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Exploring ancient cities in Minecraft: a guide to hidden treasures

December 27, 2024

December 27, 2024

3 minutes

Minecraft ancient city structures can be difficult to locate, often hidden within the darkest parts of the world, but the journey is worth the reward. Discovering one is a thrilling experience, offering rare loot and a chance to explore the game’s deep underground layers. 

By exploring Minecraft ancient city players can find loot and rewards that can improve the gameplay experience. But, also hides dangers, so it is essential to be careful while running into the cities. 

Exploring ancient cities in Minecraft: a guide to hidden treasures

Where to find ancient cities in Minecraft?

These cities are typically found in deep, dark biomes below Y-level -52, nestled within large caves beneath the Overworld. To locate an ancient city, be prepared to dig deep into the world. They spawn exclusively in Deep Dark biomes, making it essential to recognize this biome’s unique features. 

You’ll know you’re close if you see sculk blocks, glowing in eerie shades of blue and green, scattered across the terrain. These blocks signify the presence of a Deep Dark biome, and thus a nearby ancient city may lie hidden within. Some helpful tips for finding ancient cities include:

  • Explore deep caves: often, ancient cities are accessible through extensive cave systems, so following large caves downward can save a lot of digging time.
  • Look for sculk blocks: sculk blocks are a telltale sign of the Deep Dark biome. Once you spot these blocks, you’re likely on the right path.
  • Prepare for a long descent: since these structures are at extremely low Y-levels, bring plenty of torches, tools, and food to ensure you’re prepared for the journey downward.

Locating an ancient city may be challenging, but with some exploration, patience, and these strategies, you’ll improve your chances of finding these mysterious, treasure-filled locations in Minecraft.

What are the ancient city loot and rewards?

One of the main reasons players seek out Minecraft ancient city structures is for the valuable loot they contain. Ancient cities are treasure troves packed with rare items, making the journey to these hard-to-reach places well worth it. 

Ancient cities are known for their chests, which contain a mix of enchanted books, golden apples, and rare materials like echo shards and disc fragments. Some top ancient city loot items include:

  • Enchanted books: many chests contain enchanted books, often with rare enchantments such as Swift Sneak, which is exclusive to ancient cities. Swift Sneak increases walking speed while crouching, ideal for stealth-based players.
  • Echo shards: these new items are used to craft Recovery Compasses, which can direct players back to their last death location, an invaluable tool in survival gameplay.
  • isc fragments: collecting these fragments allows players to assemble the mysterious “Disc 5,” adding another unique music track to their collection.

The loot you find within an ancient city can significantly enhance your gameplay, giving you access to unique items and tools. It’s these rewards that make the effort to reach and survive ancient cities so enticing, as each chest offers items that can’t be found elsewhere in the game.

Surviving the dangers of ancient cities

While the rewards are tempting, ancient cities in Minecraft are fraught with peril, so players should be well-prepared before venturing into these underground structures. Minecraft ancient city locations are home to the Warden, one of the game’s most powerful mobs. 

The Warden is a formidable enemy that spawns when players trigger sculk shriekers multiple times, and it relies on sound and vibration to detect intruders. Knowing how to survive an ancient city encounter is essential. Here are some survival strategies:

  • Crouch and move slowly: the Warden responds to noise, so staying crouched and moving slowly can help you avoid detection. The Swift Sneak enchantment is particularly useful here.
  • Carry wool blocks: wool is a silent block, meaning you can place and break wool without alerting the Warden. Use wool to create silent paths or barricades.
  • Prepare escape routes: if you trigger a sculk shrieker and summon the Warden, have an escape plan. Staying near tunnels or having Ender Pearls on hand can be life-saving.

By understanding the dangers of ancient cities and preparing accordingly, you’ll increase your chances of successfully exploring these structures and returning with valuable loot. The journey to a Minecraft ancient city is one of the game’s most challenging yet rewarding experiences, offering players a mix of mystery, danger, and treasure.

About The Author

Leandro Sandmann, graduated in Computer Science from FEI, is the co-founder of ExitLag, a company created to improve stability and internet connections for online games. He has been sharing his knowledge about games and technology through various channels, contributing to the Blog's articles.

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