How Many Diamonds To Upgrade To Netherite: The Complete Resource Guide

The transition from Diamond to Netherite represents the ultimate progression milestone for any Minecraft player. Since the introduction of the Nether Update and the subsequent changes in the Trails & Tales update (1.20), the process of upgrading your gear has become significantly more complex. Many players ask "how many diamonds to upgrade to netherite" because they want to know the total resource investment required to reach the pinnacle of protection and efficiency. To answer this simply: you do not use diamonds as an ingredient in the smithing process itself, but you must have a full set of Diamond equipment first, and you may need a staggering number of diamonds to duplicate the necessary Smithing Templates.

To fully gear up in a complete set of Netherite armor and the essential tools, you are looking at two distinct diamond costs. First is the cost to craft the base diamond items, and second is the potential cost to duplicate Netherite Upgrade Smithing Templates. If you are playing on version 1.20 or later, the "diamond tax" for upgrading has increased dramatically. Understanding the math behind these numbers is essential for planning your mining expeditions and ensuring you don't run out of resources halfway through your upgrade process.

In this comprehensive guide, we will break down the exact number of diamonds required for every piece of gear, analyze the impact of the 1.20 update on resource management, and provide a step-by-step strategy for transitioning from a mid-game Diamond player to an end-game Netherite powerhouse. Whether you are preparing for a fight against the Wither or simply want to survive the depths of the Ancient Cities, knowing your resource requirements is the first step toward success.

Breakdown of Diamond Costs for Base Equipment

Before you can even think about Netherite, you must possess the Diamond version of the item you wish to upgrade. Minecraft’s upgrade system is additive; the Netherite Ingot is applied to an existing Diamond tool or armor piece, preserving its enchantments while boosting its base stats. Consequently, the first "cost" of Netherite is the diamond cost of the base gear. For a standard player, a full "set" usually includes a helmet, chestplate, leggings, boots, a sword, a pickaxe, an axe, and a shovel.

For a full suit of armor, you will need 24 diamonds: 5 for the helmet, 8 for the chestplate, 7 for the leggings, and 4 for the boots. If you add the standard toolset, you will need an additional 2 for a sword, 3 for a pickaxe, 3 for an axe, and 1 for a shovel. This brings the total base cost to 33 diamonds for a standard loadout. If you also include a hoe (which is now essential for gathering certain blocks like hay bales or leaves quickly) and a second pickaxe for Silk Touch versus Fortune, your diamond requirement quickly climbs toward 40.

It is important to remember that these diamonds must be mined or found in loot chests before the upgrade process can begin. Expert players often suggest using a Fortune III pickaxe when mining diamond ore (now found deep in the Deepslate layers between Y=-50 and Y=-64) to maximize yield. Since you will need these diamonds as the "foundation" for your Netherite gear, efficiency in the early stages of the game will save you hours of grinding later on.

The 1.20 Update: The "Template Tax" and Diamond Duplication

With the release of Minecraft 1.20, the game introduced Netherite Upgrade Smithing Templates. Previously, you only needed a Smithing Table and a Netherite Ingot to upgrade your gear. Now, you must find a Smithing Template, which is located exclusively in Bastion Remnants within the Nether. The catch is that these templates are consumed upon use. If you find one template, you can use it once to upgrade one piece of gear. To upgrade a full set of nine items (armor and tools), you would theoretically need to find nine templates in dangerous Bastions.

However, Mojang included a mechanic to duplicate these templates using diamonds. This is where the question of "how many diamonds" becomes much more expensive. To duplicate a single Netherite Upgrade Smithing Template, you need 7 diamonds, one piece of Netherrack, and the original template. If you find only one template and want to upgrade a full set of armor and four tools (8 items total), you would need to duplicate the template 7 times. At 7 diamonds per duplication, that is an additional 49 diamonds on top of the 33 diamonds used to make the original gear.

This shift in mechanics has turned Netherite from a "gold and scrap" grind into a "diamond" grind. Totaling the base gear and the duplication costs, a player looking to fully upgrade their kit from scratch in a modern Minecraft world needs approximately 82 diamonds. This makes diamonds a high-value currency well into the late game, whereas they previously lost much of their utility once a player acquired their first set of gear.

Resource Comparison: Diamond vs. Netherite Gear

When deciding if the high diamond cost is worth it, it is helpful to look at the technical specifications of both materials. Netherite isn't just about prestige; it offers functional advantages that Diamond simply cannot match. The most famous attribute of Netherite is its buoyancy and fire resistance; if you die in lava, your Netherite tools and armor will float on the surface and remain undamaged, whereas Diamond gear would burn instantly.

Beyond the durability, Netherite armor provides "Knockback Resistance." This is a hidden stat that reduces how far you are pushed back when hit by a mob or an explosion. This is life-saving when fighting Blazes in the Nether or avoiding being knocked off a ledge in the End. Furthermore, Netherite tools have a higher mining speed multiplier, which, when combined with Efficiency V and Haste II, allows for "instamining" of more block types than Diamond tools.

