Mastering Netherite gear is one of the most rewarding goals in Minecraft, and the Netherite pickaxe is essential for efficient mining and late-game progression. This guide walks you through every step needed to craft this powerful tool with precision.
By following clear material paths and furnace recipes, you can optimize your workflow and avoid common pitfalls. The sections below break down each phase so you can move straight from exploration to ultimate-tier mining.
| Stage | Key Materials | Primary Tools | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nether Exploration | Iron ingots, Gold ingots | Iron pickaxe, Blast furnace | Gather gold and mine Ancient Debris |
| Upgrading to Diamond | Diamond pickaxe, Obsidian | Crafting table, Enchanting table | Mine Nether Quartz and refine materials |
| Creating Netherite Scrap | Ancient Debris | Diamond or Netherite pickaxe | Smelt into Netherite Scrap in Furnace or Blast furnace |
| Crafting Netherite Ingot | 4 Netherite Scrap + 4 Gold Ingots | Crafting table | Produce Netherite Ingot for upgrades |
| Final Netherite Pickaxe | Netherite Ingot, Diamond Pickaxe | Smithing table | Combine materials to complete the Netherite pickaxe |
Preparing for the Netherite Upgrade
Gathering Initial Resources
Before attempting the Netherite pickaxe, secure a reliable iron and gold supply. Focus on mining iron ore in the overworld and smelting it into ingots, while also collecting gold from mines or basalt deltas to fund later steps.
Building Efficient Furnaces
Set up a Blast furnace to speed up gold and ore processing, which reduces time spent smelting Netherite Scrap and preparing gold ingots. Pair this with a regular furnace for larger volume smelting when you farm Ancient Debris.
Mining and Processing Ancient Debris
Identifying the Best Mining Levels
Ancient Debris generates most commonly between Y levels -64 and 16, with Y level 15 being one of the most efficient targets. Use an iron or diamond pickaxe to mine it, as a wooden or stone pickaxe will break without dropping the block.
Smelting Netherite Scrap
Each Ancient Debris block smelts into one Netherite Scrap, so plan your furnace arrays to handle large batches. Organizing a multi-furnace setup with hoppers can automate input and output, making your Netherite production much faster.
Crafting the Netherite Pickaxe
Creating the Netherite Ingot
Combine four Netherite Scrap with four Gold Ingots on a crafting table to create one Netherite Ingot. You will need a single Netherite Ingot to upgrade your diamond pickaxe into its Netherite variant.
Using the Smithing Table
Place a Netherite Ingot and your Diamond Pickaxe in the Smithing table interface, with the ingot first and the pickaxe second. This process preserves all enchantments on the original diamond pickaxe while upgrading it to the strongest tier.
Optimizing Your Workflow
Automating Gold and Netherite Production
Set up gold farms and strip mines for consistent Netherite Scrap input, then integrate furnaces and storage systems to minimize manual work. A well-organized setup ensures you can quickly craft new Netherite tools as soon as you find enough material.
Enchanting and Usage Tips
Apply efficiency, unbreaking, and mending enchantments to maximize the effectiveness of your Netherite pickaxe. Use it for mining nether quartz, stripping logs, and breaking stone variants faster than any other tool in the game.
Key Takeaways for Your Netherite Pickaxe Journey
- Secure a steady supply of iron and gold before entering the Nether.
- Use a Blast furnace to accelerate gold and ore processing.
- Mine Ancient Debris at Y level 15 for the best efficiency.
- Smelt Ancient Debris into Netherite Scrap and craft Netherite Ingots.
- Upgrade your diamond pickaxe at the Smithing table to complete the Netherite pickaxe.
FAQ
Reader questions
Can I upgrade any pickaxe to Netherite, or only diamond?
You can only upgrade a Diamond Pickaxe to Netherite. Upgrading any other tool or pickaxe tier is not possible in survival gameplay.
Does the Netherite pickaxe mine blocks faster than diamond?
Yes, the Netherite pickaxe mines faster than diamond and is the fastest pickaxe in the game for nearly all mining tasks, except for blocks that require silk touch or instant mining mechanics.
Are enchantments like efficiency preserved during the upgrade?
Yes, all enchantments on your diamond pickaxe are kept when you upgrade to Netherite using the Smithing table, allowing you to retain powerful modifiers without losing progress.
What is the best Y level for mining Ancient Debris efficiently?
Many players find Y level 15 optimal for Ancient Debris, as it sits above bedrock layers while remaining within the most common generation range for the Nether.