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Chart lining up Y values to layers.

Altitude is commonly expressed as a number defining the distance in layers above the base of the game environment, which is Layer zero (0). Sea level is recognized as Layer 62, and the top of the game environment is Layer 127. Specifically, the bottom face of the bottommost bedrock block is at Y coordinate 0, and the top face of the highest block that can be placed is at Y coordinate 127. The player can press F3 to see what Y coordinate the player's eye is currently at, with the player's eye located 1.6 blocks above the layer the player is standing on. For example, a player standing on a shore of an ocean will see their Y coordinate as approximately 64.6.

Natural resources and altitude

Landscape in The Overworld features are found at different altitudes, as shown in this graph:

File:Blockcount 1.1.png

Beware the logarithmic scale: a slight difference in the y coordinate means a large change in relative frequency of this block type.

See the following table for a textual description of resources by altitude and tools needed to gather them.

Landscape Feature Complete range[1] Commonly found between Ideal layer[2] Implement needed to obtain
Coal ore Layers 0-114 Layers 5-66 Layer 48 Wood or better pickaxe
Gravel Layers 1-115 Layers 5-56 Layer 48 None
Dirt (including Grass and Mycelium) Layers 0-119 Layers 5-80 Layer 61 None
Sand Layers 2-112 Layers 43-63 Layer 61 None
Water Layers 1-111 Layers 48-62 Layer 62 Bucket
Iron ore Layers 0-63 Layers 2-58 Layer 42 Stone or better pickaxe
Gold Ore Layers 0-31 Layers 4-29 Layer 28 Iron or better pickaxe
Lapis Lazuli ore Layers 0-30 Layers 11-17 Layer 14 Stone or better pickaxe
Lava Layers 0-85 Layers 4-10 Layer 10 Bucket
Obsidian Layers 2-62 Layer 10 Layer 10 Diamond pickaxe
Diamond Ore Layers 0-15 Layers 4-13 Layer 12 Iron or better pickaxe
Redstone ore[3] Layers 0-15 Layers 4-13 Layer 12 Iron or better pickaxe
Bedrock Layers 0-4 Layers 0-2 Layer 1 Only breakable in Creative mode
  1. The range in which the block can be found in the map used for the graph.
  2. The layer where getting that resource is easiest. We consider the amount of lava/water lakes, the amount of caves, the altitude (and whether it is at the surface), and the amount of gravel/sand.
  3. Redstone has the same layer and line-size statistics as Diamond, but is generated 8 times per chunk as opposed to 1.


Other naturally occurring features appear at different altitudes such as grass, wood, flowers, mushrooms, clay, cobble, sugar cane and Obsidian, but all of these features are random and must appear in conjunction with another block and the proper environment to appear.

Feature Requires
Grass Dirt,Light and Grass
Sugar Cane Dirt or Sand (as of beta 1.8) and Water
Wood Dirt,Light and a sapling
Cactus Sand
Flowers Dirt and Light
Mushrooms Dry land and darkness
Clay Sand
Obsidian Lava source and Water
Cobble Lava and Water or Dungeons
Mossy Cobblestone Dungeons

The Nether

A similar graph, showing the distribution of blocks unique to the Nether:

File:Blockcount nether 1.1.png

Landscape Feature Complete range Commonly found between Implement needed to obtain
Netherrack Layers 1-126 Layers 4-123 Pickaxe
Soul Sand Layers 14-73 Layers 58-64 None
Glowstone Layers 2-120 Layers 96-106 None
Nether Brick Layers 19-86 Layers 48-60 Pickaxe

History

Jigsaw Block (top texture) JE2 BE2
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As of Beta 1.6, solid blocks cannot be placed on layer 127. However, beds can be placed on layer 127, making it possible to place beds at the highest possible altitude. This has also been proven to work with signs, torches and other transparent blocks. In 1.7, climbing to the top layer and jumping while carrying a block in your hand will result in the block turning black for a split second. Before the Beta 1.8 Pre-release 1, the maximum height a player could reach through the use of blocks is at layer 130 (stand on a block at layer 127, jump), you could still make a TNT cannon blasting the player upwards to go many layers past the sky level. Similarly, falling into the Void will have the player go many blocks under the lowest layer in the map. In 1.8 and after (Creative mode), one can simply fly above layer 128 to a high limit. They can also descend below bedrock, and if flying, they could be flying just below layer 0 (In the nether, this can also be achieved, as well as above layer 127). If the player's height is below -64, they start to get hurt and die. As of the 1.8 Pre-Release, the player's view distance decreases in lower altitudes. Before 1.8, the sea level was 1 level higher, layer 63 instead of 62.

Trivia

File:Darkening at the top layer.png

The darkening when standing on the last layer.

VoidFog

A view of the render distance near bedrock.

  • The Beta 1.6 update made it impossible for players to place blocks on the uppermost layer of the map (Y-Coord 127).
  • At extreme depths, black fog closes in.
  • Climbing up to the 127th layer and jumping with a block in your hand will cause the block to momentarily turn black.
  • Although the highest possible altitude the player can climb at normally is 131 (door glitch + jumping), a TNT cannon can blast the player many layers past the sky limit.
  • Going under Y -64 in the Void will cause the player to receive damage very quickly, killing him. Also, this is the only known way to die in Creative mode.
  • Beds, along with other transparent blocks (Signs, Torches) can be placed on the 127th layer. Also, if a door is placed 1 layer below the top of the map, its upper frame will pass the 127th mark.
  • By placing a water source block on layer 128 using a Water Bucket on a solid block on layer 127, then placing a lava source block on the water using a Lava Bucket, both Cobblestone and Obsidian can be created on layer 128. The opposite (placing water on lava) works as well.
  • When at the highest level of a map in Beta, the edges of the screen will fade to black, simulating thinning air.
  • Notch on his twitter posted a pic showing his experimentation with higher height limits before the Adventure Update, showing a mountain much higher than normal mountains, but this feature is not present in Minecraft 1.0. Link


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