You’re standing in a field of pixelated grass, wooden sword in hand, looking at the horizon. You’ve got the iron. You’ve got the diamond pickaxe. Now, you want to go to hell. Well, the Minecraft version of it, anyway. Learning how do you build a nether portal in minecraft is basically the "graduation ceremony" of the early game. It’s that moment where you stop being a survivor and start being an explorer. But honestly? Most people overcomplicate it or waste way too much time mining obsidian they don't actually need to mine.
The Nether is a terrifying, lava-filled dimension, but it’s also the only place to get Blaze Rods, Wither Skeleton skulls, and that sweet, sweet Ancient Debris for your endgame gear. If you don't get there, you're stuck in the Overworld forever. Boring.
The Basic Math of Reality Warping
A standard portal is a frame of obsidian. Simple enough, right? The "official" size is a 4x5 rectangle. That means you need two blocks on the bottom, two on the top, and three on each side. If you build it this way, you’re looking at 14 blocks of obsidian.
But here’s the thing: you don't need the corners.
🔗 Read more: Is System Shock 2 PS5 Ever Actually Coming? Everything We Know Right Now
The game doesn't care about those four corner blocks. You can put dirt there. You can put cobblestone. You can leave them empty. If you skip the corners, you only need 10 blocks of obsidian. This is huge if you’re trying to save time or if your only diamond pickaxe is about to snap in half. Just remember, the internal "air" space of the portal must be 2 blocks wide and 3 blocks high. If you mess up the dimensions, the purple swirls won't appear, and you’ll just be standing next to a very expensive pile of dark rocks.
The "Speedrunner" Method (No Diamond Pickaxe Required)
What if I told you that you don't even need to mine obsidian to figure out how do you build a nether portal in minecraft?
Seriously. You can "cast" the portal in place using lava buckets and water. This is what speedrunners like Dream or Illumina do. Find a lava pool. You'll need at least 10 source blocks of lava. You place a block of dirt, put water next to it so it flows over the lava, and boom—instant obsidian. You basically build a "mold" out of dirt or cobblestone, pour the lava in, and quench it with water.
It takes practice. You'll probably turn your lava pool into a giant slab of useless cobblestone the first three times you try it. But once you master the "L-shape" mold technique, you can get to the Nether in under five minutes from starting a new world. It’s all about fluid dynamics. Water flowing over a lava source block creates obsidian. Water hitting flowing lava creates cobblestone. Know the difference, or you’ll be stuck with a mess of grey rocks and a lot of regret.
Lighting the Fuse
Once the frame is standing, it’s just a dead hunk of rock. You need to activate it. The most common way is Flint and Steel.
- Kill a gravel block until it drops flint.
- Smelt some iron ore.
- Craft them together in your inventory.
Strike the inside of the frame. The center should fill with a translucent, purple, wavy effect. You’ll hear a low, pulsing hum. That’s the sound of a tear in the fabric of reality. If you don't have flint, you can actually use fire charges, or even get creative by placing wood near the portal and lighting it with lava until the fire spreads into the frame. It's risky, but it works in a pinch.
Common Portal Screw-ups
Sometimes it just doesn't work. Why?
Usually, it's the size. While 4x5 is the standard, portals can actually be much larger—up to 23x23. But they cannot be smaller than that 2x3 internal opening. If you try to make a 3x3 frame, it won't light. Also, check for "obstructions." If there’s a torch or a piece of tall grass inside the frame where the purple stuff is supposed to go, the fire won't trigger the portal. Clear the area.
Another weird quirk? Ghasts.
If a Ghast shoots a fireball at your portal while you're inside the Nether, it can actually turn the portal off. Always carry a spare Flint and Steel with you. Getting stranded in the Nether because a giant floating marshmallow spat at your exit is a rite of passage, but it’s one you’d probably rather avoid.
The Science of Linking
This is where things get "mathy," but it's important. One block in the Nether equals eight blocks in the Overworld.
If you build a portal at X: 800, Z: 800 in your world, you’ll find the corresponding Nether portal at X: 100, Z: 100. This is the secret to fast travel. By building a network of portals in the Nether, you can travel thousands of blocks across your main map in just a few minutes of walking.
But be careful. If two Overworld portals are too close together, they might both link to the same Nether portal. This causes "portal tangling." To fix it, you have to manually calculate the coordinates (divide the Overworld X and Z by 8) and build a portal at exactly those coordinates in the Nether. It’s tedious, but it’s the only way to ensure your "Gold Farm" portal doesn't accidentally dump you into your "Home Base" portal.
Surviving the First Ten Seconds
When you finally step through and the screen starts wobbling, get ready. The game generates the Nether-side portal while you're in the loading screen. Sometimes, the game is cruel. It might place your portal on a tiny ledge over a 50-block drop into a lava ocean. Or right inside a Bastion Remnant full of angry Piglins.
- Bring Gold Armor: Wear at least one piece (boots are cheapest). Piglins won't attack you on sight if you’re shiny.
- Crouch Immediately: As you exit the portal, hold the sneak button. This prevents you from accidentally walking off a ledge before the terrain fully loads.
- Cobblestone is Your Friend: Ghasts can’t blow up cobblestone. Build a little "bunker" around your portal as soon as you arrive to protect the frame from fireball deactivation.
Moving Forward: Next Steps in the Underworld
Now that you've mastered how do you build a nether portal in minecraft, the real game begins. You aren't just there for the scenery. You need to find a Fortress. Look for dark red brick structures; they usually generate in "strips" along the Z-axis.
Once you find one, hunt Blazes. You need those rods for Eyes of Ender. While you're at it, grab some Soul Sand and Wither Skeleton skulls. You'll need those much later to summon the Wither, but it's better to start the grind now. Just don't hit the Zombie Pigmen. Seriously. Unless you want a thousand angry pig-people chasing you through a hellscape, just leave them be.
Your next move should be securing a source of food that isn't rotten flesh. If you're stuck, remember that Hoglins drop porkchops, but they’ll also punt you into the stratosphere if you aren't careful. Set up a small base, mark your coordinates, and start digging. The Nether is dangerous, but it’s the only path to the End.
Actionable Next Steps
- Check your coordinates: Press F3 (on Java) or toggle "Show Coordinates" (on Bedrock) before you step through. Write down your Overworld location so you don't get lost.
- Prepare your kit: Ensure you have a shield and at least one piece of gold armor before entering.
- Secure the exit: Immediately build a cobblestone shell around your Nether-side portal to prevent Ghasts from breaking your way home.