You’ve Mastered the Nether, But Your Gear Is Stuck in the Past
You stand before the smithing table, a pile of precious Netherite Ingots gleaming beside it. You’re ready to forge the ultimate armor, the pinnacle of Minecraft survival. You place your Diamond Chestplate down, add the ingot… and nothing happens. The table mocks you with its silence. The final, most powerful upgrade in the game remains locked, and the key is a single, elusive item: the Netherite Upgrade Template.
This scenario has frustrated countless players since the 1.20 Trails & Tales update reshaped ancient loot. The old, reliable method of finding Netherite in Bastion chests is gone. The template isn’t something you mine or craft; it’s a treasure you must seek out in the most dangerous structures the Nether has to offer. Finding it is a deliberate adventure, not a lucky break.
This guide will walk you through the exact, step-by-step process to locate the Netherite Upgrade Template. We’ll cover where to look, how to prepare, and what to do once you have that first precious copy. Let’s turn that smithing table from a dead end into a gateway to ultimate power.
Understanding the New Rules for Netherite
Before you dive into the lava-filled depths, it’s crucial to understand what changed. Prior to Minecraft 1.20, you upgraded Diamond gear to Netherite using a single Netherite Ingot at a smithing table. The process was straightforward, if grindy.
The update introduced a new system: Smithing Templates. These are unique items that act as recipes for the smithing table. To upgrade Diamond gear, you now need three things: the Diamond item, a Netherite Ingot, and the specific Netherite Upgrade Template. The template is consumed in the process.
This change made Netherite gear more meaningful and tied its acquisition to exploration. You can’t just strip-mine the Nether anymore. You must conquer specific challenges to earn the right to craft the game’s best equipment. The first template is the hardest to get, but once you have it, you can make copies.
Where the Netherite Upgrade Template Spawns
The Netherite Upgrade Template has one primary source: Bastion Remnants. Specifically, it generates in the treasure chests found within these massive, piglin-inhabited fortresses. Not all Bastions are created equal, however.
The template is not a guaranteed drop. It has a chance to appear in chests within all four types of Bastion Remnants: Hoglin Stables, Housing Units, Treasure Rooms, and Bridge structures. Your odds are significantly better in some than others.
According to the game’s loot tables, the Treasure Room Bastion offers the highest chance. The chests in these heavily guarded vaults have a much greater probability of containing the template. If you’re after efficiency, finding a Treasure Room should be your top priority.
Gearing Up for the Bastion Raid
Charging into a Bastion unprepared is a fast way to lose all your gear. These structures are packed with Piglins, Brutes, and environmental hazards. Here’s what you need to survive and succeed.
First, armor is non-negotiable. A full set of Diamond armor, ideally enchanted with Protection and Unbreaking, is the baseline. Netherite armor is the goal, but you need the template to make it, so Diamond is your best available option.
Your weapon should be a Diamond Sword with at least Sharpness II. A Bow with Power and Infinity or a large stack of arrows is essential for dealing with Brutes from a distance. Do not underestimate Piglins. They are neutral only if you wear at least one piece of gold armor.
– A Gold Helmet, Chestplate, or Boots to wear without provoking Piglins.
– A Shield to block Brute attacks and deflect arrows.
– Several Golden Carrots or Cooked Porkchops for food.
– A stack of Cobblestone or similar block for quick barricades and bridging.
– Two stacks of building blocks (like Netherrack) for navigating the Bastion’s complex interior.
– A Fire Resistance Potion (or two) for emergency lava encounters.
– A stack of Torches to mark your explored path.
Leaving your most valuable enchanted gear at your base is wise. Bastions are dangerous, and death can mean losing items forever in the lava oceans below.
The Step-by-Step Hunt for the Template
With your inventory packed, it’s time to begin the hunt. Follow this sequence to maximize your chances and minimize risk.
Locating a Bastion Remnant
Bastions generate in all Nether biomes except Basalt Deltas. You can find them by exploring, but using the /locate structure minecraft:bastion_remnant command is the fastest method if cheats are enabled. In survival without cheats, prepare for a long trek. Fly with an Elytra or build safe pathways over lava seas.
When you find one, don’t rush in. Circle the exterior from a safe distance. Try to identify the type. Treasure Rooms are often more compact and blocky, with a distinctive lava pool and magma cube spawner near their entrance. Look for a large, central room with a chest on a raised platform.
Navigating the Interior Safely
Enter the Bastion cautiously. Always wear your gold armor piece. If you accidentally hit a Piglin or open a chest without gold on, you will trigger the entire population to attack. Move slowly, block off side passages with your building blocks to limit enemy approaches, and light your path with torches.