Step-by-Step: How to Get Started with the Upgrade Process

Transitioning to Netherite requires a methodical approach to ensure you don't waste your precious resources. The process involves multiple dimensions and several rare materials. Follow these steps to ensure a smooth upgrade:

1. Craft Your Diamond Foundation: Before heading to the Nether, ensure you have a full set of Diamond gear. Use a Fortune III pickaxe to gather at least 35-40 diamonds to account for all tools and armor.
2. Hunt for the Smithing Template: You must locate a Bastion Remnant in the Nether. The "Netherite Upgrade" templates are most commonly found in chests within Treasure Room bastions (100% spawn rate) or other bastion types (roughly 10% spawn rate).
3. Secure Your Ancient Debris: Travel to the lower levels of the Nether (Y=15 is optimal) and use beds or TNT to blast-mine. You need 4 Ancient Debris for every 1 Netherite Ingot. Since you need one ingot per item, a full set of 8 items requires 32 Ancient Debris.
4. Refine and Craft Ingots: Smelt the Ancient Debris into Netherite Scraps. Combine 4 Scraps with 4 Gold Ingots on a crafting table to produce one Netherite Ingot.
5. The Smithing Table Upgrade: Place your Smithing Table. In the new UI, place the Netherite Upgrade Template in the first slot, your Diamond tool/armor in the second, and the Netherite Ingot in the third.
6. Template Duplication (Optional but Recommended): If you have more gear to upgrade but no more templates, use the crafting grid: 7 Diamonds + 1 Netherrack + 1 Template = 2 Templates.

Expert Insights: Efficiency and Risk Management

As a veteran player, I cannot stress enough the importance of "Template Management." The biggest mistake players make in the current version of Minecraft is using their last Smithing Template without duplicating it first. If you use your only template on a chestplate, you are forced to find another Bastion Remnant to get your next one, which can involve traveling thousands of blocks. Always keep one template in an Ender Chest or a safe base to act as a "master copy" for duplication.

Another expert tip involves the use of Gold. While the focus of this guide is diamonds, Netherite requires an equal amount of gold. Many players overlook the need for 4 gold ingots per netherite ingot. Setting up a basic gold farm in the Nether (using Zombified Piglins) will ensure that while you are mining for diamonds and debris, your gold supply doesn't become the bottleneck.

Finally, consider the "Villager Shortcut." While you cannot get Netherite from villagers, you can get Diamond gear. Master-level Armorers, Toolsmiths, and Weaponsmiths sell diamond gear for emeralds. By using a fletching table to trade sticks for emeralds with fletchers, you can obtain all the diamond gear you need without spending a single diamond from your inventory. This allows you to save 100% of your mined diamonds specifically for the 7-diamond cost of duplicating Smithing Templates.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I lose my enchantments when upgrading to Netherite?

No. One of the primary benefits of using the Smithing Table is that it preserves all enchantments, including high-level ones like Mending, Fortune III, or Sharpness V. It also preserves the item's custom name and any remaining durability.

Can I upgrade Iron gear directly to Netherite?

No, the upgrade path is strictly linear. You must go from Iron to Diamond, and then from Diamond to Netherite. There is currently no way to skip the Diamond stage of gear progression.

Is it cheaper to find templates or duplicate them?

It depends on your playstyle. If you enjoy exploring and raiding structures, finding them in Bastions is "cheaper" in terms of diamonds. However, Bastions are high-risk areas with Piglin Brutes. For most players, it is safer and more consistent to mine for diamonds and duplicate the templates.

What is the most efficient way to mine for Ancient Debris?

The most efficient method is "Bed Mining" or "TNT Mining" at Y=15 in the Nether. Because Ancient Debris has high blast resistance, it will remain intact while the surrounding Netherrack is cleared away, making it easy to spot.

How many diamonds do I need for a full set including duplication?

If you have 1 template and want to upgrade a full set of armor and 4 tools, you will need 33 diamonds for the gear and 49 diamonds to duplicate the template 7 more times, totaling 82 diamonds.

Conclusion: Mastering the End-Game Grind

Achieving a full set of Netherite gear is a testament to a player's dedication and resource management skills. While the initial question of "how many diamonds to upgrade to netherite" seems simple, the reality involves a complex balance of mining, exploring, and crafting. By understanding that you need approximately 33 diamonds for your base gear and another 7 diamonds for every template duplication, you can properly prepare for the journey ahead. Netherite remains the gold standard for survival, offering unparalleled protection and efficiency that makes the steep diamond cost well worth the investment.

Ready to start your journey to the ultimate gear set? Head down to the Deepslate layers and start stockpiling those diamonds today. Once you have your resources, the Nether awaits—just remember to bring enough gold and your master template!