A nether star is one of Minecraft’s rarest items, and you can’t craft it with a crafting table or furnace. The only way to get one is by killing the wither boss. It’s worth the effort though, since nether stars are used to craft beacons.
Finding a Nether Star in Creative Mode
If you’re playing in Creative mode, you can grab a nether star directly from the inventory.
| Minecraft Version | Where to Find It |
|---|---|
| 1.8 – 1.11 | Materials tab |
| 1.12 – 1.19 | Miscellaneous tab |
| 1.19.3+ | Ingredients tab |
Getting a Nether Star in Survival Mode
In Survival mode, you need to kill the wither boss. This is the only way to get a nether star.
Summoning the Wither
The wither doesn’t spawn naturally, so you’ll need to build it. To summon a wither, place three soul sand blocks in a T-shape, then put three wither skeleton skulls on top. The middle skull goes on top of the center soul sand block, and the other two go on the outer blocks.
Once you place the final skull, the wither will spawn and break free. Get ready for a fight.
Fighting the Wither
The wither is one of the hardest bosses in Minecraft. Bring strong gear, weapons, and plenty of healing. When you deal damage, you’ll see it turn pink and lose health. Keep attacking until it’s defeated.
When the wither dies, it will drop a nether star. Pick it up before it despawns.
Item ID and Commands
Nether Star ID
| Description | Minecraft ID | Numerical ID | Stack Size | Versions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nether Star | minecraft:nether_star | 399 | 64 | 1.8 – 1.12 |
| Nether Star | minecraft:nether_star | N/A | 64 | 1.13+ |
Give Command
For Minecraft 1.13 and newer:
/give @p nether_star 1
For Minecraft 1.8 – 1.12:
/give @p nether_star 1 0
What to Make with a Nether Star
Nether stars are mainly used to craft a beacon. A beacon is a powerful block that gives you buffs like Speed, Haste, Jump Boost, Resistance, and Strength within a certain radius. You can stack beacons to make the effects even stronger.