Ocean ruins or underwater ruins are oceanic structures primarily composed of stone bricks or sandstone. They come in many different sizes varying from large villages to single ruined huts. They are rare, and have cold and warm variants.
Generation[]
Cold ocean ruins generate in normal, cold, and frozen ocean biomes, as well as their deep variants. They are composed of stone materials.
Warm ocean ruins generate in warm, lukewarm, and deep lukewarm ocean biomes, and are composed of sandstone and stone materials.
Although most ocean ruins generate underwater, they sometimes generate on land.
30% of ocean ruins generate as large ocean ruins; the other 70% generate as small ruins. If the ocean ruin is large, there is a 90% chance for 4-8 (inclusive) small ocean ruins to generate around it in a cluster. If the ocean ruin is warm, large ocean ruins generate with a structure integrity of 0.9 and small ocean ruins generate with a structure integrity of 0.8. If the ocean ruin is cold, the "brick" variant of the chosen structure type generates with a structure integrity of 0.9 if large and 0.8 if small. The "cracked" variant generates with a structure integrity of 0.7, and the "mossy" variant generates with a structure integrity of 0.5, both regardless of size. Reduced structure integrity may also remove drowned and loot chests from the structures.[verify]
During generation, all air blocks and structure blocks act as structure voids.
Structure[]
The shape and size of ocean ruins varies greatly, and they often generate together in groups to create ruined villages.
All but two of the structures contain a loot chest with loot inside. The chest contains loot for specifically either a small or large sized ocean ruin structure and may be buried by some sort of material such as gravel and sand. Ocean ruins too may be at least partially buried including with their airspaces.
Cold ocean ruins are primarily composed of stone bricks and gravel, and also contain prismarine, sand, magma blocks, sea lanterns, polished granite, glazed terracotta, bricks, planks, cobblestone, mossy cobblestone, stone brick stairs, obsidian, and/or a chest with loot in it. Warm ocean ruins are primarily composed of sand and sandstone, and also contain polished granite, polished diorite, sea lanterns, magma blocks, gravel, terracotta, sandstone stairs, and/or a loot chest.
Many of the structures spawn with drowned (usually 1–2, though a few structures have 3 or 4).
Note that natural ocean ruins generate following the rules above and may not exactly match the stored structures.
The structures below are located in the folder client.jar/data/minecraft/structures/underwater_ruin
. The following is a complete table of the structures with their filenames, descriptions and what they consist of.
Each stucture block indicates either a chest with random loot, or the spawn location of a drowned.
Cold ocean ruins[]
Structure name | Description | Consists of | Images |
---|---|---|---|
underwater_ruin/big_brick_1 underwater_ruin/big_cracked_1 underwater_ruin/big_mossy_1
|
A chunk-sized structure with a mostly gravel floor and a large, multidimensional arch. These 3 generate as an integrated whole. |
215~239 Gravel |
|
underwater_ruin/big_brick_2 underwater_ruin/big_cracked_2 underwater_ruin/big_mossy_2
|
A chunk-sized structure consisting of two connected rooms, one taller than the other. These 3 generate as an integrated whole. |
209 in total Stone Bricks, Cracked, Mossy |
|