Your goal is to find chests. They are often in small side rooms, on balconies, or in the central vaults. Listen for the sounds of Brutes—their deep grunts are a warning to proceed with extreme caution. Use your bow to pick them off from around corners before engaging in melee.
Looting the Chest and Securing the Template
When you find a chest, the moment of truth arrives. Before opening it, ensure you are still wearing gold. Open the chest. Scan the contents quickly.
The Netherite Upgrade Template is a light-brown, gear-like item. If you see it, grab it immediately and any other valuable loot (like Ancient Debris, Gold Blocks, or enchanted books). Do not linger. Once a chest is opened, nearby Piglins may become aggressive even if you’re wearing gold. Be ready to fight or retreat to a barricaded position.
If the chest is empty of the template, mark the room as searched and move on. You may need to loot multiple chests across several Bastions before you find one. Persistence is key.
What to Do After Finding Your First Template
Congratulations! You have the single most important item for late-game gear. But one template is only enough for one upgrade. You need a way to create more. Thankfully, the template itself can be duplicated.
To duplicate a Netherite Upgrade Template, you need a crafting table, your original template, a Diamond, and a specific block that matches the template’s origin. For the Netherite Upgrade Template, that block is Netherrack.
Place the template in the center of the crafting grid. Put the Diamond directly above it. Fill the remaining seven slots with Netherrack. This will yield two Netherite Upgrade Templates. You can repeat this process as many times as you like, using one of the outputs as the new “original” for the next craft.
This duplication recipe means you only ever need to find one template through exploration. Once you have it, you can mass-produce copies at the relatively low cost of Diamonds and Netherrack, securing the ability to upgrade every piece of Diamond gear you own.
Executing the Final Upgrade at the Smithing Table
With a template and a Netherite Ingot in hand, the final step is simple. Interact with a Smithing Table. Place the Diamond piece of gear (e.g., a Diamond Pickaxe) in the leftmost slot. Place the Netherite Upgrade Template in the slot directly to the right of it. Finally, place the Netherite Ingot in the far-right slot.
The output preview will show your new Netherite tool or armor piece. Take it, and enjoy the superior durability, knockback resistance, and damage. The template is consumed in the process, so ensure you’ve duplicated enough for all your gear.
Troubleshooting Common Template Problems
Even with a guide, things can go wrong. Here are solutions to frequent issues players encounter.
What if I can’t find a Bastion? Ensure you’re exploring thoroughly. Bastions are large but can blend into the Nether wastes. Try exploring in a different direction or resetting your Nether by traveling several thousand blocks from your portal to generate new terrain.
The chest had no template. Is my game broken? No. The drop is based on chance. You may have to loot many chests. Focus on finding a Treasure Room Bastion for the best odds. Consider using a Luck potion before looting, as it can affect chest contents.
I died and lost my only template. Do I have to start over? Yes, unfortunately. If you didn’t duplicate it first and your items despawned or were lost in lava, you must find another one in a Bastion chest. This is why duplicating your first template immediately upon returning to safety is critical.
Piglins attack me even with gold armor. This happens if you open a chest or mine Gold Ore near them. Opening a chest triggers a brief aggression check. Be ready to run or fight after looting. Also, ensure every armor slot isn’t filled with Diamond; you must have one gold piece visibly equipped.
Alternative Strategies and Considerations
For players on multiplayer servers, check if a Bastion has already been looted. Servers often have community landmarks. If a Bastion is picked clean, you’ll need to find a fresh one in unexplored chunks.
Speedrunners or players on hardcore mode might consider a riskier tactic: using TNT or beds to blast their way directly into the heart of a Bastion’s treasure room, grabbing the chest contents in the chaos, and escaping via Ender Pearls. This is high-risk but can save time.
Remember, the Netherite Upgrade Template is not just for armor and tools. It can also upgrade Diamond Horse Armor to Netherite Horse Armor, providing the same benefits to your steed.
Securing Your Legacy with Netherite
The journey for the Netherite Upgrade Template is a defining challenge in modern Minecraft. It transforms the endgame from a mining grind into an expedition that tests your combat skill, preparation, and perseverance. That first template, pulled from a chest deep within a hostile fortress, represents a tangible achievement.
Now that you know the path—from gearing up in Diamond and Gold, to raiding the Bastion’s treasure rooms, to duplicating your prize—the power of Netherite is finally within your reach. Take these steps, conquer the Nether’s greatest strongholds, and return to your smithing table not with frustration, but with the key to true power. Your upgraded gear awaits.
Your next step is clear. Organize your inventory, enchant your best Diamond sword, and light that Nether portal. The Bastions are waiting, and inside one of them is the template that will forge your legacy.
