For other uses, see Ancient.
Ancient City
An ancient city is a palatial structure found in deep dark biomes at Y=-51, that harbors chests containing items, such as disc fragments, armor trims, and echo shards, that cannot be found anywhere else. It is also one of the only two places where sculk can be found.
Generation
Ancient cities cannot generate overlapping each other; however, they can generate directly adjacent to each other.[1]
Because they can only generate in the deep dark, they will often be found under mountains and other places with low erosion.
Ancient cities can be located with "buried ancient city" explorer maps, which are found in secret chests in abandoned camps.
Structure
For the technical details behind ancient city structures, see Ancient City/Structure. For the blueprints of ancient city structures, see Ancient City/Structure/Blueprints.
Environment aesthetics
An ancient city features a massive palace with a footprint of around 220 blocks on each horizontal axis, stretching throughout a deep dark biome. The floor of the city always generates at Y=-51 and is about 20 blocks high. The palace is made up of long corridors with 2-block-deep floors of gray wool, with the occasional rugs of blue, light blue, and cyan wool or carpet floors to reduce vibrations. Off to the sides of the main corridors are smaller ruin structures, which often contain one or two loot chests. The city's center features a frame resembling a portal that contains exclusive reinforced deepslate blocks, though these are unobtainable in Survival mode. Other unique blocks such as soul lanterns, candles, and different forms of deepslate and sculk can be found throughout the city. Sculk shriekers generate much more frequently in ancient cities than in the normal deep dark biome. The city always generates at the same position within a chunk (for example, the blocks that make up the center frame structure are always on the western edge of a chunk).
Some of the city's structures resemble other elements of the game. The city center bears a resemblance to early iterations of the warden's design, and other structures are similar in appearance to pillager outposts, the wool rooms in woodland mansions, and abandoned mineshafts.
Overall view
The following three renders are of the same individual ancient city.
-
The view from the direction of the entrance -
Another direction -
The vertical view (The entrance is in the lower part of this picture)
Redstone circuits
Underneath the portal of the city center lies a series of hidden basement rooms with naturally generating redstone circuitry.
The secret entrance is located at the base of the structure, underneath the wooden bridge between the city center and the wall. There is a piston door that is controlled by a sculk sensor in the basement's redstone circuits.
-
Basement ofcity_center_1 -
Basement ofcity_center_2 -
Basement ofcity_center_3 -
Piston door circuit in the basement ofcity_center_3 -
Furnace in the basement ofcity_center_2
For city_center_1, there is a chiseled deepslate block in front of the frame. Making a vibration around it can activate the sculk sensor and then open the piston door. There is also a pulse extender between the sculk sensor and piston door, which makes the piston door close 180 game ticks after the sculk sensor is deactivated.
The circuit in city_center_2 is similar to the former, but with a signal strength filter. Only vibrations with a frequency equal to 8 (eating or drinking) can activate the piston door. Creating these vibrations on the path in the front of the frame in the city center activates the door.
For city_center_3, making a vibration on the path in front of the frame on the city center can activate the sculk sensor. Additionally, there is a T flip-flop between the sculk sensor and piston door. After the sculk sensor is activated, the piston door remains open until the sculk sensor is activated again.
There are three basic redstone circuits in the basement:
-
Circuit of the target block -
Circuit of the lectern block -
Circuit to show that some blocks can transfer a signal with a repeater while some cannot
File structure
All ancient city structures found below are located in the folder client.jar/data/minecraft/structures/ancient_city[JE only], data/structures/ancient_city[BE only].
| List |
|---|
|
Components
Entrance
Center
"Ancient City portal" redirects here. For the portal in Minecraft Dungeons II, see Dungeons II: Deep Dark Portal.
Ruins
| Structure name | Description | Consists of | Image |
|---|---|---|---|
ancient_city/structures/barracks
|
A large, relatively spacious area containing 2 chests, a statue resembling the warden's head (Built identically to small_statue), and 2 shrine-like structures. |
2 |
|
ancient_city/structures/camp_1
|
A elevated platform with clumps of blue, cyan, and light blue wool on it with cobbled deepslate ruins scattered around it. |
32 |
|
ancient_city/structures/camp_2
|
A more intact version of camp_1 with dark oak logs, a still-lit campfire, and a sort of table in the middle of the platform. |
13 |
|
ancient_city/structures/camp_3
|
An even more ruined version of camp_1, with most of its wool missing. |
3 |
|
ancient_city/structures/chamber_1
|
1 |
| |
ancient_city/structures/chamber_2
|
A basic chamber made from deepslate materials with a chest at the back. |
1 |
|
ancient_city/structures/chamber_3
|
Another basic chamber with 2 larger pillars near its entrance and a chest in the back. |
1 |
|
ancient_city/structures/ice_box_1
|
A rarer structure consisting of a room with stairs leading up to it. At the entrance are stone pressure plates that activate note blocks.
Inside is a chest with loot from a loot table specific to the ice box structure, as well as ice blocks and top snow scattered around the inside of the room. |
12 |
|
ancient_city/structures/large_pillar_1
|
A large 4×4 pillar with patterns of chiselled and polished deepslate on its sides. |
16 |
|
ancient_city/structures/large_ruin_1
|
A large scattered square frame of small cobbled deepslate piles. | 
| |
ancient_city/structures/medium_pillar_1
|
A 2x2 pillar with a skeleton skull on its base. |
4 |
|
ancient_city/structures/medium_ruin_1
|
A medium scattered assortment of cobbled deepslate piles. | 
| |
ancient_city/structures/medium_ruin_2
|
A larger scattered assortment of cobbled deepslate piles. | 
| |
ancient_city/structures/sauna_1
|
A rare, larger structure featuring a pool and an elevated heated pool with 3 changing rooms, each containing a chest. |
3 |
|
ancient_city/structures/small_ruin_1
|
Scattered piles of cobbled deepslate. | 
| |
ancient_city/structures/small_ruin_2
|
A few small piles of cobbled deepslate. | 
| |
ancient_city/structures/small_statue
|
A small, slightly elevated altar with a statue resembling the warden's head and white candles in front of it. |
22 |
|
ancient_city/structures/tall_ruin_1
|
A tower with multiple ladder entrances to the second floor, and a 4-sided ladder pillar to the third floor, which has a chest. |
1 |
|
ancient_city/structures/tall_ruin_2
|
A 2-story building containing 2 chests and a staircase to its second floor, lined with gray carpets. |
2 |
|
ancient_city/structures/tall_ruin_3
|
A heavily damaged version of tall_ruin_1. It still has a chest on its top floor. |
1 |
|
ancient_city/structures/tall_ruin_4
|
A heavily damaged version of tall_ruin_2, which is missing one chest. |
1 |
|
Walls
Blocks
Loot
See also: Chest loot
The loot in the chests includes several useful items for exploring the ancient city, such as snowballs and the Swift Sneak enchantment, as well as items that cannot be found anywhere else, such as echo shards and two exclusive armor trims. Ancient city chests also have the second highest chance of any loot table to contain an enchanted golden apple—ominous vaults have a 22.5% chance.