underwater_ruin/big_brick_3 underwater_ruin/big_cracked_3 underwater_ruin/big_mossy_3
|
A chunk-sized structure consisting of two large unconnected rooms, one much taller than the other and having an open top. These 3 generate as an integrated whole. |
301 in total Stone Bricks, Cracked, Mossy |
|
underwater_ruin/big_brick_8 underwater_ruin/big_cracked_8 underwater_ruin/big_mossy_8
|
A chunk-sized structure with little height, looks similar to a floorplan of a large building. Remnants of wood floors are present. These 3 generate as an integrated whole. |
210~224 Gravel |
|
underwater_ruin/brick_1 underwater_ruin/cracked_1 underwater_ruin/mossy_1
|
A small building without a roof. These 3 generate as an integrated whole. |
36~38 Gravel |
|
underwater_ruin/brick_2 underwater_ruin/cracked_2 underwater_ruin/mossy_2
|
A small structure with not much height. Consists of randomly placed stone bricks and mossy cobblestone. These 3 generate as an integrated whole. |
30~39 Gravel |
|
underwater_ruin/brick_3 underwater_ruin/cracked_3 underwater_ruin/mossy_3
|
A small structure featuring a stone brick arch. These 3 generate as an integrated whole. |
30~35 Gravel |
|
underwater_ruin/brick_4 underwater_ruin/cracked_4 underwater_ruin/mossy_4
|
A small structure featuring a small, domed building. These 3 generate as an integrated whole. |
70~71 in total Stone Bricks, Cracked, Mossy |
|
underwater_ruin/brick_5 underwater_ruin/cracked_5 underwater_ruin/mossy_5
|
A small structure with a small, cuboid building. These 3 generate as an integrated whole. |
37~39 Gravel |
|
underwater_ruin/brick_6 underwater_ruin/cracked_6 underwater_ruin/mossy_6
|
A small structure that looks similar to a castle tower. These 3 generate as an integrated whole. |
58 in total Stone Bricks, Cracked, Mossy |
|
underwater_ruin/brick_7 underwater_ruin/cracked_7 underwater_ruin/mossy_7
|
A small structure that resembles brick_5/cracked_5/mossy_5, although with a slightly taller roof. These 3 generate as an integrated whole. |
40 in total Stone Bricks, Cracked, Mossy |
|
underwater_ruin/brick_8 underwater_ruin/cracked_8 underwater_ruin/mossy_8
|
A small structure that looks similar to an igloo, although made of stone materials. These 3 generate as an integrated whole. |
41 in total Stone Bricks, Cracked, Mossy |
Warm ocean ruins[]
Structure name | Description | Consists of | Images |
---|---|---|---|
underwater_ruin/big_warm_4
|
A chunk-sized structure featuring a large sandstone arch. |
220 Sand |
|
underwater_ruin/big_warm_5
|
A chunk-sized structure with a tall tower in the center. It looks similar to a fountain. |
222 Sand |
|
underwater_ruin/big_warm_6
|
A chunk-sized structure featuring 4 sandstone arches. |
219 Sand |
|
underwater_ruin/big_warm_7
|
A chunk-sized structure with an open sandstone dome. |
202 Sand |
|
underwater_ruin/warm_1
|
A small structure with an open dome. Looks like a smaller version of big_warm_7. |
75 Cut Sandstone |
|
underwater_ruin/warm_2
|
A small hut with a large opening in the front. |
42 Sand |
|
underwater_ruin/warm_3
|
A small hut that has an entrance on all sides. |
36 Sand |
|
underwater_ruin/warm_4
|
A small structure featuring two small arches. |
42 Sand |
|
underwater_ruin/warm_5
|
A small structure that is essentially a roof with multiple supports. |
37 Sand |
|
underwater_ruin/warm_6
|
A small hut that looks similar to the ruin5 series, although made of sand materials. It is filled with sand and the entrance is blocked off. |
48 Sand |
|
underwater_ruin/warm_7
|
