Survival mode is the most popular way to play Minecraft—and for a good reason! It’s all about gathering resources, crafting tools, and battling mobs, all while trying to stay alive. But if you’re new to the game, surviving your first night can be a challenge. Where do you find food? How do you avoid mobs? What should you craft first? No worries—I’ve got you covered!
Here are the best Minecraft survival tips for beginners.
This Minecraft survival guide for beginners will walk you through essential survival tips to help you gather resources, avoid common mistakes, and thrive in Minecraft’s survival mode.
Follow these tips and start thriving in Minecraft today!
1. Minecraft Survival: Essential Resources to Gather on Day One
Your first day in Minecraft is crucial. Follow this step-by-step survival plan to get started.
Step 1: Punch Trees for Wood 🌳
- Chop down trees to gather wood.
- Craft a Crafting Table using 4 wood planks.
- Make basic wooden tools:
- Pickaxe – For mining stone.
- Axe – For chopping wood faster.
- Sword – For defense against mobs.
Step 2: Gather Stone & Upgrade Tools ⛏️
- Mine stone with your wooden pickaxe.
- Craft stone tools (Pickaxe, Sword, Axe) for better efficiency.
Step 3: Find Food & Shelter 🏡
- Kill animals (cows, sheep, chickens) for food.
- Mine coal or craft charcoal for torches.
- Build a small shelter using dirt or wood before nightfall.
💡 Pro Tip: Kill 3 sheep for wool to craft a bed and skip the dangerous first night!
Common Minecraft Survival Mistakes Beginners Should Avoid
Even experienced players make mistakes in survival mode. Here’s how to avoid common beginner pitfalls:
Mistake #1: Digging Straight Down ⛔
Why It’s Bad: You might fall into lava or a cave!
✔ Solution: Always mine in a staircase pattern for safety.
Mistake #2: Ignoring Hunger & Food Supply
Why It’s Bad: Starving slows you down and stops health regeneration.
✔ Solution: Start a wheat farm early or hunt animals for food.
Mistake #3: Forgetting to Set a Spawn Point
Why It’s Bad: Dying without a set spawn point sends you back to world spawn.
✔ Solution: Sleep in a bed to set a new spawn location.
Mistake #4: Fighting Mobs Without Armor
Why It’s Bad: Zombies, skeletons, and creepers can easily overwhelm you.
✔ Solution: Get at least leather or iron armor before engaging tough mobs.
Craft the Most Important Early Game Tools & Items
These are the must-have tools to survive in Minecraft:
| Item | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Pickaxe (Stone or Iron) | Mines coal, iron, diamonds |
| Sword (Iron or Stone) | Protects against mobs |
| Shield | Blocks skeleton arrows & creeper explosions |
| Bucket | Carries water for farming & lava for fuel |
| Bed | Sets spawn point & skips night |
💡 Pro Tip: A shield is a lifesaver against skeletons and creepers!
4. Find & Mine Valuable Resources
Knowing where to find ores is key to survival.
Best Y-Levels for Ores (Updated for Minecraft 1.20+)
- Coal – Best above Y=96 (mountains).
- Iron – Common around Y=16.
- Gold – Found between Y=-64 to 32 (extra in Badlands).
- Diamonds – Best at Y=-58 (deep caves).
- Lapis Lazuli – Found around Y=0.
- Redstone – Best at Y=-58.
💡 Pro Tip: Use Iron or Diamond Pickaxes to mine diamonds, redstone, and gold!
5. Stay Safe from Mobs (Combat & Defense Tips)
Mobs are everywhere at night. Here’s how to stay safe:
Best Ways to Avoid Hostile Mobs
- Place torches in your home & caves to prevent mob spawns.
- Always carry a shield to block skeleton arrows.
- Run from Endermen unless you have armor—they hit hard!
- Fight Creepers smartly – Hit them, run back, and repeat.
- Use water against Endermen – They avoid water!
6. Food & Farming – Never Go Hungry!
Best Food Sources for Beginners in Minecraft Survival
- Cooked Meat (Beef, Pork, Chicken) – Best early-game food.
- Bread – Easy to farm with wheat.
- Berries – Found in Taiga biomes (not great, but useful).
- Fish – Use a fishing rod for infinite food.
How to Start a Simple Farm in Minecraft
- Craft a hoe and till dirt near the water.
- Plant wheat, carrots, and potatoes for renewable food.
- Use bone meal (from skeletons) to speed up growth.
💡 Pro Tip: A cow farm provides infinite steak & leather for bookshelves!
7. Explore, Trade, & Prepare for the Nether
Exploring & Finding Villages
- Villages have free food, beds, and tools.
- Trade emeralds with villagers for enchanted books & armor.
Preparing for the Nether
- Craft Flint & Steel to light the portal.
- Wear Gold Armor to avoid Piglin attacks.
- Bring Cobblestone—Ghasts can’t break it!
💡 Pro Tip: Always mark your Nether Portal so you don’t get lost!
8. Bonus Tips for Thriving in Long-Term Minecraft Survival
- Keep backup gear in a chest in case you die.
- Use water buckets to safely descend cliffs or put out lava.
- Breed animals for an unlimited food source.
- Set waypoints with torches or craft maps for navigation.
- Enchant your gear as soon as possible for extra protection.
Conclusion
With this Minecraft survival guide for beginners, you’re now ready to thrive in Minecraft survival mode! These tips will help you gather resources, avoid common mistakes, and take on bigger challenges. What’s your best survival tip? Share it in the comments!
And if this guide helped, share it with your friends so they can survive their first night in Minecraft, too!
Want More Minecraft?
- Want to build an automatic farm in Minecraft? Here’s the step-by-step guide.
- Want to mine diamonds? Get to the diamond level to get the most diamonds.
- Learn how to get the wind burst enchantment in Minecraft.
