Ancient Rituals of the Warden | Minecraft Deep Dive

[@RetroGamingNow]

Join me for a dive beneath the caves... and also join the Discord, if you want: discord.gg/RetroGamingNow

[@Thatscrazybro1]

let’s go

[@FearStrikerXD]

What about the Easter egg of starting disc 5 at 5 seconds, disc 11 at 11 seconds and disc 13 at 13 seconds ?

[@Dillybillman1960]

Thank you for the part at the end about the im glad you stayed project. I ordered some bracelets to spread the word

[@NaughtyNovaroo69]

the only holly wood problem is that the ancient builders were there first because of the wither they created and tried to go into a new dimension from the new disc. Then the skulk came in, yes the wool and D oak from the pillager's faction was left out from matt pat but I do agree mostly but I doubt the Redstone was anything apart of the portal. unless the Redstone was going into or flooded the moat or whatever then sure that can work but idk. maybe using Redstone to clear or trap the warden safely or something else but oh well excellent theory and keep up the videos and ill sub to the 3rd best video

[@karandeepsingh9582]

@@CN9950 and I think the warden is a axolotl which is mutated and effected by skulk.

[@hellfirecannon66]

Imagine being an Ancient Builder watching the player from some sort of afterlife, expecting them to have to do a whole Warden ritual to enchant but they just pull out a few books in a little table and suddenly have loads of enchants

[@jj02mc27]

Player: (sticks tools in funny table) Ancient Builder Ghosts: 👁👄👁

[@Azarilh]

Ye, also the enchanting table is way too easy to make. I don't think that artificial catalyst was made to make enchantments. Seems silly. Even damn villagers can make enchantments and they don't even have an enchantment table!!!! How the heck do the do it!?!?!?

[@caboose9843]

@@Azarilh the villagers probably do it through emeralds, like how the witch uses the emerald on her hat to make potions. as for the artificial catalyst, perhaps the ancient builders used this machine for mass producing enchanted armor and weaponry? after all, they had a lot of territory to guard, and their soldiers would need the best gear they can get. and to explain the amount of enchanted gear in the cities: while not numerous to match a "mass production" theory, perhaps what we find is merely what was left of their stock before they abandoned their posts to flee to safety?

[@lolza232]

What if they had special books similar to enchanting table books and they use on the normal books, they "read" the words that are enchanted that enchant the normal book, and experience is well exp and the villagers used it to use (now you are quite confused because keep in mind villagers need a block that gives them a job, a librarian needs a "idk the name" which they use.

[@hellfirecannon66]

@@lolza232 Lectern. But cool theory

[@vroiz8673]

So interesting to hear a theory about the ancient city that doesn’t include another dimension. The most prevalent theory till now has seemed to be that the city center is some sort of portal, and while at first glance it seems like the most likely solution, the way that he connected all of the weirder aspects of the deep dark to suggest another purpose to the city center is fascinating.

[@JRexRegis]

The thing that never made sense to me is that if it were a portal, why would it be so big, and why is there no way to get to the actual portal surface if one could be generated in the hole? Ruined portals are usually pretty small, and end portals as well - just barely large enough to fit a caravan of pack animals through. So what would need a portal this large? Not to mention that it is totally inaccessible from below, there's no staircase up to the hole or even a hint at one there.

[@anandamuhammad4224]

@@JRexRegis I'd argue regarding the size of it of it ever we're an extinct portal, it has a symbolic purpose for whoever inhabited the ancient cities, Ever notice how the most majestic of statues like the jesus statue in Brazil is really big as a symbol of humongous power of purity? That could be explained as why the portal is bigger than necessary considering other portals in MC are pretty compact.

[@JRexRegis]

@@justagoosethatsall I thought about that theory as well, and it does have merit - the two can even be linked, with the large-scale catalyst existing in an attempt to feed the soulfire below the monument and make it burn hotter, like a bellows in a bloomery allows a blacksmith to create steel. If the portal is both a portal frame (the interior part) and a large-scale catalyst (the frame and socket), that would also explain the purpose if it wasn't made for enchanting - a large-scale catalyst that harvests soul energy from the Sculk in order to empower soul fire to make it hot enough to spark a portal inside the frame. The frame even fulfills the (soft) third requirement of portal creation: a frame material that bears some resemblance to the destination (end portal frames are made of endstone, nether portals are made from cooled lava, the portal well in the End has bedrock at the bottom like the Overworld)

[@Overlord_editz]

They are trying to summon a soul army

[@thomasalvarez6456]

@@JRexRegis For an army to fit through, that’s why it’s big.

