The ore ladder
Copper lives on floors 1–39, iron on 40–79, gold on 80–119 — and floor 120 ends the ladder with a Skull Key and the gateway to Skull Cavern. Each 5 floors reached locks an elevator checkpoint, so progress is permanent: the strategy is always "reach the next checkpoint, then stop for the day if tired."
Floor-clearing efficiency
The ladder spawns after breaking rocks — prioritize clustered rocks over scattered ones, and remember the floor’s ladder can also appear from killing monsters on infested floors. Upgrade the pickaxe at each ore tier (copper pick breaks rocks in fewer hits, steel opens the meteorite and more) and carry food for health — the mine’s real currency is time.
Beyond the ladder
Floor 120’s Skull Key opens Skull Cavern in the desert (the iridium endgame — see our Skull Cavern guide). The mine also feeds the Geode processing loop, monster kills for the Adventurer’s Guild quests, and a steady supply of quartz and fire quartz for refined quartz and crafting.
Sources and standards
Where these figures come from
Every formula on this page is implemented from the published reference material below. Where a value depends on a regional code, the calculator lets you override it rather than assuming one jurisdiction.
- Minecraft — official site — the game of record for mechanics, versions and release notes.
- Mojang Studios — the developer, and the authority on balance changes between versions.
Figures, formulas and reference tables last verified: 19 September 2026.