Normal
In Java Edition and Bedrock Edition, each ancient city chest contains items drawn from 2 pools, with the following distribution:
| Item | Stack Size | Weight | Chance | Avg. per chest |
Avg. # chests to search |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5–10× | 1× | 5–10× | 1× | ||||
 Nothing[A] |
— | 1 | — | 75⁄80 | 93.8% | 0.938 | 1.1 |
 Coal |
6–15 | — | 7⁄84 | — | 47.4% | 6.562 | 2.1 |
 Bone |
1–15 | — | 5⁄84 | — | 36.5% | 3.571 | 2.7 |
 Soul Torch |
1–15 | — | 5⁄84 | — | 36.5% | 3.571 | 2.7 |
 Book |
3–10 | — | 5⁄84 | — | 36.5% | 2.902 | 2.7 |
 Potion of Regeneration |
1–3 | — | 5⁄84 | — | 36.5% | 0.893 | 2.7 |
 Enchanted Book[B] |
1 | — | 5⁄84 | — | 36.5% | 0.446 | 2.7 |
 Disc Fragment (5) |
1–3 | — | 4⁄84 | — | 30.4% | 0.714 | 3.3 |
 Echo Shard |
1–3 | — | 4⁄84 | — | 30.4% | 0.714 | 3.3 |
 Amethyst Shard |
1–15 | — | 3⁄84 | — | 23.7% | 2.143 | 4.2 |
 Glow Berries |
1–15 | — | 3⁄84 | — | 23.7% | 2.143 | 4.2 |
 Sculk |
4–10 | — | 3⁄84 | — | 23.7% | 1.875 | 4.2 |
 Candle |
1–4 | — | 3⁄84 | — | 23.7% | 0.670 | 4.2 |
 Bottle o' Enchanting |
1–3 | — | 3⁄84 | — | 23.7% | 0.536 | 4.2 |
 Sculk Sensor |
1–3 | — | 3⁄84 | — | 23.7% | 0.536 | 4.2 |
| Enchanted Book[C] |
1 | — | 3⁄84 | — | 23.7% | 0.268 | 4.2 |
 Enchanted Iron Leggings[D] |
1 | — | 3⁄84 | — | 23.7% | 0.268 | 4.2 |
 Leather |
1–5 | — | 2⁄84 | — | 16.5% | 0.536 | 6.1 |
 Sculk Catalyst |
1–2 | — | 2⁄84 | — | 16.5% | 0.268 | 6.1 |
 Compass |
1 | — | 2⁄84 | — | 16.5% | 0.179 | 6.1 |
 Music Disc (13) |
1 | — | 2⁄84 | — | 16.5% | 0.179 | 6.1 |
 Music Disc (cat) |
1 | — | 2⁄84 | — | 16.5% | 0.179 | 6.1 |
 Lead |
1 | — | 2⁄84 | — | 16.5% | 0.179 | 6.1 |
 Damaged Enchanted Diamond Hoe[E][F] |
1 | — | 2⁄84 | — | 16.5% | 0.179 | 6.1 |
 Diamond Horse Armor |
1 | — | 2⁄84 | — | 16.5% | 0.179 | 6.1 |
 Enchanted Diamond Leggings[E] |
1 | — | 2⁄84 | — | 16.5% | 0.179 | 6.1 |
 Enchanted Golden Apple |
1–2 | — | 1⁄84 | — | 8.6% | 0.134 | 11.7 |
 Music Disc (otherside) |
1 | — | 1⁄84 | — | 8.6% | 0.089 | 11.7 |
 Ward Armor Trim |
— | 1 | — | 4⁄80 | 5.0% | 0.050 | 20.0 |
 Silence Armor Trim |
— | 1 | — | 1⁄80 | 1.2% | 0.013 | 80.0 |
{ "chestNames": [ "ancient-city" ], "gameVersion": "Java", "loot": { "ancient-city": { "poolsJava": [ { "items": { "sculk-catalyst": [ 1, 2, 2 ], "diamond-horse-armor": [ 1, 1, 2 ], "potion-of-regeneration": [ 1, 3, 5 ], "disc-otherside": [ 1, 1, 1 ], "coal": [ 6, 15, 7 ], "echo-shard": [ 1, 3, 4 ], "level-enchanted-diamond-leggings-3": [ 1, 1, 2 ], "soul-torch": [ 1, 15, 5 ], "sculk-sensor": [ 1, 3, 3 ], "enchanted-golden-apple": [ 1, 2, 1 ], "compass": [ 1, 1, 2 ], "bone": [ 1, 15, 5 ], "candle": [ 1, 4, 3 ], "book": [ 3, 10, 5 ], "level-enchanted-iron-leggings": [ 1, 1, 3 ], "enchanted-book-rnd": [ 1, 1, 5 ], "disc-fragment-5": [ 1, 3, 4 ], "enchanted-book-rnd-swift-sneak": [ 1, 1, 3 ], "damaged-level-enchanted-diamond-hoe": [ 1, 1, 2 ], "leather": [ 1, 5, 2 ], "amethyst-shard": [ 1, 15, 3 ], "bottle-o'-enchanting": [ 1, 3, 3 ], "sculk": [ 4, 10, 3 ], "glow-berries": [ 1, 15, 3 ], "disc-cat": [ 1, 1, 2 ], "lead": [ 1, 1, 2 ], "disc-13": [ 1, 1, 2 ] }, "rolls": [ 5, 10 ], "totalweight": 84 }, { "items": { "ward-armor-trim": [ 1, 1, 4 ], "empty": [ 1, 1, 75 ], "silence-armor-trim": [ 1, 1, 1 ] }, "rolls": [ 1, 1 ], "totalweight": 80 } ], "poolsBedrockUpcoming": [], "itemDataJava": { "sculk-catalyst": { "itemname": "sculk-catalyst", "sizes": [ "1–2", "—" ], "sortsize": [ 1.5, 0 ], "sortweight": [ 2, 0 ], "weights": [ "<sup>2</sup>⁄<sub>84</sub>", "—" ], "avgamount": 0.26785714285714285, "chanceany": 0.16463368182146 }, "diamond-horse-armor": { "sortsize": [ 1, 0 ], "weights": [ "<sup>2</sup>⁄<sub>84</sub>", "—" ], "chanceany": 0.16463368182146, "sizes": [ 1, "—" ], "sortweight": [ 2, 0 ], "armor": 0, "material": 4, "avgamount": 0.17857142857142858, "itemname": "diamond-horse-armor" }, "potion-of-regeneration": { "itemname": "potion-of-regeneration", "sizes": [ "1–3", "—" ], "sortsize": [ 2, 0 ], "sortweight": [ 5, 0 ], "weights": [ "<sup>5</sup>⁄<sub>84</sub>", "—" ], "avgamount": 