Ancient debris is a rare ore found in the Nether, and is the main source of netherite scraps. Its high blast resistance makes it immune to normal explosions. In item form, it floats on lava and cannot be burned by any form of fire.
Obtaining[]
Natural generation[]

Ancient debris spawn rate per layer; Y=15 has the most ancient debris. Average only.
Ancient debris generates in the Nether in the form of scatter ores. Ancient debris never generates naturally exposed to air and can replace only netherrack, basalt, and blackstone.[note 1]
In Java Edition, up to two clusters may generate per chunk: one cluster of 0–3 ancient debris attempts to generate with a triangle distribution from levels 8 to 24, and an additional cluster of 0–2 ancient debris attempts to generate evenly from levels 6 to 119. On average, Y-level 15 has the most ancient debris. There is an average of 1.65 ancient debris blocks per chunk[needs testing], with a normal maximum of 5. However, it is technically possible for up to 11 ancient debris to be found in a single chunk; adjacent chunks can generate blobs on the border with up to 2 blocks spawning in an adjacent chunk. As of Java Edition 1.16.5, on average they generate 1.65 ores per chunk. Given this number, and that there are 32768 blocks in a chunk (16×128×16), there is approximately a 0.004% chance that any randomly selected block will be an ancient debris block.
In Bedrock Edition, up to five clusters may generate per chunk: two clusters of 0–3 ancient debris attempt to generate with a triangle distribution from levels 8 to 24, and an additional three clusters of 0–2 ancient debris attempt to generate evenly from levels 6 to 119.
Breaking[]
Ancient debris drops itself if mined by a diamond or netherite pickaxe. If mined by any other tool, it drops nothing.
Block | Ancient Debris | |
---|---|---|
Hardness | 30 | |
Tool | ||
Breaking time[A] | ||
Default | 150 | |
Wooden | 75 | |
Stone | 37.5 | |
Iron | 25 | |
Diamond | 5.65 | |
Netherite | 5 | |
Golden | 12.5 |
- ↑ Times are for unenchanted tools as wielded by players with no status effects, measured in seconds. For more information, see Breaking § Speed.
Chest loot[]
Item | Structure | Container | Quantity | Chance |
---|---|---|---|---|
Java Edition | ||||
Ancient Debris | Bastion remnant | Generic chest | 1 | 13.5% |
Hoglin stable chest | 2 | 5.7% | ||
Treasure chest | 2 | 12.7% | ||
Bedrock Edition | ||||
Ancient Debris | Bastion remnant | Hoglin stable chest | 1 | 5.7% |
Generic chest | 1 | 13.5% | ||
Treasure chest | 2 | 12.7% |
Usage[]
Smelting ingredient[]
Ancient Debris can be smelted using a furnace or blast furnace, which gives the player netherite scrap. If a player takes out the netherite scrap, they are rewarded with 2 experience points.
Name | Ingredients | Smelting recipe |
---|---|---|
Netherite Scrap | Ancient Debris + Any fuel |
Sounds[]
Sound | Subtitles | Source | Description | Resource location | Translation key | Volume | Pitch | Attenuation distance |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Block broken | Blocks | Once the block has broken | block | subtitles | 1.0 | 0.8 | 16 | |
Block placed | Blocks | When the block is placed | block | subtitles | 1.0 | 0.8 | 16 | |
Block breaking | Blocks | While the block is in the process of being broken | block | subtitles | 0.25 | 0.5 | 16 | |
None[sound 1] | Entity-Dependent | Falling on the block with fall damage | block | None[sound 1] | 0.5 | 0.75 | 16 | |
Footsteps | Entity-Dependent | Walking on the block | block | subtitles | 0.15 | 1.0 | 16 |
Sound | Source | Description | Resource location | Volume | Pitch |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Blocks | Once the block has broken | dig | 1.0 | 0.8-1.0 | |
Blocks | When the block is placed | dig | 1.0 | 0.8-1.0 | |
Blocks | While the block is in the process of being broken | hit | 0.23 | 0.5 | |
Players | Falling on the block with fall damage | fall | 0.4 | 1.0 | |
Players | Walking on the block | step | 0.17 | 1.0 | |
Players | Jumping from the block | jump | 0.12 | 1.0 | |
Players | Falling on the block without fall damage | land | 0.14 | 1.0 |
Data values[]
ID[]
Name | Identifier | Form | Block tags | Translation key |
---|---|---|---|---|
Ancient Debris | ancient_debris | Block & Item | mineable/pickaxe needs_diamond_tool | block.minecraft.ancient_debris |
Name | Identifier | Numeric ID | Form | Item ID[i 1] | Translation key |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ancient Debris | ancient_debris | 526 | Block & Giveable Item[i 2] | Identical[i 3] | tile.ancient_debris.name |
Advancements[]
Icon | Advancement | In-game description | Parent | Actual requirements (if different) | Resource location |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | Hidden in the Depths | Obtain Ancient Debris | Nether | Have an ancient debris in your inventory. | nether/obtain_ancient_debris
|
History[]
Java Edition | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1.16 | 20w06a | ![]() | |||
20w16a | Ancient debris now generates in bastion remnants chests. | ||||
1.16.2 | 20w30a | Increased the chance of ancient debris generating in bastion remnant chests. | |||
Bedrock Edition | |||||
1.16.0 | beta 1.16.0.51 | ![]() | |||
beta 1.16.0.57 | Ancient debris now generates in bastion remnants chests. | ||||
beta 1.16.0.59 | Smelting ancient debris now gives experience. |
Issues[]
Issues relating to "Ancient Debris" are maintained on the bug tracker. Report issues there.
Trivia[]
- The texture of the ancient debris is supposed to look like pressed metal plates.[1]
- Ancient debris is actually what remains of the mining activity of the piglins, who extracted all the original netherite ore.[2]
- It is possible to find blobs of up to 20 contiguous ancient debris - up to five debris can generate in a chunk, so if a blob of five generates in adjacent corners of four different chunks, a blob of 20 debris would be created.
Gallery[]
See also[]
Notes[]
References[]
- ↑ "ok so the ancient debris is supposed to be packed metal plates in a block" – @JasperBoerstra (Jasper Boerstra) on X, March 12, 2020
- ↑ "Minecraft Nether Update" (archived) – Minecraft.net, June 23rd, 2020.
External Links[]
- Block of the Week: Ancient Debris – Minecraft.net on November 11, 2021