Exploring inMinecraftcan be quite a process, especially if you are looking to travel across a long distance. Without the use of mods, you may feel like you are traveling with no reward in sight. To aid in your exploration, we all know about torches, beds, and compasses. The question is, what else can help aid in your exploration?
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Here, we are going to take a look at underrated items in Minecraft that can be used for exploration. These items are often not your first choice, but that may soon change. Overall, this will include items that can help with movement, as well as exploring your direct surroundings.
8Potions
There area lot of potionsthat can be crafted in Minecraft. Interestingly, you can go the entire game without crafting a single potion, as the process is completely optional. Unfortunately, this means that many players will explore without them.
Potions can save you when you are in a pinch. The Potion of Invisibility works great if you are trying to avoid scary enemies, while the Potion of Night Vision is essential if you are caving or exploring the Deep Dark. Next time you find a brewing stand, attempt to make yourself a few potions!
7Soul Speed Boots
Nether exploration is dangerous, but it can also be tedious. Sometimes, it may feel like the Nether Wastes stretch on forever. In the Nether, you will come across the Soul Sand Valley, which can also feel quite endless. To make matters worse, the sand here will slow you down.
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Rather than trudging through the sand at an incredibly slow speed, we suggest bringing someboots enchanted with Soul Speed. As the name implies, this will cause you to move faster across soul sand and soul soil. Be careful though, as walking in Soul Speed boots will decrease their durability.
6More Than One Boat
Boats are an essential vehicle for Overworld exploration. If you are setting out on an exploration trek, you probably have a boat with you. Do you have more than one boat though? While exploring the ocean, you may spot something from a distance and hop out of the boat.
After exploring the watery depths, it’s time to return to your boat. If you strayed a bit too far, there is a good chance that you have lost it. Instead of searching to no avail, risking your life against Drowned attacks, you can simply use your spare boat.
5Maps
Maps are used… well, to map out an area. In Minecraft, this means showing you a top-down view of the area around you. By interacting with a blank map, you can get a lay of the land. Maps are great for looking at base progress or creating a larger map that surveys your world.
You can also use maps to figure out which direction you want to go in. For example, say you come to a large chasm or edge of a new biome. By using a map, you can roughly gauge how big it is and if it’s worth traversing. By putting together multiple maps like this on item frames, you can also create a world map.
4Obsidian
Obsidian is created by adding water to lava that is not flowing. It can only be mined with a Diamond or Netherite pickaxe, and is commonlyused to make Nether portals. Rather than scavenging for obsidian while exploring, bring along enough to make a portal or two.
If you wander very far from your base, you can set up a Nether portal and head home within the Nether. Traveling one block in the Nether is the same distance as traveling eight blocks in the Overworld, making this quite the shortcut.
3Recovery Compass
When combined with a compass, Echo Shards can be used to make the Recovery Compass. This is a unique compass that points to the location of your last death. As a newer item added to the game, this is quite groundbreaking. In the past, dying could be quite frustrating, especially if you died while fleeing for your life.
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The compass will drop when you die, which means that it’s best to store this compass near your bed. If you happen to die, you may quickly grab it and head to where the compass is pointing. This item isn’t technically underrated, but it’s definitely under-utilized, especially since you need to venture into an Ancient City to craft it.
2Chorus Fruit
Chorus Fruit are consumable items thatgrow naturally in the End. In the image above, you can see the strange purple trees that produce these equally-as-strange fruits. If you eat a Chorus Fruit, you will be teleported within an eight-block radius.
While you may’t utilize these to do the actual traveling, Chorus Fruit come in handy if you ever get stuck. For example, it’s easy to fall into a bedrock hole with no way out. With a Chorus Fruit in hand, you can simply teleport to higher ground.
1Glowstone
Lastly, we have Glowstone. This is a block that can be found in the Nether. When destroyed with a tool that isn’t enchanted with Silk Touch, you will receive Glowstone Dust, which can be recrafted back into the block.
You may be thinking, “Why can’t I just use torches to light an area?”. Torches are great on land, but if you are exploring underwater, torches are useless. Fortunately, Glowstone can be placed underwater, and will still function as a light source.