[@NLT1734]

Here's another theory: maybe the fact that the warden bypasses enchantments and armor is because it attacks the soul itself, not the body

[@gunarsmiezis9321]

But that shouldnt bypass protection magic.

[@chilluxtheduck8023]

​​@@gunarsmiezis9321 mabey it does

[@sockomo7149]

Usually when something has a high level on it such as a level 50 sharpness 5 axe it does a ton more damage than one without any levels. So many the warden is using all of its combined levels throughout all of the skulk blocks to deal insane damage and why they can’t last long outside of the deep dark. Idk maybe just a theory too.

[@bigbangrafa8435]

Sounds like Aizen is doing his stuff again...

[@narenthebeesechurgerman422]

its a sonic blast, thats enough of an explanation

[@Justjustinp]

When you realize your family friendly Minecraft world might contain one of the most terrifying stories of dark magic leading to societal collapse in gaming.

[@Someone-sq8im]

Tbh, it isn’t that bad

[@FEDERAL.BREAD.INCORPORATED]

I don't think it reaches the top ten lol

[@theguys0305]

😥

[@jennywithaglock3916]

the idea of dying and remaining sentient for all eternity in the form of some sand in hell or skulk in the dark wet depths of the earth shrieking and screaming is pretty spooky. there's horror books about similar fates. its interesting to see a compelling version of it told but untold in minecraft

[@Jeikku_]

Don't Starve x Minecraft sharing a story of an old civilisation corrupted by dark magic: 🤝

[@sockomo7149]

Watching this back again I’m starting to realize that XP is not the same as souls, it’s literally knowledge in a raw form. It’s still energy but also knowledge that’s dropped by mobs that have existed for a while. It’s why you spawn with 0 and it’s not the player score count either. When the warden is formed it needs souls and a bit of combined knowledge to function on its own. It’s why all skulk drops XP. It truly is a living hive mind.

[@the_real_aa1]

The knowledge leaving my brain after i apply a funny glow to my sword

[@Aged_Onions]

i think its more like the energy we amass from our knowledge. it isnt literally our memories, but the energy produced from them. its why it can be expended. we arent loosing memories, just the energy they produce.

[@the_real_aa1]

@@Aged_Onions BORING!!! you just don't enchant enough :/// zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

[@michaellvest]

Great take

[@thatnumber202]

It is called "Experience" for a reason

[@deathawakener]

If you start a 15 second timer and play disc 5, 11 and 13 at their respective seconds (5=5 seconds in, 11=11 seconds and 13=13seconds) it sounds like a story of a wanderer finding an ancient city, triggering a warden, attempting to escape and failing. It's eerie.

[@uykolyx]

whatever happened to the 24 disc theory

[@concept5631]

@@uykolyx Never heard of it.

[@ahcwolves4305]

@@uykolyx what’s that

[@yayeet1739]

@@uykolyx don't leave us all hanging you bastard

[@uykolyx]

@@yayeet1739 a thing from a few years where people would try to guess what disc 24 would sound like if it got added and most said it was just 11 + 13

[@HKGNCat]

Now here’s the real question: what came first, the catalyst or the warden?

[@hyperthalamus9278]

Perhaps one day some XP got accidentally absorbed into a block, turning it into sculk, which in turn started evolving because it has some primitive intelligence (souls)? And then the warden was formed as an advanced reproductive mechanism, allowing the sculk to spread much faster. Basically abiogenesis and evolution.

[@Rajshreekende-rt9wt]

Bro it's like chicken or egg

[@tsaralexis9459]

It has to be the catalyst I’d imagine the warden is a type of defense mechanism like certain plants

[@themesoceneofficial8559]

The Chicken

[@wisemysticaltree2866]

The egg, because you eat it for breakfast or do you eat chicken for breakfast?

[@ihearttoast8162]

Saying this again, these videos are unironically better than the movies with a massive budget being made.

[@teoooo.k_]

FACTS

[@moe_lester823]

Tru

[@pastelteabiscuits]

Yeep

[@Nobodytheraccon]

that's some fact's right there

[@twinkyoctopus]

I disagree, but it is quality content

[@LeeGutsy]

Theories like this make minecraft so much more creepy.

[@seek7665]

Is the nether not scary?

[@lucabestea6844]

​@@seek7665honestly, warden horror bypasses the nether at this point. For me, the scariest Nether thing is the Skeleton remains in the Soul Sand Valley.

[@Shsy7573]

@@lucabestea6844 agreed. The whole idea of the warden just being some other worldly, powerful being made up entirely of an amalgamation of the souls of the dead is far more unsettling than anything in the nether.

