Editing Guide:Getting started (section)

== Entering the Nether ==
Now that you're set with diamond gear, it's about time you start exploring the Nether, an alternative dimension with a hellish atmosphere. However, while it is scary, it's not too dangerous if you're confident and know what you're doing. So, don't go hitting any pigmen!

=== 26. Locate a lava pool and create {{InvSprite|Obsidian}} obsidian. ===
Obsidian is an import resource that you will want to become familiar with. It is the most durable resource in the game, taking a long time to mine and being immune to explosions. It can only be mined with a diamond pickaxe. While obsidian is a great building block, the main use is for creating portals to the Nether, a hellish alternate dimension filled with strong monsters and lava.

You can create obsidian by having water spill out on top of a lava pool. Use a water bucket to bring some water down to an underground lava pool, then place it on top of the lava. The lava will quickly cool and become obsidian. You can mine it with your diamond pickaxe, but be careful not to accidentally fall into the lava blocks below! You may want to stand at the side of the lava pool and sneak by holding Shift, then begin mining the obsidian while holding W. You will pick up the obsidian block without falling into any lava below you. Make sure to mine fourteen pieces of obsidian for the next step.

=== 27. Build a portal to the Nether! ===
You need one more item to enter the Nether: A {{InvSprite|Fire Striker}} fire striker. This item allows you to place fire anywhere in your world. To craft one, you'll need one iron ingot and one piece of {{InvSprite|Flint}} flint. Flint can drop from {{InvSprite|Gravel}} [[gravel]] blocks, which are commonly found underground. Use your shovel to break them faster. Once you've gotten a piece of flint and an iron ingot, place them anywhere in your inventory crafting grid:{{Crafting table|Iron Ingot|foot=y|type=inventory|RESULT=Fire Striker|3=Flint|shapeless=y}}

Now you are ready to build your portal frame. Build a rectangle using the fourteen obsidian you collected earlier like so:

[[File:Nether portal frame.png|alt=A 4x5 rectangle made of obsidian, with the six blocks in the center being empty.|frameless]]

Next, right click the top of one of the two obsidian blocks at the bottom of the portal with your fire striker in your hand. Suddenly, a glowing purple portal will appear inside the portal frame! Don't step into it just yet, as there is still a lot of preparation to do. It is very easy to die in the Nether, so it's best to go prepared.

=== 28. Preparing for the Nether. ===
You will want to gather plenty of food before going to the Nether, either by farming or hunting pigs. Make sure to always have several pieces of food in your inventory at once.

An important item to obtain before going to the Nether is a {{InvSprite|Bow}} bow and [[Arrow|arrows]]. Crafting a bow requires sticks and string.{{Crafting table|foot=y|RESULT=Bow|2=Stick|3=String|8=Stick|4=Stick|6=String|9=String|type=workbench}}

You can get string by killing spiders which spawn at night. They will try to jump at you and hit you like zombies. At this point, if you have iron armor and at least an iron sword as well as plenty of food, you should be mostly safe venturing out at night.

Next, you will need to craft {{InvSprite|Arrow}} arrows. Arrows require flint, sticks, and {{InvSprite|Feather}} feathers dropped from chickens to be crafted. Remember, you can get flint by digging out gravel. Additionally, you can get arrows by killing skeletons, which drop 0-2 arrows upon death.

{{Crafting table|Flint|foot=y|RESULT=Arrow,4|4=Stick|7=Feather|type=workbench}}

Next, you may want to obtain enough diamonds for diamond armor. Diamond armor gives you good general protection against everything, as well as high protection against fire damage. The Nether is full of fire and lava, so it may be a good idea to find enough diamonds for full diamond armor. It is crafted in the same way as iron armor, just with diamonds instead.

With your upgraded armor, bow and arrows, a few stacks of cobblestone for building, and plenty of food, you can finally step into your Nether portal and enter the Nether!

=== 29. Surviving the Nether. ===
The first thing you may want to do upon entering the Nether is surrounding your Nether portal in cobblestone. This is because ghasts, a common monster encountered in the Nether, can shoot fireballs at your portal, which will destroy it. If you don't have your fire striker, you'll become stuck in the Nether without any way out other than death.

To deal with ghasts (the large ghost-like white mobs flying around the Nether), you will want to fire at them with your bow. Ghasts take two arrow shots to kill. Additionally, you can try punching back the fireballs they shoot at you, although this is very risky. If you are able to hit back a fireball at a ghast, it will take some damage. You can use this strategy to kill ghasts even after you run out of arrows, but it can take a lot of practice to master.

The other mob you'll encounter are zombie pigmen. These are decaying pig-like monsters holding golden swords. They will wander about aimlessly and won't attack you. However, if you attack one of them, all zombie pigmen in the surrounding area will run towards you and start attacking you. It is typically best to leave them alone, however they can drop raw porkchops and very rarely raw gold ore, so it may be worth killing some if you're running out of food.

The main resource you'll find in the Nether is {{InvSprite|Nether Coal Ore}} Nether coal ore. Mining it drops a much more powerful version of coal called {{InvSprite|Nether Coal}} [[Nether Coal|Nether coal]]. This ore is very important for progressing further in the game. One piece of Nether coal smelts 32 items, and you can craft eight torches with a single piece. Make sure to gather up plenty of this valuable resource.

Additionally, the Nether can be used for fast travel over long distances. Walking one block in the Nether is equivalent to walking eight blocks in the Overworld, so you can create portal networks to more efficiently travel around your ''Minecraft'' world.