Prior to the release of Minecraft’s 1.18 update, Y-level 12 was the absolute best place for players to mine for ores. That is no longer the case, though, as Caves and Cliffs Part 2 has completely altered ore distributions in Minecraft. For those fans that are trying to determine where they should now look for the materials that they need, details on the new ore distribution can be found in this guide.
Updated on July 16, 2022, by Anastasia Maillot: Following the release of the Wild Update or the 1.19 Update for Minecraft, the distribution of ores hasn’t dramatically changed in the game, even with the addition of the deep dark biome and deep dark cities. That being said, these biomes and their sculk sensors have made mining a significantly riskier task to undertake, especially when players wander extremely deep in the new depths of Minecraft’s revamped caves. This guide has been refreshed with more information on each ore for beginner Minecraft players in particular, who might be considering whether or not a certain type of ore is worth their time. Here’s how the ores in Minecraft have been distributed following the 1.18 update, and how they continue to be distributed after the 1.19 update.
Minecraft 1.19 Ore Distribution
To speak generally, Minecraft 1.18 saw ores assume a triangular distribution pattern, with their spawn rates increasing and decreasing as players move up and down the Y-levels. This means that the midpoint of an ore’s distribution range is typically the best place to search for that particular ore, as it is where the spawn rate is the highest. Since the release of Minecraft 1.19, this distribution of ores hasn’t changed.
The following graphic showcases exactly how this manifests in-game, and there are further details on each individual ore below it.
Coal
Coal has a very large distribution range, starting at Y-level 256 and ending at Y-level 0. Notably, coal spawns are affected by exposure to air below Y=136, which means that caves will not be good sources for this ore in those lower levels. Mountain biomes are perfect for gathering huge chunks of coal, as they can spawn easily in the open. The new ore distribution has also made ore chunks more sizeable, and when mining coal, this change is most noticeable.
Coal is the primary fuel for furnaces in Minecraft, and is used to craft torches. It’s among the most important resources players should focus on getting during their first days in survival, as it allows players to cook food, smelt other ores and make torches to light up dark areas to ward away hostile mobs. It can be substituted with Charcoal, which is more expensive to make by smelting wooden logs.
Copper
Copper can appear in Y-levels 112 through -16 in all biomes, though its spawn rate is significantly increased in dripstone caves. Regardless of where a player opts to search for Copper, Y=48 is the level that they should target. Copper needs to be smelted after it’s mined to make Copper bars, which can then be used to craft various objects.
Copper is a bit more of a niche item in the game. It’s not a necessary resource as of yet, but can be used to make Copper blocks which will eventually oxidize and change color with time unless players use wax on them from honeycombs. Copper can also be used to make a spyglass, which is probably the best utility it provides since it lets players zoom in without the use of OptiFine. Finally, it can be used to make a lightning rod to protect houses from lightning strikes, for instance.
Diamond
Diamond in Minecraft 1.18 appears between Y-levels 16 and -64, with Y-level -58 serving as the best place to farm it. Diamonds are the most wanted resource in Overworld Minecraft, and players will need to craft a bunch of Diamond gear before they can hope to upgrade their weapons, tools, and armor into the most powerful Netherite gear.
Diamonds work like iron and gold. They can be used to craft tools, weapons, and armor of Diamond grade, which are extremely strong and provide a lot of protection, damage, and utility. Diamonds remain exceedingly rare, but when players do find them, they should mine them using a pickaxe with a Fortune III or at least Fortune II enchantment, to increase the number of Diamonds they receive from one block.
Emerald
Minecraft players that are hunting for Emeralds will need to stick to the mountain biomes, with Y-levels around 232 acting as the most-consistent sources. Emeralds are probably the rarest ore in the Overworld, as they typically don’t spawn in bigger chunks as Diamonds do.
Emeralds are the currency of Minecraft. Players can use them to trade with villagers found in any village, so long as the villager in question has a job. It’s also possible to trade for Emeralds with villagers, but those who live in mountain biomes should try to find as many as they can and mine them with a Fortune III or at least Fortune II enchanted pickaxe for maximum gains.
Gold
Gold can spawn from Y-level 256 all the way down to Y-level -64, though there are some important details to note. More specifically, Gold can only appear between Y-levels 256 and 32 in Minecraft’s badlands biome and only if there is a land mass that can support it there. If a player is looking for Gold in a non-badlands biome, then they should stick to Y-levels 32 through -64, with -16 being the best option.
Gold isn’t an all too important resource. It can be used to make armor, tools, and weapons, but these are generally very weak and have low durability. Gold is perfect, however, for trading with Piglins in the Nether. Overall, the Nether is also a great alternate location for players looking to mine a ton of Gold nuggets, nine of which can be crafted into a Gold ingot.
Iron
Like Gold, Iron can appear at any height so long as there is a landmass that can support it. For players that will be looking for Iron in the mountains, Y-level 232 is the best option, while fans that are searching down low should turn their attention to Y=16.
Iron is the most important resource in the game along with wood and coal. Most players will craft a full set of Iron armor, tools, and weapons at some point in the game as they begin their hunt for Diamond-tier gear. Iron is used in a large number of crafting recipes, and received a slight revamp in appearance. Raw Iron now looks different from the Iron ore block that previously dropped, so players who are only now returning to Minecraft might be surprised when mining the ore.
Lapis Lazuli
Lapis Lazuli spawns between Y-levels 64 and -64 but not with a great deal of frequency. Players can slightly increase their chances at finding this ore by focusing on Y=0, though only if they stripmine for it. Luckily, a single ore block typically drops several Lapis Lazuli at once, and this amount increases if players have Fortune III or Fortune II enchantments on their pickaxe.
Lapis Lazuli is mainly used to enchantment items in Minecraft. This cost is so small that players can get away with not obsessively farming Lapis Lazuli. It can also be used to access blue dye in the game, but other than that, Lapis Lazuli remains purely an enchantment currency.
Redstone
Redstone has a similar distribution pattern to Diamond, appearing between Y-levels 16 and -64. Again, Y-level -58 is where the ore spawns most frequently. Redstone can appear in fairly large chunks, and with Fortune III and Fortune II, players can increase the amount of Redstone Dust they can extract from a single Redstone ore block.
Redstone’s primary function is to create circuitry in Minecraft. Since there’s no electricity in the game, Redstone takes that role as a powering ore that can be used to craft various mechanisms and Redstone blocks.
Minecraft is available now for Mobile, PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
