How to Get Netherite Armor in Minecraft: Complete Upgrade Guide
By Editorial
Last updated
Netherite armor is the strongest gear in Minecraft.
But getting it requires specific materials and an upgrade process at a smithing table.
Quick Answer: How to Get Netherite Armor
Upgrade diamond armor pieces using a smithing table and Netherite ingots. Place each diamond armor piece with 1 netherite ingot in the smithing table to create netherite armor. You need 4 netherite ingots total (1 per piece).
All enchantments transfer to upgraded armor.
Understanding Netherite Armor
Netherite armor cannot be crafted directly from raw materials.
Every piece requires a diamond armor version to upgrade at a smithing table.
The upgrade process preserves all enchantments, durability, and custom names perfectly.
Netherite armor benefits:
- 30% more durable than diamond armor
- 10% knockback resistance per piece (40% total with full set)
- Floats in lava instead of burning
- Same armor points as diamond (20 total)
- Fire and lava immunity with full set
Fire immunity is the biggest advantage for Nether work.
Complete Netherite Armor Requirements
| Armor Piece | Diamond Required | Netherite Ingots Needed | Total Resources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Helmet | 1 helmet | 1 ingot | 5 diamonds + 4 ancient debris |
| Chestplate | 1 chestplate | 1 ingot | 8 diamonds + 4 ancient debris |
| Leggings | 1 leggings | 1 ingot | 7 diamonds + 4 ancient debris |
| Boots | 1 boots | 1 ingot | 4 diamonds + 4 ancient debris |
| Full Set | 4 pieces | 4 ingots | 24 diamonds + 96 ancient debris |
Each netherite ingot requires 4 ancient debris blocks and 4 gold ingots.
Step-by-Step Process for Getting Netherite Armor
Step 1: Gather Diamond Armor
Craft or find diamond armor first. You need 4 pieces minimum.
Diamond armor recipes:
- Helmet: 5 diamonds
- Chestplate: 8 diamonds
- Leggings: 7 diamonds
- Boots: 4 diamonds
Total: 24 diamonds for the full set.
Find diamonds easily using OreFinder with your world seed for exact coordinates.
Step 2: Gather Netherite Ingots
You need 4 Netherite ingots total for a full armor set.
Each ingot requires:
- 4 ancient debris blocks (mined from the Nether)
- 4 gold ingots
See our complete netherite ingot guide for detailed crafting instructions and requirements.
Step 3: Build Smithing Table
Craft a smithing table using 2 iron ingots and 4 planks.
Place it in your base or mining camp.
Smithing tables are permanent and reusable for unlimited upgrades.
Step 4: Upgrade Each Armor Piece
Open the smithing table by right-clicking it.
Place a diamond armor piece in the left input slot.
Place 1 netherite ingot in the right input slot.
(Version 1.20+: Add netherite upgrade template in the template slot first)
The upgraded netherite armor appears in the output slot.
Take it and repeat for the remaining pieces.
Netherite Armor Stats vs Diamond Armor
| Stat | Diamond | Netherite | Improvement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Armor Protection | 20 points | 20 points | Same |
| Durability | 1561 uses | 2031 uses | +30% |
| Knockback Resistance | None | 40% total | Yes |
| Lava Immunity | No | Yes | Major |
| Fire Resistance | No | Yes | Major |
The lava immunity alone justifies the upgrade cost.
Why Full Netherite Armor Matters
Knockback resistance prevents getting knocked into lava during Nether mining.
Fire immunity eliminates accidental damage from lava contact.
30% durability increase means fewer repairs and less crafting.
Complete set provides maximum protection for end-game content.
Enchantments Transfer During Upgrade
All armor enchantments carry over perfectly to Netherite versions.
Common valuable armor enchantments:
- Protection IV (maximum damage reduction)
- Thorns III (reflects damage back to attackers)
- Mending (auto-repairs from experience)
- Unbreaking III (increases durability)
Protection IV on all four pieces is the most valuable combination.
Mending on the chestplate ensures it never breaks permanently.
Using OreFinder to Speed Up Collection
OreFinder maps exact ore locations using your world seed.
Enter your seed to find all diamonds needed for armor crafting.
For netherite ingots, see detailed guides on ancient debris locations and netherite ingot crafting.
These specialized guides cover mining and crafting in depth.
Common Mistakes When Getting Netherite Armor
Trying to craft netherite armor directly won’t work. You must upgrade diamond pieces.
Forgetting enchantments don’t transfer (they do, completely).
Not having a smithing table ready before gathering materials.
Breaking diamond armor before upgrading it to netherite.
Time Estimate for Full Netherite Armor
Rough timeline with preparation:
- Gather diamonds: 1-2 hours
- Gather netherite ingots: 2-4 hours (depends on mining efficiency)
- Craft diamond armor: 20 minutes
- Upgrade armor pieces: 15 minutes
Total: 4-7 hours, depending on mining luck and resource gathering.
FAQ
How do you get Netherite armor in Minecraft?
Upgrade diamond armor using a smithing table and Netherite ingots. Place diamond armor piece in left slot, netherite ingot in right slot. The upgraded Netherite armor appears in the output. Repeat for all four pieces. You need 4 Netherite ingots total.
How many Netherite ingots do you need for armor?
You need 4 Netherite ingots for a full armor set (helmet, chestplate, leggings, boots). One ingot per piece. This requires 16 ancient debris blocks and 16 gold ingots in total.
Can you get Netherite armor without diamonds?
No. Netherite armor requires diamond armor pieces to upgrade. You cannot craft netherite armor directly. Every Netherite armor piece must start as a diamond piece first at the smithing table.
Do enchantments transfer when upgrading to netherite?
Yes. All enchantments transfer to upgraded Netherite armor. Protection IV diamond chestplate becomes Protection IV netherite chestplate. Custom names, durability percentages, and all modifiers carry over unchanged.
What’s better, Netherite armor or diamond armor?
Netherite armor has 30% more durability and lava immunity. Knockback resistance from the full set prevents knockback damage. Same armor protection as diamond (20 points) but superior overall due to extra features.
Upgrade Your Armor to Netherite
Netherite armor is worth the resource investment.
Gather your diamonds and netherite ingots using guides for each resource.
Build a smithing table and upgrade all four pieces.
Start getting the strongest armor protection available in Minecraft.
