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With every update for Minecraft, the world seems to get bigger. Back in 2018, we were given Update Aquatic, which completely expanded the oceans. One of the additions included was buried treasure maps.
Related: Minecraft: Everything You Need To Know About Axolotls
In this guide, we are going to go over how to use these treasure maps, as well as the loot you can receive from treasure chests. Finding the maps and chests may seem like a long process, but the loot makes it completely worth it. First, let's look at how to find a treasure map.
How To Find Treasure Maps
Buried treasure maps can only be found in shipwrecks and ocean ruins.
Shipwrecks are underwater structures that resemble sunken ships. Some shipwrecks may have mobs such as drowned spawning, so it's best to be cautious when exploring. Additionally, shipwrecks will spawn in a variety of different positions. For example, in the image above, you can see a shipwreck on its side stuck in ice. They can also spawn partially on land or buried on the beach.
Inside each shipwreck, you can find up to three chests with a variety of loot. To get a treasure map, you need to locate the map chest. They are not labeled, but this chest will be located in the lower section of the ship. If there is a map chest, then there will be a 100 percent chance that it will contain a buried treasure map.
Similar to shipwrecks, you can find ocean ruins underwater. They are a bit rarer than shipwrecks and can be quite treacherous to navigate in. These structures are found in ocean biomes and appear to look like an underwater village. Within the buildings of an ocean ruin, there will be chests filled with loot. You have a 43 percent chance to find a buried treasure map in these chests.
Overall, it's a better choice to look in shipwrecks for a buried treasure map.
Finding Buried Treasure
Now that you have the buried treasure map, take a look at it. If you are not standing near the treasure, you will see landmasses outlined, with the ocean filled with orange stripes.
As you come closer to the buried treasure, the map will fill in with color. In the image above, you can see the map has been partially filled in. Most of the time, you will find these chests on the beach or right off the coast. Although it's rare, you may find a chest in the center of the ocean. If this is the case, be sure to have respiration and aqua affinity enchantments on your armor so you can reach the bottom of the ocean without drowning.
The treasure will be located at the red X. It may be difficult to accurately pinpoint this location, but there is a trick that you can find below.
Finding Treasure With Chunk Borders
Buried treasure will always generate near the center of the chunk. The world is broken into sections called chucks that aren't visible when playing. Fortunately, you can easily turn on chunk borders by pressing F3 + G. Doing so will display all chunks.
When you get near the X on the map, turn on chunk borders and find the center blocks of the chunk. Dig down until you reach the treasure chest, and gather your rewards!
Treasure Chest Loot
The buried treasure chests will have a variety of loot. Below, you can find all potential loot as well as the chances of finding it.
| Item | Chance to Find |
|---|---|
| Heart of the Sea | 100% |
| Iron Ingot | 99% |
| Gold Ingot | 88% |
| Cooked Cod | 75% |
| Cooked Salmon | 75% |
| Leather Tunic | 75% |
| Iron Sword | 75% |
| TNT | 62% |
| Prismarine Crystals | 60% |
| Diamond | 60% |
As you can see, you have a pretty good chance of finding every treasure. If you are playing on a server with others, it may be difficult to know if a chest has been looted. Fortunately, every buried treasure contains a Heart of the Sea. This means that if it is gone, someone has already looted the chest.
Heart Of The Sea
Buried treasure chests are the only place that you can find the Heart of the Sea. At first, these may not seem too important, but don't get rid of them! A Heart of the Sea is incredibly rare and can be used to craft a conduit.
Conduits are crafted structures that provide a variety of underwater buffs, similar to beacons. With a conduit nearby, you will have water breathing, night vision, and haste while underwater. Additionally, conduits will attack hostile mobs that are nearby.
To make a conduit, you will need the following materials.
- One Heart of the Sea
- Eight Nautilus Shells
Nautilus shells are also a bit difficult to obtain. You can find them from the Wandering Trader for five emeralds, however, they will only sell five. Drowned mobs have a three percent chance to hold a shell, and will always drop it upon death. Lastly, nautilus shells can be obtained by fishing, but they are a rare item and will take some time to fish up.
That's all there is to know about buried treasure. Don't forget to gather your loot and construct a conduit!
Next: Minecraft: How To Take Down An Ocean Monument