[@lucabestea6844]

@@Shsy7573 you know, I've been thinking, what if the warden is the manifestation of the plague that corrupts the anicient cities? Think about it. It's horns/ears are just like the sculk sensors, it's beam attack is like the sculk shrieker. It doesn't have eyes, because that plague doesn't. And that plague multiplies by absorbing experience off of dead corpses and it keeps them trapped. Even the name. Warden. Like it's guarding something, is in charge of something. And the plague came from the ancient portal, maybe as a manifestation or a spell gone wrong while trying to summon an ancient evil, not knowing what it rlly was. The portal key was then destroyed by sb, never opening the portal again. And then some Villagers found it, got infected, hence the Illagers. I know this can never be proven, but it's interesting to think about it.

[@PinkPineappleGaming]

One thing I wonder is what if you could theoretically attract a warden to the city center portal or ritual thing would it activate something or do nothing?

[@BlazeSLK]

“It had a ceremonial purpose.” Spoken like a true anthropologist 😂

[@ProGremlinPlayer]

the mere existence of the Recovery Compass and its function implies that dying and respawning is like, a diegetic phenomena within the Minecraft universe and not just a gameplay feature. Although the recovery compass has to be crafted manually so this might not mean anything, but it's something to think about I guess.

[@cjaymeme]

I could definitely see it as something that only the player character can use, and therefore crafts themselves. The echo shards don't appear to be made to be crafted into the compass, so there's a decent chance that it's the player's invention. It would be very interesting for Mojang to tackle the nature of the player in a non-jokey way, though, and I hope they do. The blue and cyan wool reappearing makes me believe that we may eventually find out what Steve is one way or another.

[@B463L]

The response anchor is similar. Besides respawning, why else could it possibly exist?

[@tuftedmocha7994]

Now _that_ is a fascinating idea! I wonder what Retro or Matpat would make of that?

[@Mae_Dastardly]

Maybe every mob respawns except for ones that are soul trapped in the nether and in sculk, at least unless cut loose by the player. Maybe xp is just residual energy left behind by released souls as they respawn instead of the souls themselves

[@wax2743]

I think that (if it's actually planned) the new skulk dimension will dive into some death and soul lore

[@vvcreative2628]

I feel that the disc has a very important role in the lore as it is the first disc to be obtained in pieces, almost as if it was to be never found.

[@ClockworkGearhead]

It's possible the Warden was an attempt to conquer, or overcome an issue stemming from, The End, as Endermen have a sensitivity to being seen, while the Warden blocks sight. Edit: They weren't trying to _open_ the reinforced deepslate portal, they were trying to lock it closed, and the succeeded.

[@kelpstorm]

actually makes me wonder if theres a sort of skulk dimension. the end portal frames are made from end stone, something only found in the dimension the portal leads to. if the deep portal is actually a portal, then the reinforced deepslate could be hinting at something beyond the portals frame. the skulk could be a bleed into the overworld? maybe its a good thing the portal doesnt work :v

[@bestwitch2931]

Endermen are the only beings shown to be able to travel between dimensions on their own, every portal however requires elements only found in the other dimension. The nether portal can be made in the overworked but for the piglins who first used them it would be impossible without something to bring them obsidian. Similarly the sculk dimension is made of a nearly indestructible frame made from something only found in an alternate dimension just like the End. The end is the only way to travel between worlds, only with their help can you do it.

[@kirankashyap8251]

The recovery compass implies that they could respawn, so anybody may be wondering how they turned into zombies and skeletons. My theory is that after dying to the warden many times, it sucked all of their soul out, causing them to become stuck as undead mobs forever.

[@thekingofnothing8895]

We never see the recovery compass in any chests though. We only ever have the echo shards, meaning that an echo is a complete item. Echo shards could've been used to make music disc 5 or something else.

[@reqschannel]

makes really good sense

[@JacobAwsum]

But even the undead have souls. Minecraft Dungeons confirmed this.

[@lasercraft32]

One other observation, Sculk appears to be either moss-like or fleshy (based on early concept art and the bone-like structure of the shriekers, I'm going to guess the latter) which is why it sounds so squishy. That also explains why it drops EXP.... because its alive. When you kill things they drop EXP, so Sculk drops EXP when you break it.

[@jamiel6005]

😟

[@rustyhowe3907]

That also explains why it shimmers.

[@lasercraft32]

@@rustyhowe3907 Yeah it almost has a sort of bioluminescence (kinda).

