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, rare items are hidden here, as well as hints about the game’s lore.
Underrated Structures in Minecraft
Desert Wells: These wells are not as useless as they used to be, as you can obtain two rare shards here through archaeology, but overall, the desert well is really useless. It might be cooler if there were multiple variants.
Jungle Temple: Ah, old players will surely feel nostalgic with this structure! Unfortunately, it is just as useless as it was back then. The loot is sparse and there is not much to explore. The puzzles and traps make the jungle temple somewhat challenging, but that’s about it.
Swamp Hut: Since witches also spawn normally as monsters, the witch hut in the swamp has almost no purpose anymore. You will only find a cauldron, a mushroom, and a black cat there. Witch farms are no longer worthwhile, as witches are part of village raids.
Structures with Potential
Igloo: Igloos are often forgotten, but they can be really helpful in certain situations. Half of all igloos have a secret chamber with a zombie villager that you can cure! A really cool mechanic that some players might only discover through this.
Ocean Ruins: Ocean ruins are definitely the “better” form 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 also find drowned here and have a chance of obtaining a rare trident!
Ancient City: These new structures look cool at first glance, but they are not as useful as one might think. And the Warden will make it extremely difficult for you to explore the ancient cities at all (Defeating the Minecraft Warden – How to Overcome the Strongest Opponent!) .
Pillager Outpost: Outposts are not really useful because, although you can find Allays here, they are probably the only reason you would come here. The raid effect “Bad Omen” has been replaced by the ominous bottle with version 1.21, significantly adjusting the concept and making the outposts even less useful.
Structures for Experienced Players
Dungeon: Interestingly, these structures are not directly included, as they are also generated when you have structures turned off. However, they are the very first (official) structure of the game and should therefore not be forgotten. Their loot is not very exciting, but you can build a great monster trap from 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! They also contain good loot, especially for new players. Just be careful not to step on the pressure plate in the middle.
Woodland Mansion: The probably largest overworld structures are extremely exciting to explore, but thanks to raids, they are not quite as useful anymore. Woodland mansions are best suited as a location for finding evokers, but for further 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 are something that makes Minecraft’s world significantly 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 particularly help new players understand this mechanic. Additionally, they exist both in the overworld and in the Nether. They also look cool, as if the hell dimension is merging into the overworld. And with a bit of luck, you will find enough obsidian to repair and light it!
Trail Ruins: Trail ruins are a dream for those who love to explore with the archaeology brush. They are much larger than they initially appear and hold many secrets! We have also written a larger article about them. (Minecraft Archaeology: Discover All Excavation Sites & Rare Items)
Ocean Monument: These large underwater structures could actually rank higher on the list, but those not interested in the blocks found here will probably never stop by. For XP farms, these monuments are especially useful, but the construction is quite elaborate.
Essential Structures
Mineshafts: You will probably stumble upon mines automatically when you go on cave tours. They are one of the oldest structures and can be quite confusing! Their loot can also hold some surprises, and the cave spider spawners are great for 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. However, besides the end portal, there is not much to gather.
Nether Fortress: Nether fortresses are also part of the progression in Minecraft, as you need blaze powder and nether wart. And those are actually the only reasons why you need to visit this structure. A blaze farm can be a good source for experience and is quickly built (Build an Automatic Blaze Farm: Endless 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 and 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 extremely good loot with netherite. So you don’t have to dig for it yourself. You can read more about it in our guide (The Ultimate Guide to Minecraft Bastion Remnants in the Nether) .
Trial Chambers: These new structures are one of the coolest updates in a long time! They present a significant challenge for long-time players and introduce many new concepts that did not exist in Minecraft before. And the loot is very good, making it worthwhile to go 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. Villages are also indispensable as a food source and for workstations. Anyone who plays Minecraft will always be on the lookout for a village—and for 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 form your own opinion! You can rent your own Minecraft server with us and embark on a great exploration tour together to find all the structures.
