In current Minecraft: Java Edition and Bedrock Edition, you do not craft Netherite armor directly. You upgrade each Diamond armor piece in a Smithing Table using one Netherite Upgrade Smithing Template and one Netherite Ingot. A complete set therefore needs four Diamond pieces, four templates, four ingots, and one Smithing Table. This guide covers every material, where to find it, how to duplicate templates, the exact interface steps, what the upgrade preserves, how much it costs, and the mistakes that prevent the recipe from appearing.
What changed about the Netherite armor recipe?
The old Smithing Table recipe used only a Diamond item and a Netherite Ingot. The 1.20 Smithing Table overhaul replaced that two-input recipe with three input categories: Smithing Template, Equipment, and Material. The Netherite Upgrade Smithing Template is now mandatory in both editions. The change arrived with the Trails & Tales 1.20.0 Bedrock release and the Java Edition 1.19.4 changes that prepared the 1.20 features. See the Bedrock 1.20.0 changelog and Java Edition 1.19.4 notes.
That means any guide showing Diamond armor plus an ingot alone is describing a pre-1.20 version. The template is consumed every time you complete an upgrade, so planning your templates is as important as mining Ancient Debris. The same upgrade template is used for every eligible Diamond armor piece; there is no helmet-specific, chestplate-specific, leggings-specific, or boots-specific version.
What do I need for a complete Netherite armor set?
Gather these items before opening the Smithing Table. Each row represents one of the four upgrades.
| Material | Quantity | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Diamond helmet | 1 | Base for the Netherite helmet |
| Diamond chestplate | 1 | Base for the Netherite chestplate |
| Diamond leggings | 1 | Base for the Netherite leggings |
| Diamond boots | 1 | Base for the Netherite boots |
| Netherite Upgrade Smithing Template | 4 | One template per upgrade |
| Netherite Ingot | 4 | One ingot per upgrade |
| Smithing Table | 1 | Performs all four upgrades |
The table itself is reusable. You do not need one Smithing Table per armor piece, and you do not need a different Netherite Upgrade template for helmets, chestplates, leggings, or boots. If you are preparing armor for several players, multiply the four-piece material list for each player; the shared table can still be used repeatedly.
How do I make the Diamond armor first?
Netherite armor is an upgrade of Diamond armor, so craft or obtain the four Diamond pieces before using Netherite materials. Crafting from raw Diamonds costs 24 Diamonds in total.
| Piece | Diamonds | Crafting pattern |
|---|---|---|
| Diamond helmet | 5 | Top row filled; left and right positions of the middle row |
| Diamond chestplate | 8 | All slots except the top-center slot |
| Diamond leggings | 7 | Both side columns and the middle positions of the top and middle rows |
| Diamond boots | 4 | Bottom two positions of both side columns |
You may also use Diamond armor you already own, including pieces that are damaged or enchanted. The upgrade keeps the current durability state, enchantments, custom name, and any existing armor trim. The Diamond item is transformed; it is not repaired or renamed as a side effect. Therefore, a nearly broken Diamond chestplate remains nearly broken after the upgrade, rather than being restored to full durability. The basic armor recipes are documented on the Minecraft Wiki armor page, while Mojang describes the upgrade behavior in its Netherite Ingot article.
How do I make Netherite Ingots?
Each Netherite Ingot combines Netherite Scraps with Gold Ingots. A full set normally requires 16 scraps and 16 Gold Ingots, because each of the four armor pieces consumes one ingot. This is the ingot cost only; it is separate from the seven Diamonds needed if you duplicate a template.
1. Mine Ancient Debris
Search for Ancient Debris in the Nether. Smelt each piece in a furnace, blast furnace, or another compatible smelting block to produce one Netherite Scrap. Ancient Debris is the raw source; it cannot be substituted with ordinary Nether minerals. Plan for 16 Ancient Debris if every scrap comes directly from smelting, since four scraps are needed for each of the four ingots.
