How to Find a Soul Sand Valley in Minecraft

Guide Java Bedrock

Quick answer: The soul sand valley is the third most common Nether biome (about 17%) - a gray-blue wasteland of soul sand and soul soil with soul fire, giant Nether fossils and basalt pillars. It can border any Nether biome except warped forests. Ghasts and skeletons spawn constantly here, which makes it the best spot for a ghast tear farm - and dried ghasts sit near the fossils.

What you need

A bow and plenty of arrows for ghasts
A shield for the skeletons
Boots with Soul Speed if you have them - the whole floor slows you down

Step by step

Walk the Nether until the fog turns cyan: the soul sand valley covers about 17% of the dimension and can border any biome except the warped forest.
Confirm the biome: a floor of soul sand and soul soil (gravel on the coasts), blue soul fire scattered around, giant bone fossils poking out of the terrain and basalt pillars running floor to ceiling.
Listen: the wind and ghostly voices in the ambience are unique to this biome.
Watch the sky: ghasts spawn here at high rates along with skeletons - keep a bow ready and never fight near a ledge.
Farm ghast tears: the valley's open floor and constant ghast spawns make it the classic ghast farm location - kite them over soul soil and collect the drops.
Look for dried ghasts: they generate as small block-like creatures near the Nether fossils - pick one up to rehydrate your own happy ghast at home.
Collect soul soil for soul torches and soul campfires, and soul sand for nether wart farms and bubble elevators.
Move smart: soul sand slows you to a crawl - Soul Speed boots fix that, and a boat on ice or a strider beats walking.

Java vs Bedrock

Cyan fog, bone fossils, ghasts overhead: the valley is creepy, slow and worth it - tears, fossils, dried ghasts and all the soul blocks you will ever need.

Versions: Soul sand valley generation is the same on Java and Bedrock. Current as of 26.x.

Frequently asked questions

Where is the soul sand valley in Minecraft?

In the Nether - it covers about 17% of the dimension and can border any Nether biome except the warped forest. Look for cyan fog, soul sand and soul soil, soul fire and giant fossils.

What spawns in the soul sand valley?

Ghasts and skeletons at high rates, plus endermen occasionally. The constant ghast spawns make it the best place to farm ghast tears and the 'Uneasy Alliance' rescue.

Where do dried ghasts spawn?

In soul sand valleys, near the giant Nether fossils. Pick one up and rehydrate it in water at home to grow a happy ghast.