Updated 25 October 2026. Facts on this page come from minecraft.wiki, minecraft.net and the live Artemis PvP server; sources are listed at the bottom.
Ruined Portals in Minecraft: How to Fix One
Ruined portals are broken Nether portal frames of obsidian and crying obsidian, found in every biome in the Overworld and the Nether except the deep dark, with a loot chest of gold gear, obsidian and flint and steel. To use one, replace any crying obsidian and fill the gaps with normal obsidian, then light it.
How do you repair a ruined portal?
- Count the missing frame blocks; you need a full 4×5 frame (corners optional).
- Crying obsidian does not work in a portal frame, so swap it for normal obsidian.
- Get the extra obsidian from the chest, from lava and water, or by mining nearby blocks with a diamond pickaxe.
- Light it with flint and steel or a fire charge.
Portal rules and Nether travel: Nether portals and making obsidian.
What is in a ruined portal chest?
Obsidian, flint, flint and steel, fire charges, gold nuggets, gold ingots, golden tools and armor (always enchanted, possibly with treasure enchantments), golden apples, a clock, glistering melon and sometimes a block of gold. The gold is useful for bartering with piglins; see piglin bartering.
Where do ruined portals generate?
One per 400×400-block square on a grid, so they are common. They can be on the surface, underground with air pockets, underwater, or toppled flat. Overworld ones are surrounded by stone, stone bricks and iron bars; Nether ones by blackstone and chains. There are 13 shapes, including 3 giant ones. See structures.
Why is there no chest?
On Java, terrain such as lava can overwrite the chest when the portal generates; on Bedrock every ruined portal has its chest.
How do you reach the Nether on ArtemisPvP?
Frequently asked questions
Can crying obsidian be used in a Nether portal?
No. Replace it with normal obsidian.
Do ruined portals always have a chest?
On Bedrock yes; on Java terrain such as lava can replace it.
Sources
Every fact on this page was checked against these pages; the wording is ours.