Lurking beneath the vast, lush overworld of Minecraft is a similarly massive area that's even more ominous - the Nether. Taking the form of a pixelated, Minecraft-ian version of Hell, this is a region that few explorers dare to venture through.
Those that do tend to quickly meet their end or find themselves scampering back to safety from the hordes of Zombie Pigmen and pesky Ghasts. And thanks to the recent 1.16 Nether Update, this region has been made more treacherous than ever.
Such a distinctly creepy and expansive locale is bound to have its share of interesting factoids, happenings, and obscurities. This list will explore the depths of the eerie Nether and highlight 10 things you probably didn't know about this area.
10 Started As An Overworld "Infdev" Map With Lava Oceans
Before even the Alpha stage of Minecraft, there was the "Infdev" phase - short for "infinite development." While the game took a simpler and cruder form during this decade-old phase, one neat feature users could play around with was themed maps.
This largely had the characteristics of the typical Overworld players know today, but with lava oceans replacing water. It also came with dimly-lit skies and ominous red clouds hovering overhead. This was the inspiration and foundation that was eventually fleshed out to craft the Nether.
9 Ghasts Can Reactivate The Nether Portal For You
If a portal has been deactivated in the Nether and you to lack the means to make a fire to reignite it - never fear! Simply coax a flame-spewing Ghast towards the vicinity of the non-functioning portal.
A clean shot at the portal will reactivate it, allowing you to retreat back to the relative safety of the Overworld. It would seem that these annoying Ghasts do have some positive traits after all!
8 Its Warped Scale Compared To The Overworld
As one might expect in such a strange region that requires access via portal - the typical laws of Minecraft don't necessarily apply in the warped realm of the Nether. This is most prominent when it comes to scaling of its travel distances relative to the Overworld.
In fact, Overworld distances are scaled down by a whopping 8:1 ratio. This means that traveling a single block in the Nether is equal to moving eight blocks in the Overworld. This makes for a useful - albeit dangerous - way to cover great distances faster in Minecraft. This ratio is dialed back to 3:1 in the console versions of the game.
7 Trying To Sleep In A Bed Gives An Explosive Surprise!
One can never rest easy in the chaotic, dangerous world of the Nether. Minecraft makes this quite clear if, for some reason, one decides to sleep in a bed here.
In an event that seems to be straight out of The Exorcist, attempting to sleep on a bed will immediately cause it to burst into flames. Not only this, but the impact is actually comparable to TNT, carving a significant crater in the ground. Comfort and safety truly don't come easy in the Nether!
6 Time In The Overworld Freezes When In The Nether
As it happens, distance isn't the only element that's skewed when compared to the Overworld. The passage of time itself actually freezes in the Overworld upon entering the Nether. It will resume only upon reentering the default area or when the "/forceload" command is entered.
Basically, most everything other than basic redstone essentially ceases working during this time.
5 Maps And Compasses Go Haywire
This bizarre, hellish area apparently exists in such a warped state that even maps and compasses cannot get a read on them. Attempting to pull out a map to pinpoint one's location will prove futile, and will only show a vague grey static along with a rotating position indicator.
Not only this, but clocks will also spin out of control when pulling them up. Compasses will do the same - unless connected to a Lodestone, which they'll then point towards.
4 Various Names Brainstormed And Referred To
Much like the area itself, the Nether has seen a variety of conceptualized names. While its original form was fittingly branded "Hell," Notch and company came up with a few other potential names before settling on the Nether. This shift was mainly because he preferred to avoid using religious names, and rather, come up with something authentic.
Ideas included "the nexus," along with "the slip," and the lengthier "gate to inferno fields." The recent update will change the name of the default Nether area yet again, and it'll now be named the "Nether Wastes."
3 Lava Flows Farther In The Nether
It shouldn't be too surprising that lava and fire tend to thrive in an area that's essentially a raging inferno. But the specific behavior regarding lava certainly proves intriguing.
For one, lava travels quite a bit faster in the Nether compared to the Overworld - six times quicker to be specific. Not only this, but it also flows farther and covers more area when spreading on the ground. It flows twice as far (eight blocks) versus the default four of the Overworld.
2 Zombie Pigmen Have A (Slight) Chance Of Spawning In The Overworld Near A Portal
Getting back to the unique portal that transports players to the Nether - crafting one of these will bring a very slight chance of summoning a small horde of Zombie Pigmen nearby. The chances of this occurrence are always tiny, but depend on the difficulty. Playing on "easy" will bring a 1-in-2,000 chance, "normal" produces a 2-in-2,000 chance, while hard yields a 3-in-2,000 chance.
Essentially, the Minecraft gods are not on your side if this occurs on a regular basis.
1 Major Additions In The 1.16 Update
The recent 1.16 update is perhaps one of the most significant updates yet - as it massively revamps the Nether. Released on June 23rd, 2020, this update is absolutely loaded with tweaks, refinements, and additions.
It includes mob additions known as Piglins, which can actually barter with the player assuming they're wearing at least one piece of gold armor. There will also be Zoglins, which are immune to lava and fire damage, and tusk-sporting Hoglins that toss their enemies into the air. A slew of new materials and goods - such as the potent Netherite Ingot - will be added.
As mentioned, the default "Nether" will be rebranded "Nether Wastes," while four additional biomes will be added. This includes the "Soul Sand Valley," the "Crimson" and "Warped Forests," and the volcanic "Basalt Delta."