Where to Find Diamonds in Minecraft

Minecraft worlds only allow you to dig so deep before you hit unbreakable Bedrock. That level is also known as Y=0 because it’s the bottom of the vertical Y scale in Minecraft coordinates. Diamonds only appear naturally between Y=1 and Y=16, exactly 16 blocks up from the bedrock level. Diamonds are more abundant the lower you go, so you’re more likely to run into them at Y=5 than Y=16, for example. However, the lowest levels are also more dangerous, as lava lakes frequently spawn between Y=4 and Y=10. So you can drop down to Y=5 if you want a great chance to find diamonds, but there’s a good chance you’ll have lava pour through the ceiling as you mine. If you brave those depths, pack a few fire protection potions just in case.

What You Need to Mine For Diamonds in Minecraft

Before you can mine for diamonds, you need to have some gear. Since you’ll be spending a lot of time underground, and you’ll be so deep, it’s a good idea to assemble everything you need before you go hunting. Diamonds are rare; you might be down there for a while. Here’s a good list of things to gather before you go diamond hunting in Minecraft:

Several iron or gold pickaxes.Plenty of torches.Ladders for constructing your vertical mine shaft.Chests to store materials that you mine.

How to Find Diamonds in Minecraft

Once you have your gear together, it’s time to go diamond hunting. The easiest option is to pick a spot and start digging down. If you want, you can even start from inside your house for easy access and add a door or trap door and plenty of lighting to keep mobs from getting inside. Here’s how to find diamonds in Minecraft:

Where Else Can You Get Diamonds in Minecraft?

While branch mining is the fastest, most foolproof way to find diamonds in Minecraft, it isn’t your only option. If the thought of mindlessly digging endless parallel shafts to find a vein of diamonds bores you to death, you might want to try a different option. These options take longer and aren’t guaranteed to pay off, but they do provide some variety. Here are the other ways to get diamonds in Minecraft:

Spelunk natural caves: Look for natural caves, and traverse them. If a natural cave goes deep enough, you may find veins of diamonds there.Explore abandoned mines: Chests in abandoned mines sometimes contain diamonds in addition to tons of other great loot.Look for villages: Chests in villages can also contain diamonds, so check them if you find them.Go exploring: Several other biomes and unique locations can have chests with diamonds in them. Look for Bastion Remnants, Desert Temples, Jungle Temples, Shipwrecks, and Strongholds. If you’re further in the game, you can also look in Nether Fortresses and End Cities.