How to Activate the Ancient City Portal and Enter the Deeper Dark

Crafting the Echo Flint and Steel

To unlock the dormant portal frame inside an Ancient City, you first need to craft a specialized igniter.

1. Explore Deep Dark biomes and loot Ancient City chests to gather 8 Echo Shards.

2. Craft a standard Flint and Steel using one Iron Ingot and one Flint.

3. Open a Crafting Table, place the Flint and Steel in the center slot, and surround it completely with the 8 Echo Shards to craft the Echo Flint and Steel.

Igniting the Frame and Exploring

Locate the large reinforced deepslate frame at the center of an Ancient City. Clear out any nearby Sculk Shriekers or Wardens so you can approach the structure safely. Hold the Echo Flint and Steel and right-click the inner side of the reinforced deepslate frame. A glowing cyan portal with blue particles will ignite. Step into the portal to travel to the Deep Dark Wastes.

Inside the Deeper Dark, prepare for dangerous monsters:

• Ender Ghast: A small flying mob that teleports away the moment you make eye contact. Defeating one drops Dragon Eggs, which you will need later for duplicating high-tier smithing templates.
• Herobrine: A rare, hostile guardian found inside dark underground shrines. Come prepared with strong armor and weapons before entering these structures, as their chests hold valuable upgrade materials.