How to Actually Get and Duplicate Netherite Upgrade Templates in Minecraft

If you are looking to step into the endgame of Minecraft, obtaining Netherite gear is no longer as simple as it used to be. Gone are the days when you could just slap a Netherite Ingot onto a Diamond tool in a Smithing Table and call it a day. Since the 1.20 "Trails & Tales" update, Mojang introduced a significant hurdle: the Netherite Upgrade Smithing Template.

The most common question players ask is "How do I make a Netherite Upgrade template?" The short answer is: You cannot craft your first one from scratch. You must find one in the dangerous depths of the Nether first. However, once you possess a single template, you can "make" more by duplicating them using a specific crafting recipe.

This guide will walk you through the entire lifecycle of a Netherite Upgrade Template—from surviving the Bastion Remnants to managing your diamond resources for mass duplication.

The Quick Answer: The Duplication Recipe

If you already have a template and just need the crafting grid layout to make more, here it is:

To duplicate a Netherite Upgrade Smithing Template, place the following items in a Crafting Table:

1 Netherite Upgrade Smithing Template (Top-middle slot)
1 Netherrack (Center slot)
7 Diamonds (All remaining empty slots)

This recipe yields two templates, effectively giving you one extra copy for the cost of seven diamonds and a block of netherrack.

Why Did the Netherite Upgrade Process Change?

Before diving into the "how," it is important to understand the "why." In older versions of Minecraft, Netherite was seen by many as too easy to obtain once you had a basic strip mine. By adding the Smithing Template requirement, Mojang achieved two things:

Encouraging Exploration: Players are now forced to interact with Bastion Remnants, one of the most challenging structures in the game.
Valuing Diamonds: In the late game, diamonds often became useless once a player had full gear. The duplication cost (7 diamonds per template) ensures that diamonds remain a valuable currency throughout the entire playthrough.

Phase 1: Finding Your First Netherite Upgrade Template

You cannot craft your way out of the first step. You must go to the Nether and locate a Bastion Remnant. These massive, dark structures made of Blackstone are home to Piglins and the much more dangerous Piglin Brutes.

Where to Look: The Four Bastion Types

Not all Bastions are created equal. Depending on the structure's layout, your chances of finding a template vary wildly:

Treasure Room Bastions: This is your primary target. These Bastions feature a large central structure with a bridge leading to a platform surrounded by lava. In the very center, there is usually a Magma Cube spawner. The chests at the bottom of the treasure room have a 100% spawn rate for the Netherite Upgrade Template. If you find this Bastion, you are guaranteed to get what you came for.
Hoglin Stables: These look like ruined enclosures and are filled with Hoglins. The chests here have about a 10% chance to contain a template.
Bridge Bastions: Recognizable by the massive ramparts and piglin-head-shaped architecture. These also offer roughly a 10% chance in their generic chests.
Housing Units: These look like apartment complexes for Piglins. Like the stables and bridges, the chest loot chance remains low (around 10%).

Survival Tips for the Hunt

In our testing, we found that the biggest threat isn't the lava—it’s the Piglin Brutes. Unlike regular Piglins, Brutes will attack you even if you are wearing gold armor.

Bring Fire Resistance Potions: In a Treasure Room Bastion, one wrong step sends you into a lava lake. A 8-minute Fire Resistance potion is non-negotiable.
The "Boat" Trick: If you are overwhelmed by Piglins or Brutes, place a boat in front of them. Their AI will often force them to sit in the boat, rendering them harmless while you loot.
Check the Gold Blocks: Treasure rooms contain massive amounts of gold blocks. While tempting, focus on the template first. Use a shield to block arrows while you open chests.

Phase 2: How to Make More Templates (Duplication)

Once you have successfully escaped the Nether with your first template, do not use it immediately. This is the most critical mistake players make. If you use your only template in a Smithing Table, it is consumed, and you will have to find another Bastion to get more.

The Mathematics of Duplication

To upgrade a full set of armor (Helmet, Chestplate, Leggings, Boots) and a basic toolset (Sword, Pickaxe, Axe, Shovel), you need nine templates in total.

Since the duplication recipe gives you a "net gain" of one template per craft, you will need to perform the duplication process eight times.

Total Diamonds Required: 56 Diamonds.
Total Netherrack Required: 8 Netherrack.
Original Template: 1 (which you keep reusing in the recipe).

