Updated 24 October 2026. Every answer lists its source.
Minecraft Nether questions, answered
The Nether is the fiery second dimension. These answers cover getting there and back, its biomes and mobs, and what you need to survive it.
How do you get back from the Nether?
Walk back through the portal you came in. If you lost it, build a new obsidian portal in the Nether and light it.
A new portal in the Nether links to the nearest Overworld portal in range, or makes a new one in the Overworld.
Source: Minecraft Wiki - Nether Portal
Why does 1 block in the Nether equal 8 in the Overworld?
The Nether is scaled 1 to 8 horizontally, so walking 100 blocks there moves you 800 blocks in the Overworld. Players use it for fast travel.
Source: Minecraft Wiki - Nether, Minecraft Wiki - Nether Portal
How do you make a Nether portal without diamonds?
Pour water over lava source blocks in a mould to create obsidian in place, or finish a ruined portal you find.
Source: Minecraft Wiki - Obsidian, Minecraft Wiki - Ruined Portal
What is the smallest Nether portal?
The frame must be at least 4 blocks wide and 5 tall, so the inside is 2 by 3. The corners can be left out.
Source: Minecraft Wiki - Nether Portal
What is the biggest Nether portal you can make?
A Nether portal frame can be up to 23 by 23 blocks, with a 21 by 21 opening.
Source: Minecraft Wiki - Nether Portal
Can mobs go through Nether portals?
Yes. Most mobs and items can travel through. Zombified piglins sometimes spawn next to Overworld portals.
Source: Minecraft Wiki - Nether Portal
How do you light a Nether portal without flint and steel?
Use a fire charge, or set fire next to the frame with lava, a fire arrow or lightning.
Source: Minecraft Wiki - Nether Portal, Minecraft Wiki - Fire Charge
What are the biomes in the Nether?
There are five: Nether wastes, crimson forest, warped forest, soul sand valley and basalt deltas.
Source: Minecraft Wiki - Nether
Which Nether biome is the safest?
The warped forest is the calmest. Few hostile mobs spawn there except endermen.
Source: Minecraft Wiki - Warped Forest
What spawns in a crimson forest?
Hoglins, piglins and zombified piglins spawn in crimson forests. It is also where you find crimson fungus and crimson stems.
Source: Minecraft Wiki - Crimson Forest
What spawns in a soul sand valley?
Skeletons, ghasts and endermen spawn in soul sand valleys, along with bone block fossils. Soul sand slows you down.
What is a basalt delta?
A jagged Nether biome of basalt, blackstone and magma, full of magma cubes. It is easy to fall into lava there.
Source: Minecraft Wiki - Basalt Deltas
What is the Nether roof?
The Nether has a layer of bedrock at Y 123 to 127 as a ceiling. On Java, players sometimes get above it at Y 128.
Source: Minecraft Wiki - Nether
How deep is the Nether?
The Nether runs from Y 0 to 128 for terrain, with bedrock at the bottom and top. Lava oceans sit at Y 31 and below.
Source: Minecraft Wiki - Nether
What is shroomlight?
Shroomlight is a glowing block found in huge Nether fungi. It gives light level 15 and composts well.
Source: Minecraft Wiki - Shroomlight
What is soul fire?
Soul fire is blue fire that burns on soul sand or soul soil. Soul torches and soul lanterns give less light and scare piglins.
Source: Minecraft Wiki - Soul Fire
What is crying obsidian?
Crying obsidian is obsidian that drips purple tears. It cannot make a portal, but it crafts the respawn anchor.
Source: Minecraft Wiki - Crying Obsidian
How do you get blackstone?
Mine it in basalt deltas, bastions and other Nether areas. It works like cobblestone for stone tools and furnaces.
Source: Minecraft Wiki - Blackstone
What mobs are in the Nether?
Piglins, zombified piglins, hoglins, ghasts, blazes, wither skeletons, magma cubes, skeletons, endermen and striders.
How do you survive in the Nether?
Wear at least one piece of gold armor so piglins stay calm, bring Fire Resistance potions and a stack of blocks, and never sleep in a bed there.
Source: Minecraft Wiki - Nether survival, Minecraft Wiki - Piglin
Why don't compasses work in the Nether?
Normal compasses spin in the Nether and End because there is no world spawn to point at. A lodestone compass still works.
Source: Minecraft Wiki - Compass, Minecraft Wiki - Lodestone
Does water work in the Nether?
No. Water evaporates when placed in the Nether. Ice that breaks there does not turn into water either.
Do clocks work in the Nether?
No. Clocks spin randomly in the Nether and the End.
Source: Minecraft Wiki - Clock
Can you use maps in the Nether?
Yes, but the map shows the bedrock roof as a messy pattern, so it is not very useful.
Source: Minecraft Wiki - Map
What happens if you sleep in the Nether?
The bed explodes with a blast bigger than TNT and sets fire around it. Respawn anchors set your spawn in the Nether instead.
Source: Minecraft Wiki - Bed, Minecraft Wiki - Respawn Anchor
What is a ruined portal?
A broken Nether portal found in both dimensions, with a chest of gold loot. Missing obsidian blocks are needed to repair it.
Source: Minecraft Wiki - Ruined Portal
How do you cross lava in the Nether?
Ride a strider with a saddle and a warped fungus on a stick, or build a bridge with blocks and drink Fire Resistance first.
Source: Minecraft Wiki - Strider
What is Fire Resistance good for in the Nether?
It makes you immune to fire and lava damage, so falling into lava is not instant death. Each potion lasts 3 or 8 minutes.
Source: Minecraft Wiki - Fire Resistance
Is the Nether dangerous for beginners?
Yes. Lava, ghast fireballs, falls and angry piglins kill many new players. Bring blocks, armor and food, and mark your portal.
Source: Minecraft Wiki - Nether survival
More questions
Every topic is on the FAQ hub. Questions about the ArtemisPvP server itself (commands, ranks, events) are on the server FAQ. Server IP: play.artemispvp.com.