The Most Useful Ore in Minecraft, Ranked

Voting rules: Choose the ore you think is the most useful!

Updated on Apr 30, 2024 06:58

Many players spend hours mining for ore in Minecraft, each type holding different value and purpose crucial for game progression. Understanding which ore proves most useful could save time and enhance the gaming experience. This is why gauging the community’s opinion through a ranking system can guide newcomers and seasoned players alike in optimizing their mining efforts. Through a democratic process of voting, this site provides a continuously updated list based on user preferences and experiences. This resource aims to reflect the collective wisdom and strategies of the Minecraft community. We encourage all users to participate and share their insights, contributing to a resource that benefits the entire community.

What Is the Most Useful Ore in Minecraft?

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44
votes
DanielCD~commonswiki · CC BY-SA 3.0

Iron Ore

Mojang Studios

Iron ore is the most useful ore in Minecraft because it can be used to craft a variety of useful items such as tools, weapons, and armor. It can also be smelted into iron ingots to create more complex items like minecarts and hoppers.
Iron Ore is a common block found in the Minecraft game. It is primarily used to obtain iron ingots, which are essential for crafting various tools, armor, and other items. The block appears as a brownish-red stone with specks of gray.

Type: Block

Rarity: Common

Obtained From: Mined with a stone pickaxe or higher

Tool Required: Any pickaxe (stone or higher)

Blast Resistance: 15
Iron Ore in other rankings
- Position 7 of 10 in Most popular block in Minecraft
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32
votes
Diamond Ore

Markus Persson (Notch)

Diamond ore is another useful ore in Minecraft because it can be used to create the most durable tools and armor in the game. It is also required to create enchantment tables and jukeboxes.
Diamond Ore is a rare block in Minecraft that can be found underground. It is highly sought after due to its use in crafting powerful tools and armor. When mined with an Iron or Diamond Pickaxe, Diamond Ore drops Diamonds, which are used for various purposes such as enchanting equipment. The block itself appears as a blue crystalline structure embedded in stone.

Obtained: Mined with an Iron or Diamond Pickaxe

Rarity: Very rare

Appearance: Blue crystalline structure embedded in stone

Drops: Diamonds

Use: Crafting powerful tools and armor, enchanting equipment
Diamond Ore in other rankings
- Position 10 of 10 in Most popular block in Minecraft
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9
votes
Gold Ore

Mojang Studios

Gold ore is useful in Minecraft for a variety of reasons. It can be used to craft powerful tools and armor, as well as to create powered rails and golden apples. It can also be smelted into gold ingots to trade with villagers or to create other valuable items.
Gold Ore is a valuable resource in Minecraft that can be mined and smelted to obtain gold ingots. It is primarily found underground in various biomes and generates in veins that can range in size.

Type: Mineral

Rarity: Common

Mining Level: Iron or higher

Hardness: 3

Blast Resistance: 15
4

14
votes
Redstone Ore

Notch (Markus Persson)

Redstone ore is useful in Minecraft because it can be used to create complex machines and circuits. It can also be used to create powerful weapons like the Redstone Repeater and the Redstone Comparator.
Redstone Ore is a block found in the popular game Minecraft. It is a mineral block that emits a red glow when activated. When mined with an iron pickaxe or better, it drops redstone dust, which is a key component for creating various contraptions and mechanisms in the game.

Block ID: minecraft:redstone_ore

Hardness: 3

Blast Resistance: 15

Tool Required: Iron pickaxe or better

Renewable: No
Redstone Ore in other rankings
- Position 9 of 10 in Most popular block in Minecraft
5

21
votes
Lapis Lazuli Ore

Mojang Studios

Lapis Lazuli ore is useful in Minecraft because it can be used to create blue dye, which is required to dye wool and create colored banners. It can also be used to enchant items with the Fortune enchantment.
Lapis Lazuli Ore is a type of ore found in Minecraft that can be mined with an iron pickaxe or higher. It is primarily used for crafting and enchanting purposes.

Appearance: Dark blue stone block with grey and blue specks

Obtained by: Mining with an iron pickaxe or higher

Commonly found: In underground caves and ravines

Uses: Crafting blue dye, enchanting items, and repairing tools

Crafting: Can be crafted into blue dye with a crafting table
6

10
votes
Emerald Ore

Mojang Studios

Emerald ore is useful in Minecraft because it can be used to trade with villagers for valuable items such as enchanted books and diamond armor. It can also be used to create emerald blocks for decorative purposes.
Emerald Ore is a rare block that can be found underground in the world of Minecraft. It appears as a green mineral block with black spots. When mined, it drops emeralds, which are valuable and widely used in trading with villagers.

