Finding slime chunks
About one chunk in ten is a slime chunk. Underground, below Y=40, those are the only places where slimes can spawn, and light doesn’t stop them. If you want a steady supply of slimeballs for sticky pistons or slime blocks, you need to build on one.
In Java the pattern comes from your world seed. In Bedrock it’s the same in every world, so the seed only changes the terrain you see behind it.
How to use it
- 01
Pick Java or Bedrock. For Java, paste your seed (type /seed in game to get it).
- 02
Move the map near your base and pick a highlighted square. Each one is a 16 × 16 chunk.
- 03
Go to those coordinates and press F3 (or turn on coordinates in Bedrock) to check you’re inside the chunk before you dig.
Good to know
- Build the spawning floor at Y=39 or lower and keep it completely dark. Every cave you leave open inside the chunk competes for the same mob cap.
- Stand more than 24 blocks away from the floor. Slimes won’t spawn closer than that, and they despawn if you go past 128.
- Slimes also spawn in Java swamps between Y=51 and 69 depending on the moon phase. That has nothing to do with slime chunks.
Frequently asked questions
Why doesn’t the Bedrock map change when I change the seed?
Because Bedrock slime chunks don’t depend on the seed. The same chunks are slime chunks in every Bedrock world.
Do slime chunks work in the Nether or the End?
No, only in the Overworld.
I’m in a highlighted chunk and nothing spawns. What’s wrong?
Usually one of three things: the floor is above Y=40, you’re standing too close (under 24 blocks), or other mobs in nearby caves are filling the mob cap.
Does light stop slimes from spawning?
Not in slime chunks. Below Y=40 they spawn at any light level, so torches won’t keep them away. Light still matters for the other mobs competing for the mob cap.
Can I find slime chunks without the seed?
In Java, no. The pattern is calculated from the seed. On a server, ask an operator to run /seed. In Bedrock you don’t need it.
How do chunk coordinates work?
A chunk is 16 × 16 blocks. Divide a block coordinate by 16 and round down to get the chunk. For example, X = 170 is in chunk 10, which covers X 160 to 175.