2. Combine scraps and gold
The recipe is shapeless, so arrangement does not matter:
4 Netherite Scraps + 4 Gold Ingots = 1 Netherite Ingot
Place four scraps and four Gold Ingots anywhere in a crafting grid. Repeat until you have four ingots. Because the recipe is shapeless, there is no required pattern and the ingredients can be mixed in any arrangement. Mojang’s material explanation is available in the official Netherite Ingot article.
Where can I find a Netherite Upgrade Smithing Template?
Netherite Upgrade Smithing Templates generate in chests throughout Bastion Remnants in the Nether. A Treasure Room Bastion Remnant contains two templates, making it a particularly valuable target, but other bastion chests can also contain them. The template is a distinct item from a regular Smithing Template and from every Armor Trim Smithing Template.
Templates are consumed when used. Finding one does not let you upgrade all four pieces unless you duplicate it or find additional copies, so secure the copies before spending your first template on armor. A single original is enough to begin the duplication process described below, but you must have four available when you perform four upgrades.
Locate a bastion with a command
Commands require cheats in a single-player world or the appropriate operator permissions on a server. In either current edition, enter:
/locate structure minecraft:bastion_remnant
In Bedrock Edition, the command searches for the nearest Bastion Remnant in the current dimension. It fails when no qualifying structure exists in that dimension. Move into the Nether before running it; the command does not search another dimension for you. Microsoft’s Bedrock /locate documentation explains the command behavior; Mojang’s official command guide documents the modern structure syntax used by Java as well.
How do I duplicate the Netherite Upgrade template?
One template can be copied in a crafting grid. The duplication recipe uses seven Diamonds and one Netherrack and returns two templates. Because the original is consumed, the net increase is one template.
Diamond Diamond Diamond Diamond Netherrack Diamond Diamond Template Empty
Use exactly one Netherite Upgrade Smithing Template, seven Diamonds, and one Netherrack in the shown arrangement. The output is two templates, so starting with one leaves you with two after the craft, not three. To reach the four templates required for a complete set, perform the duplication twice if you begin with only one? No: the practical minimum is one original plus one duplication craft, because that craft gives two templates while the original template is consumed, leaving two; therefore you need a second duplication craft using one of those copies to reach four total. In practice, each duplication consumes one template and yields two, so start with one original, duplicate it once to obtain two, then duplicate one of those again to obtain three total, and duplicate again to obtain four. Alternatively, finding additional templates in bastion chests can reduce the Diamonds and Netherrack needed.
For four armor upgrades, make sure four templates are physically available before you begin. The duplication recipe and its consumption behavior are part of the Java 1.19.4/1.20 smithing changes documented by Mojang at Minecraft Java Edition 1.19.4.
How do I craft a Smithing Table?
Use two Iron Ingots and four wooden planks. Any wood type works, and the four planks may be mixed rather than coming from one species.
- 2 Iron Ingots
- 4 wooden planks of any type, mixed or matching
Place the two ingots across the top row of a crafting grid and the four planks beneath them in a two-by-two arrangement. The finished table can be placed anywhere convenient, including inside your base or a Nether outpost. One table handles every upgrade in the set and remains available for later tools, weapons, or armor. See the Smithing Table reference for the block recipe.
How do I upgrade each armor piece in the Smithing Table?
Use the same three-slot process for every piece. There is no separate Craft or Upgrade button: when the inputs are valid, the result appears in the output slot on the right, and taking that result completes the operation.
- Place and open the Smithing Table.
- Put one Netherite Upgrade Smithing Template in the Smithing Template slot.
- Put the Diamond helmet, chestplate, leggings, or boots in the Equipment slot.
- Put one Netherite Ingot in the Material slot.
- Take the resulting Netherite armor piece from the output slot.
- Repeat with a fresh template and ingot for each remaining Diamond piece.
The three input categories are not interchangeable. The template belongs in the template slot, the Diamond armor in equipment, and the ingot in material. If the output remains empty, remove and recheck each item rather than looking for a hidden confirmation button.
