The Nether is the hellish dimension in Minecraft that has been part of the game since the Alpha version. Originally planned as a Halloween update, this new dimension has evolved into one of the coolest places in your Minecraft world. Especially with the 1.16 update, the Nether has been taken to a whole new level! Here, you’ll encounter mostly darkness, lots of lava, and plenty of red stones. The monsters here are also significantly 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 of the Nether and explore it like a pro.
Preparation
If you’re not yet familiar with Minecraft, you might be wondering how to get to the Nether in the first place. Mojang has now scattered some hints in the Overworld that you might have stumbled upon. Portal ruins can be found every few hundred blocks and indicate how to get into 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 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 variant you can build, so 10 blocks are sufficient.
What You Should Have in Your Inventory
The Nether is not called the hellish dimension of Minecraft for nothing. Many dangers await you here, so you should be well-prepared.
You should have:
- at least iron armor + tools
- at least one piece of gold armor (e.g., the helmet)
- at least one stack of food
- enough torches (and wood + coal)
- 3 x 64 cobblestone
- bow and enough 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 in a cauldron.
- Never use a bed in the Nether. There is no day-night cycle there, and if you try to sleep, your bed will explode!
- Compass and clock do not work.
Biomes in the Nether – What New Players Can Expect
Once you step through the portal, a new map will load. You can’t know exactly where you’ll come out 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 to ensure you’re well-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 mostly of old Nether terrain made almost entirely of red netherrack. Here, you’ll mainly find quartz, gold, and glowstone. In terms of monsters, you’re relatively safe here.
Monsters:
- Piglin: Will not attack you as long as you’re wearing gold.
- Zombie Piglin: Neutral unless you attack them.
- Ghast: Flying mobs that attack with fireballs. Use your bow to shoot them out of the sky.
Soul Sand Valley
Terrain: The Soul Sand Valley is one of the creepiest biomes in the Nether, due to its atmosphere alone. Black soul sand is everywhere, with some skeletons made of bone blocks here and there. Additionally, there are large basalt columns and blue flames. You also move slower on the ground.
Monsters:
- Ghast: Use your bow to shoot them out of the sky.
- Skeleton: The same monsters as in the Overworld.
- Enderman: Very rare, so avoid looking at them.
Crimson Forest
Terrain: At first glance, this biome looks very beautiful, but looks can be deceiving. You’ll find mostly red trees here, with red grass and mushrooms everywhere. However, dangerous monsters can hide behind the many tree trunks if you’re not careful.
Monsters:
- Piglin: Will not attack you as long as you’re wearing gold.
- Zombie Piglin: Neutral unless you attack them.
- Hoglin: Large warthogs that deal significant damage. You can keep them away from you with warped fungi.
Warped Forest
Terrain: The counterpart to the Crimson Forest, this time in a bright turquoise. However, this biome is much more pleasant as there are hardly any monsters here. The color scheme is also beautiful 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: The most dangerous biome is probably the Basalt Deltas. The constant Geiger counter and the soundscape alone 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 down with arrows.
- 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 did you land? Are there any immediate dangers nearby? Where can you find a potential shelter? Besides monsters, you should definitely look up because when the Nether first loads, lava falls might 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 so you don’t accidentally fall into lava. Sometimes, your portal can even appear in the middle of a lava lake. Protect yourself from flying ghasts and their fireballs as well.
Once your portal is protected, remember to note down the coordinates. Maps and compasses don’t work in the Nether. Then you can start your exploration tour! Keep in mind the tips 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. But each biome has its own pitfalls. Once you’ve internalized these and visited them all, 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!