0.8928571428571429, "chanceany": 0.36541317641224724 }, "disc-otherside": { "itemname": "disc-otherside", "sizes": [ 1, "—" ], "sortsize": [ 1, 0 ], "sortweight": [ 1, 0 ], "weights": [ "<sup>1</sup>⁄<sub>84</sub>", "—" ], "avgamount": 0.08928571428571429, "chanceany": 0.08571439167709416 }, "coal": { "itemname": "coal", "sizes": [ "6–15", "—" ], "sortsize": [ 10.5, 0 ], "sortweight": [ 7, 0 ], "weights": [ "<sup>7</sup>⁄<sub>84</sub>", "—" ], "avgamount": 6.5625, "chanceany": 0.4735347641052928 }, "echo-shard": { "sortsize": [ 2, 0 ], "weights": [ "<sup>4</sup>⁄<sub>84</sub>", "—" ], "chanceany": 0.30403592916292466, "sizes": [ "1–3", "—" ], "sortweight": [ 4, 0 ], "armor": 0, "material": 0, "avgamount": 0.7142857142857143, "itemname": "echo-shard" }, "level-enchanted-diamond-leggings-3": { "sortsize": [ 1, 0 ], "weights": [ "<sup>2</sup>⁄<sub>84</sub>", "—" ], "chanceany": 0.16463368182146, "sizes": [ 1, "—" ], "sortweight": [ 2, 0 ], "armor": 3, "material": 4, "avgamount": 0.17857142857142858, "itemname": "level-enchanted-diamond-leggings-3" }, "soul-torch": { "sortsize": [ 8, 0 ], "weights": [ "<sup>5</sup>⁄<sub>84</sub>", "—" ], "chanceany": 0.36541317641224724, "sizes": [ "1–15", "—" ], "sortweight": [ 5, 0 ], "armor": 0, "material": 0, "avgamount": 3.5714285714285716, "itemname": "soul-torch" }, "disc-cat": { "sortsize": [ 1, 0 ], "weights": [ "<sup>2</sup>⁄<sub>84</sub>", "—" ], "chanceany": 0.16463368182146, "sizes": [ 1, "—" ], "sortweight": [ 2, 0 ], "armor": 0, "material": 0, "avgamount": 0.17857142857142858, "itemname": "disc-cat" }, "bone": { "sortsize": [ 8, 0 ], "weights": [ "<sup>5</sup>⁄<sub>84</sub>", "—" ], "chanceany": 0.36541317641224724, "sizes": [ "1–15", "—" ], "sortweight": [ 5, 0 ], "armor": 0, "material": 0, "avgamount": 3.5714285714285716, "itemname": "bone" }, "enchanted-golden-apple": { "itemname": "enchanted-golden-apple", "sizes": [ "1–2", "—" ], "sortsize": [ 1.5, 0 ], "sortweight": [ 1, 0 ], "weights": [ "<sup>1</sup>⁄<sub>84</sub>", "—" ], "avgamount": 0.13392857142857142, "chanceany": 0.08571439167709416 }, "compass": { "sortsize": [ 1, 0 ], "weights": [ "<sup>2</sup>⁄<sub>84</sub>", "—" ], "chanceany": 0.16463368182146, "sizes": [ 1, "—" ], "sortweight": [ 2, 0 ], "armor": 0, "material": 0, "avgamount": 0.17857142857142858, "itemname": "compass" }, "empty": { "itemname": "empty", "sizes": [ "—", 1 ], "sortsize": [ 0, 1 ], "sortweight": [ 0, 75 ], "weights": [ "—", "<sup>75</sup>⁄<sub>80</sub>" ], "avgamount": 0.9375, "chanceany": 0.9375 }, "ward-armor-trim": { "sortsize": [ 0, 1 ], "weights": [ "—", "<sup>4</sup>⁄<sub>80</sub>" ], "chanceany": 0.050000000000000044, "sizes": [ "—", 1 ], "sortweight": [ 0, 4 ], "armor": 0, "material": 0, "avgamount": 0.05, "itemname": "ward-armor-trim" }, "sculk-sensor": { "sortsize": [ 2, 0 ], "weights": [ "<sup>3</sup>⁄<sub>84</sub>", "—" ], "chanceany": 0.23725332720231262, "sizes": [ "1–3", "—" ], "sortweight": [ 3, 0 ], "armor": 0, "material": 0, "avgamount": 0.5357142857142857, "itemname": "sculk-sensor" }, "candle": { "itemname": "candle", "sizes": [ "1–4", "—" ], "sortsize": [ 2.5, 0 ], "sortweight": [ 3, 0 ], "weights": [ "<sup>3</sup>⁄<sub>84</sub>", "—" ], "avgamount": 0.6696428571428571, "chanceany": 0.23725332720231262 }, "lead": { "sortsize": [ 1, 0 ], "weights": [ "<sup>2</sup>⁄<sub>84</sub>", "—" ], "chanceany": 0.16463368182146, "sizes": [ 1, "—" ], "sortweight": [ 2, 0 ], "armor": 0, "material": 0, "avgamount": 0.17857142857142858, "itemname": "lead" }, "silence-armor-trim": { "itemname": "silence-armor-trim", "sizes": [ "—", 1 ], "sortsize": [ 0, 1 ], "sortweight": [ 0, 1 ], "weights": [ "—", "<sup>1</sup>⁄<sub>80</sub>" ], "avgamount": 0.0125, "chanceany": 0.012499999999999956 }, "enchanted-book-rnd": { "itemname": "enchanted-book-rnd", "sizes": [ 1, "—" ], "sortsize": [ 1, 0 ], "sortweight": [ 5, 0 ], "weights": [ "<sup>5</sup>⁄<sub>84</sub>", "—" ], "avgamount": 0.44642857142857145, "chanceany": 0.36541317641224724 }, "disc-fragment-5": { "sortsize": [ 2, 0 ], "weights": [ "<sup>4</sup>⁄<sub>84</sub>", "—" ], "chanceany": 0.30403592916292466, "sizes": [ "1–3", "—" ], "sortweight": [ 4, 0 ], "armor": 0, "material": 0, "avgamount": 0.7142857142857143, "itemname": "disc-fragment-5" }, "amethyst-shard": { "sortsize": [ 8, 0 ], "weights": [ "<sup>3</sup>⁄<sub>84</sub>", "—" ], "chanceany": 0.23725332720231262, "sizes": [ "1–15", "—" ], "sortweight": [ 3, 0 ], "armor": 0, "material": 0, "avgamount": 2.142857142857143, "itemname": "amethyst-shard" }, "book": { "itemname": "book", "sizes": [ "3–10", "—" ], "sortsize": [ 6.5, 0 ], "sortweight": [ 5, 0 ], "weights": [ "<sup>5</sup>⁄<sub>84</sub>", "—" ], "avgamount": 2.9017857142857144, "chanceany": 0.36541317641224724 }, "leather": { "itemname": "leather", "sizes": [ "1–5", "—" ], "sortsize": [ 3, 0 ], "sortweight": [ 2, 0 ], "weights": [ "<sup>2</sup>⁄<sub>84</sub>", "—" ], "avgamount": 0.5357142857142857, "chanceany": 0.16463368182146 }, "level-enchanted-iron-leggings": { "sortsize": [ 1, 0 ], "weights": [ "<sup>3</sup>⁄<sub>84</sub>", "—" ], "chanceany": 0.23725332720231262, "sizes": [ 1, "—" ], "sortweight": [ 3, 0 ], "armor": 3, "material": 2, "avgamount": 0.26785714285714285, "itemname": "level-enchanted-iron-leggings" }, "sculk": { "itemname": "sculk", "sizes": [ "4–10", "—" ], "sortsize": [ 7, 0 ], "sortweight": [ 3, 0 ], "weights": [ "<sup>3</sup>⁄<sub>84</sub>", "—" ], "avgamount": 1.875, "chanceany": 0.23725332720231262 }, "bottle-o'-enchanting": { "sortsize": [ 2, 0 ], "weights": [ "<sup>3</sup>⁄<sub>84</sub>", "—" ], "chanceany": 0.23725332720231262, "sizes": [ "1–3", "—" ], "sortweight": [ 3, 0 ], "armor": 0, "material": 0, "avgamount": 0.5357142857142857, "itemname": "bottle-o'-enchanting" }, "glow-berries": { "sortsize": [ 8, 0 ], "weights": [ "<sup>3</sup>⁄<sub>84</sub>", "—" ], "chanceany": 0.23725332720231262, "sizes": [ "1–15", "—" ], "sortweight": [ 3, 0 ], "armor": 0, "material": 0, "avgamount": 2.142857142857143, "itemname": "glow-berries" }, "damaged-level-enchanted-diamond-hoe": { "sortsize": [ 1, 0 ], "weights": [ "<sup>2</sup>⁄<sub>84</sub>", "—" ], "chanceany": 0.16463368182146, "sizes": [ 1, "—" ], "sortweight": [ 2, 0 ], "armor": 0, "material": 4, "avgamount": 0.17857142857142858, "itemname": "damaged-level-enchanted-diamond-hoe" }, "enchanted-book-rnd-swift-sneak": { "sortsize": [ 1, 0 ], "weights": [ "<sup>3</sup>⁄<sub>84</sub>", "—" ], "chanceany": 0.23725332720231262, "sizes": [ 1, "—" ], "sortweight": [ 3, 0 ], "armor": 0, "material": 0, "avgamount": 0.26785714285714285, "itemname": "enchanted-book-rnd-swift-sneak" }, "disc-13": { "sortsize": [ 1, 0 ], "weights": [ "<sup>2</sup>⁄<sub>84</sub>", "—" ], "chanceany": 0.16463368182146, "sizes": [ 1, "—" ], "sortweight": [ 2, 0 ], "armor": 0, "material": 0, "avgamount": 0.17857142857142858, "itemname": "disc-13" } }, "structID": "ancient city", "poolsJavaUpcoming": [], "structure": "Ancient City", "container": "", "itemDataJavaUpcoming": [], "allRollsJavaUpcoming": [], "itemDataBedrock": { "sculk-catalyst": { "itemname": "sculk-catalyst", "sizes": [ "1–2", "—" ], "sortsize": [ 1.5, 0 ], "sortweight": [ 2, 0 ], "weights": [ "<sup>2</sup>⁄<sub>84</sub>", "—" ], "avgamount": 0.26785714285714285, "chanceany": 0.16463368182146 }, "diamond-horse-armor": { "sortsize": [ 1, 0 ], "weights": [ "<sup>2</sup>⁄<sub>84</sub>", "—" ], "chanceany": 0.16463368182146, "sizes": [ 1, "—" ], "sortweight": [ 2, 0 ], "armor": 0, "material": 4, "avgamount": 0.17857142857142858, "itemname": "diamond-horse-armor" }, "potion-of-regeneration": { "itemname": "potion-of-regeneration", "sizes": [ "1–3", "—" ], "sortsize": [ 2, 0 ], "sortweight": [ 5, 0 ], "weights": [ "<sup>5</sup>⁄<sub>84</sub>", "—" ], "avgamount": 0.8928571428571429, "chanceany": 0.36541317641224724 }, "disc-otherside": { "itemname": "disc-otherside", "sizes": [ 1, "—" ], "sortsize": [ 1, 0 ], "sortweight": [ 1, 0 ], "weights": [ "<sup>1</sup>⁄<sub>84</sub>", "—" ], "avgamount": 0.08928571428571429, "chanceany": 