Nether Fortress vs. Bastion Remnant: A Comprehensive Guide to the Nether’s Strongholds
So, you’ve braved the fiery depths of the Nether in Minecraft, and you’ve stumbled upon a formidable structure. Is it a Nether Fortress or a Bastion Remnant? While both are dangerous and rewarding, they are fundamentally different in design, purpose, and the loot they offer. The primary difference lies in their origin and purpose. Nether Fortresses are older structures, primarily intended as monster spawners and pathways through the Nether, characterized by their red nether brick construction. Bastion Remnants, on the other hand, are newer structures, representing Piglin outposts filled with loot and guarded by Piglins and Piglin Brutes, mainly built from blackstone and basalt.
Understanding the Core Distinctions
Let’s break down the key distinctions:
- Structure and Design: Nether Fortresses are characterized by their sprawling, linear design, often resembling bridges and towers connected by corridors. They are predominantly built from nether brick, giving them a distinct red appearance. Bastion Remnants, in contrast, are more compact and varied. They come in four distinct types: Bridges, Hoglin Stables, Housing Units, and Treasure Rooms, each with a unique layout and architectural style, largely made from blackstone and basalt.
- Inhabitants: Nether Fortresses are notorious for being home to Blazes, Wither Skeletons, and Magma Cubes. These hostile mobs are key to advancing in the game, as they drop essential items for brewing and summoning the Wither. Bastion Remnants are primarily inhabited by Piglins and Piglin Brutes. While Piglins can be bartered with for useful items, Piglin Brutes are always hostile and pose a significant threat.
- Loot: While both structures contain valuable loot, the types of items differ significantly. Nether Fortresses are crucial for obtaining Nether Wart (essential for brewing potions) and Blaze Rods (needed to reach the End). Bastion Remnants are the sole source of Netherite Upgrade Smithing Templates, required to upgrade diamond gear to Netherite. They also contain gold, enchanted golden apples, and, in Treasure Room Bastions, even Netherite armor and ingots.
- Generation: Nether Fortresses generate with a somewhat predictable frequency, often spawning in long lines. Bastion Remnants are rarer and have a specific generation rule: they do not spawn near Nether Fortresses. This means that if you see a Bastion, you need to search elsewhere for a Nether Fortress. The game prioritizes bastion generation over fortress generation.
- Purpose: Nether Fortresses serve as a gauntlet for players to overcome, providing access to essential resources needed for progression. Bastion Remnants represent fortified Piglin settlements, offering a risk-reward scenario where players can obtain valuable loot, including the all-important Netherite Upgrade Smithing Templates, by facing dangerous Piglin forces.
Why Understanding the Difference Matters
Knowing the difference between a Nether Fortress and a Bastion Remnant is crucial for efficient resource gathering and progression in Minecraft. If you need Nether Wart or Blaze Rods, a Nether Fortress is your target. If you’re after Netherite Upgrade Smithing Templates or gold, a Bastion Remnant is the place to be. Wasting time exploring the wrong structure can be frustrating and dangerous, so proper identification is key. Understanding the intricacies of game mechanics and the world around you can be enhanced through educational games and resources, which you can find more about at GamesLearningSociety.org.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Is a Nether Fortress near a Bastion Remnant?
No, Nether Fortresses and Bastion Remnants do not spawn near each other. If you see a large blackstone structure, it’s a Bastion, and you should move to a different area to search for a Nether Fortress.
2. Is a Bastion Remnant rarer than a Nether Fortress?
In Java Edition, the chance of a Bastion generating instead of a Fortress is 3/5 (60%), while in Bedrock Edition, it is 2/3 (66.6%). This means Bastion Remnants are generally more common than Nether Fortresses.
3. What are the 4 types of Bastion Remnants?
The four types of Bastion Remnants are: Bridges, Hoglin Stables, Housing Units, and Treasure Rooms. Each type has a unique layout and contains different potential loot.
4. How do you tell what type of Bastion Remnant it is?
You can often distinguish a Bridge Bastion by the significant number of gold blocks used in its construction. Housing Units often have Nether wart growing in a central courtyard. Treasure Rooms are heavily guarded and contain a lava-filled area. Hoglin Stables contain, well, Hoglins!
5. How to loot Nether Fortress and Bastion Remnants easily?
For Nether Fortresses, bring fire resistance potions to navigate lava pools and ranged weapons to deal with Blazes. For Bastion Remnants, bring gold armor to avoid immediate hostility from Piglins (but not Piglin Brutes!), and be prepared for intense combat, especially in Treasure Rooms.
6. What is the purpose of the bastions (referring to real-world bastions, as the game structures have a different “purpose”)?
In real-world fortifications, bastions enable soldiers inside the fort to keep an eye on enemy soldiers approaching from a far distance, also to launch attacks on enemy soldiers without them knowing. This differs from the purpose of Bastion Remnants in Minecraft.
7. Do Bastion Remnants have Netherite?
Yes! Treasure Room Bastions have a significant chance of containing Netherite ingots, Netherite armor, and Netherite Upgrade Smithing Templates. While other Bastion types can also contain Netherite Upgrade Smithing Templates, Treasure Rooms are the best bet for finding Netherite resources.
8. Why is it called a Bastion?
The word “bastion” originates from the same root as “bastille,” meaning “build.” It refers to a fortified place of defense, which aligns with the role of Bastion Remnants as Piglin strongholds.
9. What are the chances of finding Netherite in a Bastion Remnant?
Players have a 42.1% chance of finding one Netherite Ingot inside a treasure chest at the Bastion Remnant on Java and Bedrock, specifically in Treasure Room Bastions.
10. How rare is it to find a Nether Fortress?
In Java Edition, the chance of a Nether Fortress generating instead of a Bastion is 2/5 (40%), while in Bedrock Edition, it’s 1/3 (33.3%). This means Nether Fortresses are less common than Bastion Remnants.
11. Does every Bastion Remnant have a Netherite Upgrade Smithing Template?
No, not every Bastion Remnant guarantees a Netherite Upgrade Smithing Template. However, Treasure Room Bastions always contain at least two.
12. Does every Bastion Remnant have Nether Wart?
No, only Piglin Housing Unit Bastions have Nether Wart, which grows in the central courtyard.
13. Is a Netherite Sword worth it?
Absolutely! A Netherite Sword deals more damage than a Diamond Sword, making it an invaluable weapon, especially in the Bedrock Edition.
14. Can Piglins give Ancient Debris?
No, Piglins do not directly give Ancient Debris. However, Bastion Remnants contain chests that can contain Netherite Scrap, which is crafted from Ancient Debris.
15. Are Bastion Remnants worth looting?
Yes, Bastion Remnants are definitely worth looting. They offer valuable gold items, the Pigstep music disc, the Snout banner pattern, and most importantly, Netherite Upgrade Smithing Templates, which are essential for upgrading your gear to Netherite.