Ancient City

The Ancient City is a vast sculk-infested ruin sunk into the deep dark, guarded by the threat of the Warden. It generates in the Overworld, exclusively within the Deep Dark biome, which makes the Ancient City rare to come across as you explore.

Expect to find the Ancient City between about Y -64 and Y -30, so set your search to that elevation. Ancient cities generate only in the deep dark biome, which forms in the deepest cave layers - dig toward Y -52 and watch for sculk to know you are close. They are large and rare, and their sculk shriekers can summon the Warden, so the descent itself is the main hazard.

Added back in Minecraft 1.19, its most recognisable trait is captured in one line: massive deep slate city structure.

On Java Edition the quickest method is the command /locate structure minecraft:ancient_city, which prints the coordinates of the nearest Ancient City and the distance to it.

Without commands, head for a Deep Dark biome where the Ancient City generates and search the Y -64 to -30 band. Because it is rare, a long expedition is likely before you reach a Ancient City, so bring food and gear.

Use /locate structure minecraft:ancient_city. Found deep underground in the deep dark biome. Mine to Y -52 and look for sculk blocks. Listen for sculk sensor clicks and watch for darkness effect from sculk shriekers.

Once inside, loot chests are spread across the city's many platforms and side structures. This is the only place in the game to find the Swift Sneak enchantment, Echo Shards (for the Recovery Compass), Disc Fragment 5, and the Silence and Ward armour trims.

Among the Ancient City's randomised drops, the most common pulls are Enchanted Book (random) at about 35%, Soul Torch at about 35%, Bone at about 35%, and Potion of Regeneration at about 35%. At the other end of the odds sit the jackpot items: Silence Armor Trim at roughly 1% and Ward Armor Trim at roughly 5%, so opening multiple Ancient City chests pays off over time.

What makes the Ancient City genuinely worth the trip is a set of exclusive rewards you cannot get reliably anywhere else - Swift Sneak Enchanted Book, Echo Shard, Disc Fragment (5), Ward Armor Trim Smithing Template, Silence Armor Trim Smithing Template, and Music Disc (otherside) - so this is the place to come for them.

Expect to face Warden (summoned by sculk shriekers) inside or around the Ancient City.

The specific hazards to plan around: Warden is the most dangerous mob in the game (500 HP, can kill in 2 hits) and Sculk shriekers summon the Warden after 3 activations. There is more to watch for too - Sculk sensors detect vibrations, extremely deep underground, and darkness effect reduces visibility - so do not rush.

Built around a central reinforced-deepslate dais, the city sprawls outward into raised walkways, sculk-coated buildings, a redstone-and-ice 'ice box' room, and scattered ruined structures. Wool pathways run between many of them - a built-in hint to move silently so sculk sensors do not register your steps.

Other things you will notice as you explore: Sculk blocks and sculk sensors throughout, reinforced deepslate center structure, and redstone laboratory rooms.

The Warden cannot be killed practically in survival mode. It has 500 HP and deals massive damage. The best strategy is stealth: crouch to avoid detection, use wool to muffle sounds, and avoid activating sculk shriekers. Swift Sneak is exclusive to ancient city loot and cannot be obtained elsewhere.