Explore the terrifying Ancient City inside the Deep Dark, loot to your heart’s content, and survive the wrath of the Warden in Minecraft.

The Deep Dark was released as part of the Caves & Cliffs update (1.9v) back in 2022. This is one of the most mysterious biomes in the game, amplifying an atmosphere of horror from the moment you are about to enter until the time you escape this place. In this article, we are going to look at what the Deep Dark is all about and how we can survive the Warden.
What Is the Deep Dark in Minecraft

The biome of the Deep Dark is usually found deep under the surface blocks, at around Y=-30. The Ancient City present in the Deep Dark is a beautiful structure. There is darkness all around and blinding terror, harboring treasures that you can’t find anywhere else.
The entire cave in which the biome is situated is dark, making navigation a bit tricky. Blocks of Soul Fire are spread around to help with your exploration. You will see tons of Sculk blocks, which are an essential part of spawning the Warden. If there is enough noise or any attacks, the Sculk will let out an echo, which will bring out the Warden. So breaking these at the earliest is an essential part of the raid.
The most common block in the Deep Dark is the Sculk. They have shimmering dots of black and green and provide a tinge of light. You will notice how the light dims out the moment you clear all the Sculk in the area. The Sculk blocks work in a rhythm of events. First, the Sculk Sensors detect the movements of the player and trigger the Sculk Shrieker. The Sculk Shrieker produces the echo, as mentioned above, which could potentially spawn the Warden.
The Warden in Minecraft

If not the most, the Warden is probably one of the most powerful mobs in the game. Each hit by the Warden is capable of one-shotting players if they are not equipped with strong armor. The mob was originally designed not to be fought but rather to inflict fear on those who approached or encroached on its territory. For the same reason, the Warden is close to impossible to defeat, requiring a substantial amount of damage to be dealt to finally kill it.
The Warden may be very powerful, but it is blind and cannot have direct vision of the player at any given time. However, this only heightens its ability to hear. Within a radius of 20 blocks, any subtle action of yours will grab the Warden’s attention, causing it to rush toward you and deliver a deafening blow. If the Warden senses your location, it can simply use its sonic boom and send a devastating ranged attack in your direction, pushing you a few blocks from where you are.
Hiding from the Warden is also a difficult feat, as it will simply sniff you out if you’re too close. So sneaking up on the Warden is out of the question. The best course of action to engage in battle against the Warden is by attacking from afar with weapons like a bow.
How To Survive the Deep Dark in Minecraft

The biggest survival tip in this mode is to constantly crouch whenever you plan to move about. It may be slower, but it will give you more uninterrupted time for exploration. When close to Sculk Sensors, consider placing wool blocks. These will help you approach the sensors without being detected.
Use store-bought snowballs or arrows to create distractions to help prevent the inevitable. If and when the Warden sees you, always remember to sprint in a zig-zag pattern. The Warden usually attacks in a charged-up run state. Always keep to high ground to avoid direct hits from the Warden.
A way to navigate without worrying about being detected by the Sculk Sensors is by digging underground. Once in the area of Sculk Sensors, map the area, note the direction you want to head in, and dig your way underground along the same route.
Always keep track of the best exit route as well as the nearest source of water. The Warden can’t smell you if you are underwater, which helps you evade the chase quickly. Keep night vision handy in case it gets too dark and you run out of candles.
All the Unique Loot You Can Gain From the Deep Dark in Minecraft

The Deep Dark consists of the highest level of enchanted books and spells you can find anywhere in your Minecraft world. Here are some of the unique loot items you can find:
Items | Description |
Swift Sneak Enchanted Books | Move faster when in a crouched position. |
Echo Shard | Collect all the nine scattered fragments to craft the Music Disc 5. This disc will play dark and eerie music. |
Music Disc Fragments | Get Sculk’s, Sculk Sensors, Sculk Catalysts, and Sculk Shriekers blocks to take back to your base. |
Sculk Blocks | Get Sculk’s, Sculk Sensors, Sculk Catalysts and Sculk Shriekers blocks to take back to your base. |
Looking For More?
Thank you for reading the article. We provide the latest news and create guides for Baldur’s Gate 3, Starfield, ARK Survival Ascended, and more. Also, watch Deltia play games on Twitch or visit his YouTube channel!