Minecraft Nether fortress finder
Enter your seed to list the Nether fortresses nearest to you, with exact X and Z coordinates, for Java Edition 1.16.5 to 1.21.4.
Structures and search area
Bedrock Edition isn't supported yet
Bedrock places structures and slime chunks differently from Java, so we don't show Java results for a Bedrock world. Bedrock support is coming. Switch to Java to use the map.
Nether fortresses in numbers
- 289blocks from Nether 0, 0 to the nearest fortress (median)
- 2,308the same distance in Overworld blocks
- 50%of Nether structures are fortresses; the rest are bastions
- 50/50of our results confirmed by the game
Measured with our engine on 10 test seeds, Java 1.21.1, in an area of 8,192 × 8,192 blocks around 0, 0 for each seed.
Where Nether fortresses generate
Fortresses can generate in every Nether biome. Since Java 1.16, the game splits the Nether into regions of 27 × 27 chunks (432 × 432 blocks). Each region holds either a fortress or a bastion remnant, never both, and the structure starts within the first 23 chunks (368 blocks) of its region.
- In 2 out of 5 regions the game tries a fortress; in the rest it tries a bastion.
- Since 1.18.2, a bastion that would land in a basalt delta becomes a fortress instead, so fortresses are most common in basalt deltas.
Fortresses are the only place blazes and wither skeletons spawn. Each has up to 2 blaze spawners, and nether wart grows inside. In our 10 test seeds, the nearest fortress to Nether 0, 0 was between 11 and 515 blocks away.
Fortresses and bastions by biome
The game tries a fortress in 2 out of 5 regions, yet 50% of the structures in our test areas were fortresses. Basalt deltas explain the gap: bastions can't generate there, so those regions get a fortress instead. Basalt deltas cover 16.3% of the Nether but hold 31.4% of fortresses, which makes them the best biome to search.
| Biome | Share of the Nether | Share of fortresses | Share of bastions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nether wastes | 36% | 31.2% | 43.4% |
| Crimson forest | 22% | 17% | 27.1% |
| Soul sand valley | 16.9% | 14.1% | 18.9% |
| Basalt deltas | 16.3% | 31.4% | 2.2% |
| Warped forest | 8.7% | 6.3% | 8.4% |
Measured with our engine on 10 test seeds, Java 1.21.1, in an area of 8,192 × 8,192 blocks around 0, 0 for each seed. Our test areas held about 360 regions each, with 180 fortresses and 176.5 bastions in a typical seed.
Nether and Overworld coordinates
One block in the Nether is 8 blocks in the Overworld, horizontally. The finder shows Nether coordinates, so to plan a portal from the Overworld, multiply X and Z by 8. To go the other way, divide by 8.
| Nether | Overworld | |
|---|---|---|
| Example fortress | X 200, Z -96 | X 1,600, Z -768 |
| Example base | X 50, Z 25 | X 400, Z 200 |
Y doesn't scale; only X and Z do. To see fortresses, bastions and Nether biomes together, open the Nether seed map.
How to use the coordinates in game
- Go through a Nether portal and press F3 to see your X and Z.
- Travel to the fortress's X and Z, or, with cheats on and while you're in the Nether, click Copy and run
/tp @s X ~ Z. - The finder gives X and Z only, like the game's
/locate structure minecraft:fortress. Fortresses are long bridges and corridors that cut through the netherrack, so if you don't see one at the coordinates, look at other heights there.
How accurate the fortress finder is
We started a real Java 1.21.1 server for 10 seeds. For every seed, our nearest fortress to 0, 0 was the one the game's /locate found, and all 50 fortresses we listed were confirmed by the game. Other versions haven't been checked against the game yet.
Bedrock Edition: Java only for now
Bedrock uses larger regions (480 blocks) and tries a fortress in 1 out of 3 of them, so fortresses are in different places. The finder doesn't show Bedrock results yet.
Frequently asked questions
How do I find a Nether fortress?
Enter your seed above. The finder switches to the Nether and lists the nearest fortresses with exact Nether X and Z coordinates.
How do I convert Nether coordinates to the Overworld?
Multiply the Nether X and Z by 8 to get the Overworld spot; divide Overworld X and Z by 8 to go the other way. Y doesn’t change.
Why do I keep finding bastions instead of fortresses?
Each 27 × 27 chunk region of the Nether holds either a fortress or a bastion remnant, and the game tries a fortress in only 2 out of 5 regions. Basalt deltas are the exception: bastions can’t generate there, so those regions get a fortress.
What is the best biome to find a Nether fortress?
Basalt deltas. They cover 16.3% of the Nether but held 31.4% of the fortresses in our test areas.
Is the fortress finder accurate?
On a real Java 1.21.1 server, the game confirmed all 50 fortresses we listed across 10 seeds, and our nearest fortress matched /locate on every seed.
How do I find my Minecraft seed?
In Java Edition, type /seed in chat. It works in single player even with cheats off; on a server you need operator rights.
Related finders
- Bastion remnant finderNetherite upgrade templates and gold.
- End city finderOuter-island towers and elytra.
- Village finderVillages by biome, and how far apart they are.
- Stronghold finderEnd portals, in 8 rings around 0, 0.
- Trial chambers finderVaults, breezes and heavy cores (1.21+).
- All findersEvery finder on one page.