Some of the crafting materials in Minecraft are easy to find, such as Woods and Stones. However, there are also some that are (much) harder to get or find, like the Nautilus Shell, a material that was added in Minecraft Aquatic Update. In Minecraft, you can craft Conduits after getting eight Nautilus Shells and one Heart of the Sea, a special item for underwater exploration that can:

  • Damage hostile mobs within a smaller 8-block radius surrounding them.
  • Emit level 15 light (brightest in the game) when placed underwater.
  • And once activated, will Give a Conduit Power buff to all players within a set radius of 32-96 blocks. Its effects are:
  • Restores oxygen.
  • Gives underwater night vision.
  • Increased underwater mining speed.

Minecraft: How to Find Nautilus Shells

If you’re looking for ways to get Nautilus Shells, there are three methods you can choose from. Two of them require you to head for the water and the other one will cost you Emeralds.

  • Restores oxygen.
  • Gives underwater night vision.
  • Increased underwater mining speed.

1. From Fishing

The first option is to go fishing. Combine three Sticks with two pieces of String to make a Fishing Rod. Then walk over to the edge of the water, cast the rod in, and pray for the best.

Nautilus Shells are a rare drop from fishing, and obtaining one can take several hours or a number of in-game days. But as described by Stingray Productions in the video above, there is a way to improve your odds when fishing for Nautilus Shell. All you have to do is enchant your Fishing Rod with Enchantment Station’s Luck of the Sea III and Lure III Enchantment Books using an Anvil. The likelihood of acquiring one of these shells increases with each level of Luck of the Sea, so you should aim for the highest enchantment level.

2. By Defeating Drowned

The alternative way to obtain Nautilus Shells is to go into the ocean and fight the Drowned. Drowned are Zombies that fall into the water or mobs that naturally spawn from bodies of water. In Minecraft Java Edition, a Drowned has a 3% chance of spawning with a Nautilus Shell and an 8% chance in Minecraft Bedrock Edition. Kill them if you spot a Nautilus Shell on their hands and it should drop.

3. Trading

Wandering Traders may sell nautilus shells for five Emeralds each on rare occasions, however, they only sell five at a time.

Minecraft is available on PC, Android, iOS, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PlayStation platforms.