[@rustyhowe3907]

@@lasercraft32 Yep this is what I was thinking as well.

[@zcarp8642]

Also we must keep in mind, the person behind it states that sculk is sentient and intelligent

[@edchamon]

Now that I think of it the Flint and steel lightings from disc 5 most people think it's lighting the portal but this video might suggest with the tech catalyst the reinforced deepslate block and the ritual maybe it's lighting the souls and for the ritual since if they light them in the moment maybe not that much energy is lost and can all be absorbed and running as in to lure and perform the ritual maybe idk theory.

[@clauteletuby]

Grammar left the game

[@edchamon]

True, I didn't feel like having grammar while writing this comment.

[@Toohard315]

@@edchamon lol

[@JRexRegis]

It might not be a flint and steel at all, but rather a clicker - a kind of tool you use for training dogs, which makes a loud, consistent noise audible over long distances - perfect for luring a Warden.

[@RosDahBoon]

@@edchamon just like when you talk to me, never have grammar. I also didn't know you watched these.

[@totallynotrippin2422]

I kinda had a small theory after watching this. Because it seemed like whatever ancient civilization intentionally summoned wardens for their enchantments... maybe the reason it's abandoned now is because they got over-run by wardens? Like a summoning gone wrong and they couldn't fight back. Just some food for thought Edit: do you think the warden is suffering? While it's calm it always sounds like it is whimpering and is always just frowning

[@JaceFaller]

I think the warden is in pain, because its a culmination of Bone and sculk, probably made quickly to gather xp quickly before whatever creature made the noise escapes, additionally and off topic I think that the respawn compass only knows where you died because you're the player you most likely have a lot of soul energy and when you die you leave parts of the soul behind to find.

[@skyline3230]

I have noticed that the Warden does look sad. And if you look closely it kind of looks like it is mourning something or someone by the way it walks

[@Cutelycommitstoasterbath]

Ok so imagine have your bones splitting down the middle and encasing the outside of your arm, now imagine a really bad fungus infection- everywhere on your body, NOW imagine being trapped inside and being, several different souls. Now to top it all off, imagine being forced by pure instinct to kill more and gain more painful souls if, for only a second, you feel human again.

[@thekingofnothing8895]

​@@skyline3230the warden is comprised of souls, likely ones that want to be released so it is no doubt sad. That's why the pottery shard with the warden on it is called "mourner"

[@rustyhowe3907]

@@skyline3230 Tbh I think the Warden is a deformed victim of the sculk or the physical accumulation of many prior victims, it has no free will of its own anymore so attacks to protect its 'master' while probably being fully conscious and certainly not intended to be long for this world. I liken it akin to what insects go through with parasitic infections taking over them in order for the parasite to reproduce, where the host insect becomes often the live feeding ground for the young parasite.

[@penginhaloguru]

It seems to me that the big catalyst is broken like the ruined portal. what would be difficult is understanding what needs fixed. two things seemed to have happened to it. age/time have damaged the structure itself, then there is whatever the illigers have done to it. did they further the wear and tear? did they accidentally spread skulk on parts of it through battles with the warden? did they, as they left intentionally sabotage the catalyst as to prevent anyone from either being able to compete with their knowledge, or just to shield the world from such horrors completely. could reverse engineering the catalyst be possible or will we have to wait for an update?

[@Niffunn]

I agree that's a good theory

[@Normg49]

Isn't it even called a "portal" in th3 game files

[@penginhaloguru]

@@Normg49 i wouldn't know i play on xbox.

[@jmoneyjoshkinion4576]

@@Normg49 for a time the smaller look alike structures were called "portal statues" until the name was found and quickly renamed by the devs.

[@memeiki]

@@jmoneyjoshkinion4576 what was it renamed to?

[@mojointhewild]

In my opinion, Minecraft has some of the most mysterious lore ever produced in gaming. The simplicity of the game design and its loop likely suggest that any lore in Minecraft would be very simplistic, unevolved, and mundane. You do an amazing job of digging into the details of Minecraft lore and showing just how rich and deep it is. I truly appreciate your efforts. Thank you for sharing your insight with us.

[@RetroGamingNow]

It's really quite fascinating, isn't it? It's such a different type of theorizing than anything else I've ever done. Thanks so much for the donation!

