The best level for netherite in Minecraft is Y 15 to 16 in the Nether. The Minecraft Wiki puts the peak at Y 16 on average, and the bed-mining method aims for Y 15, so strip mine along either level and you’re in the densest band. Ancient debris (the ore that becomes netherite) can spawn anywhere from Y 8 to Y 119, but most of it sits between Y 8 and the low 20s.
What level does netherite spawn at?
Netherite itself never spawns. You mine ancient debris in the Nether, smelt it into netherite scrap, and craft scrap into ingots. Debris generates in two layers, and the split differs slightly by edition, according to the Minecraft Wiki ancient debris page (current versions as of October 2026):
| Edition | Concentrated layer | Spread-out layer | Clusters per chunk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Java Edition | One cluster of 0 to 3 blocks, Y 8 to 24, most likely near the middle | One cluster of 0 to 2 blocks, anywhere from Y 8 to 119 | Up to 2 |
| Bedrock Edition | Two clusters of 0 to 3 blocks, spread evenly from Y 8 to 23 | Three clusters of 0 to 2 blocks, Y 8 to 119 | Up to 5 |
So on Java, the low layer is shaped like a triangle that peaks around Y 16, and mining right in the middle pays off most. On Bedrock, the low layer is flat from Y 8 to 23, so any level in that band is about as good, and Y 15 is a comfortable choice because it sits well away from both the bedrock floor and the lava sea.
Don’t expect much. The wiki puts the Java average at roughly 1.65 debris per chunk, and veins hold at most 3 blocks unless two generate side by side. That’s why the method you use matters as much as the level.
Y 15 or Y 16?
Both work. Many guides written around Minecraft 1.19, like this Sportskeeda explainer, say Y 15 because they describe the dense band as Y 8 to 22 with 15 in the middle. The wiki’s current Java figures give a range of Y 8 to 24 with Y 16 as the most common level. One block of difference doesn’t change your haul much, because your tunnel and the blocks you can see on either side of it cover both levels anyway.
Why mine that low? Lava.
The Nether’s lava seas fill everything at and below Y 31, according to the wiki’s Nether page. At Y 15 you’re tunnelling under them through solid netherrack, which is safer than working near the surface of the lava. The wiki mining tutorial makes the same point: lower levels carry less risk of breaking into a lava ocean. You’ll still hit pockets of lava, and ancient debris is never naturally exposed to air, so you have to dig to find it.
How to mine for netherite at the best level
- Gear up. Bring a diamond or netherite pickaxe; anything weaker breaks debris and drops nothing. A diamond pickaxe with Efficiency II mines netherrack instantly, which speeds up tunnelling a lot. Pack several Potions of Fire Resistance and wear armor with Fire Protection or Protection.
- Turn on coordinates. On Java, press F3 to see your Y level. On Bedrock, switch on Show Coordinates in the world settings (per the wiki). Write down your portal’s coordinates too.
- Dig down to Y 15. Dig in a staircase instead of straight down so you can’t drop into lava.
- Pick a method (strip mining or beds, compared below) and work in one direction.
- Mine around every debris you find. Debris often comes in small veins, so clear the blocks next to each one.
- Smelt the debris in a furnace or blast furnace with any fuel. Each block gives one netherite scrap.
Strip mining vs beds vs TNT
| Method | How it works | Good for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strip mining | A long 2-high tunnel at Y 15, mining any debris you see | Safe, cheap, works on any setup | Slow, and you only see blocks touching your tunnel |
| Beds | Beds explode when used in the Nether with power 5, stronger than TNT’s 4, and debris survives the blast | Clearing big areas fast once you have lots of wool and wood | Fire, and damage if you stand too close |
| TNT | Same idea with TNT | Players with a TNT supply or creeper farm | Gunpowder adds up fast |
For the bed method, the wiki tutorial suggests a main tunnel at Y 15 with a 1-wide, 5-deep side tunnel every 16 blocks, blowing up a bed at the end of each one and standing at least 6 blocks back. Ancient debris survives because of its very high blast resistance (1,200 on the wiki). The Bed page confirms the blast also sets fire to blocks and players nearby, so bring fire resistance.
What players learned the hard way
The beds-versus-tunnel debate never really ends. When a player on r/Minecraft posted a single explosion that exposed five ancient debris blocks, Sportskeeda reported that commenters split right away: one said explosions are too much hassle with the fire and lava and that a plain 2×1 tunnel gave them the 16 debris they needed, while another said sprinting through with Fire Resistance and an insta-mine pickaxe was quickest. Both are real styles. If you’re early in the game, the tunnel wins on cost. Late game with stacks of wool, beds win on speed.
Other tips worth stealing, several of which Sportskeeda also lists:
- Crouch while strip mining so you don’t walk into lava or off a ledge.
- Mark your route or bring a lodestone and compass. Nether trips wander far from the portal.
- Don’t open chests or barrels near piglins, which the tutorial warns about.
- Check bastion remnants on the way. Their chests can hold ancient debris, netherite ingots and the upgrade template you’ll need.
How much ancient debris do you need?
Each netherite ingot takes 4 netherite scrap and 4 gold ingots in any arrangement (the Netherite Ingot page calls it a shapeless recipe). That means 4 ancient debris per ingot.
| Goal | Ingots | Ancient debris | Gold ingots |
|---|---|---|---|
| One piece of gear (sword, pickaxe, chestplate and so on) | 1 | 4 | 4 |
| Full armor (4 pieces) | 4 | 16 | 16 |
| Full armor plus sword, pickaxe, axe, shovel, hoe and spear | 10 | 40 | 40 |
| Block of netherite | 9 | 36 | 36 |
Netherite horse armor and nautilus armor also take one ingot each if you want those too.
You can’t craft netherite gear from scratch. You upgrade diamond gear in a smithing table with a Netherite Upgrade smithing template, a diamond item and one netherite ingot. Enchantments carry over and the upgrade costs no experience. Templates only come from bastion remnants: treasure room chests always have one, and bridge, hoglin stable and generic chests have a 10% chance, per the wiki. Copy a template with 7 diamonds and a block of netherrack to get two. Bastion treasure chests also have about a 35% chance on Java (37.9% on Bedrock) of holding a ready-made netherite ingot.
Frequently asked questions
Can you find netherite in the Overworld?
No. Ancient debris only generates in the Nether, apart from loot in Nether structures like bastion remnants.
What is the best Y level for netherite on Bedrock?
Anywhere from Y 8 to 23, where Bedrock spreads two of its five debris clusters evenly. Y 15 is a good middle choice that keeps you away from the bedrock floor and the lava sea.
Can you mine ancient debris with an iron pickaxe?
No. Ancient debris needs a diamond or netherite pickaxe; any other tool breaks it without dropping anything.
Does netherite burn in lava?
No. The Minecraft Wiki says netherite ingots are immune to being destroyed by fire and lava, unlike most items, so a dropped ingot isn’t lost if it lands in lava.
Is Y 15 still the best level after recent updates?
Yes, roughly. As of October 2026 the Minecraft Wiki puts the Java peak at Y 16 and the Bedrock dense band at Y 8 to 23, so Y 15 or 16 is still the place to tunnel.
Featured image: Mojang Studios / Microsoft