0.08571439167709416 }, "coal": { "itemname": "coal", "sizes": [ "6–15", "—" ], "sortsize": [ 10.5, 0 ], "sortweight": [ 7, 0 ], "weights": [ "<sup>7</sup>⁄<sub>84</sub>", "—" ], "avgamount": 6.5625, "chanceany": 0.4735347641052928 }, "echo-shard": { "sortsize": [ 2, 0 ], "weights": [ "<sup>4</sup>⁄<sub>84</sub>", "—" ], "chanceany": 0.30403592916292466, "sizes": [ "1–3", "—" ], "sortweight": [ 4, 0 ], "armor": 0, "material": 0, "avgamount": 0.7142857142857143, "itemname": "echo-shard" }, "level-enchanted-diamond-leggings-3": { "sortsize": [ 1, 0 ], "weights": [ "<sup>2</sup>⁄<sub>84</sub>", "—" ], "chanceany": 0.16463368182146, "sizes": [ 1, "—" ], "sortweight": [ 2, 0 ], "armor": 3, "material": 4, "avgamount": 0.17857142857142858, "itemname": "level-enchanted-diamond-leggings-3" }, "soul-torch": { "sortsize": [ 8, 0 ], "weights": [ "<sup>5</sup>⁄<sub>84</sub>", "—" ], "chanceany": 0.36541317641224724, "sizes": [ "1–15", "—" ], "sortweight": [ 5, 0 ], "armor": 0, "material": 0, "avgamount": 3.5714285714285716, "itemname": "soul-torch" }, "disc-cat": { "sortsize": [ 1, 0 ], "weights": [ "<sup>2</sup>⁄<sub>84</sub>", "—" ], "chanceany": 0.16463368182146, "sizes": [ 1, "—" ], "sortweight": [ 2, 0 ], "armor": 0, "material": 0, "avgamount": 0.17857142857142858, "itemname": "disc-cat" }, "bone": { "sortsize": [ 8, 0 ], "weights": [ "<sup>5</sup>⁄<sub>84</sub>", "—" ], "chanceany": 0.36541317641224724, "sizes": [ "1–15", "—" ], "sortweight": [ 5, 0 ], "armor": 0, "material": 0, "avgamount": 3.5714285714285716, "itemname": "bone" }, "enchanted-golden-apple": { "itemname": "enchanted-golden-apple", "sizes": [ "1–2", "—" ], "sortsize": [ 1.5, 0 ], "sortweight": [ 1, 0 ], "weights": [ "<sup>1</sup>⁄<sub>84</sub>", "—" ], "avgamount": 0.13392857142857142, "chanceany": 0.08571439167709416 }, "compass": { "sortsize": [ 1, 0 ], "weights": [ "<sup>2</sup>⁄<sub>84</sub>", "—" ], "chanceany": 0.16463368182146, "sizes": [ 1, "—" ], "sortweight": [ 2, 0 ], "armor": 0, "material": 0, "avgamount": 0.17857142857142858, "itemname": "compass" }, "empty": { "itemname": "empty", "sizes": [ "—", 1 ], "sortsize": [ 0, 1 ], "sortweight": [ 0, 75 ], "weights": [ "—", "<sup>75</sup>⁄<sub>80</sub>" ], "avgamount": 0.9375, "chanceany": 0.9375 }, "ward-armor-trim": { "sortsize": [ 0, 1 ], "weights": [ "—", "<sup>4</sup>⁄<sub>80</sub>" ], "chanceany": 0.050000000000000044, "sizes": [ "—", 1 ], "sortweight": [ 0, 4 ], "armor": 0, "material": 0, "avgamount": 0.05, "itemname": "ward-armor-trim" }, "sculk-sensor": { "sortsize": [ 2, 0 ], "weights": [ "<sup>3</sup>⁄<sub>84</sub>", "—" ], "chanceany": 0.23725332720231262, "sizes": [ "1–3", "—" ], "sortweight": [ 3, 0 ], "armor": 0, "material": 0, "avgamount": 0.5357142857142857, "itemname": "sculk-sensor" }, "candle": { "itemname": "candle", "sizes": [ "1–4", "—" ], "sortsize": [ 2.5, 0 ], "sortweight": [ 3, 0 ], "weights": [ "<sup>3</sup>⁄<sub>84</sub>", "—" ], "avgamount": 0.6696428571428571, "chanceany": 0.23725332720231262 }, "lead": { "sortsize": [ 1, 0 ], "weights": [ "<sup>2</sup>⁄<sub>84</sub>", "—" ], "chanceany": 0.16463368182146, "sizes": [ 1, "—" ], "sortweight": [ 2, 0 ], "armor": 0, "material": 0, "avgamount": 0.17857142857142858, "itemname": "lead" }, "silence-armor-trim": { "itemname": "silence-armor-trim", "sizes": [ "—", 1 ], "sortsize": [ 0, 1 ], "sortweight": [ 0, 1 ], "weights": [ "—", "<sup>1</sup>⁄<sub>80</sub>" ], "avgamount": 0.0125, "chanceany": 0.012499999999999956 }, "enchanted-book-rnd": { "itemname": "enchanted-book-rnd", "sizes": [ 1, "—" ], "sortsize": [ 1, 0 ], "sortweight": [ 5, 0 ], "weights": [ "<sup>5</sup>⁄<sub>84</sub>", "—" ], "avgamount": 0.44642857142857145, "chanceany": 0.36541317641224724 }, "disc-fragment-5": { "sortsize": [ 2, 0 ], "weights": [ "<sup>4</sup>⁄<sub>84</sub>", "—" ], "chanceany": 0.30403592916292466, "sizes": [ "1–3", "—" ], "sortweight": [ 4, 0 ], "armor": 0, "material": 0, "avgamount": 0.7142857142857143, "itemname": "disc-fragment-5" }, "amethyst-shard": { "sortsize": [ 