[@noahbriggs8347]

There's a lot of lore in minecraft I do believe there were ancient builders

[@Asm0sday]

Because each update take like months to release. At first they don't care about lore until the game start updating,that why the lore is too little to discover

[@NaughtyNovaroo69]

@@RetroGamingNow I forgot the word to describe multiple theories that still have the same lore but yes I do agree with that and maybe it was designed that way no matter where you're in the maze you end up in the same spot almost*, but until they add new pets pet items new bootable structures in all 3 dimensions and more unique weapons and mini-bosses. We won't know till then

[@vindifrenzy1100]

@@RetroGamingNow I love that you have cinematic themed videos. Makes me want to watch you more than Game Theory. The cinematic mode really relaxes me! I could watch this in a car at night while being drove to a favorite restaurant. Your videos are THAT AWESOME!

[@Nutshell123]

Going deeper with the Illagers you could realise that Evokers can summon Vexes, and they also drop Totems of Undying, therefore suggesting that they found out how to harness the power of soul energy. You could also see this by the rare Vindicator or Pillager with enchanted weapons. The leader of an outpost can curse people when they die, so when a player enters a village, an army of pillagers would attack. The ravager drops the most experience dropped by a non-boss mob (counting the warden as a boss as it has to be summoned), and this suggests that not only emeralds, but even soul energy from the deep dark biome.

[@novinovi-]

Exactly and the things the evokers summoned that aren’t vexes have textures strangely similar to those bony growths on catalysts Add to that the illusioner, although not added officially can Inflict the exact same darkness effect. I also think that the eyes of ender and end portals have eerily similar color schemes with that yellow whiteish color and the dark greens. The eye of ender in particular fascinates me, as it has such a similar color pallette, and is the one thing wardens don’t have, Eyes. And guess what the illagers also have, fake end portals.

[@kelpstorm]

@@novinovi- i love ur theory that the eyes of ender could be connected, its always been a little strange how different the palettes of the eyes and pearls are to enderman and even the entirety of the end, because the main colour there is purple, not green. even dimensional stuff as a whole seems purpley what with the endermens particle effects & even the nether portal colour. having said that though the end portal is that dark blueygreen again, same with the frames. it seems like natural portal/dimensional stuff is purple, but the green is something different perhaps? fun to think about if nothing else :D

[@joewipat5452]

Can't wait for this 37 minute long adventure!

[@seaturtle4294]

37 minutes ago lol

[@matheuscabral9618]

@@seaturtle4294 37 minutes ago (yours) lol

[@Toohard315]

14 hours ago tho...

[@Dino-lemon265]

@@Toohard315 true

[@joewipat5452]

@The Baconeer Retro told us in the live chat before it started

[@Tarragonofficial302]

The recovery compass implies that the ancient builders could respawn, so they wouldn’t take the casualties from the warden that seriously. They might have made the city out of sheer curiosity. They could always respawn if they got killed in the process.

[@azariahazariah4493]

then how would the ancient builders become zombies and skeletons, if they could just respawn? perhaps its a recipe only the Player can make, because it is not naturally occurring and only obtained once crafted

[@randomtexanguy9563]

@@azariahazariah4493 they become zombies/skeletons permanently and them being able to respawn explains the seemingly infinite number of zombies/skeletons

[@meganbermudez299]

Wait wait wait With the ancient builder thing that they can respawn Does that mean that, if this were true, Steve and Alex are ancient builders or at least descendants of it

[@Tarragonofficial302]

@@meganbermudez299 yea I’d say so

[@azariahazariah4493]

@@meganbermudez299 of course, i dont see any way steve and alex could not be ancient builders.

[@lemondropcentral14]

I never even considered that Illagers had repaired the ancient cities! When the snapshot with the dark oak wood sections of the city came out I was really confused. I felt like it didn't the established architecture of the city and that dark oak is such a valuable resource, how would the original builders have access to it down that far? But Illagers bringing it down on excavations and using it as a repair material makes more sense given that they build their outposts out of dark oak too even though the outposts are often far away from dark oak forests.

[@MISTERX_5890]

The Illagers have a lifetime of supply of Dark Oak as their HQs(the Mansions) Spawn in Dark Oak forests. It's not hard to believe the Illagers could've brought saplings with them and took the saplings with them once they were done

[@darknessdescending6695]

I would love theory on the remaining ancient builders surviving the plague and eventually explaining the origin of Steve.

[@mlmii1933]

My personal theory is that they didn't, but then again I think the zombie virus wasn't a plague but an attempt at trans humanism in order to adapt to whatever environment the Ancients found themselves in (zombies converting to drowned and husks repeatably, but only the Ancient Builder zombies), but the side effects of aggression and stupidity being discovered too late. However, I think they created Steve in the Ancient Cities and gave them the ability to respawn, with the question being whether the illagers found the Steve and carried them to the surface or if they finished the experiment.

