The Nether is the hellish dimension in Minecraft, existing since the alpha version of the game. Initially planned as a Halloween update, this new dimension has become one of the coolest places in your Minecraft world. Especially with Update 1.16, the Nether was taken to a whole new level! Here, you will encounter darkness, lots of lava, and plenty of red stones. Moreover, the monsters here are much scarier than those in the Overworld. Navigation is also challenging due to the rugged terrain. Let’s take a closer look at how to prepare for your first tour in the Nether and explore it like a pro.
Preparations
If you’re not yet familiar with Minecraft, you may be wondering how to enter the Nether. Mojang has scattered some clues in the Overworld, which you have probably stumbled upon. Portal ruins can be found every few hundred blocks and provide hints on how to get to the Nether.
You need 10 obsidian blocks and a flint and steel. You can create obsidian by pouring water over standing lava, such as in an underground lava lake. To mine it, you 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 You Should 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 armor and tools
- At least one piece of gold armor (e.g., the helmet)
- At least one stack of food
- Plenty of torches (and wood + coal)
- 3 x 64 cobblestones
- A bow and enough arrows
- Your flint and steel (in case your portal in the Nether goes out)
- A door
Notes:
- Water evaporates in the Nether unless you put it in a cauldron.
- Never use a bed in the Nether. There is no day-night cycle here, and if you try to sleep, your bed will explode!
- Compass and clock do not work.
Biomes in the Nether – What to Expect for New Players
As soon as you step through the portal, a new map will load. You can’t predict exactly where you’ll come out, making the adventure exciting but also potentially complicated or even dangerous. Therefore, let’s take a look at all the biomes so you can be best prepared for what you might encounter.
Nether Wastes
Terrain: The Nether Wastes is probably one of the safest biomes you can land in. It consists mainly of the old Nether terrain, mostly made up of red netherrack. You can find quartz, gold, and glowstone here. In terms of monsters, you are relatively safe.
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: Soul Sand Valley is one of the creepiest biomes in the Nether, due to its atmosphere. Black soul sand is everywhere, with some bone block skeletons scattered around. There are also large pillars of basalt and blue fire. Additionally, you move slower on this terrain.
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’ll find mostly red trees here, with 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 warthogs that deal significant damage. You can keep them away with warped fungus.
Warped Forest
Terrain: The counterpart to the Crimson Forest, this biome is in a bright turquoise. However, this biome is much more pleasant as there are hardly any monsters here. The color scheme is also very nice to look at! If you spawn here, not much can go wrong.
Monsters:
- Enderman: Very common here, so try not to look at them.
Basalt Deltas
Terrain: Probably the most dangerous biome is the Basalt Deltas. The constant Geiger counter sound and the ambiance make many players nervous. Moreover, every step could be your last. Lava traps are everywhere! Be extremely cautious. 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 You Should Do First!
As soon as you spawn in the Nether, you should get a good overview of your surroundings. Where have you landed? Are there immediate dangers nearby? Where can you find potential shelter? In addition to monsters, be sure to look up, as when the Nether first loads, lava falls may come down from above. And you definitely don’t want to be standing under them!
First, secure the Nether portal with cobblestone and fill any holes in the ground to avoid accidentally falling into lava. Sometimes your portal can even appear right above a lava lake. Protect yourself from flying ghasts and their fireballs as well.
Once you’ve secured your portal, remember the coordinates. Maps and compasses do not work in the Nether. After that, you can start exploring! Keep in mind the advice we’ve given you for each biome.
Conclusion – 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. However, each biome has its own challenges. But once you’ve internalized and visited all of them, navigation should become much easier. Survive in the Nether and control your game world on a server that’s entirely yours. Rent your Minecraft server now and master every challenge!
