How to Build a Nether Portal Without Obsidian

With Custom Nether Portals Mod active, you no longer need to mine obsidian with a diamond pickaxe or cast lava and water to reach the Nether. You can construct functional portal frames out of everyday materials like stone, wood, or blocks added by other mods.

Choosing and Placing Frame Blocks

1. Check which blocks are enabled as valid frame materials in your current setup or modpack.

2. Gather enough of your chosen block—such as stone, wooden planks, or a supported modded building block—to form a closed rectangular frame.

3. Place the blocks in the standard vertical portal shape, leaving a hollow interior at least wide and tall enough for a vanilla Nether portal. Just like with traditional obsidian frames, the four outer corners are optional for the frame structure itself, though filling them in helps blend the portal into walls.

Igniting the Custom Portal

1. Clear any snow, tall grass, or torches from the inside of your frame so the interior consists entirely of air blocks.

2. Equip a Flint and Steel or a Fire Charge, just as you would for a standard portal.

3. Use the item on the top face of one of the bottom inner frame blocks. Because the mod integrates directly with vanilla mechanics, the interior will fill with portal blocks and allow normal interdimensional travel.