Ancient Temple
The Ancient Temple is the only structure found in The Otherside dimension, added by the Deeper and Darker mod. Located exclusively in the Deeplands biome, this multi-level dungeon contains valuable loot including the Sculk Transmitter, Warden Upgrade Smithing Template, and Soul Crystals.
Exploring the Ancient Temple is dangerous but rewarding. Multiple chest types contain different tiers of loot, from basic resources in storage rooms to guaranteed rare items in the secret chamber. Ancient Vases scattered throughout can spawn Stalkers or Sculk Leeches when broken, adding risk to every loot run.
Ancient Temple
Generation
The Ancient Temple generates exclusively in the Deeplands biome of The Otherside dimension. Temples spawn at Y-levels 18-28 above the bottom of the world, placing them in the lower portions of the Deeplands terrain.
Structure spacing averages 28 chunks with a minimum separation of 8 chunks, making Ancient Temples relatively uncommon but not excessively rare. When exploring the Deeplands, you’ll typically find one temple every 400-600 blocks of travel.
Ancient Temples are partially buried underground. Look for exposed Sculk Stone Bricks or Sculk Grime Bricks poking through the terrain surface. The apex (top level) often generates at or slightly above ground level.
Structure Layout
The Ancient Temple consists of multiple levels connected vertically. The structure generates from the basement upward, with each level containing different room configurations and loot tables.
Apex Level (Top)
The apex is the uppermost level and often the first area players encounter. It contains high-tier loot chests with 5-6 item rolls, offering the best chances for Diamonds (4-8), Echo Shards (5-9), and enchanted Diamond armor. Warden Carapace can also drop here.
Fountain Level (Middle)
The fountain level features a central water-filled area and 4-6 roll chests. This is the only location where Soul Crystals (1-2) can be found in temple chests. Enchanted Diamond Swords and various resources also spawn here.
Basement Level (Bottom)
The basement contains the most diverse loot with two pools of items (4-6 rolls plus 2 equipment rolls). Notable drops include Music Disc Otherside, Catalysis enchanted books, Warden Carapace, and Potions of Strong Strength. Enchanted Diamond equipment frequently appears here.
Secret Room
The secret room contains the temple’s most valuable guaranteed loot. Every secret room chest contains exactly one Sculk Transmitter, plus chances for Warden Upgrade Smithing Templates, Echo Shards, Diamonds, and Ancient Paintings unique to the mod.
The secret room is hidden within the structure. Look for breakable walls, suspicious block patterns, or use the Sculk Sensor’s vibration detection to locate hollow spaces behind walls. The guaranteed Sculk Transmitter makes finding this room worthwhile.
Storage Rooms
Storage rooms contain lower-tier loot (3-5 rolls) including Sculk Stone, Echo Logs, raw ores, and building materials. While not as valuable as other areas, they provide useful resources for extended Otherside expeditions.
Loot
Ancient Temples contain five distinct loot tables, each appearing in different areas of the structure. The rarest items are exclusive to specific chest types.
Exclusive Items
Common Loot by Area
Apex chests focus on high-value materials: Diamonds (4-8), Echo Shards (5-9), Sculk Bones (2-6), Iron Ingots, and enchanted equipment. Enchanted Diamond armor pieces with level 30-50 enchantments appear frequently.
Basement chests provide crafting materials and equipment: Soul Dust (3-7), Echo Shards (4-7), Grime Bricks, Name Tags, and enchanted Diamond weapons and armor. The second loot pool guarantees equipment like Diamond Swords or armor pieces.
Fountain chests contain mixed resources: Cobweb, Sculk, Gold and Iron Ingots, Diamonds (3-6), Soul Dust, and Sculk Sensors/Catalysts. Soul Crystals only appear in this chest type.
Storage chests offer building supplies: Sculk Stone, Echo Logs, Cobblestone, raw ores (Iron, Copper, Gold), Amethyst Shards, and occasional Diamonds or Emeralds.
Mobs
Ancient Temples contain mob spawning areas that continuously generate threats throughout exploration. Additionally, Ancient Vases scattered throughout the structure create unpredictable danger when looted.
Structure Spawns
Shattered spawn naturally within the temple. These zombie-like hostile mobs have moderate health and deal significant damage. They drop Sculk Bones when killed, providing materials for Soul Elytra crafting.
Sculk Snappers also inhabit the temple. These neutral mobs won’t attack unless provoked, but their presence adds tension during exploration. They can be tamed with enchanted items to produce enchanted books.
Ancient Vase Spawns
Breaking naturally-generated Ancient Vases carries a 16% chance of spawning a mob. When a spawn triggers, there’s a 70% chance for 1-4 Sculk Leeches and a 30% chance for a Stalker boss. The effective Stalker spawn rate is approximately 4.8% per vase.
The Stalker is a boss mob with 200 HP, 22 attack damage, and a devastating ring attack. Clear the area around Ancient Vases before breaking them, and be prepared for combat. Defeating a Stalker rewards Soul Crystals.
Exploration Tips
Bring adequate gear before entering an Ancient Temple. Diamond or Netherite armor is recommended, along with healing items, food, and torches. The Warden Helmet eliminates Darkness, making navigation significantly easier.
Start exploration from the apex (top) and work downward. This approach lets you secure high-tier loot first and provides an escape route. Breaking floor blocks in the center allows descent to lower levels.
Prioritize finding the secret room for the guaranteed Sculk Transmitter. Check walls for hidden passages and listen for hollow spaces. The Warden Upgrade Smithing Template found here is essential for creating Warden equipment.
Consider leaving Ancient Vases unbroken until you’ve cleared the temple of other threats. Return to break them systematically when prepared for potential Stalker encounters. The loot from vases includes Warden Carapace and other valuable materials.
Watch for Sculk Stone ore variants in temple walls. Diamond, Emerald, and other ore types can spawn within the structure’s Sculk Stone, providing bonus resources during exploration.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ancient Temples spawn exclusively in the Deeplands biome of The Otherside dimension at Y-levels 18-28. They don’t generate in the Echoing Forest, Blooming Caverns, or Overcast Columns biomes.
The Sculk Transmitter is a guaranteed drop from the secret room chest in every Ancient Temple. Find the hidden chamber by checking for breakable walls or hollow spaces. Each secret room chest contains exactly one Sculk Transmitter.
Shattered and Sculk Snappers spawn naturally within the temple structure. Breaking Ancient Vases has a 16% chance to spawn additional mobs: either 1-4 Sculk Leeches (70% when spawning) or a Stalker boss (30% when spawning, ~4.8% per vase overall).
Yes, the Warden Upgrade Smithing Template can drop from secret room chests in Ancient Temples. It’s a rare drop, so you may need to explore multiple temples. The template is also available in Ancient City chests in the Overworld.
The most valuable items are the guaranteed Sculk Transmitter (secret room), Warden Upgrade Smithing Template (secret room), Soul Crystals (fountain chests), Warden Carapace (apex/basement), and Music Disc Otherside (basement). Enchanted Diamond equipment also spawns frequently throughout the temple.