Minecraft ore distribution after 1.21 update: Best levels for Diamonds

If you want to progress in Minecraft, you’re going to need to mine for ore. While you can do this without knowing where to find important resources like Diamonds or Iron, it’s going to be slow. That’s why I’ve put together this guide to Minecraft‘s ore distribution after the 1.21 update.

For some, diving into caves and searching like a true explorer is the best way to play Minecraft. I’m not here to tell you how to play though, so if you’re all about speed and want to be as efficient as possible, then you need to maximize your mining time with our guide to ore distribution.

Minecraft Overworld ore distribution Below, we’ve put together a list of all the ore you can find in the Overworld, including the range where they spawn, the layers they’re found most often in, and where you’ll struggle to find any.

NameRangeBest layersUnavailable layersBest BiomeRarityCoal0 to 32044, 95, 136-64 to -1AnyCommonCopper-16 to 11248-64 to -17, 113 to 320Dripstone CavesCommonIron-64 to 32015, 23273 to 79AnyCommonGold-64 to 32-1633 to 320BadlandsRareLapis Lazuli-64 to 64-165 to 320AnyUncommonRedstone-64 to 16-5915 to 320AnyUncommonDiamonds-64 to 16-5916 to 320AnyRareEmeralds-16 to 320236-64 to -17Mountains, Windswept HillsUncommon
This table should help you maximize your mining team, giving you the best chance of finding the resources you need.

Minecraft Nether ore distribution Of course, the Nether realm has its own ore too, which you can find below.

NameMost common layersUnavailable layersBest BiomeRarityNether Quartz10 to 114128 and aboveAnyCommonNether Gold15 to 95117 and aboveAnyCommonAncient Debris13 to 23120 and aboveAnyRare
How does ore distribution work in Minecraft? Trying to picture how ore distribution works can be tricky, but Reddit user Bazoqa created the perfect graph that explains what it looks like.

Essentially, ore distribution works like a triangle that has been tilted on its side. The top and bottom points are where the least amount of the resources are, while the middle point is where the highest concentration of ore will be.

This will show you how ore distribution works. Image via Bazoqa
With all this information, you’re ready to go stock up on all the resources you need in Minecraft! For more, check out how to get Heavy Core, or how to make and use a Crafter.

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