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.
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 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.

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In this guide, we’ll walk you through finding Ancient Debris, what it does, and include other tips to help you out on you search. 

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

Netherite Scrap recipe.

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. 

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That covers all you’ll need to know about tracking down Ancient Debris in Minecraft. For more on Minecraft, check out the links above, or visit the game’s guide hub for even more. 

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Author
JosephYaden
Joseph loves Nintendo and horror games. When he's not writing about video games he can usually be found petting his cats and listening to some Progressive Metal. He thinks Meshuggah is tight. Twitter: @JosephYaden