Back in the day exploring the Nether of Minecraft felt pretty boring, with nothing more than fortresses to find with relatively similar loot. However, with the 1.16 Nether update things have changed drastically, and there’s much more to do in the Nether dimension overall. For the first time, there’s a real incentive to go out and explore.
The newest structure to make its appearance in the game is the Bastion Remnant, a large rundown dungeon randomly spawning in the Nether which is completely overrun by Piglins and which carries very rare and interesting loot. Netherite scraps and enchantment books are just some of the best items that can be found here, as well as the incredibly rare Pigstep music disc. Here’s how to ensure the adventure goes smoothly.
10 Gear Up
It’s never a good idea to underestimate just how powerful and vicious the Piglins are. Bastion Remnants don’t just have regular Piglins in them, but Piglin Brutes as well who will attack the player simply on sight and who can’t be dissuaded with offers of gold trinkets.
Powerful armor, preferably diamond and enchanted, is the way to go. Make sure to grab a shield along to block the axe attacks of Piglin Brutes, which can put a real dent into the player’s health. A strong sword or even an axe is a great weapon against Piglin Brutes.
9 Regeneration Items
The problem with these Bastions and the Piglins inside of them is that there’s a lot of enemies in a closed off area, which can easily become overwhelming for the player. That’s why having a shield is already a big step to staying safe, but there’s another thing to think about too.
Having powerful regeneration items will go a long way, namely golden apples and Regeneration potions. Players who are truly worried and who have played for some time in their world might even want to consider bringing along a Totem of Undying.
8 Take Gold Items Along
The most important item for any player entering the Nether in general is a piece of gold gear. Any armor piece will work fine, but it’s best to use a gold helmet or shoes which take up less armor points than the pants and chest plate.
Having these golden armor pieces will ensure the regular Piglins will, by default, not attack the player instantly on sight. It will make the whole process of traversing the Nether so much easier in general, but also ensure they can enter a Bastion Remnant safely without getting instantly whacked in the face.
7 Finding A Bastion Remnant
The hardest part of actually conquering a Bastion Remnant is finding one in the first place. In fact, finding anything in the Nether is generally a tall order, but with right information and right tools, it can be possible. Players can use a lodestone for instance to mark certain points they’ve already visited or even mark their portal area as they go out to explore.
Bastion Remnants tend to spawn most often in the following biomes: Nether wastes, crimson forest, warped forest and even soul sand valley. The latter is an unlikely occurrence, given that Piglins hate soul fire. Crimson forests are the best place to start from. Basalt deltas will never spawn a Bastion, so avoid that biome at all cost.
6 Using Distraction On Piglins
Once a Bastion has been found, the main task at hand is to survive its inhabitants. The Piglins will generally never be an issue to a player who has come prepared with gold gear, but they need to be dealt with at some point if the player wants to get their hands on the actual loot of the dungeon.
If too many Piglins close in on the player at once, they can use any gold items they have to distract the Piglins for a short moment and to start the bartering process. This will work, even if the Piglin is full on hostile towards the player.
5 Understanding Brute Behavior
The greatest threat of a Bastion Remnant is a Piglin Brute, which can be recognized from its black armor, adorned with gold details. The brutes will tend to patrol around major loot, and they can’t ever be bartered with. They’re ruthless, and attack the player on sight.
Brutes are actually quite similar to some of the Illagers found in Woodland Mansions, since they approach at a similar speed and with an axe in hand. A shield is fantastic to block this devastating incoming damage, so timing the hits correctly and having proper armor should make this encounter much smoother.
4 Bottleneck Strategy
The Bastion Remnant as a dungeon is very different from the Nether fortress, due to how rundown and complicated it is to traverse it. In fact, its layout is so messy that it resembles a cave more than anything else, and can even have random pools of lava within its confines, making the area all the more dangerous.
Combine these close quarters to enemies that like to attack in groups, and it’s a recipe for disaster. If the player attacks a brute, regular Piglins will instantly turn hostile as well, which is why using a bottleneck strategy is a good idea. Lead the Piglins down a narrow tunnel and block them off, leaving just one block free to attack them. Thanks to how cramped some of the tunnels are, this shouldn’t be too difficult to do.
3 Use Respawn Anchors
One of the brand new gameplay features introduced in 1.16 is the respawn anchor, a special block which is charged with glowstone dust and actually allows the player to set their respawn point in the Nether. This makes exploring the Nether much easier, and death less daunting.
The respawn anchor needs crying obsidian and glowstone to function, and as long as it’s fully charged it will function as intended. Always make sure the charge is full from the yellow orb on its side, otherwise the player will be respawned back in the Overworld.
2 Deal With Hoglins First
Bastion Remnants don’t just have Piglins living inside them. In fact, various other typical Nether mobs might spawn too, including Zombie Pigmen and Magma Cubes. However, these enemies shouldn’t be too big of an issue to deal with.
The Hoglins, however, can be a real headache if they happen to spawn inside the Bastion. Sometimes, a stable area for the Hoglins will spawn within the structure, or if the Bastion is in a Crimson Forest, Hoglins might be around naturally. In any case, make sure to deal with them first as they can push players over edges and deal quite a bit of damage.
1 Do Not Mine Gold Or Open Chests
There’s one important and major rule to remember when conquering a Bastion Remnant (and in the new Nether in general): never mine gold or open chests around Piglins. Well, as long as the player is aware of the consequences of their actions, they can do as they please, but they better be prepared.
Piglins will turn hostile despite the player wearing gold gear if they mine blocks with gold, including gilded blackstone which is unique to Bastion Remnants. They also get alerted if players open loot chests and the like, so when looting a Bastion Remnant make sure the coast is clear and all major threats have been killed.
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