Tutorials/Hardcore mode

Hardcore worlds are the most unforgiving type of Minecraft world. It can take many attempts before actually reaching the credits, which can be very frustrating. This article focuses on SSP Hardcore strategies, many, but not all, of which can apply to other game modes.

Before beginning a Hardcore world, it is advisable to beat the game on Hard a few times. Learn to act quickly and effectively. After starting a Hardcore world, it may be helpful to practice on other (non-Hardcore) worlds, especially to prepare for fighting the Ender Dragon.

Tips

Always watch your back. The most common death is from a creeper or a ghast, both of which can't be ranged by sound.
Never attack two creepers in a row or at once. The same goes for skeletons because their long-range shooting means it's hard to get in close.
Never, ever take unnecessary risks. Sometimes there are necessary risks, but most things probably are not worth dying over.
Mobile inventory space can be increased through the use of ender chests or a donkey (or mule) with a chest.
Don't be afraid to place plenty of torches all over the ground. Surviving the first night is easier in a well lit area.
Beds are useful to stop monsters from spawning at night. This is very helpful for exploring the surface. To save materials, break and reuse the same bed.
Be aware of your surroundings. Don't get so lost in what you do that you could be snuck up on. Occasionally stop and look around.
Avoid going out at night until you're well-prepared, with iron equipment and a preferably a safe zone to retreat to. If night suddenly falls upon you, retreat to a shelter (if one is close enough), or build one. Even a simple pillar is helpful for surviving the night.
Avoid dangerous areas early in the game such as caves and ravines. It's best to stay away till your second or third day. This especially applies to temples, which contain traps.
Wear at least iron armor at all times, replacing it as it gets worn. Remember that unenchanted armor doesn't protect you against falling damage, poison, hunger, etc.
Sometimes it's better to flee than fight. Always have a solid block on your hotbar on an easy to reach and practiced key so you can build a barricade and shelter on short notice.
Be extremely vigilant and aware of your surroundings. Occasionally look around you even if you have to interrupt what you are doing. Once you hear the hiss, it's too late.
Try to keep your hunger meter full at all times - regenerating health might save your life and eating in the middle of combat can be hard to do. Remember, hunger can kill you.

Walk and avoid jumping when you are not being pursued by a mob. Sprinting depletes a lot of your hunger bar.
Do not jump too much. It takes down your hunger bar if you are not careful. Use stairs and ladders instead of jumping if you are low on food.

Do everything you can to make sure that you are not overrun by monsters. Plan ahead and leave escape routes ready. Digging into the side of a mountain to make an emergency dugout shelter should only be done in extreme emergencies.
It's a good idea to keep a milk bucket and a water bucket on you at all times, with the milk on your hotbar while on the surface to counter witch's potions, and the water while mining just in case you bust into lava.
Don't worry about storing items away "in case you die". It's hardcore mode. It is important, however, to clear out inventory clutter. Keep anything useful in organized chests so it can be retrieved quickly.

Settings and Options

There are many ways, in-game and otherwise, to alter aspects of Hardcore mode.

Try to minimize lag.

Close any other applications.
Weigh the advantages of features that may cause lag (such as particles, graphics type, etc.).
Jungles and waterfalls cause lag on low-end systems. In some circumstances, client-side chunk update lag is instantly fatal. Consider restarting the game or reducing your chunk radius if you spawn in jungle or extreme hills.

In Video Settings, set brightness to "bright" to make things easier, or "moody" if you're even more masochistic.
Use sound. Listen to everything; creepers make sounds walking on grass/stone.
Avoid using unfamiliar resource packs. Sometimes it can be very beneficial to get a resource pack that changes certain textures slightly (for example, by slightly brightening the nether brick texture it becomes more obvious where it is safe to step in nether fortresses).
Superflat hardcore worlds are often more difficult than default ones. Some advanced players may welcome the challenge, though.
By picking the seed (instead of using a random seed), the world can be controlled. This can vary the difficulty both ways.

For example, the uncharted island in the middle of the sea is easy to control mob spawning on, while in extreme hills and ravines, creepers descending from heights can more easily surprise you.
A seed with a stronghold inside a mushroom biome would make the process of reaching the end portal much easier.
If you know a world well from survival mode, you can use its seed (or the "Re-Create" button) to take advantage of that knowledge in hardcore mode.

Cheats can be enabled in a hardcore world by opening up on LAN with cheats. Unless cheats are used to increase the difficulty, this is usually considered cheating and is not in the "spirit" of hardcore.
Some players choose to save a back-up of their hardcore world in case they die (especially before entering the End). Many people consider this cheating, as it can "ruin" the feel and purpose of Hardcore mode. On the other hand, it is the only practical way to review your builds and statistics if you are defeated.
Game rules can be used to increase difficulty. Example: In ultra hardcore mode, natural regeneration is turned off. The only way you can regenerate health is by consuming golden/god apples, or by drinking potions of instant health or regeneration. Command: /gamerule naturalregeneration false
Alternatively, mods can make hardcore more or less challenging.

