Ocean Monuments are breathtaking structures in Minecraft, brimming with treasure and danger. But exploring them can be tricky, especially when navigating the constant threat of guardians and elder guardians. Many players find that draining the monument significantly improves the exploration experience. This guide will walk you through the process, covering different methods and considerations.
Understanding the Challenge: Why Drain an Ocean Monument?
Before diving into the methods, let's understand why you might want to drain an ocean monument. The primary reasons are:
- Improved Visibility: The constant water obscures your view, making it difficult to spot valuable items, chests, and even the path ahead. Draining the monument provides a clear, unobstructed view.
- Easier Combat: Guardians and elder guardians are significantly less effective when not in their watery environment. Draining the monument levels the playing field, making combat much easier.
- Simpler Navigation: Movement becomes much more efficient. You won't have to worry about swimming, dodging guardians, and managing your oxygen levels.
Method 1: Using Sponges (The Classic Approach)
This is the most common method, relying on the absorbent power of sponges. However, it's also the most resource-intensive.
Steps:
- Gather Sponges: This is the most time-consuming part. You'll need a LOT of sponges. You obtain these by finding and mining sponges in ocean monuments themselves (often found in the lower sections) or underwater ruins. You can also find them while exploring underwater shipwrecks. Alternatively, you can obtain sponges from trading with cleric villagers.
- Prepare for Saturation: Sponges, when wet, can't absorb water. You need to dry them. You can do this by placing them in a furnace or using a drying method such as a campfire.
- Strategic Placement: Begin placing the dry sponges strategically within the monument. Work your way from the bottom up to maximize efficiency. The placement should account for any existing water sources to ensure that the water drains effectively.
- Patience is Key: This is a slow process, especially for large monuments. Regularly check your progress and replace saturated sponges.
Pros: Relatively simple concept, easily understood. Cons: Extremely time-consuming and requires a massive number of sponges.
Method 2: Using a Netherite Pickaxe (A Speedier Alternative):
This is a faster method but requires some preparation. This method isn't technically draining the monument, but it makes traversing it significantly easier:
- Obtaining a Netherite Pickaxe: Craft a Netherite pickaxe, which is the most durable tool in the game.
- Mining Through the Structure: Use the Netherite pickaxe to mine through a significant portion of the monument's walls and floors.
- Environmental Modification: While not draining the water, it is an efficient way to gain access to the interior of the monument more quickly.
Pros: Much faster than using sponges. Cons: Doesn't completely drain the water, requires having a netherite pickaxe.
Tips for Success:
- Bring Plenty of Supplies: Food, potions, and tools are essential, especially when tackling a large ocean monument.
- Prepare for Combat: Guardians are relentless. Bring weapons, armor, and potions that provide protection from their attacks.
- Plan Your Route: Consider the most efficient path to drain the monument, minimizing the number of sponges or blocks you need to remove.
- Consider Using Boats: Boats can help you navigate more efficiently through underwater sections.
Draining an ocean monument can be a rewarding but challenging undertaking. Choose the method that best suits your resources and patience levels. Remember safety first! Good luck with your underwater exploration!
