minecraft-1.20-cherry-grove
Image via Mojang Studios

Best Y Level for Diamonds in Minecraft 1.20

Those Diamond Ores won't mine themselves

Although so much has been added to Minecraft throughout the years, the fundamentals of this game remains the same – it is all about mining. Seeing as this is literally in the name, players will need to get to grips with life inside the caves, surrounded by monsters. Whilst you may not like the sound of that, there is the option that could be more of a suicide mission than the first – mining straight down. Both can end in tears, which is why when you set off on your adventure, be sure to have as little items in your inventory as possible. There are various methods you can take to mining Ores in Minecraft, but one of the most rare to find and still being one of the best to craft with in the game for your gear is the Diamond. This is Vincent’s guide on the best Y Level to farm Diamonds in Minecraft 1.20.

Recommended Videos

Where to Farm Diamonds in Minecraft 1.20 – Y Level Guide

Minecraft 1.20 sticks to the fundamentals of mining, this is that you will need a Pickaxe and the hope that you will find tons of Diamonds on your run. Whilst you may wish to bring along a Bucket and Sword to defend and increase your survival chances out in the depths, these are determined by the route you choose to take when mining. You can either head straight to a cave that you have previously discovered or opt for the digging straight down method. Keep in mind that the digging down can result in falling into a chamber or ravine of a cave system, likely resulting in your demise. Regardless on what you pick as both are viable options, you will want to have an Iron Pickaxe on you as the bare minimum. Of course, it is best to have on you an Enchanted Diamond Pickaxe but if you are just getting started this likely will not be possible.

When choosing which route down you want to take, you need to aim for the Y Levels between -53 to -64. From -53 you will find that this route is relatively safe, you should be able to dig down in a straight line with ease and head to your Y Level goal of -53 to start your digging expedition for Diamonds. Alternatively, going to -64 also has great chances of finding Diamonds but there is that greater risk of danger with lava pools and monsters. Either way, having a Bucket on you will save you from a miserable death, especially if you die with Diamonds on you.

Related: What do Camels Eat in Minecraft?

Efficient Methods of Mining Diamonds

Once you have gone to either -53 or -64 Y Level, you can try multiple efficient methods to mine. These are, to mine within a giant square radius of 50-100 blocks in width. Once you have created one seamless path with 4 corners, stand at the corner and walk sideways one-way left or right by two blocks. Start mining in a straight line to the other side of the square you cut out. You need to mine in a straight line every two blocks across. You will end up with many aisles that you have dug through in your search for Diamonds.

Another method of mining is to face the wall you wish to start mining through. Place a Trapdoor against the wall and close it. Then crouch underneath it and dig one block out in front of you in the wall that you want to mine. You want it to be the block that you are facing rather than the block above or underneath you. Then, remove the Trapdoor, putting it back in your inventory. Now, still crouched, move into the empty space that you removed with the Pickaxe. From here you can start mining in a straight line. With every two blocks you can begin mining left or right, creating a form of grid in your search for Diamonds. This technique increases visual efficiency as you can see Ores clearer by destroying 4 blocks at a time rather than 3.


We hope this guide on digging for Diamonds in Minecraft 1.20 was helpful. For more on the latest gaming guides, from Call of Duty and Grand Theft Auto to Diablo 4 and Ragnarok Origins, see our GJ articles here. Thank you for reading.

Author
Image of Hadley Vincent
Hadley Vincent
Hadley is a Freelance Writer for Gamer Journalist. They have been with the company since October 2022. With a BSc Honors in Psychology, Hadley focuses their creativity and passion for Video Games by primarily covering Horror, FPS, and anything with a great narrative. You will often find Hadley covering the latest indie horror games or deploying into Call of Duty's DMZ. They love a good story and one that can keep them up at night, be that for its scares or its lore.