Since its addition in the 2020 Nether update, Minecraft Netherite armor has been the most protective gear you can set yourself up with in the survival game. Before this, diamond was the best you could hope for, and it's still incredibly useful, but you'll need to know how to turn your diamond pieces into Netherite if you really want the best defence.
The process of obtaining a full set of Netherite armor is nothing like getting other armor pieces, though, and requires some serious exploration, special items, and a Smithing Table. Here's what you need to know.
How to get Minecraft Netherite armor
You can't craft Netherite armor from scratch, but must instead upgrade diamond armor. To do so, gather Ancient Debris from the Nether, turn this into Netherite Ingots, and then combine these and a Netherite Upgrade Smithing Template with your diamond items at a Smithing Table.
This isn't just a long process in itself, for which I'll go into more details below, but getting hold of both Ancient Debris and a Netherite Upgrade Smithing Template is tough. We've got a separate guide on how to get Netherite, and will have one on Minecraft Smithing Templates in the near future.
With one Netherite Ingot and a Smithing Template, you can turn one piece of diamond armor into Netherite at a Smithing Table, which can be crafted by combining two iron ingots and four wooden planks, as seen in the image above. To make a full set of Netherite armor, then, you need a full set of diamond armor, four Netherite Ingots, and four Netherite Upgrade templates.
I recommend that you do not use a Smithing Template until you have replicated it at least once, as this is easier than locating more. You can replicate a Netherite Upgrade Smithing Template at a crafting table using seven diamond, your original template, and a single piece of Netherrack.
Want some gear to match that armor? Find out how to get Minecraft Netherite tools here!
This might seem like a significant effort when diamond is already a great choice, but the biggest benefit to Netherite gear is that it floats in lava, rather than being destroyed. So, if you die in the Nether or in a sneaky lava pool, your Netherite equipment will be safe, provided you get back before it despawns.
What's more, any enchantments that are already on your diamond armor will be carried across, so you can set yourself up with the best Minecraft enchantments while you're gathering the resources listed above. If you're still struggling for Minecraft diamonds, our guide will help you locate plenty.
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