Step-by-Step Crafting Instructions

Open your Crafting Table.
Place the Netherite Upgrade Smithing Template in the top-center slot of the 3x3 grid.
Place a single block of Netherrack in the exact center slot.
Fill the remaining seven slots with Diamonds.
Collect the two templates from the output slot.

One of these is your "Master Template"—keep it in a safe place, like an Ender Chest. Use the other for your upgrades.

Phase 3: Using the Template in a Smithing Table

Now that you have your templates, it's time to actually perform the upgrade. You will need a Smithing Table, which can be crafted with two iron ingots and four wood planks (or found in villages).

The Smithing Interface

The Smithing Table has three slots:

Template Slot: Place your Netherite Upgrade Smithing Template here.
Equipment Slot: Place your Diamond tool or armor piece here. (Note: The item must be at full durability or enchanted; all enchantments will carry over to the Netherite version).
Material Slot: Place one Netherite Ingot here.

Once all three are placed, you can remove your new Netherite item from the output slot. The template is consumed in the process, which is why the duplication step in Phase 2 is so vital.

How to Farm the Materials for Duplication

Since "making" templates is essentially a diamond-sink, you need an efficient way to gather diamonds.

Diamond Mining in 1.20+

The best level to find Diamonds is now Y = -58. Do not strip mine at Y = 11 anymore; that is for older versions of the game.

Fortune III is Mandatory: Never mine a diamond ore with a regular pickaxe. With Fortune III, you can get up to 4 diamonds from a single ore block, drastically reducing the time needed to fund your template duplication.
Caving vs. Strip Mining: In recent updates, large open caves often expose more diamond ore than traditional tunnel mining. Use Night Vision potions to spot blue glints on the walls of deep slate caverns.

Gathering Netherite Ingots

While you are in the Nether looking for Bastions, you should also be mining for Ancient Debris.

Optimal Level: Y = 15.
The Bed Method: Since beds explode in the Nether, they are a cheap way to clear large amounts of Netherrack. Stand behind a cobblestone block, place a bed, and try to sleep. The resulting blast will expose any Ancient Debris nearby.
The Recipe: Smelt 4 Ancient Debris into 4 Netherite Scraps, then combine them with 4 Gold Ingots to make 1 Netherite Ingot.

Strategic Upgrade Order: What Should You Make First?

Because templates and ingots are expensive, you should prioritize your upgrades. Based on hundreds of hours of gameplay, here is the recommended order:

Netherite Pickaxe: The increase in durability and the ability to instamine certain blocks with Efficiency V makes this the best first choice.
Netherite Chestplate: This provides the most significant boost to your armor toughness and knockback resistance.
Netherite Sword: Essential for dealing with high-health mobs like Wardens or Wither Skeletons.
Leggings, Boots, and Helmet: These provide incremental defense bonuses.
Axe and Shovel: These should be your last priority as the diamond versions are usually sufficient for most tasks.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Can I find Netherite Upgrade Templates in the Overworld?

No. Netherite Upgrade Templates are exclusive to Bastion Remnants located in the Nether dimension.

What happens if I lose my last template?

If you lose your last template (or use it without duplicating it first), you must find another Bastion Remnant that hasn't been looted yet. This can be difficult if you have already explored thousands of blocks around your portal.

Are there other types of Smithing Templates?

Yes! There are 16 different Armor Trim templates found in various structures like Shipwrecks, Jungle Temples, and Ancient Cities. These are purely decorative and do not provide stat boosts. The duplication recipe for them is similar (7 diamonds + a specific block like Cobblestone or End Stone), but they are used to add colors and patterns to your armor.

Does the template work on Gold or Iron gear?

No. The Netherite Upgrade Template only works to bridge the gap between Diamond and Netherite. You cannot skip tiers.

Why is the duplication recipe so expensive?

Seven diamonds is a steep price, but it reflects the power of Netherite gear. Netherite is fireproof (it floats in lava) and has the highest durability in the game. The cost ensures that a full set of "God Armor" feels earned rather than given.

Summary of the Process

To "make" an upgrade template in Minecraft, you must:

Find a Bastion Remnant in the Nether.
Loot a chest (ideally in a Treasure Room) to get your first Netherite Upgrade Smithing Template.
Duplicate the template at a Crafting Table using 7 Diamonds, 1 Netherrack, and your original template.
Use the template at a Smithing Table with a Diamond item and a Netherite Ingot to complete the upgrade.

By following this method, you only ever need to find one template in the wild. As long as you keep your "Master Template" safe and have a steady supply of diamonds, you can outfit your entire server in Netherite gear. Always remember: Duplicate before you Smith!