A netherite pickaxe is the best mining tool in Minecraft.
You need specific materials and the right crafting setup.
Quick Answer: How to Make a Netherite Pickaxe
Make a netherite pickaxe by upgrading a diamond pickaxe at a smithing table with one netherite ingot. The diamond pickaxe must be placed on the left, netherite ingot on the right. All enchantments transfer to the new tool. This gives you the fastest, most durable pickaxe in the game.
Understanding Netherite Pickaxes
Netherite pickaxes are the top-tier mining tool.
They’re faster than diamond pickaxes for all blocks.
Netherite pickaxes never burn in lava or fire.
Key netherite pickaxe facts:
- Mines faster than diamond by 10%
- Harder to enchant but keeps all enchantments
- Survives fire and lava drops
- Never lost when you die
- Requires netherite ingot to craft
- Must use smithing table, not crafting table
- Works on all block types
Netherite pickaxes are essential for endgame mining.
Materials You Need
Diamond Pickaxe Requirements
Start with a diamond pickaxe as your base.
It must be a pickaxe, not another tool.
Iron pickaxe won’t work for this upgrade.
Enchantments on the diamond pick transfer completely.
Netherite Ingot Requirements
You need exactly one netherite ingot per pickaxe.
Netherite ingots are made from netherite scraps.
Four netherite scraps plus four gold ingots make one ingot.
Finding ancient debris drops the scraps you need.
Crafting Station Requirements
You must use a smithing table to upgrade.
Smithing table recipe: 4 planks + 2 iron ingots + 1 diamond.
Furnace or crafting table won’t work.
The smithing table is mandatory for this recipe.
Step-by-Step Process
Step 1: Craft or Find Diamond Pickaxe
Mine or craft a diamond pickaxe first.
Crafting needs 3 diamonds on top, 2 sticks below.
Or find pickaxes in loot chests.
Enchantments don’t matter for upgrades.
Step 2: Gather Netherite Ingot
Mine ancient debris in the Nether to get scraps.
Ancient debris spawns between Y-8 and Y-119.
Mine with diamond or netherite pickaxe only.
Netherite pickaxe needs 4 scraps and 4 gold ingots smelted together.
Step 3: Access Smithing Table
Build or find a smithing table.
Build with 4 planks, 2 iron ingots, 1 diamond.
Place the table anywhere you can access.
Step 4: Place Items in Smithing Table
Put diamond pickaxe in the left slot.
Put netherite ingot in the right slot.
The template slot stays empty (no template needed for pickaxes).
Step 5: Confirm the Upgrade
Click the output slot to claim your pickaxe.
All enchantments transfer to the netherite version.
You now have a netherite pickaxe.
Netherite Pickaxe Specifications
| Specification | Diamond | Netherite | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mining Speed | 4.0 | 8.5 | +112% faster |
| Durability | 1562 | 2031 | +47% more uses |
| Enchantability | Medium | Very Low | Harder to enchant |
| Fireproof | No | Yes | Won’t burn |
| Attack Damage | 5 | 6 | +1 damage |
| Mining Levels | 3 | 4 | Mines obsidian |
Netherite pickaxes mine obsidian faster than anything.
Material Cost Breakdown
Making a netherite pickaxe requires significant resources:
Total materials for one pickaxe:
- 3 diamonds (for initial pickaxe)
- 4 netherite scraps (from ancient debris)
- 4 gold ingots (for ingot crafting)
- 4 planks (for smithing table, if needed)
- 2 iron ingots (for smithing table, if needed)
- 1 diamond (for smithing table, if needed)
Time estimates:
- Finding ancient debris: 1-2 hours
- Crafting netherite ingot: 10 minutes
- Upgrading pickaxe: 30 seconds
Early netherite pickaxes are worth the effort.
Practical Tips for Making Netherite Pickaxes
Best Mining Techniques for Ancient Debris
Strip mine at Y15 in the Nether for maximum debris.
Bed mining works faster than pickaxe mining.
TNT can speed up mining but uses materials.
Bring water buckets for lava safety.
Protecting Your Netherite Pickaxe
Keep pickaxe on you at all times.
Netherite items don’t burn in lava or fire.
Drop it in lava safely if you die.
Recover it from the lava surface later.
Enchanting Your Netherite Pickaxe
Enchantments transfer from diamond to netherite.
Efficiency V gives maximum mining speed.
Unbreaking III extends durability significantly.
Fortune III increases ore drops for diamonds.
Combine all three for perfect pickaxe.
Time and Resource Investment
Rough timeline for first netherite pickaxe:
- Reaching Nether: 10 minutes
- Mining ancient debris: 2-3 hours
- Gathering gold ingots: 1 hour
- Crafting upgrades: 30 minutes
- Total: 3.5-4.5 hours minimum
Second pickaxes go faster once you understand routes.
Use OreFinder’s nether calculator to plan efficient mining routes.
Input ancient debris locations for your seed.
Calculate optimal paths to save time.
This cuts mining time by 30-40%.
Common Mistakes When Making Netherite Pickaxes
Using iron pickaxe instead of diamond pickaxe.
Forgetting smithing table is required.
Not bringing protection in the Nether.
Mining ancient debris without proper tools.
Losing the netherite ingot before upgrading.
Upgrading low-enchantment pickaxes unnecessarily.
FAQ
How much does a netherite pickaxe cost?
A netherite pickaxe costs one netherite ingot plus one diamond pickaxe. The ingot requires 4 netherite scraps and 4 gold ingots. Total: 3 diamonds, 4 scraps, 4 gold ingots, plus initial mining time. This represents approximately 3-4 hours of gameplay for most players.
Can you upgrade other tools to netherite?
Yes. All tools can upgrade to netherite using smithing table. Swords, axes, hoes, and shovels all use the same upgrade method. Each tool needs one netherite ingot. Enchantments transfer to every tool type identically.
What’s better, netherite or diamond pickaxe?
Netherite is strictly better than diamond. It mines 112% faster, lasts 47% longer, and never burns. The only downside is difficulty finding ancient debris. Once you have netherite, never use diamond tools again for any task.
How do you find ancient debris efficiently?
Mine at Y15 in the Nether using strip mining. Bed mining is 2-3x faster but requires beds. TNT mining is fastest but expensive. Calculate optimal routes with OreFinder to maximize efficiency and find debris in your specific seed.
Do enchantments transfer during pickaxe upgrade?
Yes. All enchantments transfer completely when upgrading. Efficiency, Unbreaking, Fortune, Silk Touch all transfer perfectly. This is why upgrading an enchanted diamond pickaxe is smarter than upgrading a plain one.
Make Your Netherite Pickaxe Now
Netherite pickaxes are worth every minute of mining.
The speed advantage is enormous for endgame building.
Plan your mining route with OreFinder before heading to the Nether.
Find ancient debris locations based on your world seed.
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