The Nether is the hellish dimension in Minecraft that has been in the game since the alpha version. Initially planned as a Halloween update, this new dimension has emerged as one of the coolest places in your Minecraft world. Especially with the 1.16 update, the Nether was elevated to a whole new level! You’ll encounter darkness, lots of lava, and a plethora of red stones. Moreover, the monsters here are much scarier than those in the overworld. Navigation is also difficult due to the rugged terrain. Let’s take a closer look at how to prepare for your first trip to the Nether and explore it like a pro.
Preparations
If you’re not yet familiar with Minecraft, you might be wondering how to get into the Nether. Mojang has now placed several hints in the overworld that you have likely stumbled upon. Portal ruins can be found every few hundred blocks and hint at how to enter the Nether.
You’ll need 10 obsidian blocks and a flint and steel. You can create obsidian by pouring running water over standing lava, for example, in an underground lava lake. To mine it, you’ll need at least a diamond pickaxe, and even then, it takes a while. With the obsidian, you can either build your own portal or repair ruins. A 2x3 portal is the smallest variant you can build, so 10 blocks are enough.
What to Have in Your Inventory
The Nether is not called the hellish dimension of Minecraft for nothing. Many dangers await you here, and you should be well-prepared.
You should have:
- at least iron armour + tools
- at least one piece of gold armour (e.g., the helmet)
- at least one stack of food
- enough torches (and wood + coal)
- 3 x 64 cobblestones
- bow and plenty of arrows
- your flint and steel (in case your portal goes out in the Nether)
- a door
Notes:
- Water evaporates in the Nether unless you put it in a cauldron.
- Never use a bed in the Nether. There’s no daytime there anyway, and if you try to sleep, your bed will explode!
- Compass and clock don’t work.
Biomes in the Nether – What Awaits New Players?
As soon as you step through the portal, you will be loaded into a new map. You can’t know exactly where you will end up beforehand. This makes the adventure exciting but can also make your initial situation very complicated or even dangerous. Therefore, let’s take a look at all the biomes so that you are well-prepared for what might await you.
Nether Wastes
Terrain: The Nether Wastes is probably one of the most harmless biomes you can land in. This is the old terrain of the Nether, consisting almost entirely of red netherrack. Here, you can mainly find quartz, gold, and glowstone. In terms of monsters, you are relatively safe here.
Monsters:
- Piglin: Will not attack you as long as you wear gold
- Zombie Piglin: Neutral unless you attack them
- Ghast: Flying mobs that attack with fireballs. Use a bow to shoot them out of the air.
Soul Sand Valley
Terrain: The Soul Sand Valley is one of the creepiest biomes in the Nether, mainly because of its atmosphere. Everywhere is black soul sand with some skeletons made of bone blocks scattered around. Additionally, there are large pillars of basalt and blue fire. You also move slower on this ground.
Monsters:
- Ghast: Use a bow to shoot them out of the air.
- Skeleton: The same monsters as in the overworld.
- Enderman: Very rare, so best not to look at them.
Crimson Forest
Terrain: At first glance, this biome looks very beautiful, but appearances can be deceiving. You will mainly find red trees and red grass and mushrooms everywhere. Dangerous monsters can hide behind the many tree trunks if you’re not careful.
Monsters:
- Piglin: Will not attack you as long as you wear gold
- Zombie Piglin: Neutral unless you attack them
- Hoglin: Large boars that deal significant damage. You can keep them away with a warped fungus.
Warped Forest
Terrain: The counterpart to the Crimson Forest, this time in a bright turquoise. However, this biome is significantly more pleasant as there are hardly any monsters here. The colour scheme is also very pleasing to the eye! If you spawn here, not much can happen to you.
Monsters:
- Enderman: Very common here, so try not to look at them.
Basalt Deltas
Terrain: The most dangerous biome is probably the Basalt Deltas. The constant Geiger counter and soundscape make many players nervous. Additionally, every step could be your last. Lava traps are everywhere! Be extremely careful. The rugged terrain is definitely not easy to explore, so build safe paths. The monsters could also be a problem.
Monsters:
- Ghast: Shoot them with a bow and arrow.
- Magma Cube: Similar to overworld slimes. They can quickly push you into the abyss.
What to Do First!
Once you spawn in the Nether, you should get a good overview of your surroundings. Where did you land? Are there immediate dangers nearby? Where can you find a potential shelter? Besides monsters, make sure to look upwards, as when the Nether first loads, lava falls from above can occur. And you definitely don’t want to stand under one!
First, secure the Nether portal with cobblestone and fill in any holes in the ground so you don’t accidentally fall into lava. Sometimes, your portal may even appear in the middle of a lava lake. Protect yourself from flying Ghasts and their fireballs.
Once you have secured your portal, make sure to note down the coordinates. Maps and compasses don’t work in the Nether. Then you can start exploring! Keep in mind the advice we’ve given you for each biome.
Conclusion – An Adventure in Hell!
The Nether is a creepy yet fascinating dimension in Minecraft! There are many resources, materials, and monsters here that you won’t find in the overworld. But each biome has its own pitfalls. Once you get familiar with them and visit all of them, navigation will become much easier. Survive in the Nether and control your game world on a server that is entirely yours. Rent your Minecraft server now and master every challenge!