8, 0 ], "weights": [ "<sup>3</sup>⁄<sub>84</sub>", "—" ], "chanceany": 0.23725332720231262, "sizes": [ "1–15", "—" ], "sortweight": [ 3, 0 ], "armor": 0, "material": 0, "avgamount": 2.142857142857143, "itemname": "amethyst-shard" }, "book": { "itemname": "book", "sizes": [ "3–10", "—" ], "sortsize": [ 6.5, 0 ], "sortweight": [ 5, 0 ], "weights": [ "<sup>5</sup>⁄<sub>84</sub>", "—" ], "avgamount": 2.9017857142857144, "chanceany": 0.36541317641224724 }, "leather": { "itemname": "leather", "sizes": [ "1–5", "—" ], "sortsize": [ 3, 0 ], "sortweight": [ 2, 0 ], "weights": [ "<sup>2</sup>⁄<sub>84</sub>", "—" ], "avgamount": 0.5357142857142857, "chanceany": 0.16463368182146 }, "level-enchanted-iron-leggings": { "sortsize": [ 1, 0 ], "weights": [ "<sup>3</sup>⁄<sub>84</sub>", "—" ], "chanceany": 0.23725332720231262, "sizes": [ 1, "—" ], "sortweight": [ 3, 0 ], "armor": 3, "material": 2, "avgamount": 0.26785714285714285, "itemname": "level-enchanted-iron-leggings" }, "sculk": { "itemname": "sculk", "sizes": [ "4–10", "—" ], "sortsize": [ 7, 0 ], "sortweight": [ 3, 0 ], "weights": [ "<sup>3</sup>⁄<sub>84</sub>", "—" ], "avgamount": 1.875, "chanceany": 0.23725332720231262 }, "bottle-o'-enchanting": { "sortsize": [ 2, 0 ], "weights": [ "<sup>3</sup>⁄<sub>84</sub>", "—" ], "chanceany": 0.23725332720231262, "sizes": [ "1–3", "—" ], "sortweight": [ 3, 0 ], "armor": 0, "material": 0, "avgamount": 0.5357142857142857, "itemname": "bottle-o'-enchanting" }, "glow-berries": { "sortsize": [ 8, 0 ], "weights": [ "<sup>3</sup>⁄<sub>84</sub>", "—" ], "chanceany": 0.23725332720231262, "sizes": [ "1–15", "—" ], "sortweight": [ 3, 0 ], "armor": 0, "material": 0, "avgamount": 2.142857142857143, "itemname": "glow-berries" }, "damaged-level-enchanted-diamond-hoe": { "sortsize": [ 1, 0 ], "weights": [ "<sup>2</sup>⁄<sub>84</sub>", "—" ], "chanceany": 0.16463368182146, "sizes": [ 1, "—" ], "sortweight": [ 2, 0 ], "armor": 0, "material": 4, "avgamount": 0.17857142857142858, "itemname": "damaged-level-enchanted-diamond-hoe" }, "enchanted-book-rnd-swift-sneak": { "sortsize": [ 1, 0 ], "weights": [ "<sup>3</sup>⁄<sub>84</sub>", "—" ], "chanceany": 0.23725332720231262, "sizes": [ 1, "—" ], "sortweight": [ 3, 0 ], "armor": 0, "material": 0, "avgamount": 0.26785714285714285, "itemname": "enchanted-book-rnd-swift-sneak" }, "disc-13": { "sortsize": [ 1, 0 ], "weights": [ "<sup>2</sup>⁄<sub>84</sub>", "—" ], "chanceany": 0.16463368182146, "sizes": [ 1, "—" ], "sortweight": [ 2, 0 ], "armor": 0, "material": 0, "avgamount": 0.17857142857142858, "itemname": "disc-13" } }, "poolsBedrock": [ { "items": { "sculk-catalyst": [ 1, 2, 2 ], "diamond-horse-armor": [ 1, 1, 2 ], "potion-of-regeneration": [ 1, 3, 5 ], "disc-otherside": [ 1, 1, 1 ], "coal": [ 6, 15, 7 ], "echo-shard": [ 1, 3, 4 ], "level-enchanted-diamond-leggings-3": [ 1, 1, 2 ], "soul-torch": [ 1, 15, 5 ], "sculk-sensor": [ 1, 3, 3 ], "enchanted-golden-apple": [ 1, 2, 1 ], "compass": [ 1, 1, 2 ], "bone": [ 1, 15, 5 ], "candle": [ 1, 4, 3 ], "book": [ 3, 10, 5 ], "level-enchanted-iron-leggings": [ 1, 1, 3 ], "enchanted-book-rnd": [ 1, 1, 5 ], "disc-fragment-5": [ 1, 3, 4 ], "enchanted-book-rnd-swift-sneak": [ 1, 1, 3 ], "damaged-level-enchanted-diamond-hoe": [ 1, 1, 2 ], "leather": [ 1, 5, 2 ], "amethyst-shard": [ 1, 15, 3 ], "bottle-o'-enchanting": [ 1, 3, 3 ], "sculk": [ 4, 10, 3 ], "glow-berries": [ 1, 15, 3 ], "disc-cat": [ 1, 1, 2 ], "lead": [ 1, 1, 2 ], "disc-13": [ 1, 1, 2 ] }, "rolls": [ 5, 10 ], "totalweight": 84 }, { "items": { "ward-armor-trim": [ 1, 1, 4 ], "empty": [ 1, 1, 75 ], "silence-armor-trim": [ 1, 1, 1 ] }, "rolls": [ 1, 1 ], "totalweight": 80 } ], "allRollsBedrockUpcoming": [], "allRollsBedrock": [ "5–10", 1 ], "itemDataBedrockUpcoming": [], "header": "[[Ancient City]]", "display": "ancient city chest", "allRollsJava": [ "5–10", 1 ] } } }- ↑ 'Nothing' does not refer to the chance of an empty chest. Instead, it refers to the chance that the random loot generator does not add any loot on a single roll.
