In Minecraft 1.20.1, the level to dig at for Netherite is Y=15 in the Nether. Minecraft’s official guidance says this height gives the highest average chance of finding ancient debris, the material you smelt to make Netherite. Netherite itself does not generate as ore, so the search is for debris, not a “Netherite ore” block.
Why Y=15 is the recommended level
Minecraft’s “Taking Inventory: Netherite Scrap” article, published March 25, 2021, puts it this way: “On average, level 15 gives you the highest chance to find some, but no guarantees.” That is a probability statement about where debris is most often found across the Nether, not a promise that any particular block at Y=15 will contain debris.
Ancient debris, not Netherite ore
Ancient debris is the block you mine. It is embedded in Nether rock and does not generate exposed to air, so you have to dig to reveal it. Minecraft lists two generation ranges for it:
| Item | Y-level range | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Ancient debris, common range | Y=8 to Y=22 | Where most debris generates; Y=15 is the average-best height within the search. |
| Ancient debris, full range | Y=8 to Y=119 | Debris can appear across this wider span, but not with equal odds at every level. |
Both ranges come from Minecraft’s 2021 article on Netherite scrap. They describe game generation, not a measured statistic from real play.
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Bed mining at Y=11, 12, or 15
Minecraft’s “How To Find Ancient Debris” guide, dated December 29, 2022, recommends tunnelling at Y=11, Y=12, or Y=15 when you mine with beds. Beds explode in the Nether, and that blast can expose ancient debris that would otherwise stay hidden in rock. The same guide warns that the explosions are dangerous, so you should take shelter and protect yourself before using beds to mine.
What you need to mine it
- A diamond pickaxe or Netherite pickaxe. Minecraft states that ancient debris requires one of these to mine successfully.
- Enough time and light to tunnel through Nether rock at the recommended height.
- A plan for the bed-mining hazard if you use that method.
From debris to Netherite
- Mine ancient debris at Y=15, or at Y=11 or Y=12 if you are bed mining.
- Smelt each ancient debris in a furnace to produce a Netherite scrap.
- Combine four Netherite scraps with four gold ingots to craft one Netherite ingot.
Minecraft’s “Minecraft Snapshot 20w06a” post, dated February 5, 2020, documents this progression and the role of Netherite in upgrading diamond gear.
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Version scope
This answer applies to Minecraft: Java Edition 1.20.1, whose official release announcement is dated July 24, 2023. The Minecraft pages on ancient debris give general advice rather than a version-specific table for 1.20.1, so the Y=15 guidance is best read as Minecraft’s general average-best recommendation for the Nether. It has not been independently tested against 1.20.1 generation code.
The guidance is about odds, so a tunnel at Y=15 can still come up empty. If you want to improve your chances, work through several levels and keep searching the Nether rather than relying on one height.
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