How to Make a Nether Portal (No Diamonds Needed)

A Nether portal needs an obsidian frame — and obsidian normally requires a diamond pickaxe to mine. But you can build the whole frame without mining a single block, so you can reach the Nether early.

The bucket-portal trick

Obsidian forms whenever flowing water touches a lava source. You can use that to cast a frame in place:

1. 1.Carry a water bucket and grab lava in buckets (or work beside a lava pool).
2. 2.Build a simple mould out of dirt or cobblestone in the shape of a portal frame, leaving gaps where obsidian should go.
3. 3.Pour lava into a gap, then splash water over it — it turns to obsidian instantly.
4. 4.Repeat until the frame is complete, then break away the mould blocks.

The frame shape

• The minimum size is 4 wide by 5 tall (a 2×3 opening inside).
• The corner blocks are optional — skip them and you only need 10 obsidian instead of 14.

Light it up

Craft Flint and Steel (1 iron ingot + 1 flint) and right-click the inside of the frame. It ignites with the classic purple swirl and you're ready to step through.

Once you're in, our Nether travel guide shows how to link portals and fast-travel across your world.