[@starstorm1267]

Would the origin of Alex be the same as the origin of Steve as well?

[@brunogoldbergferro5664]

The ice box is probably some kind of fridge, since there's food in the chest.

[@defloirgreene5428]

Food for thought: the centre structure of ancient cities is made of reinforced deepslate, a hard material. Under it, theres soul fire, an extremely hot material... COntext: According to RGN, heat + hard materals is needed for portels, be it obsidian and fire, end frames and blaze dust, obsidian and blaze dust(the pillars in end that have crystals.)

[@D4N1LO]

THATS WHAT IM SAYING

[@randomgamer4357]

He has said that in numerous other videos

[@Air-Scribble]

Amogus

[@PossiblyAkid]

yes, the sussy impaster

[@lingvemo]

hm what if this portal led to another, maybe main, dimension of the ancient civilization but after something mb zombie virus, the ancients closed the portals and survivors left overworld... illagers maybe somehow opened the portal, was attacked and maybe that's why they do hate the player race? dunno

[@Surf4]

Bravo, Retro, Bravo. I'm really pleasantly surprised you came to a different conclusion than '4th dimension portal' and it actually makes a lot of sense and is consistent with your other theories. Hope this video gets the success it deserves, and that that end message helps at least 1 person.

[@spongetrack]

SURF

[@Surf4]

@@spongetrack hello

[@baseupp12]

Could the 4th dimension be the reason all these special enchantments are find at a high rate.

[@spongetrack]

@@Surf4 helo surf im bogical

[@Spiritbomb32]

fr, his videos are super underrated, while someone like game theory posts half thought out minecraft theories that get millions of views

[@jerrybaughman4981]

I was thinking of the catalyst being the heart instead of an egg. Since it's dropped by the warden and is what completes the cycle, maybe one of the catalysts produced gets used as the power source/heart of the organism

[@Mapbim]

I think the sculk catalyst is more like a stomach, it transforms souls into xp, just like our stomach digesting food for energy. Also consider that xp is also some kind of energy.

[@jmoneyjoshkinion4576]

@@Mapbim it seems to me more like a fungus, spreading where it gets energy, corrupting the things it spreads to, and scattering itself to other places by hostile takeover. Granted the last one is CERTAINLY not like most fungi, but there are some that spread irl by taking over the minds of its host and sacrificing it to continue it's spread.

[@magma_fire_bagwan]

Maybe the Catalyst is really the friends we made along the way

[@starstorm1267]

@@magma_fire_bagwan Maybe the Catalyst is the powerhouse of the sculk

[@CEmpty2044]

Sculk is just like a Virus, That cant really Think or dosent have any Intelligence, But Searches to expand itself consuming everything else in the process, Sculk is mostlikely the strongest "Being" in Minecraft due to it having the ability to expand itself and Create enemies.

[@skyline3230]

I agree. I've seen the City, the sculk is a virus that has unfortunately overtaken the entire City.

[@emeraldblack842]

I'd say it's closer to a fungus, a necromantic soul fungus

[@mar07in]

@@emeraldblack842 that makes so much sense considering the latest theory about fungus causing the extinction

[@Eclipsed_Dream]

I've also heard that the structure might also be an inactive portal. It's something Mojang hinted at in the game files. I heard that they might actually make it into a portal once they're done with all their Overworld, Nether, and End updates as it seems to be the plan they're currently going with.

[@tristanhalbert5813]

