The Flames of the Nether DLC introduces a thrilling new feature to Minecraft Dungeons—Ancient Hunts. These high-risk, high-reward challenges offer the opportunity to obtain rare Gilded items, powerful gear that can elevate your build to the next level. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know to master Ancient Hunts: how to unlock them, how they work, and how to get the most out of each run.

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What Are Ancient Hunts?

Ancient Hunts are procedurally generated dungeon runs where you sacrifice items and enchantment points to enter. In return, you’ll face off against Ancient mobs—elite enemies that drop Gilded items with enhanced stats and perks, making them perfect for late-game builds.

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How to Access Ancient Hunts

1. Update Your Game
   Ancient Hunts were added with the free update alongside the Flames of the Nether DLC. Make sure your game is up to date.
2. Visit the Ancient Hunts Portal
   At the camp, locate the Ancient Hunts portal near the Piglin Merchant. Interact with it to start offering gear.
3. Unlock the Piglin Merchant
   You’ll automatically unlock this merchant after collecting Gold Bars in your first Ancient Hunt.

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How to Start an Ancient Hunt

• Sacrifice Gear: Offer at least one item to begin. Each item contributes specific runes that determine which Ancient mobs you may encounter.
• Spend Enchantment Points: Optionally invest enchantment points to increase the likelihood of encountering Ancient mobs. Note: these points are permanently consumed once the mission begins, regardless of success or failure.

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Manipulating Your Loot Tables

• Item Selection Matters: Different items contribute different rune combinations, which influence the types of Ancient mobs that spawn.
• Experiment & Document: Keep track of which gear combinations spawn which mobs and what loot they drop.
• Target Specific Drops: Once you’ve mapped out some loot tables, sacrifice items that match the runes of the mobs you’re aiming to farm.

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Tips for Successful Ancient Hunts

1. Choose the Right Difficulty

• Higher difficulties yield more enchanted mobs, Ancient encounters, and Gold Bars.
• If you’re new, start slightly below your recommended power level to get comfortable.

2. Increase Ancient Mob Encounters

• The more and better gear you sacrifice, the higher the percentage chance of encountering Ancient mobs. Aim for 90%+ for best results.

3. Explore Every Corner

• Gold chests and Ancient mobs may be hidden off the main path.
• Use movement-enhancing artifacts like Boots of Swiftness to clear areas quickly.

4. Prepare for Boss Fights

• Focus on clearing adds before attacking the Ancient.
• Use crowd-control and damage-boosting artifacts to burst them down quickly.

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Rewards from Ancient Hunts

Gilded Gear

• Ancient mobs drop Gilded versions of weapons, armor, and artifacts.
• Gilded items often have increased stats and unique perks, making them ideal for endgame content.

Gold Bars

• Collected from Ancient Hunts and used at the Piglin Merchant to purchase or reroll gilded gear.

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Best Practices for Efficient Hunts

1. Start Broad, Then Get Specific

• Early on, test random combinations to discover new Ancient mobs.
• Once you’ve identified their loot, you can refine your sacrifices to target specific gear.

2. Farm Strategically

• Focus on Ancient mobs that drop gear you want to build around. This saves time and enchantment points.

3. Mind Your Enchantment Points

• Don’t over-invest in early runs. Only commit large amounts of enchantment points when you’re confident you’ll reach and defeat Ancients.

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Camp Highlights

• Ancient Hunts Portal: Initiate and configure Ancient Hunts here.
• Piglin Merchant: Use Gold Bars to buy and refresh gilded items.
• Blacksmith: Upgrade gear to increase its power level before sacrificing it for better runes.

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Final Thoughts

Ancient Hunts are a core feature of Minecraft Dungeons’ endgame, offering strategic depth and some of the most powerful loot in the game. With careful planning, experimentation, and a bit of patience, you can build a loadout that dominates even the toughest dungeons.

If you found this guide helpful and want more content on builds, farming strategies, or DLC walkthroughs, be sure to like and subscribe. Good luck out there—and happy hunting!