To craft Netherite armor and tools in Minecraft, you'll need to track down Ancient Debris, and in this guide, we'll show you how.

Minecraft: Where to Find Ancient Debris

To craft Netherite armor and tools in Minecraft, you'll need to track down Ancient Debris, and in this guide, we'll show you how.

JosephYaden

Published: Jun 26, 2020 02:17 pm

This article is over 4 years old and may contain outdated information

Minecraft Update 1.16 is live and with it comes the quest for Netherite. This is a powerful material that’s used to craft tools, armor, and weapons, which are the best in the game. However, to make those items, you must craft Netherite Scraps, and you do that by smelting Ancient Debris in a furnace.

Minecraft: Where to Find Ancient Debris

Where Ancient Debris Spawns in Minecraft

An ancient debris block in Minecraft in The Nether.

The main thing to know about Ancient Debris is that it’s incredibly difficult to find because of its rare drop rate. Though, there are some things you should know that will make finding it a little easier.

For starters, you can only find Ancient Debris in The Nether, so craft yourself a portal and jump in.

Ancient Debris is typically located in the lower levels of The Nether, between Y coordinates 8 and 17. Depending on the version you’re playing, its location and spawn rates can vary.

For example, Ancient Debris spawn rates seem to be higher in the Bedrock Edition when compared to the Java Edition. Either way, don’t expect to find Ancient Debris in mass quantities. Usually, only 1 to 3 will spawn at a time.

The other important thing to know is that Ancient Debris can only be mined with Diamond or Netherite pickaxes, so don’t waste your time if you’re unequipped.

Tips for Finding Ancient Debris

Make sure to mark down the coordinates of the Nether Portal before looking for Ancient Debris.

It helps to know what your coordinates are, not just of your character, but of your Nether Portal, too. Make sure you take note of it so you know how to find your way back. Coordinates are denoted as XYZ.

To check your coordinates, go into the Chat Window and type in the following:

/tp ~ ~ ~

Make sure you confirm it afterwards and if done correctly, it will display your coordinates in the top left of the screen. There isn’t a specific X and Z coordinate that will guarantee Ancient Debris, but players have reported having luck anywhere around 15 for the Y coordinate.

When you get to the right Y coordinate, you’ll have to branch off, while keeping your eyes peeled for Ancient Debris, which is easily identified by its brown, spiraling design. At this point, there isn’t much else you can do to ensure finding Ancient Debris, other than to explore.

We do recommend to use TNT or other explosives to mine for Ancient Debris in large quantities. Make sure you have heat resistant gear, potions, and Soul items to repel Piglins.

Players have compared Ancient Debris to Diamond, in terms of rarity and difficulty to find. After you do get your hands on enough of it, make sure to reference the coordinates of your Nether Portal to get back home.

What Ancient Debris Does

After you finally get your hands on Ancient Debris, you’ll want to throw it into a furnace with a piece of fuel like charcoal. This will generate Netherite Scraps, which is used to make Netherite Ingot.

You’ll need Netherite Ingots to make the powerful items like the Netherite Swords or Netherite Armor. Considering how effective these items are, it makes sense that the main material needed to make them is hard to find.

These items have tremendous durability and are fire-resistant, which will come in handy while in The Nether.