14:12 I'd like to add to the comments my own interpretation of the structures in the ancient city. As someone with a basic knowledge of archaeology (I have no formal education, but I love the subject), I might have some interesting input. - Some of these structures are probably misnamed; the Sauna for instance isn't a Sauna as we would recognize, it has the shape of a Bath house. It's a large, probably public building with changing rooms, a large pool which lacks obvious heating elements, and the smaller pool with an open space underneath where fuel might've been burned to heat the bath. These would have been a lukewarm bath or swimming pool, and a hot bath respectively. The Barracks I think is actually a mortuary temple. While It could be a barracks, the stylized warden motif, candles, and carved altars on platforms of varying heights speaks to a more ceremonial nature. The niches in the wall under the raised platform could either be bunks as in a barracks or graves set into the wall. The presence of a skull in one of these niches tells me it's probably the latter. The walls/roads of the structure aren't for defense, typically they form large courtyards or cloisters containing other buildings. They're divided down the middle along their lengths save for intersections, with wide colonnades facing into the yards on either side. The ease of passage tells me they would've only partitioned the yards and blocked sightlines, not traffic. The central monument is surrounded by a different style of wall followed by a trench, or ditch- this wall is thick, it appears to have only one walkway on top and is not accessed as easily as other walls, so they may be fortifications. I believe if these are defenses, given their position, it would be to defend from hostiles originating inside the enclosure. Though they could just separate the monument from the public city. The room underneath the monument is a laboratory, and the only place where skulk blocks are used intentionally in the architecture. Its being here suggests redstone and its use may not have been secular in nature, with some kind of ritual or spiritual component. I don't have many comments, but the intentional use of sculk implies its existence before the site's abandonment. Leading to these walls is a walkway with arches overhead, excessive candles, and great pillars on either side in a row. This is absolutely a processional way.(1) Walking its length away from the monument almost always leads to the cavern wall, either you were meant to walk towards the monument from there, or the caves surrounding the ruins have changed shape over time. I also find it interesting that the City lacks any evidence of social stratification, at least to the lay man like me. There don't appear to be districts, elite residences or government buildings, there was either a very unusual social structure or only one social group was in permanent residence; i.e. priests or religious figures. The natural deepslate atop the "small column" structure could implie it was once connected to the ceiling, if there have been changes to the geography of the caves, it could explain the lack of a city's characteristic features. The palaces, aqueducts, workshops and marketplaces may have been crushed under collapses over the centuries. I personally hypothesize the entire 'city' was a temple complex. It's not uncommon for religious sites, with wealth and influence, to swell to similar or greater sizes (think Angkor Watt). There's a lack of definitive public housing, at least at first glance- though I believe the two-story ruin is an Insula(2), and some of the "chamber" buildings were either storerooms or houses. In many ancient cities, the common people's housing disappears quickly, made of wood, straw, dung and thatch- they simply don't survive long-term disrepair- But the ancient city has very little space for such housing. The abundance of the small columns and warden altars also lean toward the temple complex hypothesis. I can't really draw a conclusion on this place. What evidence we have suggests a temple complex, most of the present buildings are shrines and temples- But the possibility of collapses destroying contrary evidence, and the presence of Insulae, Bath houses, and Ice Boxes casts doubt on any certainty. Ultimately, if you wanted a clearer answer you'd look for post holes in the ground, dig test shafts into the cavern walls to find rubble, analyze pottery sherds and such to clear up the issue- but since we can't do that in minecraft, it's just gonna remain a mystery. Do what you will with this information. - 1| A common feature of ancient cites dating back to the stone age, Processional ways come in many shapes and sizes, straight, curved, or geometric. They are sometimes lined with standing stones or wooden posts, and sometimes have geographical or astronomical alignments, and are meant for processions and parades, usually of religious or ritual nature. 2| A typically Roman form of public housing, with a ground floor of workshops and stores, and upper floors for tenants. - EDIT: I trimmed, reworded and reorganized this comment a bit as of 5/11/2023! I'm not a bad writer, actually- but you wouldn't know it by looking at my first drafts and whatever I say off-the-cuff. Good writing comes from lots, and lots, and LOTS of editing. Hopefully this is better written and doesn't lack the character of the original. I also want to thank everyone for the support and interest! to have inspired deep thought and interest in others is the sincerest compliment I can receive, I'm flattered and happy to have contributed~!

[@Azarilh]

Thanks you, this was very interesting to read.

[@GoldEmberMage]

Can I get a TL;DR?

[@tristanhalbert5813]

@@GoldEmberMage Certainly! Still a little long, but here's the basics; I can't tell if it's even a city. It lacks housing, government, and work buildings save for a few maybes and one building which I think I can positively identify as a roman Insula (tall_ruin in the files I believe). The housing of the general population tends to disintegrate over time, but there isnt a lot of space for such housing. It lacks evidence of social stratification, it lacks evidence of actual fortification save for the walls of the portal enclosure. What it does have is an abundance of symbolic, public and ritual buildings. Tons of shrines, a bath house, the "barracks" that's almost certainly a mortuary temple among other things. Religious sites like Angkor watt could swell to massive sizes, and it's possible that's what we're seeing here. There is some evidence to suggest that the geography surrounding the city has changed, so either it never had palaces, workshops, houses, etc- or they're all been crushed under cave-ins. I think it's more likely they just weren't there. It's a bit of an anomaly.

[@GoldEmberMage]

@@tristanhalbert5813 Ahhh, I see. You're suggestiong its not a city, because it lacks the qualities that most cities would have. If RGN's theory is correct, then the Ancient "City" is more of an outpost rather than a city. I think the name "Ancient Outpost" would be less cool though.

