Minecraft Nether fast travel explained

The Nether was the second dimension added to Minecraft, all the way back in Alpha Edition 1.2.0. It was intended to be a system of fast travel for players, as the dimension is loosely based on a transportation method used in the series The Wheel of Time in which people could move huge distances in a few days rather than weeks by using "the Ways."

This begs the question of how exactly Minecraft's hell dimension is a useful fast-travel tool instead of a dangerous death trap. The exact ways that the dimension can be used to zip around a survival world are detailed below.

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All about Minecraft's Nether fast-travel

Nether fast travel is often used to reach unmovable structures, such as end portals (Image via Mojang)

The actual fast-travel system behind the Nether is surprisingly simple. The Nether, despite seeming to be the same size as the overworld, actually has distances scaled down considerably. Every block traveled in the dimension equates to eight blocks traveled in the overworld.

This means traveling a thousand blocks in the Nether actually means that a player has traveled eight thousand blocks in the overworld. Additionally, it means coordinates between dimensions can be linked with some quick division. This is handy, as any portals set up on linked coordinates will always connect.

This is inarguably the most useful part of Nether fast traveling. It means players can have several portals within a Minecraft Nether base, and, assuming they're all linked properly, there should be no issues when using them.

This is the backbone behind Nether hubs and one of the main reasons to construct them, besides providing a safe space from the dimension's hostile Minecraft mobs.

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Other tips and benefits

The start of a Java Edition Nether roof base (Image via Mojang)

While the actual game logic behind Nether fast travel is quite simple, there are a few extra tips that can make it even better.

The first of these tips only applies to Java Edition, unfortunately. This is to build a series of portals on top of the Nether's roof. Since mobs can't spawn on bedrock, the roof of the dimension is almost entirely safe. This gives players a completely stress-free way to fast travel, and glitches can be used to break Minecraft bedrock, allowing for easy access to this safe part of the dimension.

Bedrock players can't build on the roof of the Nether, one of the biggest drawbacks of Minecraft Bedrock Edition. However, there is a riskier way for Bedrock players to use the Nether roof to travel. They can use enderpearls to glitch onto the ceiling, the same as Java players. Reconnecting to a world will cause players to be put back beneath the ceiling, where a new portal can be made.

However, the risks here are that the game won't check for lava pools before moving a player. This means they might try to fast-travel just to end up swimming in lava. Thankfully, potions of fire resistance will stop this from being fatal, making them essential tools for Bedrock fast travel.