How to Find an Ancient City in Minecraft

Ancient cities in Minecraft are located deep underground within the Deep Dark biome, these cities are extremely high-risk, but are high-reward in return. If you want to learn how to find an ancient city in Minecraft, you’re in the right place. This guide will walk you through every step making sure you are well prepared for your adventure.

What is an Ancient City in Minecraft

An ancient city is a large and eerie underground structure that can only be found within the Deep Dark biome. They are well known for their unique design and the extremely valuable loot they contain. You can identify one easily by their deepslate and reinforced deepslate as well as their various rooms, with each containing treasures and challenges.

Within these cities you will find sculk sensors and sculk shriekers which are essential to the city’s design. These blocks add to the eerie atmosphere, but will also detect vibrations and will trigger alerts if you’re too loud. In these scenarios the sculk shriekers will summon the Warden, however, if you understand how they blocks work you will have a successful exploration.

Essential Tools and Resources>

If you want a successful adventure in an ancient city you will need to make sure you have a pickaxe which is made of either diamond or netherite. If you’re able to, enchant them with Efficiency to get in and out of these cities quicker.

You will also want to have plenty of torches as you do not want to be in a dimly lit area which tons of hostile mobs spawning around you. As it says in it’s name, the Deep Dark biome is extremely dark, so you will need to make sure you have the proper lighting sources to help you along your way.

Make sure to bring plenty of food with you as well. On any adventure you will want food, but if you end up spawning the Warden, you want to stay full to prevent your health from getting depleted and you losing out on all the fancy loot you collected in the Ancient City. Try bringing cooked meats> or bread as these are easy to gather and will keep your hunger full.

Durable armor is also essential for your protection and combat against the warden. Either a diamond or netherite armor will help keep you alive as well as a >bow and arrow to distract the Warden if that ever becomes a problem.

A bucket of water and shield are the final items that will greatly help you on your journey through the Ancient City. These both will assist you with lava pools, preventing fall damage, and against unforeseen hostile mobs.

Finding the Deep Dark Biome

This biome is located deep underground, typically around Y-level -52, so you will have to dig deep to find this one. You can start by exploring caves and mineshafts as these typically lead into the Deep Dark biome.

Make sure to stay alert while you’re digging to see sculk sensors and sculk shrikers. These will let you know that the Ancient City is on its way.

Tools and Techniques for Exploration

When you’re adventuring through the caves and mineshafts, make sure to listen for the sound cues that are made by sculk sensors and sculk shriekers as these are the biggest guides to the Deep Dark biome.

You can also bring maps or use coordinates to help you find these cities easier. Keeping track of where you’ve already explored with banners and symbols on the maps as well as making sure you are digging at the correct depth to not waste any of your time.

You may also want to bring compasses and ender pearls to quickly navigate or escape dangerous situations if it comes down to it.

How to Locate an Ancient City

Once you’ve found the Deep Dark biome, the next step is locating the ancient city within it. Here’s a detailed guide on how to find and explore this elusive structure.

Exploring the Deep Dark

In order to navigate the Deep Dark biome you will need lots of patience and caution. Make sure to move quietly and slowly to avoid triggering the sculk sensors, as those will summon the Warden.

You will want to be on the lookout for tall blackstone pillars and ruined structures as those will tell you the Ancient city is coming up. There will also be large open spaces, ruined hallways, and unique blocks, that help you identify it when its alongside the other underground locations.

If you’re having difficulty finding the Ancient city try expanding your exploration area, while the city may be vast, it is still within a huge biome making it a bit difficult to find.

Tips for Safe Exploration

When you’re exploring you’re going to come across dangerous terrains and a ton of threats. Make sure to stay stealthy as that is the key to preventing the summoning of the Warden. You’ll want to move slowly and quietly, making sure that each placement of a torch is done strategically to not cause too much noise.

Managing your inventory is another important step. The last thing you want is to lose all your valuables from a hostile mob killing you, or because you didn’t have enough inventory space to grab the item. Make sure to use chests along the way and mark the coordinates that you left them at, so you can come back to them later.

Make sure to have tons of gear, armor, and weapons to stay defensive as well as having a good escape route in case you need to escape the area quickly.

What to Expect Inside an Ancient City

Inside an ancient city, you’ll encounter various unique features and challenges. Here’s what to expect as you explore these mysterious structures.

Key Features

The loot that you will find in the Ancient city is extremely valuable. You’ll want to stay on the lookout for loot chests as these will contain the rarest items among enchanted gear, diamonds, and Echo Shards. These items will enhance your gameplay more than you can imagine and are essential for crafting and upgrading equipment to continue your journey.

As we mentioned before you’ll find blocks like sculk catalysts and sculk shriekers. These blocks have unique abilities, and their eerieness adds to the city’s distinctive appearance. Skull catalysts are able to convert nearby blocks into sculk blocks, while sculk shriekers will summon the Warden.

Danger Zones

There are going to be rooms called trap rooms. These contain pressure plates that are linked to dispensers filled with traps. They cause significant damage if you trigger them, so make sure not to step on them, or destroy them if you’re unable to avoid them.

The Warden, of course, is a major threat within these ancient cities. In the case that you accidentally summon one of these guys, use distraction techniques, such as snowballs or arrows. Throw them far away from you since the Warden is blind, it relies on its hearing to figure out where you are.

You’ll also want to make a path of wool as that muffles your footsteps and prevents the Warden from following your trail and coming after you more easily.

Navigating the City

When navigating the ancient city, take note of the layout and design. The city may have multiple levels, hidden rooms, and complex pathways. Use your map and coordinate-based strategies to help you explore and locate key areas.

Look for signs of valuable loot and unique blocks as you explore. Prioritize areas with potential treasures and focus your efforts on finding the most valuable items.

Conclusion

Now you know exactly how to find an ancient city in Minecraft and you are on your way to mastering all the techniques mentioned as well as having a rewarding experience on your next adventure to an ancient city.

Just make sure to stay prepared, and have the best armor in the game or you may not come out of this one alive.