Deepslate Diamond Ore — Minecraft block

Deepslate Diamond Ore

Deepslate Diamond Ore is the deep-cave variant of diamond — the standard source for the most valuable mineral in Minecraft.

Block ID minecraft:deepslate_diamond_ore
Mod Vanilla
Game versions
1.21

Description

Deepslate Diamond Ore generates between y=−64 and y=16, with the highest concentration around y=−59 — well within the tightest, deepest part of the cave layer. Since the Caves & Cliffs Update (1.18), almost every diamond a Survival player ever finds comes from this variant. The texture is the most coveted in the game: dark grey deepslate cradling clusters of bright cyan crystals that almost glow against the surrounding stone.

An iron pickaxe is the minimum required tool — anything weaker drops nothing. Mining yields one diamond, with bonus rolls under Fortune III pushing the average above two. Diamonds craft into pickaxes, swords, axes, shovels, hoes, full armour sets, jukeboxes, music discs, enchanting tables, firework stars, and the components needed to upgrade gear to netherite — the only path to the strongest tier in the game. Silk Touch returns the ore intact, which experienced players sometimes prefer to maximize Fortune potential at a later point.

Java & Bedrock Guide

How to mine Deepslate Diamond Ore in Minecraft

  1. 1

    Dig to the diamond layer

    Mine down to between y=-59 and y=-53, the depths where deepslate diamond ore is most common. Press F3 in Java or enable coordinates in Bedrock to read your Y level.

  2. 2

    Equip an iron pickaxe or better

    Use an iron, diamond, or netherite pickaxe. A wooden or stone pickaxe breaks the ore but drops nothing.

  3. 3

    Add Fortune for more diamonds

    A pickaxe enchanted with Fortune III can drop up to 4 diamonds from a single ore instead of one.

  4. 4

    Manage lava and consider Silk Touch

    Carry water or blocks to seal lava at these depths. Silk Touch collects the ore block intact so you can mine it with Fortune later.

Version note

The deepslate variant arrived with the Caves & Cliffs update (1.17–1.18). Below y=0, diamond ore generates almost entirely as this harder deepslate form.

Used in crafts

Related blocks

Frequently asked questions

What Y level is best for Deepslate Diamond Ore?

Y=-59 has the highest diamond density. Mining between y=-64 and y=-53 gives the best results in current versions.

What pickaxe do you need for Deepslate Diamond Ore?

An iron pickaxe is the minimum. Iron, diamond, and netherite all work; wooden and stone pickaxes drop nothing.

How many diamonds does it drop?

One diamond by default. A Fortune III pickaxe raises the maximum to four per ore.

Can you collect the ore block itself?

Yes. Mine it with a Silk Touch pickaxe to get the deepslate diamond ore block instead of a diamond.

Is it harder to mine than regular diamond ore?

Yes. Deepslate diamond ore takes noticeably longer to break than the stone variant, so an Efficiency pickaxe helps.

Minecraft and all related materials are trademarks and copyrights of Mojang Studios © 2009–2026. This site is not an official Minecraft product and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Mojang Studios or Microsoft Corporation.