Appearance: Green mineral block with black spots

Source: Generated naturally underground

Obtained by: Mined with an iron, diamond, or netherite pickaxe

Drop: Emeralds

Value: Highly valuable currency and trading item
7

10
votes
Coal Ore

Mojang Studios

Coal ore is useful in Minecraft because it can be used to smelt items and create torches, which are necessary for exploring dark areas. It can also be used to create blocks of coal for storage purposes.
Coal Ore is a block found in Minecraft that can be mined to obtain coal. It is one of the most commonly used resources in the game, and it serves as a fuel source for smelting and crafting various items.

Block ID: minecraft:coal_ore

Tool used for mining: Pickaxe

Harvest level: Wooden or higher

Renewable: Yes

Blast resistance: 15
Coal Ore in other rankings
- Position 8 of 10 in Most popular block in Minecraft
8

10
votes
Nether Quartz Ore

Mojang Studios

Nether quartz ore is useful in Minecraft because it can be used to create redstone comparators and daylight sensors. It can also be used to create blocks of quartz for decorative purposes.
Nether Quartz Ore is a mineral block found in the Nether dimension in Minecraft. It appears as a yellowish mineral vein scattered throughout the Nether. Breaking Nether Quartz Ore drops Nether Quartz, which is used for crafting various items.

Type: Ore

Appearance: Yellowish mineral vein

Location: Nether dimension

Dropped Item: Nether Quartz

Uses: Crafting various items
9

13
votes
Glowstone

Glowstone is not technically an ore, but it is a useful resource in Minecraft. It can be used to create light sources that emit a brighter light than torches, making it ideal for lighting up large areas. It can also be used to craft potions and redstone lamps.
Glowstone is a unique ore in Minecraft that emits a bright and vibrant light. It has a distinct yellowish-gold color and is commonly found in the Nether dimension. When mined, Glowstone drops Glowstone Dust, which can be used as a crafting ingredient for various light-related items or as a decorative block.

Light Level: 15 (maximum brightness)

Blast Resistance: 1.5

Renewable: Yes (can be farmed using Blaze Rods)

Smelting Recipe: None (can only be obtained by mining)

Block ID: glowstone
10

9
votes
Ancient Debris

Mojang Studios

Ancient debris is a relatively new ore in Minecraft that was added in version 1.16. It is useful because it can be smelted into netherite scrap, which can then be used to create the most powerful tools and armor in the game.
Ancient Debris is a rare ore found exclusively in the Nether dimension in Minecraft. It has a dark brown color and a rough, blocky texture. When mined, it drops Netherite Scrap, which can be combined with gold ingots in a crafting table to create Netherite Ingots. Netherite is one of the strongest and most valuable materials in the game, surpassing even Diamond. It is highly sought after by players for its exceptional durability and powerful enchanting capabilities. Ancient Debris was introduced in the 1.16 update of Minecraft, also known as the Nether Update.

Obtained from: Mined in the Nether dimension

Appearance: Dark brown color and rough, blocky texture

Drops: Netherite Scrap

Crafting material: Can be used to create Netherite Ingots

Material rank: Surpasses Diamond in terms of strength and value

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About this ranking

This is a community-based ranking of the most useful ore in Minecraft. We do our best to provide fair voting, but it is not intended to be exhaustive. So if you notice something or Ore is missing, feel free to help improve the ranking!

Statistics

2088 views
172 votes
10 ranked items

Voting Rules

A participant may cast an up or down vote for each Ore once every 24 hours. The rank of each Ore is then calculated from the weighted sum of all up and down votes.

More information on most useful ore in minecraft

Minecraft is a game loved by millions around the world, and one of the most important elements of the game is mining for resources. Players can find a variety of ores and minerals, each with their own unique properties and uses. But when it comes to usefulness, there is one ore that stands out above the rest: iron. Iron is incredibly versatile, and can be used to create a wide range of tools, weapons, and armor. It's also essential for creating more advanced materials like redstone components, minecart tracks, and even pistons. Without iron, players would find it difficult to progress far in the game. So if you're looking to make the most of your mining efforts, be sure to keep an eye out for this valuable resource.