Game Theory: Is Minecraft Netherite From SPACE?

Netherite is Minecraft's rarest and most powerful material, hidden deep in the nether and harder than diamond, but its origin remains a mystery.

Game Theory has previously covered Minecraft lore including the ancient Builder civilization and the creepy Soul Sand valleys, but has never fully explored netherite.

• Netherite was introduced in June 2020 • Found as ancient debris scattered throughout the nether • Created by smelting ancient debris into netherite scraps • Combined with golden ingots to upgrade diamond gear

What is netherite made of and where does it come from?

Nothing on Earth is harder than diamond, which sits at 10 on the Mohs hardness scale as the only material in that top category.

Since nothing on Earth surpasses diamond, netherite must come from somewhere else—from outer space.

• Barringer Crater in Arizona formed 50,000 years ago from an asteroid impact • The crater is over 1.1 km in diameter and 170 m deep • Meteorite fragments have been excavated for decades

In 1967, scientists discovered lonsdaleite, a substance harder than diamond that was found in meteorite fragments.

Both diamond and lonsdaleite start as carbon subjected to intense heat and pressure, but form different crystal lattice structures.

• Diamond forms a cubic lattice structure • Lonsdaleite forms a hexagonal lattice structure • Hexagonal lattice is stronger than cubic lattice • Perfect lonsdaleite would be up to 58% harder than diamond

Recovered lonsdaleite fragments contain impurities and only measure 7 to 8 on the Mohs hardness scale, not the theoretical maximum.

Like netherite, lonsdaleite is an upgraded form of the same material, found as scattered ancient fragments from space.

The nether is a closed ecosystem with a ceiling, completely cut off from outer space, making alien meteorites unlikely.

Lonsdaleite originally forms from carbon graphite in space, but the heat and pressure of atmospheric entry creates the conditions for transformation.

• The nether is super hot and pressurized • It provides the environmental conditions to create lonsdaleite-like substances • Netherite items float on lava, a useful property for nether civilizations

Netherite was created by the intense heat and pressure within the nether itself, not from space.

• Built Nether fortresses storing loot in chests • Farmed Nether wart to feed their pigs • Conducted strange experiments to revive fallen comrades' souls

Netherite and ancient debris are never found in Nether fortresses or used to fortify defenses, despite being the strongest available material.

The absence is purposeful, not an oversight, as Mojang has proven willing to update old elements with new ones, as seen with drowned no longer dropping gold.

The ancient Builders were not the creators of netherite, suggesting another civilization was responsible.

Official lore states that piglins mined netherite and ancient debris in the past, and now only scrap can be obtained from ancient debris.

Piglins can mine blocks, a mechanic never seen in-game, suggesting this is lore information rather than gameplay mechanic.

• Piglins have variations like Piglin Brutes • They hunt in teams and celebrate victories together • They barter with players for resources • They congregate at Bastion remnants

Piglins display all characteristics of a functioning society and civilization capable of mining, building, and defending.

Piglins were at war with the ancient Builders, who were invasive species that brought ruin to the piglins' thriving nether society.

• Piglins used netherite as perfect defense against diamond-gear-wearing Builders • Netherite's fire resistance made it ideal for nether fortifications • Its superior strength provided excellent protection • Limited supplies eventually ran out

With netherite exhausted and unable to replace broken defenses, the Bastion remnants fell and were left in ruins, while piglins survived in the present day.

Piglins won the war but lost their most valuable resource in the process.

Broken netherite scraps from the fallen bastions survived because of netherite's fire resistance, preventing decomposition from lava flows and ground shifts.

• Bastion chests contain netherite scraps and ancient debris • They do not contain netherite tools or armor • Piglins had no diamonds to create netherite gear • They used gold to fortify bastions instead

Piglins developed an affinity for gold to create netherite alloys using four scraps and four gold ingots as a substitute for pure netherite.

Piglins collect whatever netherite scraps they can find to rebuild their civilization after the Builders' destruction.

Piglins are hostile to the player because the player is an invasive species whose kind previously brought ruin to their thriving society.

• Piglins get especially angry when you open Bastion chests • They view this as stealing limited resources needed to rebuild • They have trained Piglin Brutes to ignore gold distractions • Brutes focus solely on eliminating intruders at all costs

The piglins' limited netherite supplies drive their desperate need to collect scraps and their willingness to barter gold for any resources.

Just as Game Theory pieces together Minecraft lore from clues, piglins reconstruct their history from remnants of their past to rebuild their civilization.