- ↑ All enchantments are equally probable, including treasure enchantments (except Soul Speed, Swift Sneak, and Wind Burst), and any level of the enchantment is equally probable.
- ↑ Enchanted with a random level of Swift Sneak.
- ↑ Enchantment probabilities are the same as a level-20 to level-39 enchantment would be on an enchanting table that had no cap at level 30, and that was able to apply treasure enchantments (except Soul Speed, Swift Sneak, and Wind Burst), and where the chance of multiple enchantments is not reduced.
- ↑ a b Enchantment probabilities are the same as a level-30 to level-50 enchantment would be on an enchanting table that had no cap at level 30, and that was able to apply treasure enchantments (except Soul Speed, Swift Sneak, and Wind Burst), and where the chance of multiple enchantments is not reduced.
- ↑ The item has between 80% and 100% of its total durability.
Ice boxes
In Java Edition and Bedrock Edition, each ancient city ice box chest contains 4–10 item stacks, with the following distribution:
| Item | Stack Size | Weight | Chance | Avg. per chest |
Avg. # chests to search |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Snowball |
2–6 | 4⁄9 | 97.0% | 12.444 | 1.0 |
 Packed Ice |
2–6 | 2⁄9 | 80.5% | 6.222 | 1.2 |
 Baked Potato |
1–10 | 1⁄9 | 54.9% | 4.278 | 1.8 |
 Golden Carrot |
1–10 | 1⁄9 | 54.9% | 4.278 | 1.8 |
 Suspicious Stew[A] |
2–6 | 1⁄9 | 54.9% | 3.111 | 1.8 |
{ "chestNames": [ "ancient-city-ice-box" ], "gameVersion": "Java", "loot": { "ancient-city-ice-box": { "poolsJava": [ { "items": { "suspicious-stew-2": [ 2, 6, 1 ], "snowball": [ 2, 6, 4 ], "baked-potato": [ 1, 10, 1 ], "packed-ice": [ 2, 6, 2 ], "golden-carrot": [ 1, 10, 1 ] }, "rolls": [ 4, 10 ], "totalweight": 9 } ], "poolsBedrockUpcoming": [], "itemDataJava": { "suspicious-stew-2": { "itemname": "suspicious-stew-2", "sizes": [ "2–6" ], "sortsize": [ 4 ], "sortweight": [ 1 ], "weights": [ "<sup>1</sup>⁄<sub>9</sub>" ], "avgamount": 3.111111111111111, "chanceany": 0.549273355504249 }, "snowball": { "itemname": "snowball", "sizes": [ "2–6" ], "sortsize": [ 4 ], "sortweight": [ 4 ], "weights": [ "<sup>4</sup>⁄<sub>9</sub>" ], "avgamount": 12.444444444444445, "chanceany": 0.9698808910423039 }, "packed-ice": { "itemname": "packed-ice", "sizes": [ "2–6" ], "sortsize": [ 4 ], "sortweight": [ 2 ], "weights": [ "<sup>2</sup>⁄<sub>9</sub>" ], "avgamount": 6.222222222222222, "chanceany": 0.8052527828203967 }, "golden-carrot": { "sortsize": [ 5.5 ], "weights": [ "<sup>1</sup>⁄<sub>9</sub>" ], "chanceany": 0.549273355504249, "sizes": [ "1–10" ], "sortweight": [ 1 ], "armor": 0, "material": 3, "avgamount": 4.277777777777778, "itemname": "golden-carrot" }, "baked-potato": { "sortsize": [ 5.5 ], "weights": [ "<sup>1</sup>⁄<sub>9</sub>" ], "chanceany": 0.549273355504249, "sizes": [ "1–10" ], "sortweight": [ 1 ], "armor": 0, "material": 0, "avgamount": 4.277777777777778, "itemname": "baked-potato" } }, "structID": "ancient city", "poolsJavaUpcoming": [], "structure": "Ancient City", "container": "Ice box chest", "itemDataJavaUpcoming": [], "allRollsJavaUpcoming": [], "itemDataBedrock": { "suspicious-stew-2": { "itemname": "suspicious-stew-2", "sizes": [ "2–6" ], "sortsize": [ 4 ], "sortweight": [ 1 ], "weights": [ "<sup>1</sup>⁄<sub>9</sub>" ], "avgamount": 3.111111111111111, "chanceany": 0.549273355504249 }, "snowball": { "itemname": "snowball", "sizes": [ "2–6" ], "sortsize": [ 4 ], "sortweight": [ 4 ], "weights": [ "<sup>4</sup>⁄<sub>9</sub>" ], "avgamount": 12.444444444444445, "chanceany": 0.9698808910423039 }, "packed-ice": { "itemname": "packed-ice", "sizes": [ "2–6" ], "sortsize": [ 4 ], "sortweight": [ 2 ], "weights": [ "<sup>2</sup>⁄<sub>9</sub>" ], "avgamount": 6.222222222222222, "chanceany": 0.8052527828203967 }, "golden-carrot": { "sortsize": [ 5.5 ], "weights": [ "<sup>1</sup>⁄<sub>9</sub>" ], "chanceany": 0.549273355504249, "sizes": [ "1–10" ], "sortweight": [ 1 ], "armor": 0, "material": 3, "avgamount": 4.277777777777778, "itemname": "golden-carrot" }, "baked-potato": { "sortsize": [ 5.5 ], "weights": [ "<sup>1</sup>⁄<sub>9</sub>" ], "chanceany": 0.549273355504249, "sizes": [ "1–10" ], "sortweight": [ 1 ], "armor": 0, "material": 0, "avgamount": 4.277777777777778, "itemname": "baked-potato" } }, "poolsBedrock": [ { "items": { "suspicious-stew-2": [ 2, 6, 1 ], "snowball": [ 2, 6, 4 ], "baked-potato": [ 1, 10, 1 ], "packed-ice": [ 2, 6, 2 ], "golden-carrot": [ 1, 10, 1 ] }, "rolls": [ 4, 10 ], "totalweight": 9 } ], "allRollsBedrockUpcoming": [], "allRollsBedrock": [ "4–10" ], "itemDataBedrockUpcoming": [], "header": "[[Ancient City]]", "display": "ancient city ice box chest", "allRollsJava": [ "4–10" ] } } }- ↑ The stew grants one of the following effects: in Java Edition, 5-7 seconds of Blindness, or 7-10 seconds of Night Vision; in Bedrock Edition, 7 seconds of Blindness, or 5 seconds of Night Vision.
