Game Development Reference
In-Depth Information
4.
Mining
In This Chapter
Learn the essentials you need for your first mining expedition.
Head down to the most profitable mining layers.
Avoid a speedy death with essential tips.
Build an express elevator straight down to the diamond layer.
Discover the most efficient mining techniques.
Mining is a core part of the Minecraft experience. Sooner or later you're going to need to
take a few pickaxes in hand, supplies to satiate hunger, and a bunch of torches and a sword
ortwoandstartplumbingthedepths.Thereberesourcesdownthere—iron,gold,diamonds,
redstone, and more. You'll find all the things you need to progress in the game. This chapter
helps you find specific ores and develop efficient mining patterns that leave no stone un-
turned, and, as always, it gives you a few tips on how best to avoid an inadvertent respawn
or at least recover with most of your hard-won resources and dignity intact.
Dig Deep, My Friend
Most of the desirable ores in Minecraft are located deep, close to the bedrock. Getting down
there is a challenge in itself. There are a couple of different strategies you can take:
Find an existing ravine, canyon, or cave complex. These can sometimes also lead to
abandoned mine shafts. Some caves run on for hundreds of blocks, joining with the
surface here and there, and occasionally running very deep. You'll usually see a
range of exposed ores on their walls that make for easy pickings. The danger is that
they are dark places, so in the larger caves you'll also run into a range of mobs. For
now, even though they'll give you a head start, I'd suggest you leave these alone un-
til you have armor, ranged weapons, and some sharp swords.
The second strategy is to create your own mine. Keeping it well lit ensures there are
no dark places for mobs to spawn, even over multiple nights, and you can go quietly
about your business. For maximum convenience, you can even start this within your
own shelter so there's no need to go outside. I'll focus on this strategy first. It is also
likely you will break out into cave complexes as you mine, so we'll take a look at
that second.
Before youbegin,ensureyouhavetherightequipment forthejob.Ataminimum, youneed
the following:
