Surviving Minecraft Nether: Tips and Tricks for Experienced Players

The Nether is the hellish dimension in Minecraft that has been part of the game since its alpha version. Originally introduced as the 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 taken to a whole new level! Here, you’ll find darkness, lots of lava, and a ton of red stones. Additionally, the monsters here are significantly creepier 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 of the Nether and explore like a pro.

Preparing for the Minecraft Nether

If you’re not yet familiar with Minecraft, you’re probably wondering how to actually get to the Nether. Mojang has now placed some hints in the Overworld that you’ve likely encountered. Portal ruins can be found every few hundred blocks and are a clue on how to get to the Nether.

You’ll need 10 obsidian blocks and a flint and steel. You can create obsidian by pouring flowing water over standing lava, such as in an underground lava lake. To mine it, you’ll need at least a diamond pickaxe, and even then, it takes some time. With the obsidian, you can either build your own portal or repair ruins. A 2x3 portal is the smallest version you can build, so 10 blocks are enough.

Minecraft Nether: Essential Gear for Safe Survival

The Nether is not called the hellish dimension of Minecraft for nothing. Many dangers await you here, and you should be well-prepared for them.

You should bring:

• At least iron armor and tools
• At least one piece of gold armor (e.g., a helmet)
• At least a stack of food
• Sufficient torches (and wood + coal)
• 3 x 64 cobblestones
• A 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 fill it into a cauldron.
• Never use a bed in the Nether. There’s no day-night cycle, and if you try to sleep, your bed will explode!
• Compasses and clocks don’t work.

Minecraft Nether Biomes: What Awaits You in the Most Dangerous Areas

Once you step through the portal, you’ll be loaded into a new map. Where exactly you’ll end up is unknown beforehand. This makes the adventure exciting, but it can also make your initial situation very complicated or even dangerous. Let’s take a look at all the biomes to prepare you for what you might encounter.

Minecraft Nether Wasteland: A Safe Start in the Hellish Dimension

Terrain: The wasteland is probably one of the safest biomes you can land in. It represents the old terrain of the Nether, consisting mostly of red netherrack. Here, you’ll primarily find quartz, gold, and glowstone. In terms of monsters, you’re relatively safe here.

Monsters:

• Piglin: Won’t attack you as long as you’re wearing 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.

Minecraft Soul Sand Valley: Beware of Skeletons and Lava Traps

Terrain: The Soul Sand Valley is one of the creepiest biomes in the Nether, due to its atmosphere. Black soul sand is everywhere, along with skeletons made from bone blocks. 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 try not to look at them.

Minecraft Crimson Forest: Red Trees and Hidden Dangers

Terrain: At first glance, this biome looks very beautiful, but appearances can be deceiving. You’ll find mostly red trees, red grass, and mushrooms here. Dangerous monsters can hide behind the many tree trunks if you’re not careful.

Monsters:

• Piglin: Won’t attack you as long as you’re wearing gold
• Zombie Piglin: Neutral unless you attack them
• Hoglin: Large boar-like creatures that deal significant damage. You can keep them at bay with a warped fungus.

Minecraft Warped Forest: Fewer Monsters, but Beware of Endermen

Terrain: The counterpart to the Crimson Forest, this time in a bright turquoise. This biome is much more pleasant, as there are hardly any monsters here. The color scheme is also quite nice to look at! If you spawn here, you’re relatively safe.

Monsters:

• Enderman: Very common here, so try not to look at them.

Minecraft Basalt Deltas: Rugged Terrain and Dangerous Magma Cubes

Terrain: The most dangerous biome is likely the Basalt Deltas. The constant Geiger counter sound and noise make many players nervous. Additionally, every step could be your last. Lava traps are everywhere! Be extremely cautious. The rugged terrain is not easy to explore, so build safe paths. The monsters here could also pose a problem.

Monsters:

• Ghast: Shoot them with arrows.
• Magma Cube: Similar to Overworld slimes. They can push you into the abyss quickly.

Minecraft Nether: First Steps for Safe Survival

Once 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 a potential shelter? Besides monsters, you should definitely look up, as when the Nether is first generated, lava flows may come from above. And you definitely don’t want to be standing under them!

First, secure the Nether portal with cobblestones and fill any holes in the ground to avoid accidentally falling into lava. Sometimes, your portal might appear right above a lava lake. Protect yourself from flying ghasts and their fireballs as well.

Once your portal is secured, note the coordinates. Since maps and compasses don’t work in the Nether, this is crucial. Then you’re ready to explore! Keep in mind the advice we’ve given for each biome.

Conclusion – Surviving in the Minecraft Nether: Become a Pro Adventurer

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 presents its own challenges. Once you familiarize yourself with them and have visited all of them, navigating should become significantly 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!