Data values
ID
| Structure type | Identifier |
|---|---|
 Jigsaw | jigsaw |
| Structure | Identifier |
|---|---|
 Ancient City | ancient_city |
| Structure | Identifier | Alias ID | Translation key |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ancient City | ancient_city | ancientcity |
feature |
History
Reveal
| October 16, 2021 | Ancient cities are revealed at Minecraft Live 2021. | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Java Edition
| Java Edition | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.19 | Deep Dark Experimental Snapshot 1 | Added ancient cities. | |||||
| 22w11a | Ancient cities are not added yet in this non-experimental snapshot. | ||||||
| 22w13a | Added ancient cities and revamped with new structures, improvements to already existing structures and an updated loot table. | ||||||
| 22w14a | Updated the loot table once again with echo shards, and replaced the golden carrot in city_center_2 with a golden apple.
| ||||||
Removed the following structures (and variants thereof) as they were duplicates of other structures:
| |||||||
| 1.19.4 Experiment | 23w04a | Ward armor trims are now found in ancient city chests. | |||||
| 23w05a | Increased the chance of ward armor trims from 4.7% to 5%. | ||||||
| 1.20 | 23w12a | Silence armor trims are now found in ancient city chests. | |||||
| 1.20.2 Experiment | 1.20.2 Pre-release 1 | Mending enchanted books now have a higher chance of generating in ancient city chest loot. | |||||
| 1.21.6 | 25w20a | Removed saddles from loot tables, replaced with 1–5 leather. | |||||
| 26.1 | snap11 | Removed the name tag from ancient city loot. | |||||
| 26.3 | snap7 | Added ancient city explorer maps, which lead to ancient cities, and are found in abandoned camp secret chests. | |||||
Bedrock Edition
| Bedrock Edition | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.18.30 Experiment | Preview 1.18.30.33 | Added ancient cities behind the "Wild Update" experimental toggle. Currently, it has outdated structure types and loots. | |||||
| 1.19.0 | Preview 1.19.0.21 | Ancient cities are now available without enabling experimental gameplay. | |||||
| Preview 1.19.0.27 | Ancient cities were revamped with new structures, improvements to already existing structures and an updated loot table to match Java Edition. | ||||||
| 1.19.80 Experiment | Preview 1.19.80.21 | Ward armor trims are now found in ancient city chests. | |||||
| Preview 1.19.80.22 | Silence armor trims are now found in ancient city chests. | ||||||
| 1.20.40 Experiment | Preview 1.20.40.20 | Mending enchanted books now have a higher chance of generating in ancient city chest loot. | |||||
| 26.10 | Preview 26.10.25 | Removed the name tag from ancient city loot. | |||||
| 26.50 | Preview 26.50.24 | Added ancient city explorer maps, which lead to ancient cities, and are found in abandoned camp secret chests. | |||||
Issues
Issues relating to "Ancient City" are maintained on the bug tracker. Issues should be reported and viewed there.
Trivia
- In some concept art, it was revealed that the loot in ancient cities was originally going to be stored within jar-shaped pots, "screaming" vases, and stone chests.[2]
- Decorated pots were subsequently added in the Trails & Tales update, but do not generate in ancient cities.
- The intention of the ancient cities was to capture a feeling of something that feels like it was once bustling with life, but is now vacant and lifeless.[3]
Gallery
Renders
-
Deep dark structure recreation render from Minecraft Live 2020
Screenshots
-
An ancient city intersecting with a lush cave -
Ancient city center -
Ancient city piston door -
Ancient city redstone -
A corner in an ancient city -
A path in an ancient city -
The center of an ancient city -
Candles in an ancient city -
The warden in an ancient city -
Part of an ancient city generated in an aquifer -
A full look at the entirety of an ancient city
Mojang images
-
An ancient city -
A corridor with lit candles inside an ancient city
Development images
-
An ancient city -
Sneak peek of a warden within an ancient city -
The teaser image for Deep Dark Experimental Snapshot 1, featuring the ancient city
Concept art
-
Concept art for the ancient city's center -
Concept art for the ancient city -
Ancient city "atmosphere" concept art -
Pots, vases, and stone chests concept art for the ancient cities -
Ditto -
Concept art showing the "lifelessness" of the ancient city -
Ruin layout concept art -
Ancient city gameplay concept art -
More ancient city gameplay concept art -
Ancient city blocks concept art -
Ancient city walls concept art -
Stone chest concept art (These would have generated within the ancient cities.)
In other media
-
Artwork of the warden in a city -
-
![An ancient city as it appears in the Wild Update trailer[4]](https://minecraft.wiki/images/thumb/Ancient_City_trailer.jpg/120px-Ancient_City_trailer.jpg?02c41)
An ancient city as it appears in the Wild Update trailer[4] -
Efe retrieving a chicken that snuck into the city -
A warden taking notice -
The ancient city as it appears in the announcement trailer for Minecraft Live 2023 -
Pixel art of the warden chasing Alex over the silence armor trim -
![An ancient city as it appears in an advertisement for Minecraft Crocs[5]](https://minecraft.wiki/images/thumb/Croc_Ad_5.jpg/77px-Croc_Ad_5.jpg?25a39)
An ancient city as it appears in an advertisement for Minecraft Crocs[5] -
The deep dark portal as it appears in Minecraft Dungeons II -
Interactive experience based on the deep dark portal at Twitchcon Rotterdam 2026. -
Twisted Warden battle taking place in the Ancient City
See also
References
- ↑ MC-250776 – Ancient cities can generate directly adjacent to each other – resolved as "Works As Intended".
- ↑ "The Secrets of Minecraft's Deep Dark @ 1:07" – Minecraft on YouTube, June 24, 2022
- ↑ "The Secrets of Minecraft's Deep Dark @ 1:21" – Minecraft on YouTube, June 24, 2022
- ↑ https://youtu.be/chuRE9nxLT4
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/shorts/e1AJo7jU5MI
External links
- "Building Blocks: Ancient City" by Duncan Geere – Minecraft.net, April 25, 2025.
