In Minecraft, you can not only build your own structures but also uncover many secrets in the overworld. Structures can be found everywhere and have become an important part of the game. Some you must visit if you want to complete the game, while most are optional and give you the opportunity to slowly get to know Minecraft’s forgotten world. Often, not only rare items are hidden here, but also hints about the lore of the game.
Underestimated Structures in Minecraft
Desert Wells: These wells are not as useless as they used to be, as you can obtain two rare shards through archaeology, but all in all, the desert well is truly useless. Perhaps it would be cooler if there were more variants.
Jungle Temples: Ah, old players will surely get nostalgic with this structure! Unfortunately, it is just as useless as it was back then. The loot is scarce, and there isn’t much to explore. The puzzles and traps make the jungle temple somewhat challenging, but that’s about it.
Swamp Huts: Since witches also spawn normally as mobs, the witch hut in the swamp has almost no purpose anymore. You’ll only find a cauldron, a mushroom, and a black cat there. Even witch farms are no longer worthwhile since witches are part of village raids.
Structures with Potential
Igloo: Igloos are often forgotten, yet they can be really helpful in certain situations. Half of all igloos have a secret chamber with a zombie villager that you can heal! A really cool mechanic that some players might only discover through this.
Ocean Ruins: Ocean ruins are definitely the “better” version of desert wells. They offer variety, a challenge, and also hold rare items, including the sniffer egg (Minecraft Sniffer Farm: Automatic Methods for Rare Crops) . Additionally, you can find drowned here and have a chance at a rare trident!
Ancient City: These new structures look cool at first glance but are not as useful as one might think. And the Warden will make it extremely difficult for you to explore the ancient cities (Defeat the Minecraft Warden – How to Beat the Strongest Enemy!) .
Pillager Outpost: Outposts are not really useful, as even though you can find Allays here, they are probably the only reason you’d come here. The raid effect “Bad Omen” was replaced with the ominous bottle in version 1.21, which significantly adjusted the concept and made outposts even less useful.
Structures for Experienced Players
Dungeon: Interestingly, these structures do not count directly as they are also generated when you have structures turned off. However, they are the very first (official) structure of the game and should not be forgotten. Their loot is not that exciting, but you can build a great mob farm out of them! (Building a Minecraft XP Farm: Quickly and Easily Reach Level 30)
Desert Temple: Unlike the long-forgotten jungle temple, desert temples have received some great updates with archaeology! In addition, they contain good loot, especially for new players. Just be careful not to step on the pressure plate in the middle.
Woodland Mansion: Probably the largest overworld structures are extremely exciting to explore, but thanks to raids, they are not as useful as they used to be. Woodland mansions are now best used as a source for Evokers, but for more loot, a visit is not really worthwhile. If you want to learn more, read our article on it (How to Find and Successfully Raid a Woodland Mansion in Minecraft) .
Shipwrecks: Visually, these wrecks make Minecraft’s world much more lively. The loot can be good, especially the chests with maps or valuable resources. Wrecks can also spawn very diversely, whether at the bottom of the sea, on the beach, or even in icebergs!
Ruined Portal: Nether portals are one of the oldest features of the game, but it was never explained that they actually exist. Ruined portals help especially new players to understand this mechanic. Additionally, they can be found both in the overworld and in the Nether. They also look cool, as if the hell dimension is transitioning into the overworld. And with a bit of luck, you’ll find enough obsidian to repair and light it!
Trail Ruin: Trail ruins are a dream for those who love to use the archaeology brush. They are significantly larger than they initially appear and hold many secrets! We have already written a larger article on this. (Minecraft Archaeology: Discover All Dig Sites & Rare Items)
Ocean Monument: These large underwater structures could actually be placed higher on the list, but if you are not interested in the blocks found here, you probably won’t visit them. These monuments are particularly useful for XP farms, but the setup is quite complex.
Essential Structures
Mineshafts: You will probably stumble upon mines automatically during cave tours. They are one of the oldest structures and can be quite confusing! Their loot can also hold some surprises, and cave spider spawners make great XP farms!
Stronghold: Sooner or later, you must visit a stronghold to officially complete Minecraft. The structure itself is cool, with various rooms, a library, and prison cells. Besides the End Portal, there isn’t much to gain.
Nether Fortress: Nether fortresses are also part of the progress in Minecraft because you need blaze powder and nether warts. And those are really the only reasons why you need to visit this structure. A blaze farm can be a good source of experience and is quickly built (Build an Automatic Blaze Farm: Infinite Blaze Rods and Experience Points) .
End City: Those who have defeated the Ender Dragon can explore the End cities. Here you can find Shulker boxes but also the Elytra. For this reason alone, these structures are extremely useful. The loot is also impressive, with many enchanted diamond tools.
Top Minecraft Structures You Need to Know
Bastion Remnant: For all Minecraft veterans, this Nether structure is a welcome change! It is not only challenging but can also contain netherite, offering extremely good loot. So you don’t have to mine for it yourself. You can read more in our guide (The Ultimate Guide to Minecraft Bastion Remnants in the Nether) .
Trial Chambers: These new structures are some of the coolest updates in a long time! They pose a significant challenge for long-time players and introduce many new concepts that have never been seen in Minecraft before. The loot is also very good, making it worth going through the chambers (Minecraft Trial Chambers: How to Find & Master Them!) .
Village: Villages are probably the best structure in the entire game. They are the starting point for trading, one of the few places where you can find cats, and they offer plenty of variety between different biomes. As a food source and for workstations, villages are almost indispensable. Anyone who plays Minecraft will always be on the lookout for a village—and for a good reason.
Conclusion
Over the years, Minecraft has received many structures, but not all are worth exploring. While you must visit some structures, others are easily forgotten. However, it can still be exciting to take a closer look at all the structures and make your own judgment! You can rent your own Minecraft server with us and embark on a grand exploration tour together to find all the structures.
