Surviving Minecraft Nether: Tips and Tricks for Experienced Players

The Nether is the hellish dimension in Minecraft, present since the game’s alpha version. Originally planned as a Halloween update, this new dimension has become 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, darkness, plenty of lava, and a lot of red stones await you. Additionally, the monsters here are significantly scarier than those in the Overworld. Navigation is also tricky due to the rugged terrain. Let’s take a closer look at how to prepare for your first trip to the Nether and explore like a pro.

Preparing for the Minecraft Nether

If you are not yet familiar with Minecraft, you might be wondering how to get into the Nether. Mojang has now scattered several hints in the Overworld that you’ve likely stumbled upon. Portal ruins can be found every few hundred blocks and are a clue on how to enter the Nether.

You’ll need 10 obsidian blocks and a flint and steel. You can create obsidian by pouring flowing water over standing lava, for example, in an underground lava lake. To mine it, however, 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 sufficient.

Minecraft Nether: Essential Equipment for Safe Survival

The Nether is not called Minecraft’s hellish dimension for nothing. Many dangers await you here, and 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
• 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 in a cauldron.
• Do not use a bed in the Nether. There’s no day cycle here, and if you try to sleep, your bed will explode!
• Compass and clock do not work.

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

Once you step through the portal, you will enter a new map. Exactly where you’ll end up is unknown beforehand, making the adventure exciting but possibly complicating or even endangering your initial situation. Let’s examine all the biomes so that you’re well-prepared for what might await you.

Minecraft Nether Wasteland: Safe Start in the Hell Dimension

Terrain: The wasteland is probably one of the least threatening biomes you can land in. It is the old terrain of the Nether, consisting mostly of red netherrack. You can find mainly quartz, gold, and glowstone here. In terms of monsters, you are quite 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 the 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 spookiest biomes in the Nether, mainly due to its atmosphere. Black soul sand is everywhere, along with some skeletons made of bone blocks. There are also large pillars of basalt and blue fire. You move slower on this terrain.

Monsters:

• Ghast: Use the bow to shoot them out of the air.
• Skeleton: The same monsters as in the Overworld.
• Enderman: Very rare, so it’s best not to look at them.

Minecraft Crimson Forest: Red Trees and Hidden Dangers

Terrain: At first glance, this biome appears very beautiful, but looks can be deceiving. You will mostly find red trees here, with red grass and mushrooms everywhere. Dangerous monsters can be lurking 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 wart hogs that deal significant damage. You can keep them away with a warped fungus.

Minecraft Warped Forest: Fewer Monsters, but Beware of Endermen

Terrain: The counterpart to the Crimson Forest, this time in bright turquoise. However, this biome is much more pleasant as there are hardly any monsters here. The color scheme is also quite 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.

Minecraft Basalt Deltas: Rugged Terrain and Dangerous Magma Cubes

Terrain: The Basalt Deltas are arguably the most dangerous biome. The constant Geiger counter sound and noise make many players nervous. Moreover, every step could be your last. Lava traps lurk 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 down with a bow and arrow.
• Magma Cube: Similar to Overworld slimes. They can quickly push you into the abyss.

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 I 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 certainly don’t want to stand 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 might even appear right above a lava lake. Protect yourself from flying Ghasts and their fireballs as well.

Once you’ve secured your portal, remember to note the coordinates. Maps and compasses don’t work in the Nether. Then you can set off on your exploration tour! Keep in mind the advice we’ve given you for each biome.

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

The Nether is a spooky yet fascinating dimension in Minecraft! There are many resources, materials, and monsters here that you won’t find in the Overworld. However, each biome holds its own challenges. But once you’ve internalized these and visited them all, navigation should become significantly 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!