Where to Find Nether Star in Minecraft
A rare item dropped by the Wither boss. Used to craft beacons. Cannot be destroyed by explosions.
Overview
Nether Star is a rare treasure item in the Miscellaneous category of Minecraft, and in this guide we cover exactly where to find it and the fastest way to get one. The short answer: to get Nether Star you get it as a drop from the Wither boss upon defeat, in Any biome (Wither boss fight). Finding Nether Star is rated very hard (5/5): it sits among the hardest items in the game to acquire, usually saved for the late game.
Primary Location
Any biome (Wither boss fight)
Difficulty
Very Hard (5/5)
Version Added
1.4.2
Stack Size
64
Where to Find Nether Star
Nether Star is associated with Any biome (Wither boss fight). Summon the Wither using 4 Soul Sand/Soil and 3 Wither Skeleton Skulls in a T-shape. Wither Skeleton Skulls have a 2.5% drop rate from Wither Skeletons in Nether Fortresses (5% with Looting III). In total, Nether Star can reach your inventory through collecting it as a mob drop and looting it from generated structure chests, so you can pick whichever path your current world makes easiest.
Biomes & Dimensions
- Any biome (Wither boss fight)
Best Way to Get Nether Star
Nether Star has no crafting recipe, so the efficient approach is to go straight to its source rather than hoping to stumble on it: get it as a drop from the Wither boss upon defeat. Fight the Wither in a confined underground space (bedrock ceiling at Y 0 in the Nether works well). Bring Smite V sword, Strength II potions, and golden apples for the fight. The Nether Star is used to craft a Beacon. Since this comes from a mob, the Looting enchantment on your sword raises the drop rate, and building or finding a dedicated spawn area turns a one-off kill into a renewable farm. Nether Star has been in the game since the 1.4.2 update, so it behaves the same on every up-to-date world and server. Given how rare Nether Star is, most players treat each one as a milestone, so it is worth keeping it safe in an ender chest until you are ready to put it to use.
All Methods
- 1Dropped by the Wither boss upon defeat
- 2Cannot be crafted or found in chests
Tips for Finding Nether Star
- Summon the Wither using 4 Soul Sand/Soil and 3 Wither Skeleton Skulls in a T-shape
- Wither Skeleton Skulls have a 2.5% drop rate from Wither Skeletons in Nether Fortresses (5% with Looting III)
- Fight the Wither in a confined underground space (bedrock ceiling at Y 0 in the Nether works well)
- Bring Smite V sword, Strength II potions, and golden apples for the fight
- The Nether Star is used to craft a Beacon
Additional Notes
Always dropped by the Wither upon death. Immune to explosion damage and cactus destruction.
Related Items & Guides
Players hunting for Nether Star often look for Beacon, Diamond Sword, Potion of Strength, and Golden Apple as well, since they share locations, recipes, or a progression path. For full stats and the crafting grid, the dedicated Nether Star item page has the complete breakdown.
View the Nether Star item pageFrequently Asked Questions
Where do you find Nether Star in Minecraft?
Nether Star is found in Any biome (Wither boss fight). Dropped by the Wither boss upon defeat.
What is the best way to get Nether Star?
The most efficient method is to get it as a drop from the Wither boss upon defeat.
Can you craft Nether Star?
No. Nether Star cannot be crafted in vanilla Minecraft, so you must obtain it from its in-world source by collecting it as a drop from the Wither boss upon defeat.
How hard is it to find Nether Star?
Finding Nether Star is rated very hard (5 out of 5) — it sits among the hardest items in the game to acquire, usually saved for the late game.
Does Looting increase Nether Star drops?
Yes. Because Nether Star is a mob drop, using a sword enchanted with Looting raises the chance and quantity dropped, making a dedicated farm the most efficient long-term source.
When was Nether Star added to Minecraft?
Nether Star was added in the 1.4.2 update and is part of the current 1.21 release.