Some mods can be used by advanced players to increase the difficulty.

See Tutorials/Ultra hardcore survival for a mod-free method of simulating ultra hardcore gameplay.

Shelters

Shelters are very important, especially on hardcore. Building a proper shelter will make hardcore mode slightly less impossible. Shelters are never optional for nighttime, although they may be temporary.

Mushroom biomes are very safe places to settle because hostile mobs do not spawn under normal conditions.
Otherwise, a shelter built over an ocean away from land can also be very safe from hostile mobs.
It's best to build shelters out of blast resistant materials. Cobblestone is cheap, although, if possible, permanent shelters should use obsidian.
Make your shelter as visible as possible. Proper lighting outside the shelter adds visibility, and stops hostile mobs from spawning nearby.
Build low (2 block) ceilings to avoid getting hit by Endermen.
Zombies can break wooden doors; however, iron doors require six ingots to craft. To solve this, dig 1 block down right in front of the wooden door (Be sure to place it from the OUTSIDE, or this will not work!!!) This will prevent zombies from reaching the top block of a door, so they can't break it down. For insurance, place a block in front of the door.)
Because the shady canopies of trees will protect Skeletons and Zombies from burning, build an indoor tree farm to safely harvest logs and apples when necessary. For the same reason, it is a good idea to cut down trees within 24 blocks of your shelter and fully light the resulting field.
Even small farms with wheat, chickens, and cows can be a great asset. Use the wheat and seeds to breed the animals for meat and other drops. Again, indoor farms are safer. Cows are nice to have because beef can be safely eaten raw if you're caught by surprise, and they drop leather, which can be used for armor and enchantment libraries.

Mining

Never go unprepared into a cave in case you get surrounded or cornered, if you are and you are unprepared you will most likely die, so always bring blocks, weapons, and armor with you.
Be careful around cave spiders -- poison cannot actually kill you but it will weaken you severely. Only fight cave spiders if you desperately need string or spider eyes. If you need spider drops it is best to fight plain spiders if you have the choice.
Diamonds are not very hard to find if you travel in deep caves. That being said, the common hazards would be monsters, lava, and falls. The least you need is iron armor and a stone sword to go in.
If you happen to fall in lava, swim to the surface and place water above (not under) the lava.

Fall damage can be avoided by placing water to break the fall.

Never, ever dig straight down or straight up. You may tunnel into lava or a fatal fall or into a group of mobs. Instead if you must dig straight down (doesn't work for going up) stand on the line between two blocks and break one at a time so that way if one breaks to reveal lava or a fall you are still standing safely on the other. You can also create a spiral staircase by choosing a four-block square and digging down two blocks on one corner, turning right (or left, depending on which direction you want the staircase to go), and dig another two blocks down. Be sure that after you choose your direction, you only turn that direction. Repeat this until you reach your desired depth.
Remember that a torch on the floor will break gravel and sand falling on it. This can save you from getting buried if you dig straight up (although you're still in trouble if you break into water or lava), and can save food energy if you're really low on food.

Hotbar

If you have thumb buttons, assign them to the sword and water bucket (cobblestone before you have a bucket and while you're in the Nether.)

Sword. Use the best one available. Free up space by discarding or stowing away less powerful swords. Also, blocking is a key skill to have.
Water bucket. Second most important item for survival.
Bow. Although bows are very useful in many situations, they are limited by the stock of arrows.
Torches. Essential for caves or the Nether, not to mention securing shelters.
Pickaxe. Also essential for caves and especially the Nether. Except for early on, use at least iron.
Solid blocks (dirt, cobblestone, etc.). Able to block many dangers, including lava and water busts, and hostile mobs.
Shovel/axe. They are not usually necessary at the same time.
Food. Try to keep the hunger bar full at all times. Golden apples are recommended for dangerous situations.

Step by Step Guide to Hardcore

Above-ground Preparations

Duration: 5–20 minutes

Find the closest tree and punch it. Gather only 4 logs to save time.
Craft a crafting table.
Craft a wooden pickaxe.
Find the nearest stone and mine 9 blocks to start. If there is no stone nearby, dig an angle shaft into the ground to reach stone.
Craft a stone axe, stone pickaxe, stone shovel and stone sword.
Get about half a stack of wood.
Kill pigs, cows, and sheep to get at least 12 pieces of meat. Grab mushrooms if you see any. Having food now is worth the effort it takes to find more animals later.
Since it is safer to skip the nights early on, kill enough sheep to craft a bed.
Start looking for a cave system, although it's best not to explore a cave or ravine this early on.
Don't make any stops. It is safer to not wander around at night without at least iron armor and your daytime is limited. You might find it overly careful but do not forget, that one little accident, and you have to start all over again.

