Finally got your full diamond gear and looking to upgrade? Luckily, this guide can help get you set up on how to make your full Netherite Armor set!
Quick checklist (what you need)
✅ Full Diamond Armor Set
✅ Diamond or Netherite Pickaxe
✅ 16 Ancient Debris → 16 Netherite Scraps → 4 Netherite Ingots
✅ 16 Gold Ingots
✅ 1+ Netherite Upgrade Template(s)
1. Get to the right place: where Ancient Debris spawns
Go to the Nether by lighting a Nether portal.
Ancient Debris spawns deep in the Nether and is most common around Y = 15. It can be found between Y 8 and Y 22, with Y 15 being the best level to mine.
Enable coordinates and build a safe stair or tunnel down. Never dig straight down.
2. How to mine Ancient Debris (fast and safe)
Required tool: Diamond or Netherite pickaxe only.
Two safe mining methods:
Branch or strip mine at Y=15: Dig long 1x2 tunnels and add branches every 2 or 3 blocks to expose more area.
Blast mining: Use TNT or beds. Beds explode in the Nether, but Ancient Debris is blast resistant and will remain. This is fast if you have explosives.
Note: The Fortune enchantment does not increase Ancient Debris drops. Each block always drops one.
Looking for more information on Ancient Debris and other ore mining levels?
Check out our article on mining levels here:
https://help.simplegamehosting.com/the-best-mining-levels-in-minecraft/
3. From Ancient Debris to Netherite Ingot
Mine Ancient Debris blocks. You need 16 Ancient Debris for a full armor set.
Smelt Ancient Debris in a furnace or blast furnace to get 1 Netherite Scrap per block.
Gather gold ingots. You need 4 gold ingots per Netherite Ingot which means 16 gold ingots total for 4 Netherite Ingots.
Craft Netherite Ingots: Combine 4 Netherite Scraps and 4 Gold Ingots in any shape in the crafting grid. Each recipe gives 1 Netherite Ingot.
4. Getting the Netherite Upgrade Template (from Bastions)
In Minecraft 1.20 and later, you can no longer upgrade diamond armor to Netherite using only a Netherite Ingot.
You now need a special item called the "Netherite Upgrade - Smithing Template", found only in Bastion Remnants in the Nether.
5. Upgrading diamond armor to Netherite armor
Place a Smithing Table and open it.
Put the Netherite upgrade template in the first slot, a diamond armor piece in the second slot, and one Netherite Ingot in the third slot.
The result shows the Netherite armor piece. Take it to complete the upgrade.
All enchantments on your diamond armor transfer to the Netherite version.
Repeat for each armor piece until you have a full Netherite set.
FAQs about Netherite Armor
Q: Can you craft netherite armor directly?
A: No, the armor cannot be crafted on its own. To make it, you must upgrade diamond armor using a smithing table.
Q: How many netherite ingots are needed for a full set of netherite armor?
A: A full set of armor requires 4 netherite ingots total — one for the helmet, chestplate, leggings, and boots.
Q: How much ancient debris is required to make full netherite armor?
A: You need 16 ancient debris to make a full set of armor. That is because each piece requires 1 netherite ingot, and each ingot is made from 4 scraps.