Minecraft: How to Build Nether Portal

Thumbnail of a Nether portal built in Minecraft

Updated:

15 Mar 2022

Minecraft: How to Build Nether Portal

Check out this handy video guide: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e7SNUkBVSJ0

Video by: iDan

Many things in Minecraft are only accessible after entering the game’s Underworld, the Nether. The Nether is a fearsome place, home to dangerous (and annoying) creatures like the Ghast and the Hoglin, and the floor is blanketed by a sea of fast-flowing lava that is sure to gobble up you and all your tools… but getting there and back alive is necessary to beat the game. Here’s how to get to the Nether.

There are a couple ways to build a Nether portal. We’ll be learning the traditional method, but if you want something a little more efficient but also a little more technically complicated, here’s a video tutorial explaining how speedrunners build their Nether portals, courtesy of PurpleMatter on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-LL4LGjatlQ
Now, if you’re still here, it means you just want the traditional method. Before you can start building, you’re going to need to find at least 3 Diamonds, 3 Iron Ingots, and a lava pit. Once you’ve got your hands on these materials, craft a Diamond Pickaxe and a Bucket.
- If you need help finding Diamonds, I’ve written this tutorial on the most efficient mining methods, now that 1.18 has shifted where all minerals are found.
- Crafting a Bucket is simple - take 3 Iron Ingots and open up your Crafting Table. Place one in the middle box on the left column, one in the bottom box of the middle column, and one in the middle box of the right column. It should form the shape of a lowercase v.
Hold your Bucket and approach a water source block. If you’re near the sea or a lake, just press your interact key anywhere on the surface of the water. You should now be holding a Water Bucket - also known as a miner’s best friend.
Take your Diamond Pickaxe and your Water Bucket to the lava pit you found. Using the interact key on a block above the lava pit, dump the water all over the lava. You’ll hear steam, and as the water makes contact with the lava, it will create Obsidian blocks.
- Use the interact key on the same spot you initially placed the water to scoop it back up again and give you more space to work.
  - While mining, don’t forget that there might be more lava underneath the Obsidian you just created. Never mine the block directly beneath your feet.
- Obsidian can only be mined and collected by a Diamond Pickaxe, and it does take a good long while to mine it, so get comfy.
  - Mine at least 10 Obsidian blocks.
Pick a spot to build your portal. You’ll be using Obsidian blocks for the frame. The frame is rectangular; it should be 4 blocks wide and 5 blocks tall. Leave the center of the frame empty.
- You can leave out the corner blocks to save Obsidian.
Once the frame is constructed, activate the portal by using flint and steel on a block inside of the frame. If you’ve built the portal correctly, the frame will fill with a swirling purple pattern and start making ominous sounds.
To go to the Nether, arm yourself well, wear at least one piece of Gold armor, and bring a lot of arrows and Cobblestone (the only block a Ghast cannot blow up) and stand in the portal for a few seconds. Eventually, you’ll load into the Nether.