Diamonds are one of the most important resources in Minecraft – while they are one of the rarest items in the game, they are essential if you want to reach the end.
Finding diamonds in Minecraft has never been easy, so we’ve researched the generation algorithms to understand exactly how they are created.
In this guide we’ll share all our diamond discoveries so you can discover diamonds with ease.
How to Find Minecraft Diamonds
There are actually a few different strategies that can be effective options for finding diamonds.
Mining is the name of the game, and digging for diamond ore in your procedurally generated world is probably the best strategy. Although it isn’t the only method – you can also find diamonds in a bunch of other places in Minecraft.
Check out these techniques for finding diamonds in Minecraft as quickly and as easily as possible.
What are the Best Coordinates for Diamonds in Minecraft
Digging for diamonds is our favorite way to find them. We’ve researched how diamonds are generated to bring you these essential pointers. If you aren’t sure how to see your coordinates, check out the section after this first!
In essence, diamond ore has a higher chance of being generated in certain levels of the earth.
It’s all to do with the Y level (height) coordinate. X and Z (latitude and longitude) don’t really have any effect on diamond generation.
For starters, diamond ore can be generated at Y15 and below. Yep, there’s a chance of finding diamonds above sea level (Y0) although this is incredibly rare.
You’ll find a much higher concentration of diamonds starting from level Y-50 and lower, all the way down to Y-64 which is the lowest bedrock level.
The absolutely highest concentration is between Y-58 and Y-59, so this level is the best place to look. This change was implemented in Minecraft version 1.19. Be careful though, as The Wild Update also introduced Deep Dark biomes which have the toughest boss in the game (the Warden). These biomes spawn within the same height coordinates previously mentioned.
Caves and mines have a higher chance of generating diamonds too.
Here are some more specific formulas for diamond ore generation:
Diamond ore is generated in “blobs” which are essentially veins of grouped diamond ore in the ground. These have different densities per chunk (which is an area of 16 blocks wide, 16 deep, and 256 vertical blocks).
In every chunk, there should be 7 veins with 1-4 ores, between Y14 and y-63.
1 in every 9 chunks will have a vein of 1-12 ore, between Y14 and y-63
Every chunk will have 4 veins of 1-8 ores, between Y14 and y-63.
Diamond ores are less likely to spawn if they are adjacent to empty air spaces, so they are better found by digging through the stone.
Remember, you can only mine diamonds with an iron pickaxe or better (diamond or netherite).
How to See Your Coordinates in Minecraft
The easiest way to see what your coordinates are in Minecraft is by looking at the debug data screen.
Hitting F3 shows all the debug information, which includes a handy display of your X, Y, and Z coordinates.
You can see your current Y coordinate in the following part of the debug screen.
Other Ways to Find Diamonds in Minecraft
Besides mining diamonds, you can find diamonds in several other places in Minecraft. In any kind of loot chest, there is a chance of finding a certain quantity of diamonds. The drop chance and quantity are different for each type of structure.
The following list shows the percentage chances for finding diamonds in various structure chests. These are the stats for the Java edition
Bastion Remnant Chests = 15.8% for 2-6 diamonds
Buried TreasureChests = 46.9% for 1 diamond
Desert Temple Chests = 6.4% chance for 1-3 diamonds
End CityChests = 21.2% for 2-7 diamonds
Jungle Temple Chests = 12.9% for 1-3
Mineshaft Chests = 8.9% for 1-2
Nether Fortress Chests = 19.9% for 1-3
Shipwreck Treasure Chests = 14.1% for 1
Stronghold Altar Chests = 7.3% for 1-3
Village Chests = 16.2% for 1-3 diamonds
5 Tips for Finding Diamonds in Minecraft
Here are some other tips for finding Minecraft diamonds. Follow these tips to make your diamond hunting easier and safer.
1. NEVER Dig Directly Down
This is a tip that is relevant for all Minecraft world activities, not just when you want to find diamond ore. Digging straight down in Minecraft is basically a suicide wish – most of us learn this the hard way.
If you dig straight down, you can easily fall to your death by dropping into massive underground caves, or into a pool of lava. Avoid this by using the more traditional mining method of mining in a stair pattern.
You should always plan out your mining strategy before you begin digging underground.
2. Always Check Out Caves
Caves have a higher density of diamonds and other ore. If you dig into caves or abandoned mineshafts while mining, it’s always worth exploring the cave in every direction. Particularly if you are at the diamond level, underground caves can be a motherload for diamond hunting
3. Search in Multiple Directions
Players often fall into the habit of strip mining – this is where you just dig tunnels in a straight line while holding the dig button at eye level. This is good if you want to destroy a lot of blocks, but it isn’t the best method to find diamonds in Minecraft.
Because of the way Minecraft’s ore generation algorithm works, you’re better off thoroughly mining one chunk before moving on to the next one, rather than strip mining.
Spread out your direction and you’ll have a better chance to find diamonds in Minecraft (and other valuable materials like gold).
4. Use Good Tools, and the Fortune Enchantment
Stone tools can’t mine diamonds, so you’re going to need at least an iron pickaxe. If you have the opportunity, craft a diamond pickaxe as soon as possible. Because they have high durability you can spend longer mining diamonds before you need to come back up to the surface.
Also, whenever a block is mined with a Fortune-enchanted pickaxe, it adds a chance of dropping an extra diamond per enchanting level. So using the Fortune enchantment yields more diamonds per block makes it highly worthwhile.
5. Pack Torches When Exploring
There’s nothing worse than running out of light sources when you’ve just hit a juicy cave. We recommend that you leave a trail of torches on your mining journey so you can easily find your way back out of your mine without getting lost.
This will also prevent mobs from spawning in your mine and sneaking up on you. The last thing you want is hostile mobs getting in your face when all you want to do is find diamonds!
BONUS: Bring a Water Bucket
A water bucket can save your life if you find (or fall in) lava…
What Can be Crafted From Diamonds in Minecraft?
Diamonds are one of the best resources in the game and are needed to craft all of the following items.
Diamond tools and weapons
Pickaxe
Axe
Hoe
Shovel
Sword
Diamond armor
Helmet
Chestplate
Leggings
Boots
Diamond blocks
Enchanting table
Firework star
Jukebox
Smithing template
Fireworks
Gear made from diamond is the second best in the game. For example, the only thing better than diamond armor is netherite armor.
Conclusion: Enjoy Tons of Diamonds in Minecraft!
Diamonds are a Minecrafter player’s best friend! With the strategies above, you should be able to find diamonds in no time. Study the generation formulas to understand how diamonds are created in the game. This will help you to look in the right place.
Good luck on your hunt for diamonds! Hopefully, soon you will be able to build your entire base out of diamond blocks.
Dane started off gaming at the tender age of 3 with the first Atari console. His favorite video game genres are turn-based RPGs (can I get a shout out for Tactics Ogre?) and fighting games. Read more...
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