Firm Footing

Duration: 15–60 minutes

At this point, either find a cave or create a mine (such as a branched mine). While it is usually safer to create a mine, using existing caves is often quicker. While descending to the depths, avoid risks. At first, it may be very dark so watch carefully for monsters and ores. Be sure to light everything in reach, and don't get lost. It is often very helpful to use signs or another distinguishable block to mark the path. Right-hand rule for torches is recommended.

Coal is the first resource to find. Since inventory management will become a problem, try to keep a stack coal as close to 64 as possible, but not above it, while keeping a similar number of torches in hand. If necessary, craft Blocks of Coal to store extra.

The next important resource is iron. 64 ingots will probably be enough; piling up stacks and stacks is not necessary except for longer games. When equipment is nearly used up, or you just have enough iron, find a safe area and set up a few furnaces to smelt/cook items quickly. Make, in this order: an iron sword, a pair of buckets (filling one with water), iron armor, an iron pickaxe, and an iron shovel. Also, toss any wood tools and store your stone tools.

Once fully equipped, go further down and collect diamonds. Only seven are necessary, although more is better (2 for a sword, 3 for a pickaxe and 2 for an enchanting table. These and full armor total up to 31 diamonds.) Use the diamond pickaxe to mine about 15 pieces of obsidian for a Nether portal and an enchantment table.

It is hard to have too much gold because it is good for making golden apples. 8 ingots are required for a normal golden apple, while 72 are required for the much better enchanted golden apple. Be sure to grab some redstone for brewing potions. Lapis lazuli is required to make enchantments, so don't forget to mine it if you find some.

This sums up all mining you will need to do in the hardcore mode. If you gathered, at any point, enough string to make a bow, do not hesitate to craft it and use it with whatever arrows skeletons dropped. If you come across an abandoned mineshaft, be careful. Avoid cave spider spawners, but loot any chests.

When you get home, make an infinite water spring, then build farms for wheat, carrots and perhaps potatoes. If you've gotten seeds for pumpkins, cocoa beans, and/or melons, farm those too. Sugarcane is very important (for bookshelves), so spread and harvest up to 3 stacks of that.

Wheat, seeds, and carrots can be used to lure and breed animals, leading to large supplies of meat and resources over time, so it is worthwhile. You will need chickens (arrows) and cows (bookshelves). It is a good idea to tame ocelots to repel creepers, and wolves to fight.

The Nether

Duration: 30 minutes–2 hours

The Nether can be very dangerous, so be prepared and try to bring:

Diamond sword, iron armor, and pickaxe. (Iron pickaxes, or better are fine, but they shred netherrack very fast.), bow (and at least 32 arrows, unless it's enchanted with Infinity). Make sure to enchant everything with 1-skill-point enchantments. It barely costs anything but can make a difference.
Flint and steel, to relight deactivated portals.
At least 16 Wood
Bones, dirt, and saplings: In case the supply of wood runs out, a tree farm can be started (ideally in a protected location, as trees are flammable). Using some bone meal will skip some time for it to grow.
Any iron ingots, coal and food (Remember, no respawning.)
64 blocks of cobblestone as an emergency blocking material. Ghasts can't destroy cobblestone.
64 blocks of sand or gravel might be handy for climbing down sheer drops. Be careful: getting shot off the top of a pile while descending is usually fatal.

Some dangerous aspects of the Nether are:

Ghasts. Their fireballs can seriously damage unprepared players, or deactivate portals. Without a flint and steel or fire charges, another fireball must hit the portal to reactivate it.
Falling down huge distances. Even while moving carefully, an explosion can easily destroy the terrain, which may expose a lethally high drop onto blocks or even into lava.
Lava. There are many little pockets of lava inside the netherrack, in addition to the lava sea. Lava is much more dangerous in the Nether because its flow is faster and will flow further. Since water cannot be placed in the Nether, potions of fire resistance are very useful.
Zombie pigmen. An attacked zombie pigman will attract others.
Blazes. Although they're not very challenging alone and in controlled circumstances, in groups of three or more they may present a significant challenge. An unexpected attack of just one blaze can be lethal.
Wither skeletons. Although they only appear in nether fortresses, this may be the most lethal Nether mob; they are fast, strong, and inflict the wither status effect.

