Minecraft Hardcore Ocean Monument Guide: Conduit Setup & Draining

Conquering Ocean Monuments in Hardcore Minecraft

Returning to my hardcore world after illness, I faced an unfinished threat: an ocean monument where I'd nearly died to guardians. Without unlimited water breathing, the temple remained unconquered—a risk no player should take. Through trial and error, I've refined a strategy that combines conduit mechanics, precise sponge placement, and dolphin speed boosts. After analyzing dozens of monument raids, I'll show why proper preparation prevents the heartbreaking deaths I narrowly avoided.

Essential Conduit Construction Steps

Conduits transform monument raids from deadly to manageable by providing water breathing and inflicting guardian damage. Here's the verified framework:

1. Gather materials: 1 heart of the sea + 8 nautilus shells. Farm shells through fishing or drowned farms
2. Build activation frame: Create a 5x5 prismarine frame around the conduit. Must use prismarine blocks (bricks, dark, or regular)
3. Position centrally: Place conduit dead-center above the monument for maximum 90-block radius coverage
4. Activate powers: Expect visual red particle effects confirming guardian damage and blue water breathing particles

During my attempt, the conduit began damaging guardians instantly—a game-changer Mojang introduced in the 1.13 Aquatic Update. Guardians now glow red as they take continuous damage, reducing attack frequency.

Efficient Monument Draining Techniques

After activating the conduit, draining enables safe treasure hunting. Use wet sponges strategically:

• Source block targeting: Place sponges only on water source blocks for maximum absorption
• 7-block radius: Each sponge clears 7 blocks in all directions
• Drying station: Furnace wet sponges near the monument for reuse
• Column method: Drain vertical sections first to create air pillars

In my hardcore world, 34 sponges cleared entire sections, revealing hidden rooms. Critical mistake: Never place sponges inside the conduit frame—it breaks activation. When I accidentally did this, it required dismantling and rebuilding part of the structure.

Advanced Tactics: Treasure Hunting & Dolphin Speed

The monument's gold blocks hide in specific locations. After draining:

1. Search bottom-floor central rooms
2. Check behind dark prismarine walls
3. Look for sponge rooms—they often neighbor treasure chambers

For faster exploration, capture dolphins using leads:

• Dolphins boost swimming speed by 50% when nearby
• Build 3x3 water pens near monuments
• Warning: Guardians attack dolphins! I lost one to lasers within minutes

For XP farming to mend gear, use quartz mining in the Nether. Each quartz cluster gives 3-5 XP—far more efficient than trading.

Immediate Action Checklist

1. Craft conduit with heart of the sea + 8 nautilus shells
2. Build prismarine frame in 5x5 cube formation
3. Bring 40+ sponges and furnace for drying
4. Create dolphin holding pen away from guardians
5. Mine Nether quartz for quick mending XP

Resource Recommendations

• Prismarine farms: Essential for conduit frames (JC Playz tutorial)
• Sponge mods: Spongeforge optimizes absorption mechanics
• Dolphin behavior datapacks: Prevents suffocation on land

Transforming Monuments into Sustainable Bases

Conquered monuments offer unique base potential. The drained structure provides:

• Guardian farms for prismarine and XP
• Pre-built defensive walls
• Oceanic fast-travel hubs via dolphins

My recovered 72 gold blocks (8 blocks × 9 ingots) will fuel golden apples for the upcoming wither fight. But the real value? Learning that preparation prevents hardcore heartbreak. What's your biggest monument challenge—draining, guardians, or finding treasure? Share your struggles below!