A small structure that looks similar to the ruin2 series, although made of sand materials. |
34 Sand |
|
underwater_ruin/warm_8
|
A thin wall with multiple "windows". Appears to be a miniature cross section of big_warm_4. |
56 Sand |
Loot[]
In Java Edition, each underwater ruin big chest contains items drawn from 2 pools, with the following distribution:
Item | Stack Size [A] | Weight [B] | Chance [C] | Avg. per chest [D] |
Avg. # chests to search [E] |
||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2–8× | 1× | 2–8× | 1× | ||||
Coal | 1–4 | — | 10⁄31 | — | 81.0% | 4.032 | 1.2 |
Wheat | 2–3 | — | 10⁄31 | — | 81.0% | 4.032 | 1.2 |
Gold Nugget | 1–3 | — | 10⁄31 | — | 81.0% | 3.226 | 1.2 |
Buried Treasure Map | — | 1 | — | 10⁄23 | 43.5% | 0.435 | 2.3 |
Enchanted Book[F] | — | 1 | — | 5⁄23 | 21.7% | 0.217 | 4.6 |
Enchanted Fishing Rod[F] | — | 1 | — | 5⁄23 | 21.7% | 0.217 | 4.6 |
Emerald | 1 | — | 1⁄31 | — | 14.9% | 0.161 | 6.7 |
Leather Tunic | — | 1 | — | 1⁄23 | 4.3% | 0.043 | 23.0 |
Golden Apple | — | 1 | — | 1⁄23 | 4.3% | 0.043 | 23.0 |
Golden Helmet | — | 1 | — | 1⁄23 | 4.3% | 0.043 | 23.0 |
In Bedrock Edition, each underwater ruin big chest contains items drawn from 2 pools, with the following distribution:
Item | Stack Size [A] | Weight [B] | Chance [C] | Avg. per chest [D] |
Avg. # chests to search [E] |
||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2–8× | 1× | 2–8× | 1× | ||||
Coal | 1–4 | — | 10⁄31 | — | 81.0% | 4.032 | 1.2 |
Wheat | 2–3 | — | 10⁄31 | — | 81.0% | 4.032 | 1.2 |
Gold Nugget | 1–3 | — | 10⁄31 | — | 81.0% | 3.226 | 1.2 |
Buried Treasure Map | — | 1 | — | 10⁄23 | 43.5% | 0.435 | 2.3 |
Enchanted Book[F] | — | 1 | — | 5⁄23 | 21.7% | 0.217 | 4.6 |
Enchanted Fishing Rod[F] | — | 1 | — | 5⁄23 | 21.7% | 0.217 | 4.6 |
Emerald | 1 | — | 1⁄31 | — | 14.9% | 0.161 | 6.7 |
Leather Tunic | — | 1 | — | 1⁄23 | 4.3% | 0.043 | 23.0 |
Golden Apple | — | 1 | — | 1⁄23 | 4.3% | 0.043 | 23.0 |
Golden Helmet | — | 1 | — | 1⁄23 | 4.3% | 0.043 | 23.0 |
- ↑ a b The size of stacks (or for unstackable items, number) of this item on any given roll.
- ↑ a b The weight of this item relative to other items in the pool.
- ↑ a b The odds of finding any of this item in a single chest.
- ↑ a b The number of items expected per chest, averaged over a large number of chests.
- ↑ a b The average number of chests the player should expect to search to find any of this item.
- ↑ a b c d All enchantments are equally probable, including treasure enchantments (except Soul Speed, and Swift Sneak), and any level of the enchantment is equally probable.
In Java Edition, each underwater ruin small chest contains items drawn from 2 pools, with the following distribution:
Item | Stack Size [A] | Weight [B] | Chance [C] | Avg. per chest [D] |
Avg. # chests to search [E] |
||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2–8× | 1× | 2–8× | 1× | ||||
Coal | 1–4 | — | 10⁄28 | — | 84.2% | 4.464 | 1.2 |
Wheat | 2–3 | — | 10⁄28 | — | 84.2% | 4.464 | 1.2 |
Rotten Flesh | 1 | — | 5⁄28 | — | 59.6% | 0.893 | 1.7 |
Buried Treasure Map | — | 1 | — | 5⁄12 | 41.7% | 0.417 | 2.4 |
Enchanted Fishing Rod[F] | — | 1 | — | 5⁄12 | 41.7% | 0.417 | 2.4 |
Stone Axe | 1 | — | 2⁄28 | — | 30.2% | 0.357 | 3.3 |
Emerald | 1 | — | 1⁄28 | — | 16.4% | 0.179 | 6.1 |
Leather Tunic | — | 1 | — | 1⁄12 | 8.3% | 0.083 | 12.0 |
Golden Helmet | — | 1 | — | 1⁄12 | 8.3% | 0.083 | 12.0 |
In Bedrock Edition, each underwater ruin small chest contains items drawn from 2 pools, with the following distribution:
Item | Stack Size [A] | Weight [B] | Chance [C] | Avg. per chest [D] |