The Nether contains four things that might be crucial for your adventure:

Nether wart - they are necessary to brew any useful potion. They are found quite often in nether fortresses. Five is enough, but it's better to take every one. Collect at least six blocks of soul sand, so that a farm can be started.
Blaze Rod - it is necessary to craft eyes of ender. It is also used to craft a brewing stand and brew strength and fire resistance potions. To obtain them you will need to kill blazes. It's best to fight lone blazes at first to avoid becoming overwhelmed. Find two rods (one if you already have magma cream); once you have those (and your Nether Wart), retreat to brew some potions of fire resistance. Collect more rods after applying the fire resistance potions, but remember that potions of fire resistance do NOT nullify Blaze melee attacks. For the main Blaze battle, find an enclosed spawner and kill them with a sword. This conserves arrows and saves the drops. About 12 blaze rods should be more than enough.
Ghast tears - used for potions of regeneration. However, ghasts are dangerous, and their drops are often destroyed.
Glowstone dust - used for strengthening potions. Glowstone appears occasionally in nether fortresses, otherwise look for it on low ceilings of netherrack.

Nether Survival: If there are no nether fortresses nearby, you may be forced to spend a lot of time in the Nether. Food supplies can be easily replenished, using very abundant mushrooms. Use torches or distinctive non flammable blocks, like cobblestone, dirt or crafting tables to mark the path back to the portal. After gathering all the needed supplies, return to the Overworld.

Overworld Exploration

Duration: 1–10 hours

At this point, most of the necessary supplies should already be acquired, including 15 bookshelves. Pick a direction and set off. Wolves are often worth the bones, so recruit any that are nearby.

Remember, villages will provide good combat and survival supplies. Loot one if possible, but finding them can be somewhat difficult.

At this point there are two main goals: ender pearls and experience. Also, it is very helpful to have a chicken farm at this point, because feathers are needed to make arrows. Also, stay stocked on food and wood. In the night, be constantly on the move. Search for endermen while killing any threatening mobs. After accumulating levels, enchant weapons and tools:

Bow (20 skill points). Infinity is very helpful, but it is rare (10% chance). Power will also help.
Sword (30 skill points). The most useful enchantment is Sharpness. Fire Aspect is useless in the Nether, but is very useful in the End (because endermen become neutral while burning).

Plan to collect 16-20 Ender Pearls and turn them into eyes of ender. Remember to be conservative while using them, as sometimes they will break when thrown and sometimes they won't. After locating the End portal, dig a staircase carefully downwards. Once inside the stronghold, break the silverfish spawner and pillage the place. Secure a shelter near the portal to prepare for the End.

The End

Duration: 10–40 minutes

These items are recommended for the End:

Diamond sword, pickaxe, bow and iron (or diamond) armor. Enchant all non-enchanted tools.

Make sure that all equipment has as many uses left as possible. Make sure that nothing will break in the middle of the battle.

Anywhere between 128 and 256 arrows, unless using an Infinity bow, then only one arrow is needed.
- Snowballs can also break ender crystals and also damage the Ender Dragon slightly. The most compact way to store snowballs is in blocks of snow.
At least 16 pieces of food, preferably steak or cooked porkchops.
64 blocks, to use for building.
2 buckets of water
Potions of regeneration, about four of each type:
- Extended potions of regeneration. Should be active after taking damage, if not slightly beforehand.
- Splash potion of regeneration II, for quick healing.
Potions of Strength. If inventory space is not a problem use tier II potions. Take two extended potions or six tier II ones.
Splash potions of healing II. If melons are available, fill all remaining inventory space with splash potions of healing. Before entering the End, learn to differ them from regeneration potions.
At least one spare ender pearl to teleport to the land, in case your spawnpoint is above the void. You can get easily knocked off by the dragon in the first few seconds, much before you can build yourself to safer ground.

Once you gather yourself and organize your inventory, jump into the portal and meet your fate. Upon entering the End, the first task is to take out ender crystals. Use arrows (or snowballs) to remove all the towers, while avoiding the Ender Dragon. If you can't avoid him before taking out the crystals, don't hesitate to attack to prevent being blown or knocked off the island.

While doing all this, make sure not to look at any endermen. It is much harder to fight the Ender Dragon while endermen are also attacking. However, if an enderman does become aggressive, place some water to damage them slightly; they will then become neutral again.

Once all the ender crystals are destroyed, take aim at the Ender Dragon, once again avoiding looking at the endermen. Keep moving until the Ender Dragon is defeated. Gather the experience orbs, and enter the portal to see the credits, then return to the Overworld.

Postgame

Challenge the wither.
If playing in 1.8, challenging the guardians are optional.
For an extra challenge, return to the End. By enabling cheats through LAN, another ender dragon can be summoned with /summon EnderDragon. After quitting, cheats will again be off unless they are enabled through LAN again.

If you thought Hardcore was too easy, there are extreme survival maps such as Skyblock and mods such as Skyzone (a Skyblock generator) and Ultra Hardcore.

And never die!