The new Caves and Cliffs Part 2 update is here in Minecraft and it brings a lot of changes like new Biomes and Ores. Speaking of Ores, in the 1.18 update Minecraft has changed the Ore Distribution. Y-Level 12 is no longer the best Level to mine for all of your Ores. Some major changes were made and I will be explaining them in this guide. Here is the new Ore Distribution in Minecraft 1.18 update.
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Minecraft 1.18 Ore Distribution
In Minecraft 1.17, Ore Distribution was fairly symmetric. You would get the same amount of Ores from the Y-Levels they spawn in. This led to Y-Level 12 being the best as all of the generation levels would overlap for almost all of the Ores. Now all of that has changed drastically. In the 1.18 update of Minecraft, Ores generate in Triangular formations along the Y-Level.
This Ore Distribution makes it such that most of the Ore you want will be obtained in the middle area of its generation levels. Any higher or lower will yield the least amount of it. Here are the new Y-Levels that you can spawn for all of the Ores in Minecraft 1.18. Yx and Y-x are the Y-Levels I will be discussing where Yx is above Y-Level 0 and Y-x are below Y-Level 0.
Best Y-Levels for each Ore after the new Ore Distribution
Emeralds
The World Height was changed from 256 to 320. This change has allowed mountains to reach heights that were never seen before. Emeralds will start generating at Y256 and will be abundant at Y224 provided that there are Land Masses that have been generated at that height. Also, Emeralds will only generate in Mountain Biomes. From here the generation of Emeralds starts to decline till Y-Level -16 where there will be rare to no Emeralds generating. This is the new Emerald Ore Distribution in Minecraft 1.18.
Iron Ore Distribution in Minecraft 1.18
Like Emeralds, Iron starts to generate at Y256 provided that there are Land Masses that have been generated at that height. Iron is the most abundant at Y232 which starts to decline till Y80. After which Iron spawns underground in Minecraft 1.18. From Y80 to Y-64 is where Iron will generate but won’t be as abundant as it was above ground. Here you will find most of the Iron Ores at Y16 and Y14. This is the new Iron Ore Distribution in Minecraft 1.18.
Coal
Coal is another Ore that starts to generate at Y256. You will find a good amount of Coal Ore Distribution between Y256 and Y0. Any Y-Level below 0 will not generate Coal or will generate a few blocks. The best Y-Level for Coal is at Y95 and Y96. Although, from Y192 to Y0, Coal will not be generated as an exposed ore so you will have to mine deeper to get Coal. But you will still see some exposed Coal, it will be fewer than it was in Minecraft 1.17. This is the new Coal Ore Distribution in Minecraft 1.18.
Copper Ore Distribution in Minecraft 1.18
Copper ores generate from Y112 to Y-16. It will generate less commonly than the above-mentioned ores. Copper is abundant at Y48 and Y47 in most areas. Although, the best place to find Copper is in Dripstone Caves. So, combine the Y-Level with the Biome and you will get the most yield for Copper Ores. This is the new Copper Ore Distribution in Minecraft 1.18.
Lapis Lazuli
Lapis Lazuli is an uncommon ore that starts to generate at Y80 to Y-64. Also from Y32 & Y-32, there will be reduced exposed Lapis Lazuli ores. The best Y-Level for Lapis Lazuli generation is at Y0. This is the new Lapis Lazuli Ore Distribution in Minecraft 1.18.
Gold
Gold is another ore like Iron that can generate from the World Height to the Bedrock level. Although this is only true if you consider the best Biome to mine Gold. Otherwise Gold will generate from Y32 to Y-64 in any Biome. The Biome for Gold is the Badlands Biome, here Gold will generate at Y320 to Y32. The best Y-Level for Gold to generate is Y-16, here is where Gold is the most abundant. Although, Gold is more abundant in the Nether than in the Overworld. So, till you can get to the Nether this should work. This is the new Gold Ore Distribution in Minecraft 1.18.
Diamond Ore Distribution in Minecraft 1.18
Diamonds are the rarest ore in the Overworld to mine and are the most in-demand. They generate from Y16 to Y-64. As of the 1.18 Update in Minecraft, Diamonds can no longer generate in veins of 8 blocks. So you will have to spend more time looking for them. The best Y-Level to mine Diamonds is at Y-58 to Y-64. Mining Diamonds are going to take longer as the vein generation change and the fact that it is more common in the form of a Deepslate Ore. This is the new Diamond Ore Distribution in Minecraft 1.18.
Redstone
Redstone shares a similar ore generation as Diamonds. It starts to generate at Y16 to Y-64. The best Y-Level for Redstone ore generation is at Y-58 to Y-64. This is the new Redstone Ore Distribution in Minecraft 1.18.
These were the new changes made to the Ore Distribution in Minecraft by the 1.18 Update. Based on the above changes, the best Y-Levels to Strip Mine are Y-58 & Y0. Hopefully, this guide has helped you in getting the ores you so desire. You can also check our guides on Best Levels to Mine Diamonds and How to Spawn The Warden in Minecraft.