How to Make Netherite Tools in Minecraft: Complete Upgrade Guide
By Editorial
Last updated
Netherite tools are stronger and more durable than diamond gear.
But you can’t craft them directly—you must upgrade diamond tools first.
Quick Answer: How to Make Netherite Tools
Use a smithing table to upgrade diamond tools with Netherite ingots. Place a diamond tool and 1 netherite ingot in the smithing table to create the netherite version. Your enchantments and durability percentage carry over to the upgraded tool.
Understanding Netherite Tools vs Diamond Tools
Netherite tools cannot be crafted from scratch like diamond tools.
Every netherite tool requires a diamond version first, plus 1 netherite ingot per tool.
The upgrade process preserves all enchantments, custom names, and durability percentages from the original diamond gear.
This means:
- Fortune III pickaxe stays Fortune III after upgrade
- Custom names transfer completely
- Durability doesn’t reset
- All previous enchantments remain intact
This upgrade system is unique to Netherite and makes it special.
Step-by-Step Process for Making Netherite Tools
Step 1: Get Diamond Tools
Craft or find diamond tools first. You need them to upgrade.
Diamond tool recipes:
- Pickaxe: 3 diamonds + 2 sticks
- Axe: 3 diamonds + 2 sticks (different shapes)
- Shovel: 1 diamond + 2 sticks
- Hoe: 2 diamonds + 2 sticks
- Sword: 2 diamonds + 1 stick
Mine diamonds at Y-59 for the fastest collection. Check our diamond location guide for exact coordinates.
Step 2: Craft Netherite Ingots
Smelt 4 ancient debris into netherite scraps.
Combine 4 netherite scraps with 4 gold ingots in a crafting table.
You get 1 netherite ingot per craft. You need 1 ingot per tool.
See our netherite ingot guide for detailed crafting instructions.
Step 3: Build Smithing Table
Craft a smithing table using 2 iron ingots and 4 planks.
Place it down and right-click to open the interface.
Smithing tables are permanent and reusable for unlimited upgrades.
Step 4: Upgrade Tools at Smithing Table
Place your diamond tool in the left input slot.
Place 1 netherite ingot in the right input slot.
(In version 1.20+: Add netherite upgrade template in the template slot first)
The upgraded netherite tool appears in the output slot.
Take your new netherite tool and repeat for other tools.
Complete Netherite Tools Upgrade Table
| Tool Type | Diamond Version Required | Netherite Ingots Needed | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pickaxe | 1 diamond pickaxe | 1 ingot | Netherite pickaxe |
| Axe | 1 diamond axe | 1 ingot | Netherite axe |
| Shovel | 1 diamond shovel | 1 ingot | Netherite shovel |
| Hoe | 1 diamond hoe | 1 ingot | Netherite hoe |
| Sword | 1 diamond sword | 1 ingot | Netherite sword |
| Full Set + Tools | 5 tools + armor | 11 ingots | Complete netherite gear |
What You Need Before Upgrading
Materials Required
- Diamond tools (craft or find)
- Netherite ingots (crafted from ancient debris)
- Smithing table (craft with iron ingots)
- Netherite upgrade template in 1.20+ (find in bastion remnants)
Where to Get Ancient Debris
Mine ancient debris at Y15 in the Nether. Check our ancient debris guide for exact spawn locations and mining strategies.
You need 4 ancient debris per netherite ingot.
Smithing Template Requirements (1.20+)
Starting in version 1.20, you need Netherite upgrade smithing templates.
Find them in bastion remnants in the Nether.
You only need 1 template to create 2 more templates:
- 1 netherite upgrade template
- 7 diamonds
- 1 netherrack
Craft these together for unlimited template duplication.
Preserving Tool Enchantments
All enchantments transfer to the upgraded tool perfectly.
Example: Fortune III diamond pickaxe becomes Fortune III netherite pickaxe.
You don’t lose any enchantments, levels, or custom names during the upgrade.
This makes upgrading tools with good enchantments extremely valuable.
Netherite Tool Stats vs Diamond
| Stat | Diamond | Netherite | Improvement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Durability | 1561 uses | 2031 uses | +30% |
| Attack Speed | 1.2 | 1.2 | Same |
| Damage | Tool-specific | +1 | Better |
| Mining Speed | Fast | Faster | +8-12% |
| Knockback | No | 10% per item | Yes |
| Fire Resistance | No | Yes | Floats in lava |
The lava immunity alone makes netherite tools invaluable for Nether work.
Practical Tips for Making Netherite Tools
Prioritize Your First Tool
Netherite pickaxe with Fortune III is the best first upgrade.
This tool pays for itself by finding more diamonds and redstone.
Upgrade your sword second for combat advantage.
Batch Your Upgrades
Don’t upgrade one tool at a time if possible.
Mine all your ancient debris first, craft all ingots, then upgrade everything.
This saves time walking between locations.
Use Bedrock Edition Faster Crafting
Bedrock crafts items faster than Java Edition by default.
If you have both versions, use Bedrock for rapid ingot crafting.
Use OreFinder for Ancient Debris
Finding ancient debris manually takes hours per ingot.
OreFinder maps exact ancient debris locations using your Nether seed.
Enter your seed and get coordinates for every debris vein instantly.
Navigate directly to clusters instead of mining randomly.
This cuts your tool-making time significantly.
Common Mistakes When Making Netherite Tools
Trying to craft netherite tools directly won’t work. You must upgrade diamond tools.
Using the wrong Y-level for ancient debris mining (check Y15 optimal).
Not bringing fire resistance potions for Nether mining.
Forgetting to keep diamond tools before upgrading them.
Losing ancient debris to lava without water buckets.
Time Estimate for Full Netherite Tool Set
Complete netherite setup with enchantments:
- Gather materials: 3-5 hours
- Craft diamond tools: 30 minutes
- Mine ancient debris: 2-3 hours
- Craft netherite ingots: 20 minutes
- Upgrade all tools: 10 minutes
Total: 6-9 hours of playtime for experienced players.
Use OreFinder to reduce mining time by 60%.
FAQ
How do you make netherite tools in Minecraft?
Upgrade diamond tools using a smithing table and netherite ingots. Place the diamond tool in the left slot, the netherite ingot in the right slot. The upgraded netherite tool appears in the output. All enchantments, durability, and custom names transfer to the upgraded tool.
Can you craft netherite tools without diamonds?
No. Netherite tools require diamond versions to upgrade. You cannot craft netherite tools directly. Every netherite tool must start as a diamond tool first. This system is unique to Netherite gear in Minecraft.
How many netherite ingots do you need for all tools?
You need 11 netherite ingots total for full tools: pickaxe (1), axe (1), shovel (1), hoe (1), sword (1), and boots through helmet (5). This requires a minimum of 44 ancient debris blocks since each ingot needs 4 scraps.
Do enchantments transfer when upgrading to netherite?
Yes. All enchantments transfer perfectly to the upgraded netherite tool. Fortune III pickaxe becomes Fortune III netherite pickaxe. Custom names, durability percentages, and all modifiers carry over completely unchanged.
What’s the best netherite tool to make first?
Netherite pickaxe with Fortune III is the best first tool. It pays for itself by finding more diamonds and resources quickly. Upgrade your sword second for combat advantage. Then work on other tools based on your building needs.
Upgrade Your Gear to Netherite
Netherite tools require diamond versions and Netherite ingots for upgrading.
All enchantments transfer to the upgraded tool unchanged.
Use OreFinder to find ancient debris fast and reduce crafting time.
Start gathering ancient debris today and get your netherite tools set up.