The four valid combinations are:
| Equipment slot | Template slot | Material slot | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diamond Helmet | Netherite Upgrade | Netherite Ingot | Netherite Helmet |
| Diamond Chestplate | Netherite Upgrade | Netherite Ingot | Netherite Chestplate |
| Diamond Leggings | Netherite Upgrade | Netherite Ingot | Netherite Leggings |
| Diamond Boots | Netherite Upgrade | Netherite Ingot | Netherite Boots |
The recipes accept Diamond equipment. A Netherite Upgrade template does not turn a lower-tier item into Diamond first, and there is no direct Iron-to-Netherite or Gold-to-Netherite armor conversion.
What does upgrading preserve?
The Smithing Table carries the Diamond piece’s existing state into the Netherite version:
- Its current durability, including any damage already taken
- All enchantments
- Its custom name
- An armor trim already applied to the piece
Upgrading therefore does not reroll enchantments or erase the identity of a named item. A trimmed, enchanted Diamond helmet remains trimmed, enchanted, and named as its Netherite counterpart. If you want to repair or combine enchantments with an anvil, do that separately; anvil actions can require experience even though the Netherite upgrade itself does not.
What does Netherite armor improve over Diamond armor?
Netherite armor is a tougher version of the same armor tier. Compared with Diamond, it provides higher durability, higher armor toughness, and knockback resistance. Netherite items also do not burn when dropped into fire or lava.
| Property | Netherite armor compared with Diamond |
|---|---|
| Durability | Higher |
| Armor toughness | Higher |
| Knockback resistance | Added to each Netherite armor piece |
| Protection from ordinary damage | Still depends on the armor’s normal protection and enchantments |
| Dropped-item fire and lava behavior | A dropped Netherite piece does not burn |
Each Netherite armor piece contributes knockback resistance; a complete set provides 40% knockback resistance in Java Edition. The mechanic is described in the Knockback reference and Mojang’s Netherite overview. These improvements do not automatically add Protection or Fire Protection enchantments, so an unenchanted Netherite set still has the enchantment state of the Diamond set you upgraded.
Does Netherite armor make me immune to fire or lava?
No. Netherite’s fire resistance applies to the item as a dropped object, not to the player wearing it. A fully equipped player can still take damage from fire, lava, magma blocks, and other heat sources.
For Nether travel, combine the armor with Fire Protection or Protection enchantments, Fire Resistance potions, and ordinary lava-safety practices. If you die in lava, the armor may remain intact as an item, but your character can still die before you recover it. Netherite prevents the dropped gear from burning; it does not prevent the death that caused the drop. The distinction is documented on the Netherite page and the Armor page.
How are armor trims different from Netherite upgrades?
An Armor Trim Smithing Template and a Netherite Upgrade Smithing Template perform different operations. The Netherite Upgrade changes the equipment material from Diamond to Netherite; an Armor Trim template adds a visual pattern.
- Trim templates are not substitutes for the Netherite Upgrade template.
- Trim materials, including a Netherite Ingot, are cosmetic and do not increase protection.
- You can upgrade a trimmed Diamond piece to Netherite, but the upgrade and trim are separate Smithing Table uses.
Choose the correct template by reading its name in the template slot. If you want both effects, apply the trim in its own operation and perform the Netherite upgrade with the Netherite Upgrade template; neither operation replaces the other. The 1.20 feature notes are in the Bedrock changelog, with trim mechanics summarized at Minecraft Wiki’s armor-trim page.
Why does the Netherite recipe not appear?
The table is missing one of the three inputs
Check every slot. A valid upgrade requires a Netherite Upgrade Smithing Template, a Diamond armor piece, and a Netherite Ingot at the same time. Leaving out any one of them leaves the output empty.
You used the wrong template
A regular Smithing Template or an Armor Trim template will not activate the Netherite recipe. The item must be specifically named Netherite Upgrade Smithing Template.
You placed the wrong equipment
The standard recipe accepts Diamond armor. Iron, Gold, Chainmail, and Leather armor cannot be upgraded directly with this template. You must obtain or craft the corresponding Diamond piece first.
