Ocean · Structure · 1.21
How to Find an Ocean Monument
A prismarine temple sits on the floor of the deep ocean, guarded by guardians and three elder guardians. Beat them and it is the only place to mine sponges, plus prismarine, sea lanterns and hidden gold. Here is how.
A prismarine monument hides in the deep ocean.
How to find one
Search deep oceans
Monuments only spawn in deep ocean biomes. Sail or ride dolphins across open water and watch for the prismarine shape on the seabed below.
No explorer map
Unlike woodland mansions, monuments have no villager map in vanilla, so you find them by exploring. Their glowing sea lanterns help you spot one.
What is inside
3 Elder Guardians
One in the top centre and one in each wing. They cast Mining Fatigue III on every player inside the monument.
Guardians
Spiky fish that lock on and fire a laser beam. Many patrol the halls and the water around the monument.
Sponge rooms
Hidden rooms hold wet sponge, the only place in the game you can gather sponges.
Treasure room
A dark-prismarine pyramid in the centre hides gold blocks, with more in the elder guardian chambers.
Beat the Mining Fatigue
Inside the monument every player gets Mining Fatigue IIIso you mine at a crawl. Milk does not cure itit just comes back. The only fix is to hunt down and kill all three elder guardians. Bring water breathing and night vision (a conduit gives both) so you can fight and see clearly.
What you get
Sponges (only source)Prismarine + sea lanternsGold blocksPrismarine shards
Quick answers
How do I find an ocean monument?
Explore deep ocean biomes, the darker, deeper ocean. There is no explorer map for monuments in vanilla, so travel by boat or ride dolphins and watch for the prismarine silhouette below.
What is Mining Fatigue and how do I remove it?
The elder guardians give every player inside Mining Fatigue III, which makes mining painfully slow. Milk does not cure it because it reapplies. Kill all three elder guardians to clear it for good.
How do I breathe underwater in there?
Use water breathing, from a conduit or potions, plus night vision so you can see. A conduit nearby is the most comfortable way to raid a monument.
What loot is inside?
Sponges (the only source), tons of prismarine, prismarine bricks, dark prismarine and sea lanterns, plus hidden gold blocks. Guardians also drop prismarine shards, crystals and fish.
Where is the gold?
In the central treasure room, a dark-prismarine pyramid with one or two gold blocks sealed behind prismarine, and up to eight more in the elder guardian sponge chambers.
Do I have to fight the guardians?
To stop the Mining Fatigue you must kill the three elder guardians. Many players also drain or wall off rooms to fight the smaller guardians on their terms.
Finding it is easy, entering it is not
Deep ocean is the only place it generates
Monuments sit in deep ocean biomes, which narrows the search to open water far from shore. A cartographer sells an explorer map for one, and that map turns a long boat search into a straight line.
Look for the glow before the shape
Sea lanterns and prismarine light up from a surprising distance underwater, so a night crossing with clear water often shows the monument before your map does. From the surface the giveaway is a large dark shadow with a regular outline, which nothing natural produces.
Bring the counters, not just the gear
Guardians shoot from range, elder guardians hand out mining fatigue, and water slows every swing you take. Milk, a potion of night vision and a way to breathe are what actually decide the trip, and full diamond with none of those is a worse loadout than iron with all of them.
Prismarine Bricks
Prismarine Shard
Dark Prismarine
Conduit