Is netherite worth getting in Minecraft after recent smithing template update?

Netherite is one of the most powerful materials one can obtain in Minecraft. It is ranked higher than diamonds when it comes to the strongest materials to make gear. The resource was added to the game with the 1.16 Nether Update. Its arrival was monumental, as players had a new endgame item to find.

However, with the recent 1.20 update, Mojang Studios changed how netherite can be used. Though the alteration was interesting, it is safe to say that the material is even more difficult to use now. Hence, an argument can be made that it is no longer worth getting netherite in Minecraft.

Note: This article is subjective and solely reflect's writer's opinion.

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Why is netherite not worth getting in Minecraft after the smithing template update?

How netherite was used in Minecraft before the smithing template arrived?

Netherite required finding ancient debris and keeping gold ingots to make netherite ingots (Image via Mojang Studios)

Netherite was added with 1.16 Nether Update, where Mojang Studios completely overhauled the hellish realm, adding several biomes, mobs, and more. The patch made the dimension start generating netherite in the form of ancient debris.

Prior to version 1.20, players would mine around the Nether to find ancient debris blocks, smelt them to get netherite scraps, craft them with gold ingots to get netherite ingots, and apply these to existing diamond gear through a smithing table.

Though it was extremely difficult to find netherite at the time, the community devised methods to get them quickly. One of the methods was using beds as explosives to expose areas and find ancient debris.

However, the rest of the process was relatively easy since this item can be easily converted into netherite ingots and applied to gear.

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What changed after smithing templates arrived in Minecraft 1.20?

Netherite upgrade smithing template is a necessary item to upgrade to netherite tools (Image via Mojang Studios)

With the 1.20 update, Mojang Studios completely changed how a smithing table would work. They added brand-new smithing templates that can be used for armor and gear. Most of these were armor trims, which were cosmetic items, allowing players to add design to their armor parts.

One smithing template, however, was called the netherite upgrade smithing. As its name suggests, this became a new essential item to have when upgrading a diamond gear to netherite. Players will now need a diamond tool, netherite ingots, and a netherite upgrade smithing template.

Mojang Studios made a netherite upgrade smithing template generated inside bastion remnants chests. Bastions Remnants are one of the most dangerous structures in Minecraft Nether realm, filled with piglins and piglin brutes. If players open one chest or hurt a hostile piglin brute, every other of their clan will start attacking.

Hence, the new item suddenly made upgrading to netherite a much tougher process.

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Netherite does not offer features that are worth taking such a massive risk

Netherite does not offer a massive boost in strength and durability compared to diamonds (Image via Mojang Studios)

Even if players get netherite and clad their entire gear set with it, the amount of work that goes into this will not reflect on its strength increase.

When gamers switch from iron to diamond gear, they first feel a huge boost because diamonds are far stronger and more durable than iron. A diamond pickaxe can be used 1,561 times, compared to 250 times for an iron pickaxe.

But when players go from diamonds to netherite, the boost isn't as noticeable. A netherite pickaxe may be used 2,031 times, which isn't much of an improvement over a diamond pickaxe's 1,561 uses.