Around the Block: Deep Dark

When exploring at the very bottom of the Overworld, where rock is compressed into deepslate by the weight of all that lies above, you’ll occasionally break into a cavern containing something unusual and unsettling.

The first clue that you’re approaching this ominous place will likely be the organic undulating sounds of sculk sensors detecting your movement, followed most likely by the roar of a warden emerging from the rock. If it were me, I'd take this opportunity to turn around, return from the direction that I came, and go back to my quiet life on the surface.

You, on the other hand, might be feeling brave or foolhardy enough to explore it. In which case don’t say we didn’t warn you. Welcome to the deep dark – our biome of the month.

The deep dark became an official part of Minecraft in the Wild Update in June 2022, though there was a different deep dark in the Extra Utilities mod for Java Edition, created by RWTema and released in 2013.

It’s an Overworld biome that generates far underground, below areas that have a low erosion value like mountain peaks and plateaus. There’s some light in there, but less than you’d find in most other underground biomes – limited to sculk catalysts, lava, soul fire, and soul lanterns.  

Those latter two are only found in ancient cities, which generate in this biome and add unexplained but intentional architecture to these hidden depths. It’s not clear whether they built their cities at the bottom of the world, or whether geological processes have buried them. However, we have a field expert that knows a thing or two about its visual design – Concept Artist Mariana Salimena.

If you’re planning an archaeological dig, then there are a few things to watch out for. The first are those sculk sensors mentioned above. These detect vibrations caused by movement – walking, placing or breaking blocks, or items falling on the ground. When they hear one, they’ll send a signal to a nearby sculk shrieker that unleashes an almighty howl, summoning the very worst creature you’ll encounter in this biome – wardens.