The Nether Portal—honestly, just saying it out loud feels like something out of a high fantasy novel, right? A rift to an underworld full of danger and riches… It’s basically Minecraft’s version of a cursed doorway, and trust me, it’s not something you should just stumble into without a plan.

But opening it? That’s easy. Surviving the other side, though? Whole different story.

Once you open that door into the Nether, you’re on your own in a world that’s less “pick flowers” and more “you better pray your armor holds up.” A dimension brimming with fire, lava, mobs you’d rather not meet, and—oh yeah—everything trying to kill you. Minecraft players venture into the Nether for rare resources, treasure, and occasionally because they’re just a little too curious. But no one ever warned me it’d be this dangerous. If you’ve ever wondered how to not get obliterated by Ghasts or fall into a lava pit (again), this is your guide.

So, What’s a Nether Portal, Exactly?

A Nether Portal is pretty much your golden ticket to another dimension. It’s a magical structure made of obsidian, the game’s hardest material. Once lit, the portal transports you from the Overworld to the fiery, hostile Nether. That’s where you find all kinds of stuff: Blaze Powder, Nether Quartz, Glowstone, and some crazy mobs. So yeah, it’s kind of essential if you want to make any serious headway in the game.

But here’s the kicker: the moment you step into that portal, you’re entering a world where the rules change. Lava, fire, and mobs that don’t mind chasing you down? All day, every day. And if you’re not careful, that peaceful stroll through the Nether turns into a trip to the respawn screen.

The Materials You’ll Need to Build the Nether Portal

First thing’s first: to open the Nether Portal, you need some serious tools. I’m talking about obsidian—lots of it.

1. Obsidian Blocks: You need at least 10 blocks of obsidian to build the portal’s frame. They’re a pain to mine, too. You can’t just punch them like dirt. Oh no. You’ve got to use a Diamond Pickaxe (another reason to get to the diamond level ASAP). Seriously, you can’t just dig this stuff up with any old pickaxe—you need the right gear. If you’re lucky, you’ll find an obsidian pool after lava and water meet up. You can create your own by pouring water over lava.

2. Flint and Steel: How are you gonna light the portal? With a good old-fashioned Flint and Steel, of course. It’s made with one Flint and one Iron Ingot. Easy enough to craft, but don’t forget it! The portal won’t work without it, and trust me—you don’t want to be stuck in the Nether with no way back.

3. Optional: Diamond Pickaxe: Like I said earlier, if you’re mining obsidian, you’ll want a Diamond Pickaxe. Why? Because, quite frankly, it’s a huge pain in the neck to mine obsidian with anything less. If you’re in a hurry, this’ll speed things up.

Step-by-Step Guide: Building Your Nether Portal

Alright, here we go. Building a Nether Portal is pretty simple once you have the materials. But it’s still one of those tasks where you want to be focused—otherwise, you’ll end up making a mess and wasting precious obsidian. And if there’s one thing I hate, it’s wasting good materials.

1. Mine the Obsidian: Grab your Diamond Pickaxe and go mining. You’ll need at least 10 obsidian blocks, so get to work. If you haven’t mined obsidian before, you might want to do this over a pool of water. Lava + Obsidian = burnt everything if you’re not careful.

Build the Frame: You’ll want to build a rectangular frame 4 blocks tall and 5 blocks wide. You don’t need to fill in the corners (though I did it for aesthetic purposes, don’t judge). Place the obsidian in a vertical rectangle that looks like this:

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[ ]   <- Top

[ ]   <- Side

[ ]   <- Side

[ ]   <- Bottom

That’s your basic portal shape. Now, don’t stress about the corners. Trust me—unless you want your portal to look fancy, you can skip those.

1. Light the Portal: Once you’ve got your frame up, it’s time to light it. Equip your Flint and Steel and right-click (or press the appropriate button depending on your platform) inside the frame. The inside will start swirling with purple and black—it’s the portal, and you’re ready to go.

Once You’ve Opened the Portal: Prepare for the Nether

Now that the Nether Portal is open, it’s time to think ahead. Trust me, the Nether isn’t a place for the unprepared. When I first stepped through, I had nothing but a wooden pickaxe, and—well—let’s just say that didn’t go well. The first thing I saw was a Ghast shooting fireballs at my face. My instinct was to panic, and it’s safe to say my panic was entirely justified.

Anyway, let’s talk survival:

1. Bring Armor and Weapons

The Nether is home to some of Minecraft’s toughest mobs. It’s not the Overworld, where you can deal with zombies and skeletons with basic gear. No, the Nether is where Ghasts, Blazes, and Magma Cubes thrive. So, yeah, don’t show up underdressed.

• Diamond or Netherite Armor: Don’t even think about stepping in without a good suit of armor. Trust me, it’s like showing up to a monster movie in a T-shirt and flip-flops.
• Weapons: A Diamond Sword is your best bet, but I also recommend having a Bow and Arrow on hand to deal with those pesky Ghasts from a distance.

2. Bring Food (And Lots of It)

If you think you can survive without food in the Nether, well, I have some bad news for you. The air is thick with danger, and health regenerates at a slower rate than usual. So bring a stack of Steak or Porkchops. Maybe a Golden Apple just in case things get real ugly.

3. Building Blocks

Now, I know you’re thinking, “Oh, I’ll just wing it.” No, don’t do that. Bring blocks. Lots of them. Things like Cobblestone and Netherrack will be your lifeline when you need to quickly bridge over a lava pit or build a little shelter when the mobs start to overwhelm you. Just trust me on this.

4. More Gear

• Flint and Steel: If you didn’t bring a spare Flint and Steel, do it now. The portal can get damaged or destroyed by Ghasts, and without a backup, you might get stuck. And don’t even get me started on how long it took me to find a replacement when I lost my first portal.

What to Expect Once You’re in the Nether

Once you step through your Nether Portal, it’s game time. The air is thick with the smell of sulfur, and if you thought things were dangerous in the Overworld, well, get ready to rethink that.

• Lava Lakes: If you don’t watch your step, you’ll fall into one of these. Lava is everywhere. And when I say everywhere, I mean you can’t turn your head without seeing it. One wrong move and you’re toast.

• Hostile Mobs: If you thought the mobs in the Overworld were bad, just wait. You’ve got Ghasts who shoot fireballs, Blazes who throw flames at you, and Magma Cubes that will charge at you like something out of a nightmare.

• Nether Fortresses: These structures are the holy grail in the Nether, home to Blaze mobs and Blaze Rods—super useful if you want to make Eyes of Ender. But good luck surviving them, because Blazes are some of the hardest mobs to deal with.

Surviving the Nether and Getting Back to the Overworld

Once you’ve explored and gathered the resources you need, it’s time to head back. But before you go running through your Nether Portal, remember this: portals can be destroyed. Keep a spare Flint and Steel with you, just in case.