Updated 23 October 2026. Facts on this page come from minecraft.wiki, minecraft.net and the live Artemis PvP server; sources are listed at the bottom.
Ocean Monuments and Guardians
Ocean monuments are rare underwater prismarine temples in deep oceans, guarded by guardians and three elder guardians. They are the only place to find sponges, and they hide eight blocks of gold; elder guardians give Mining Fatigue III and have a 20% chance to drop the Tide armour trim.
What is an ocean monument?
Ocean monuments, added in 1.8, are large prismarine structures in deep ocean biomes. Guardians spawn only here, and every monument has exactly three elder guardians: one at the top and one in each wing. The inside is a randomly generated maze with at least six rooms.
They are the only place sponges generate and one of two sources of prismarine. A treasure room holds eight blocks of gold.
How dangerous are guardians?
Guardians attack with a laser beam that warns you before it hits. Elder guardians give Mining Fatigue III, which makes breaking blocks inside the monument very slow, so it pays to find the three elders early. An elder guardian has a 20% chance to drop the Tide armour trim template; see armour trims.
What should you bring?
- Potions of Water Breathing and Night Vision; see brewing.
- Armour with Respiration and Aqua Affinity, and boots with Depth Strider; see best enchantments.
- Blocks to wall off guardians.
What can you get from a monument?
- Eight gold blocks in the treasure room.
- Wet sponges, which dry in a furnace into sponges.
- Prismarine, prismarine bricks, dark prismarine and sea lanterns.
- Prismarine shards and crystals from guardians.
Are there underwater bosses on ArtemisPvP?
Frequently asked questions
How many elder guardians are in an ocean monument?
Always three.
How much gold is in an ocean monument?
Eight blocks of gold.
Sources
Every fact on this page was checked against these pages; the wording is ours.