durability points, compared to Diamond’s 1,561. This is a 30% increase. Furthermore, Netherite tools mine blocks faster. While the difference is measured in ticks (1/20th of a second), it becomes noticeable during large-scale excavations.

Combat and Protection

Attack Damage: Netherite swords and axes deal 1 extra point of damage (0.5 hearts) compared to Diamond versions.
Armor Toughness: Netherite armor provides the same protection points as Diamond but adds +1 Armor Toughness per piece. This reduces the damage taken from high-impact attacks (like Creeper explosions or Warden hits).
Knockback Resistance: This is the most unique trait. Each piece of Netherite armor provides a 10% reduction in knockback. A full set makes you nearly immune to being pushed back by skeleton arrows or melee hits, allowing you to maintain your ground in combat.

Fire and Lava Resistance

Perhaps the greatest "peace of mind" feature is that Netherite items do not burn. If you die in lava, your Diamond gear would vanish instantly. Netherite gear will float on top of the lava as an item entity, allowing you to return with a Fire Resistance potion and retrieve your equipment. Note that while the items are fireproof, the player is not; you still need protection to survive the heat.

Strategic Upgrade Order

Since Netherite is a limited resource in the early endgame, you should prioritize your upgrades based on utility. We suggest the following order:

Pickaxe: Because it is your primary tool for gathering more Ancient Debris. The increased durability and speed pay for themselves almost immediately.
Chestplate: Provides the most significant protection and armor toughness boost.
Sword/Axe: Depending on your preferred combat style. The damage boost helps hit critical "one-shot" thresholds on common mobs like Creepers.
Leggings/Boots/Helmet: To complete the knockback resistance set.
Shovel/Hoe: These should be the absolute last priority, as the benefits of Netherite on these tools are minimal for most survival tasks.

Summary of the Upgrade Workflow

To recap the modern progression for upgrading to Netherite:

Find one Netherite Upgrade Smithing Template in a Bastion Remnant.
Mine Ancient Debris at Y=15 using beds or TNT.
Smelt debris into Scraps and combine with Gold to make Ingots.
Duplicate the template using 7 Diamonds and a block of Netherrack.
Combine the Template, Diamond Gear, and Ingot in a Smithing Table.

FAQ

Can I upgrade Iron gear directly to Netherite?

No. The Smithing Table requires a Diamond-tier item as the base. You must progress through the tiers (Leather/Iron -> Diamond -> Netherite).

Will I lose my enchantments when I upgrade?

No. All enchantments, including "curses" and custom names from anvils, are perfectly preserved during the smithing process.

Does the Smithing Table cost Experience (XP)?

Unlike the Anvil, the Smithing Table does not require XP levels to perform the Netherite upgrade. It also does not increase the "Prior Work Penalty," meaning your gear won't become "Too Expensive" to repair just because you upgraded it.

Where is the best place to find Gold for the ingots?

The "Nether Wastes" biome is excellent for mining Nether Gold Ore. Alternatively, a "Zombified Piglin" farm in the Nether roof or a large-scale portal farm in the Overworld can provide infinite gold.

What happens if I use a damaged Diamond tool in the Smithing Table?

The tool will be upgraded, but it will remain damaged. The "durability lost" is carried over to the new item. It is usually better to repair your Diamond tool with Mending or an Anvil before upgrading it, though it isn't strictly necessary.

Can I find Netherite Ingots in chests?

Yes, but they are extremely rare. They can occasionally be found in Bastion Remnant treasure chests. However, relying on loot is far less efficient than mining Ancient Debris.

Why did Mojang add the Smithing Template requirement?

The change in 1.20 was designed to make Netherite feel like a true "endgame" achievement. Previously, players could obtain Netherite gear very quickly without ever interacting with the more dangerous parts of the Nether. The template requirement forces exploration and adds value to Diamonds in the late game.

The journey to a full set of Netherite is long and fraught with danger, but the result is a set of gear that makes you nearly invincible in the face of Minecraft's toughest challenges. By following the Y=15 mining strategy and prioritizing template duplication, you can minimize the grind and maximize your power.