Cover Me in Debris: Get Full Netherite Armor in Minecraft

Cover Me in Debris requires you to wear a full set of netherite armor: helmet, chestplate, leggings and boots. Netherite is the rarest craftable material in Minecraft, so this advancement represents a significant time investment. This guide covers the fastest way to mine Ancient Debris, craft Netherite Ingots and upgrade your diamond armor.

What you need

For a full set of netherite armor you need:

• 4 Netherite Ingots (one per armor piece)
• Each Netherite Ingot requires 4 Netherite Scrap + 4 Gold Ingots
• Each Netherite Scrap comes from smelting 1 Ancient Debris
• Total: 16 Ancient Debris + 16 Gold Ingots
• 4 Netherite Upgrade Smithing Templates (one per piece, consumed on use)
• A full set of Diamond Armor to upgrade

Finding Ancient Debris

Ancient Debris generates in the Nether between y=8 and y=119, with peak concentration at y=15. It never spawns exposed to air and always has netherrack or other blocks surrounding it. Here are the three main mining methods:

Method 1: Bed explosions (most popular)

Beds explode when you try to sleep in the Nether. This is the cheapest explosive method:

1. Mine to y=15 in the Nether.
2. Dig a 1x1 tunnel forward.
3. Every 4-6 blocks, dig a small alcove to the side.
4. Place a bed at the end of the alcove, stand back 3 blocks, and right-click the bed.
5. The explosion clears a large area, revealing any Ancient Debris nearby.
6. Ancient Debris is blast-resistant and will survive the explosion.

Bring fire resistance potions. The explosions set fires and deal significant damage. Full Protection IV diamond armor is recommended.

Method 2: TNT mining (fastest but expensive)

Place TNT in a straight line at y=15 and detonate. TNT clears more blocks than beds but requires gunpowder and sand, which are harder to farm in large quantities. If you have a creeper farm, this is the fastest method by far.

Method 3: Branch mining (safest)

Dig a main tunnel at y=15 with branch tunnels every 2 blocks. This is the slowest method but the safest, with no explosion damage and no fire risk. Use an Efficiency V diamond or netherite pickaxe to speed things up. Netherrack breaks almost instantly with high-efficiency picks.

Finding Netherite Upgrade Smithing Templates

As of 1.20+, you need a Netherite Upgrade Smithing Template to upgrade each piece. These are found in Bastion Remnants. Each Bastion typically contains one template. You need four, so either:

• Find four different Bastions (each structure has one template chest).
• Duplicate templates: place a Smithing Template + 7 Diamonds + 1 Netherrack in a crafting table to get 2 templates. You only need to find one naturally, then duplicate it three times.

Crafting process

1. Smelt Ancient Debris: Place 16 Ancient Debris in a furnace or blast furnace. Each produces 1 Netherite Scrap. A blast furnace is twice as fast.
2. Craft Netherite Ingots: Combine 4 Netherite Scrap + 4 Gold Ingots in a crafting table. Repeat 4 times for 4 ingots.
3. Upgrade at Smithing Table: Place the Smithing Template in the left slot, Diamond armor piece in the middle, Netherite Ingot on the right. The armor retains all enchantments, durability and custom names.

Preparation checklist

• Full Diamond Armor set (enchant it before upgrading as enchanting diamond is cheaper)
• Fire Resistance potions (8 minutes extended, at least 6)
• 64+ beds or stacks of TNT for explosion mining
• Diamond or Netherite Pickaxe with Efficiency V and Fortune III (Fortune does not affect Ancient Debris but it helps with gold ore)
• Food and building blocks for bridging
• 16 Gold Ingots (mine Nether Gold Ore with Fortune III for fast gold)

Common mistakes

• Mining at the wrong y-level. y=15 is optimal. Mining at y=50 or higher yields almost no Ancient Debris.
• Forgetting Smithing Templates. In 1.20+ you cannot upgrade at a smithing table without the template. Find one in a Bastion first.
• Not enchanting diamond armor before upgrading. Enchantments carry over. It is cheaper to enchant diamond than to re-enchant netherite.
• Using Fortune on Ancient Debris. Fortune does not increase Ancient Debris drops. Silk Touch is also unnecessary as it always drops itself.

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Questions about Cover Me in Debris

Cover Me in Debris: what is the short version?

Cover Me in Debris requires you to wear a full set of netherite armor: helmet, chestplate, leggings and boots.

What should Cover Me in Debris measure out at?

Place a bed at the end of the alcove, stand back 3 blocks, and right-click the bed.

What goes wrong with Cover Me in Debris?

It never spawns exposed to air and always has netherrack or other blocks surrounding it.

Which Minecraft version does Cover Me in Debris apply to?

As of 1.20+, you need a Netherite Upgrade Smithing Template to upgrade each piece.