Where Ancient Cities Generate
Ancient cities generate deep underground in the Deep Dark biome, commonly beneath areas with low erosion such as mountain regions. Finding Deep Dark does not guarantee that a city is present.
How to Find Ancient Cities
The best searches begin above likely Deep Dark terrain, then move underground with enough preparation to investigate safely.
What to Look For
- Search below large mountain ranges where Deep Dark biomes are more likely
- Explore near the bottom of the world, around Y -51, while watching for sculk
- Move quietly, carry wool, and mark safe routes before entering the city
Find Ancient Cities with Commands
Use /locate structure minecraft:ancient_city in Java Edition. In Bedrock Edition, enter /locate structure and select ancient_city from autocomplete if the exact syntax differs.
Common Search Problems
If the search is taking much longer than expected, check these common causes.
- Not every patch of Deep Dark contains a city
- Digging straight down can expose caves, lava, or the city without a safe exit
- Sculk shriekers can summon the Warden even when the city is hard to see
Find Ancient Cities with MineyMap
MineyMap can show Ancient City locations generated in your own world, so you can choose a destination on the map and travel there in-game without searching blindly. See how MineyMap works.
