How to Find a Nether Fortress & Bastion Remnant

◈ Essential Gear & Preparation Checklist

Traversing the Nether without the right gear can be incredibly dangerous, so be sure to stock up on the following items before running through your Nether Portal:

▸ At least one piece of gold armor (a Gold Helmet or Gold Boots): to prevent Piglins from becoming hostile and attacking you when exploring Bastions.

▸ Fire resistance potions or splash potions: to heal yourself from accidental lava splashes or a Blaze attack in a Nether Fortress.

▸ Some blocks (preferably cobblestone or netherrack): to either form bridges over lava pits or block Ghast attacks.

▸ A bow or crossbow with arrows: to kill Ghasts and pick off Blazes. A shield will also come in handy to block Piglin Brute attacks and the fireballs thrown by Blazes, and a food supply with high saturation will keep your health from dropping.

▸ Shield & Food Supply: a shield will also come in handy to block Piglin Brute attacks and the fireballs thrown by Blazes, and a food supply with high saturation will keep your health from dropping.

◈ Nether Structure Generation Rules & Quadrant Strategy

Nether Fortresses and Bastion Remnants have a specific generation pattern, which allows players to exploit this information to find them faster.

1. Structure Grid (Regions)

▸ The Nether is divided into invisible regions of 432×432 blocks (Java) or 480×480 blocks (Bedrock).

▸ In each region, a Nether Fortress or a Bastion Remnant will spawn (structures cannot be placed in the same region).

2. Directional Searching (North-South Axis)

▸ Nether Fortresses generate in stripes of a single structure extending from the north to the south.

▸ If a player finds one structure, they should continue searching north and south along the same longitude (same z-coordinate) to find more structures.

▸ If players search from the east to the west, they are more likely to find themselves in the empty space between structures.

3. Biome Restrictions for Bastions

▸ Bastion Remnants have no restrictions on the biomes they generate in. They can spawn in Nether Wastes, Soul Sand Valley, Crimson Forest, and Warped Forest.

▸ The only place where Bastions cannot spawn is in the Basalt Deltas. Players should not search Bastions in the Basalt Deltas.

◈ Step-by-Step Exploration Walkthrough

Follow this search pattern in the Nether:

Step 1: Set up a camp

Surround your Nether portal with Cobblestone to prevent Ghast fireballs from destroying your portal frame or putting out your portal. It’s a good idea to note the X, Y, and Z coordinates of your portal for your safety and in order to not forget the way.

Step 2: Travel Along a Fixed Axis

Pick a direction (preferably along the North or South Z-axis) and start digging tunnels or building bridges over lava lakes. Keep your render distance up to its maximum to see dark Nether Brick bridges or Blackstone walls in the distance.

3. Listen for noises

Listen for either the clinking of Blazes or the stomping of Wither Skeletons (Nether Fortress), or the growling of Piglins, Hoglins, or the chinking of Piglin Brutes (Bastion Remnant).

Step 4: Secure the Structures

At a Nether Fortress, look for a Blaze spawner and make a room around it to farm Blaze Rods. At a Bastion, avoid opening any chests in front of normal Piglins (unless you have some gold to distract them) and be careful of non-distracted Piglin Brutes.

◈ Pro Tips & Mistakes to Avoid

Never Ignore Basalt Delta Biomes

This type of area is characterized by a rough landscape with lots of fog and a high number of Magma Cubes, but no bastions. When you find yourself in such a place, do not go anywhere – just go straight until the territory changes to Nether Wastes or Crimson Forests.

Do Not Break Gold Blocks Inside Bastions Lightly

Digging the gold blocks that can be found in most of the bastions will make all the piglins hostile to you, even if you wear gold armor. It is a good idea to distract them with gold ingots or block other players from digging.

Mark Your Path With Torches

It can sometimes be hard to get your way out of the Nether back to your portal. The best strategy is to use torches exclusively on the side of the walls as you travel deeper into the nether. When you return, the glow will help you find your way back out and in this way you will not be lost.

◈ Frequently Asked Questions

◈ Final Thoughts

To find Nether Fortresses and Bastion Remnants fast, you just have to move in the positive or negative Z direction and avoid Basalt Deltas. Just put on your gold gear, raise your shield, and follow these tips to gather all the endgame loot in no time!