Avg. # chests to search [E] |
||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2–8× | 1× | 2–8× | 1× | ||||
Coal | 1–4 | — | 10⁄28 | — | 84.2% | 4.464 | 1.2 |
Wheat | 2–3 | — | 10⁄28 | — | 84.2% | 4.464 | 1.2 |
Rotten Flesh | 1 | — | 5⁄28 | — | 59.6% | 0.893 | 1.7 |
Buried Treasure Map | — | 1 | — | 5⁄12 | 41.7% | 0.417 | 2.4 |
Enchanted Fishing Rod[F] | — | 1 | — | 5⁄12 | 41.7% | 0.417 | 2.4 |
Stone Axe | 1 | — | 2⁄28 | — | 30.2% | 0.357 | 3.3 |
Emerald | 1 | — | 1⁄28 | — | 16.4% | 0.179 | 6.1 |
Leather Tunic | — | 1 | — | 1⁄12 | 8.3% | 0.083 | 12.0 |
Golden Helmet | — | 1 | — | 1⁄12 | 8.3% | 0.083 | 12.0 |
- ↑ a b The size of stacks (or for unstackable items, number) of this item on any given roll.
- ↑ a b The weight of this item relative to other items in the pool.
- ↑ a b The odds of finding any of this item in a single chest.
- ↑ a b The number of items expected per chest, averaged over a large number of chests.
- ↑ a b The average number of chests the player should expect to search to find any of this item.
- ↑ a b All enchantments are equally probable, including treasure enchantments (except Soul Speed, and Swift Sneak), and any level of the enchantment is equally probable.
Achievements[]
Icon | Achievement | In-game description | Actual requirements (if different) | Gamerscore earned | Trophy type (PS4) | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PS4 | Other | |||||
Atlantis? | Find an underwater ruin | — | 20G | Silver |
History[]

The first official image of underwater ruins.

The same image, brightened for clarity.
Java Edition | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
December 27, 2017 | A picture was released on Minecraft.net, which shows a faint underwater ruins structure in the top right corner, more visible when the image is brightened. | ||||
February 15, 2018 | Minecraft's Instagram account posted a video clip showing the underwater ruins that were to be added in the Update Aquatic. | ||||
1.13 | 18w09a | Added underwater ruins. They are found commonly. | |||
18w10a | Buried treasure explorer maps now generate in the chests of underwater ruins. | ||||
18w16a | Drowned now spawn in underwater ruins. | ||||
1.16 | 20w06a | Underwater Ruins are much less common. | |||
Bedrock Edition | |||||
1.4.0 | beta 1.2.20.1 | Added underwater ruins. | |||
Legacy Console Edition | |||||
TU69 | 1.76 | Patch 38 | Added underwater ruins. | ||
Education Edition | |||||
1.4.0 | Added underwater ruins. |
Issues[]
Issues relating to "Ocean Ruins" are maintained on the bug tracker. Report issues there.
Trivia[]

An ocean ruin in Bedrock Edition that generated completely on land. Note the water block above it that has not been updated.

An ocean ruin in Java Edition that also generated completely on land. Note that the loot chest is not waterlogged and doesn't have a water block on it.
- In Bedrock Edition, ocean ruins generate with approximately equal spacing in the X and Z directions.
- In the Bedrock Edition, the loot chest of ocean ruins generates with a water block above it.[1] This can be seen in the image on the right. In Java Edition though, this is not the case, according to the second picture.[2]
Gallery[]
A chest located in an ocean ruins building, that is hidden by a block, viewed in Spectator mode.
A ruined village inhabited by drowned.
Odd generation[]
Part of a ruin generated on a windswept hills. The rest of the ruins are in the ocean below. A Village can be seen as well.
References[]