You followed an older guide
Diamond armor plus an ingot without a template worked before the 1.20 Smithing Table redesign. Current Java and Bedrock versions require the template, so adding it is the fix.
The template disappeared
That is normal. Netherite Upgrade templates are single-use in the Smithing Table. Duplicate the template or collect more copies before processing the rest of the set.
You are in the wrong dimension for locating a bastion
The locate command checks the current dimension. Run it in the Nether, and remember that it can fail if no qualifying structure exists there.
Does a Netherite upgrade cost experience?
No. A normal Smithing Table upgrade has no experience-level cost. Its inputs are the template, the Diamond armor piece, and one Netherite Ingot. Experience may still be required for an anvil operation you perform before or after the upgrade, such as combining enchantments or repairing equipment. The smithing rules are summarized at Minecraft Wiki’s Smithing page.
Full preparation checklist
Before you begin, verify the following inventory:
- 1 Diamond helmet
- 1 Diamond chestplate
- 1 Diamond pair of leggings
- 1 Diamond pair of boots
- 4 Netherite Upgrade Smithing Templates
- 4 Netherite Ingots
- 1 Smithing Table
If crafting the Diamond set yourself, include 24 Diamonds. If duplicating one template into four, budget seven Diamonds and one Netherrack for each duplication craft and remember that the template used in that craft is consumed. For the ingots, smelt 16 Ancient Debris into 16 Netherite Scraps and combine those scraps with 16 Gold Ingots in four shapeless recipes.
Then process one armor piece at a time with exactly one template and one ingot. When all four outputs have been collected, you have a complete current-version Netherite armor set with its original names, enchantments, durability states, and trims intact.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the Netherite Upgrade Smithing Template be used on tools and weapons?
Yes. The same Netherite Upgrade template is also the template for valid Diamond tools and weapons; it is not an armor-only item. The equipment slot determines whether the output is the corresponding Netherite tool, weapon, or armor piece.
How many templates does a Treasure Room Bastion Remnant contain?
A Treasure Room Bastion Remnant contains two Netherite Upgrade Smithing Templates. You still need four total for a complete armor set, so duplicate templates or search additional bastion chests.
What happens if there is no Bastion Remnant in the dimension where I run /locate?
The locate command reports failure when no qualifying structure exists in the current dimension. Move to the Nether before running the command; the command does not search a different dimension on your behalf.
Can I use one Smithing Table for an entire multiplayer group?
Yes. The block itself is reusable and has no per-player limit. Each player still needs a valid Diamond base item, a Netherite Upgrade template, and a Netherite Ingot for every upgrade they perform.
How many Diamonds are needed for a complete set made from scratch?
Twenty-four Diamonds craft the four Diamond armor pieces. If you also duplicate one Netherite Upgrade template, budget seven additional Diamonds for each duplication craft; each craft consumes one template and produces two.
Can I upgrade damaged or enchanted Diamond armor?
Yes. Damaged and enchanted Diamond pieces are valid. Their current durability, enchantments, custom names, and existing trims carry over to the Netherite result; the upgrade itself does not repair the item or cost experience.
Do I need four Smithing Tables?
No. One Smithing Table is reusable for all four pieces and for later upgrades. You need four templates and four ingots because those inputs are consumed per operation.
Does a Netherite Ingot used as an armor-trim material improve protection?
No. In a trim operation, Netherite is a cosmetic trim material. Protection improves only when the Diamond piece is upgraded with a Netherite Upgrade Smithing Template and a Netherite Ingot.
The Bottom Line
For current Java and Bedrock versions, gather four Diamond armor pieces, four Netherite Upgrade Smithing Templates, four Netherite Ingots, and one Smithing Table. Put one template, one Diamond piece, and one ingot into the three Smithing Table slots for each upgrade. The template is consumed, the upgrade costs no experience, and the Netherite result keeps the Diamond piece’s durability, enchantments, name, and trim.