In Minecraft, portals are important means of transportation.
Indeed, they require a lot of endgame resources to build, but that's the only way to travel to the other dimensions.
So, if you're ready to leave the Overworld, there are two portals available — Nether and End.
In this guide, we'll walk you through how to make and use both of them and give you some useful tips for a safe journey.
What Are Minecraft Portals?
While there's plenty to do in the Overworld, you can build a portal and see what the other dimensions have to offer if you're up for some extra excitement.
We recommend that you set up a server and bring your friends with you as you might need their support.
Let's take a look at the different types of portals in Minecraft.
Nether Portal
These structures allow travel between the Overworld and the Nether.
Once you use it, a connecting portal will appear in the Nether, so you can go back whenever you want.
Additionally, if you build multiple gateways close to each other in the Overworld, they'll all bring you to the same spot in the Nether.
If you make a Nether portal, mobs and items may also travel with you.
End Portal
That gateway will lead you to the End.
While you can't build such a portal yourself in Survival mode, you may find and activate one in a stronghold.
Strongholds are game-generated underground structures located in any biome but Rivers and Swamps.
When you find one, you'll need to discover the End Portal room.
That's a room with a portal frame and a silverfish spawner. You'll also see two lava pools there and another one below the gateway.
How to Make a Portal in Minecraft?
Depending on which dimension you want to access, you should proceed differently.
If you want to build a Nether portal, you'll have to follow these steps:
1. Collect or Make Obsidian
As you know, you can either mine obsidian with a diamond or Netherite pickaxe or make some using lava and water buckets.
You'll need at least ten obsidian blocks for a Nether portal.
2. Build the Frame
If you're going for the smallest possible portal, position the obsidian in a rectangular shape of four by five blocks.
3. Activate the Portal
Once the frame is in place, it's time to set the space within it on fire.
You can use whatever means you have at your disposal — flint and steel, fire charge, lava, anything will do the job.
Remember that you can only do that in the Overworld; it's not possible to activate a Nether portal in the End.
How to Activate End Portals in Minecraft?
To visit the End dimension, you have to do a couple of things in advance.
1. Craft Eyes of Ender
The only way to get this material is to craft it yourself.
You'll need to place blaze powder and an Ender pearl next to each other in the crafting grid.
12 eyes are required to make an End portal active.
2. Locate a Stronghold
You can do that with the help of an Eye of Ender.
Throw the eye and see in which direction it goes. Rinse and repeat until it starts hovering over a particular spot.
Dig there to discover the stronghold.
3. Activate the Portal
Once you find the frame within the stronghold, place one Eye of Ender on each block.
That's it; you're all set to travel.
However, keep in mind that you can't take the eyes back once you place them.
Tips for Using All Portals in Minecraft Safely
There are a few things worth considering to avoid any unpleasant surprises during your adventures.
- Accidental explosions can disable a Nether portal, so you might need to activate it again.
- Mobs go through the gateways, and a hostile entity is likely to follow you or appear unexpectedly through it.
- You may die from falling when crossing into another dimension if the gateway is too far up from the ground.
- Portals in the Nether often spawn near lava, so be careful when stepping out.
To Wrap Up
Knowing how to make a portal in Minecraft is a great way to explore other dimensions.
By following the steps detailed above, you'll be able to make and use them easily.
Just remember to take some safety precautions when traveling to avoid any surprises.
With charmingly infectious enthusiasm, Marina is always thrilled by forthcoming challenges. Thanks to her knack for gathering useful (and not so much) information, she is here to get you any answer you need.
