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How to obtain and use netherite horse armor in Minecraft

Horse armor is normally an item players must find, but with the addition of netherite, there is now an exception, making at least this variant craftable for the very first time. Today, we explore how to craft netherite horse armor, alongside where the necessary materials can be found.

Where to find netherite horse armor

Netherite Horse Armor cannot be found directly as an item in the world, unlike iron, gold, or diamond armor. You can, however, easily obtain it in creative mode.


To obtain Netherite Horse Armor through survival gameplay, you must craft (upgrade) it yourself from Diamond Horse Armor. This armor is essential for protecting your mounts in hostile environments, complementing your own powerful weapon and gear.

Craft netherite horse armor

To craft (upgrade) the netherite horse armour, you will need three main items that you combine in a Smithing Table. This process transforms your Diamond armor into brand new Netherite armor, providing your horse with truly awesome armor through a simple Netherite upgrade using the required Smithing template.

Here are the required items:

Item Needed Quantity Source / How to Get
Diamond Horse Armor 1 Found as rare loot in chests (e.g., Bastion Remnants, End Cities, Nether Fortresses, Desert Pyramids). Cannot be crafted.
Netherite Ingot 1 Crafted from four Netherite Scraps (obtained from Ancient Debris) and four Gold Ingots.
Netherite Upgrade Template 1 Found as rare loot in Bastion Remnants (most common location) in the Nether. Can be duplicated using seven Diamonds and Netherrack.

  • You place these three items into the Smithing Table:

    Netherite Upgrade Template + Diamond horse armor + Netherite ingot = Netherite horse armor

Usages of netherite horse armor

The Netherite Horse Armor is the most prestigious and functionally superior type of armor for your horse in Minecraft. Its uses go beyond simple defense, providing crucial security benefits in high-risk environments.

  • Superior Damage Reduction:

  • Maximum Protection: Netherite Horse Armor provides the highest defense rating (Armor Points) of all horse armor variants (Iron, Gold, Diamond). This significantly reduces the damage your horse takes from all sources, including mob attacks (Zombies, Skeletons), fall damage, and environmental hazards.

  • Durability: Like all Netherite gear, it has extremely high durability, meaning it will take much longer to wear down or break compared to Diamond armor.

  • Fire and Lava Resistance (The Key Feature):

    • Prevents Burning: If your horse falls into lava, is set on fire by a Blaze, or walks over fire in the Nether, the Netherite armor will not burn up or be destroyed.

    • Protection for Your Horse: This non-flammable property is essential for exploration in the Nether, where hazards like lava lakes and Ghast fireballs are common. If your horse dismounts or takes a brief dip in lava, the armor will survive, saving a significant investment.

  • Inventory Security (Non-Flammable Item):

    • Loot Security: If your horse is killed while wearing the armor, and the armor drops as an item into fire or lava (which often happens during intense combat or in the Nether), the Netherite Horse Armor will float on lava and will not be destroyed by fire.

    • Recovery: This ensures you can almost always recover your armor, even if the surrounding environment is hostile.

  • Status and Aesthetics:

    • Prestige: Equipping your horse with Netherite armor is a clear sign of late-game progression and dedication, signaling to other players on a server that you have successfully conquered the challenges of the Nether.

    • Aesthetics: The dark, obsidian-like texture gives your steed a powerful and intimidating appearance.