How to Upgrade to Netherite

Guide Java Bedrock

Quick answer: Mine ancient debris in the Nether at Y=15, smelt it into netherite scraps, combine 4 scraps + 4 gold ingots into a netherite ingot, then upgrade diamond gear at a smithing table with a Netherite Upgrade smithing template (found in bastion treasure rooms). Enchantments and names are kept.

What you need

Diamond pickaxe (or better)
Fire resistance potions
Beds or TNT for blast mining
36 ancient debris + 36 gold ingots for a full set
Netherite Upgrade template per item (duplicatable)
Smithing table

Step by step

Gear up for the Nether: diamond pickaxe (ancient debris requires diamond+), fire resistance potions, food, blocks and a bed or TNT for mining.
Mine ancient debris at Y=15 (press F3 in Java, enable coordinates in Bedrock). Bed-mine: place a bed 4+ blocks away at the end of a tunnel, click it to explode, and repeat - debris survives the blast. TNT chains work too.
Smelt ancient debris into netherite scraps in a furnace or blast furnace.
Craft netherite ingots: 4 scraps + 4 gold ingots (shapeless). Each armor piece or tool costs 1 ingot, so a full set needs 36 scraps + 36 gold.
Find a Netherite Upgrade smithing template: guaranteed in bastion remnant TREASURE rooms (the big central cube with lava and gold), possible in other bastion chests. Raid it with fire resistance and gold armor.
Duplicate the template at a crafting table: 7 diamonds + 1 netherrack + the template = 2 templates.
Use the smithing table: template in the left slot, diamond item in the middle, netherite ingot on the right. The netherite item keeps ALL enchantments, name and anvil uses.
Upgrade priority: pickaxe and sword first, then armor (netherite adds knockback resistance and lava-fire item immunity).

Java vs Bedrock

Identical in Java and Bedrock: same Y=15 debris peak, same recipe, same template mechanics. Netherite items float in lava and never burn - losing gear to lava is over. Ancient debris never generates exposed to air.

Versions: Netherite added in 1.16; the smithing template requirement added in 1.20. Current as of 26.3.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best Y level for ancient debris?

Y=15. Debris generates between Y=8 and Y=119 with a strong peak at 15, always hidden inside netherrack or basalt - never exposed to air.

Do enchantments transfer to netherite?

Yes - the smithing table upgrade keeps every enchantment, the item name and prior anvil work. Nothing is lost.

Where is the Netherite Upgrade template?

Bastion remnants: guaranteed in the treasure-room chest (the central cube of treasure bastions), uncommon elsewhere. Duplicate it with 7 diamonds + netherrack so one find serves the whole set.