If you've been digging through caves looking for Arcane Debris in Iron's Spells 'n Spellbooks, you won't find it generating in new worlds. The mod's developers replaced the block with Mithril Ore, though old save files still retain their existing debris and crafting recipes. Knowing how this resource transition works saves you hours of pointless strip mining and ensures you can still craft your late-game gear.
We'll clear up the confusion between old mechanics and current generation, show you exactly where to mine, and explain how to process your materials properly.
Understanding the Arcane Debris to Mithril Transition
When Iron's Spells 'n Spellbooks first introduced its signature magic crafting items, Arcane Debris functioned as an Overworld equivalent to vanilla Ancient Debris. Players mined it to acquire Arcane Salvage, which turned into high-tier scrap.
Recent updates changed that workflow completely:
- World Generation: Arcane Debris no longer spawns naturally in newly generated chunks.
- The Replacement: Mithril Ore and Deepslate Mithril Ore took its place, sitting in the exact same underground layers.
- Legacy Support: Existing worlds keep their mined or placed blocks of Arcane Debris so players don't lose progress. You can also still spawn the block via commands like
/give @p irons_spellbooks:arcane_debrisif you need it for decorative builds.
Recipe viewers like JEI often display old conversion paths, which causes confusion. It's why many players spend hours searching for a block that no longer exists in fresh terrain generation.
Where to Find Mithril Ore in Modern Versions
Since Mithril Ore replaces the old material, you'll need to target specific depths to gather your magic upgrade supplies.
Mithril generates across all Overworld biomes between Y levels -63 and -38. It typically appears in tight veins of up to three blocks. Like vanilla Ancient Debris, Mithril Ore never generates touching open air, meaning you won't spot it exposed on cave walls or ravine sides. You have to tunnel through solid stone or deepslate.
Mining requirements demand specific tools:
- Pickaxe Tier: You must use a Netherite Pickaxe. Anything weaker breaks the block without dropping any ore.
- Lighting: The ore itself emits a faint glow, helping you spot it the moment your tunnel breaks into the block.
- Enchantments: Using Silk Touch lets you pick up the ore block directly, while Fortune increases the amount of Raw Mithril dropped.
For more details on overall magic items and mechanics, you can check the Iron's Spells Wiki.
Smelting and Processing Your Materials
Once you've secured your Raw Mithril or any legacy Arcane Salvage from older saves, you can't just toss them into a standard stone furnace.
- Smelting: Place Raw Mithril into a Blast Furnace. Regular furnaces won't accept the material. This process yields Mithril Scrap.
- Ingot Crafting: Combine four Mithril Scrap in a crafting grid to create a Mithril Ingot.
- Reversing Ingots: If you need smaller components for specific recipes, you can blast a Mithril Ingot back down into four scrap pieces.
Mithril Ingots combine with other items like chains to create Mithril Weave, which is required for advanced armor pieces like the Lightbringer Chestplate and the Infernal Sorcerer Chestplate.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Players often run into roadblocks when dealing with magic materials because of outdated tutorials or modpack changes. Watch out for these pitfalls:
- Searching caves blindly: Don't look along exposed cave walls. Because Mithril doesn't generate touching air, you must strip-mine or branch-mine within the Y -63 to Y -38 range.
- Using diamond pickaxes: Trying to mine Mithril with a diamond pickaxe destroys it. Always upgrade your gear first.
- Confusing Ancient Debris with Arcane Debris: Ancient Debris is the vanilla Nether material used for Netherite, while Arcane Debris was the mod's Overworld ore. They serve entirely different progression paths.
To learn more about optimizing your gameplay settings, visit the CurseForge Iron's Spells Mod Page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I still find Arcane Debris in a newly created world?
No. Arcane Debris was removed from natural world generation and replaced entirely by Mithril Ore. It only exists in older save files or if you spawn it manually using a console command.
What pickaxe do I need to mine Mithril Ore?
You need a Netherite Pickaxe. Using a diamond or iron pickaxe will break the block without dropping any raw materials.
What is Mithril used for in the mod?
Mithril is the core resource used to craft high-tier gear, including specialized armor sets like the Lightbringer Chestplate, empty upgrade orbs, and portal frames.
Why do recipe viewers still show Arcane Debris?
Mod recipe viewers retain the old recipes so that players who already mined the block in older saves don't lose their ability to process their existing inventories.
