How to Upgrade to Netherite

Guide Java Bedrock

Quick answer: Mine ancient debris in the Nether (most common around Y=16) with a diamond or netherite pickaxe, smelt it into netherite scrap, craft 4 scrap + 4 gold ingots into a netherite ingot, then upgrade diamond gear at a smithing table with a Netherite Upgrade template. Enchantments, name and durability use are kept.

What you need

Diamond gear to upgrade
Diamond or netherite pickaxe
4 ancient debris + 4 gold ingots per netherite ingot
1 Netherite Upgrade template per item
For each duplication: 1 existing template, 7 diamonds and 1 netherrack
Smithing table and furnace or blast furnace
Fire resistance potions for Nether exploration

Step by step

Mine ancient debris with a diamond or netherite pickaxe: other tools drop nothing. It replaces netherrack, plus basalt and blackstone in Java. Generation avoids air exposure, although later generation can occasionally expose it.
Search around Y=16. Java attempts one cluster of 0-3 debris between Y=8 and Y=24 and another of 0-2 between Y=8 and Y=119. Bedrock attempts two clusters of 0-3 between Y=8 and Y=23 and three of 0-2 between Y=8 and Y=119.
Smelt the ancient debris into netherite scrap.
Craft 1 netherite ingot from 4 netherite scrap and 4 gold ingots in a crafting table. This recipe is shapeless, so any arrangement works.
Find a Netherite Upgrade smithing template in a bastion remnant: the treasure chest always holds one (100%), and bridge, hoglin stable and generic chests have a 10% chance.
Duplicate a template before using your last one: put 1 Netherite Upgrade template in the top-center slot, 1 netherrack in the center and 7 diamonds in all remaining slots. This produces 2 templates, consuming the original, for a net gain of 1.
At a smithing table put 1 Netherite Upgrade template on the left, 1 diamond item in the middle and 1 netherite ingot on the right. The upgrade consumes the template and ingot. It costs no experience and keeps enchantments, custom names and the number of durability points already lost.

Java vs Bedrock

Ancient debris cluster generation differs: Java attempts up to two clusters per chunk and Bedrock up to five. Only Java replaces basalt and blackstone as well as netherrack.

Versions: Describes the current Java and Bedrock releases. See the edition note above for differences.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best Y level for ancient debris?

Y=16 has the most on average. Clusters generate between Y=8 and Y=24, plus a smaller chance up to Y=119.

Do enchantments transfer to netherite?

Yes. A smithing table upgrade preserves enchantments, custom names and durability use, and costs no experience.

Where is the Netherite Upgrade template?

In bastion remnant chests. The treasure chest always has one; other chests have a 10% chance.

Does ancient debris survive explosions?

Yes. Its blast resistance of 1,200 makes it immune to normal explosions.