Most Minecraft players have probably played a Superflat world at some point. However, this is usually just to test out some projects or to get familiar with Redstone. Few would think of using this world type as a long-term world. But it is indeed possible! Surviving in such a flat world is not only feasible but can also be a completely new challenge for experienced players. Today, we’ll take a closer look at this and show you what you can do in a Superflat world.
How does the Superflat world work in Minecraft?
With the official release of Minecraft, a Creative mode and a Superflat preset were added. Both are meant to go hand in hand, allowing you to test your creative ideas and projects without having to worry about the environment and terrain. For many, Superflat is more of a playground with endless possibilities.
There are now various Superflat worlds you can choose from. Traditionally, you should stick to the classic design: a layer of Bedrock, two layers of dirt, and a layer of grass. There are also complete water worlds, deserts, and various flat overworlds where ores spawn.
But for our challenge, we’ll look at the standard template that you can select as a world type during world generation without having to open the additional menu.
First Steps in the Minecraft Superflat World
When you first appear in a Superflat world, not much will catch your eye. Everything is flat, which might seem intimidating at first. You might see a few animals, but probably not much else. Well, at least you have something to eat, but what’s next?
First, you should look for a village, as these spawn in a Superflat world and are your primary source for essential items. Here you can find trees, cobblestone, and plant-based food, which you can also replant. There are also beds, allowing you to set your spawn point. Setting up your first base near a village is definitely a good idea! Sooner or later, you can trade with the villagers, which becomes one of your best sources for many important items.
Next, you should tame a horse to explore further villages and make travel in Superflat much more comfortable. Saddles can no longer be found directly in chests with version 1.21.6 but can now be crafted from leather and iron. You can obtain iron from the iron golems that spawn in villages. Later, you can also build a full-fledged iron farm, so you won’t run out of iron. (How to Build an Iron Farm: Unlimited Supply of Iron)
If you’re playing with monsters, you’ll definitely notice the many slimes. They can be really annoying, so you should either play on “Peaceful” or find other ways to deal with them. You can ward off slimes with water, carpets, a base above Y-Level 40, or a trench that fills the monster limit and collects slimes.
The Wandering Trader and His Valuable Items
While the villager in blue robes is rather useless in the normal game, he is extremely useful in a Superflat world! He can provide you with many items that you otherwise can’t obtain. You should definitely keep an eye out for him and his two llamas and always have some emeralds on hand to trade for rare items. After an adventure in a Superflat world, the wandering trader might become one of your favorite companions in Minecraft.
You can exclusively obtain from the wandering trader:
- Sugar cane
- Packed ice and blue ice
- All types of wood (as saplings or logs)
- Moss
- Cactus
- Coral blocks
- Dripstone
- Seagrass
- Vines
Defeating the Ender Dragon in a Superflat World
Yes, you can actually play through the game in a superflat world. You can enter both the Nether and the End without major detours. The latter is even significantly easier than in a normal world. You should do both pretty much at the beginning of your challenge to gain access to important items and make your time in Superflat much easier. Both dimensions, by the way, are not flat but are generated normally.
For a Nether portal, you need obsidian, which you can sometimes find in chests in villages. Otherwise, you can use lava from furnaces to cast a portal. The flint and steel is a bit trickier since flint is not so easy to obtain. You have to try to build burning wood directly at the portal with lava and hope the fire spreads. It works but may take a few attempts. However, you can find gravel for flint in the Nether.
The End is super easy to reach! Strongholds spawn in Superflat and are always in the same location due to the world type. They float in the air and are actually hard to miss.
Unobtainable Items in the Superflat World
Due to the specific conditions, there are also some blocks and items that you definitely can’t obtain. Even villagers can’t help you here. Fortunately, the list isn’t long, but there are some things you’ll have to do without. Depending on updates, this list may change, offering new ways to obtain them.
(Currently) unattainable items include:
- Bamboo
- All prismarine blocks
- All ores and their raw variants
- Animals like axolotls, turtles, dogs, dolphins, rabbits, sniffers, or foxes
- Amethyst shard, spyglass, and tinted glass
- Frog lights
- Sweet berries
- Cocoa plants
- Tall variants of flowers
- Sculk blocks
- Mycelium
Long-term Strategies for Your Superflat Adventures
In the end, you can do whatever you want with a superflat world. Since you don’t have any terrain to work with, you can shape the world according to your own ideas. Large farms and automatic machines are your friends and help you gather enough materials for your building projects.
If you want to learn more about Superflat, we recommend the YouTuber Mogswamp. He has a Superflat world that is over 10 years old! It’s really fascinating to see what you can achieve from a flat piece of land.
Conclusion: Superflat as a Minecraft Experience
A Superflat world can be a great challenge in Minecraft if the regular game is getting too dull for you. You’ll have to play significantly differently and use various mechanics to obtain certain items. But you’ll come to appreciate some things more, including the wandering trader or trading with villagers. Rent your own Minecraft server with us and try this challenge with friends! It’s a completely new way to experience Minecraft and rediscover the game.