[@tristanhalbert5813]

@@GoldEmberMage Oh not even an outpost, like I said it might've been just a temple complex, with housing only for priests and religious figures. It's not impossible that it never belonged to a wider civilization, as we don't see examples of similar architecture anywhere in game. Plenty of groups in north and south America only left behind pyramids and ritual sites, Poverty Point springs to mind, as a settlement of hunter gatherers, it's a similar kind of anomaly. Ultimately, I can't really speak to its purpose or function. It might've been a city, it might've been a temple, it might've only been for developing enchantments.

[@GrimKreeper]

After all this time, it is finally here. The one we've all been waiting for: The Warden Deep Dive.

[@wolfsblumchenlp5226]

Why is the comment older then the vid?

[@737e7dhs4]

@@wolfsblumchenlp5226 He messaged it before video release which was the premiere if you remember he released the premiere to the video yesterday so this guy most prolly commented then

[@GrimKreeper]

@@wolfsblumchenlp5226 I left it when the video was premeiring

[@troublemonkey1_626]

Happy to see another Minecraft lore deep dive!

[@RetroGamingNow]

Thank you so much!

[@subscribe_please_]

what is this *pay to win* comment? ☝️🤓🤏

[@subscribe_please_]

@@RetroGamingNow how to do this *comment?*

[@brunjim9812]

@@subscribe_please_ click the "thanks" button under the video

[@subscribe_please_]

@@brunjim9812 oh shi*t sorry i never update KZbin 😂 lol

[@Everett302]

I love how dramatic his catchphrase is. "Join me for a dive beneath the waves".

[@minglou2019]

i think that something a lot of theorists miss is that the developers said that the warden was always there, sleeping underground, and it dug its way to the surface when it heard the shrieker

[@RetroGamingNow]

People have only been asking for this video for about two years...well here it is. I hope you enjoy! Also don't forget to join the Discord. Yeah, you! Join it. JOIN IT NOW. (if you want. I respect your decision if you don't join. but you should totally join) discord.gg/RetroGamingNow

[@alliexcx5576]

Hi

[@A59ri]

bacon?

[@Ceiling0redza]

The wait was worth it.

[@omegachaf9726]

Have you thought of using education edition for lore I found out that Redstone is radioactive

[@Declan_conlan]

JOIN ITS AMAZINGGG

[@Aschilon]

There is one thing that this theory makes me think. If the "portal" is supposed to be an artificial catalyst, then what is the catalyst that made soul sand?

[@jesusvera7941]

i was thinking this theory really flops in the enchanting thing by 2 simple reasonable facts... 1: is the enchanting table is actually really easy to make, using only overworld items 4 obsidian 2 diamonds and 1 mundane book. 2: enchanting tables might not generate naturally because of a gameplay mechanic instead of a lore reason, for example trap chests are not naturally generated in the world maybe because it would be useless, the enchanting table would be more easy to find than to craft it and it is relatively or it to be useless loot because if you already built one why would you need another?

[@737e7dhs4]

@@jesusvera7941 I think his theory is accurate but instead of enchanting theory I believe this statue or whatever the big thing is ,was used to create sentient beings and items larger than life with soul energy like allays and vexes and totems and stuff which has highest form of soul energy instead of focusing on enchanting which is quite basic and also like he said the enchanted items are the most enchanted items ever so with great soul energy they might have just thought of making enchanted items too cause that's fairly easy and more effective but the base idea was to create sentient beings or items with life using the soul energy like how warden is created basically using that technology to create something they want and is more desirable

[@jesusvera7941]

@@737e7dhs4 im thinking that is a portal, by datamining it was called like that in the archives then they did scrap it, so a portal to anywhere unknown right now, the question is, the warden and all the sculk blocks come from another dimension or are they created by the ancient builders, very unlikely since this would be the first time they create life or bend the world like this, nah i dont think they meant to bring the warden to the overworld, i think they made the portal, hell came though it and that might explain the extinction event, years after the illagers came to see what they could raid from this place and they learn how to deal with the warden and sculk, thats why the city is surrounded by stealth items, its from the illagers, thats were they took the allays and the energy for the totems from, its quitte interesting the invoker actually uses magic not like the witches that just throw potions, those guys always looked out of tone in minecraft, like they got power from another world, i bet on that.

[@737e7dhs4]

@@jesusvera7941 Well portal or not can be answered in next few updates cause they changed it immediately to small_statue from portal so honestly biggest question is where did sculk come from which retro didn't answer so I really think a portal would fit into it but only time can answer

[@jesusvera7941]

@@737e7dhs4 exactly we can only make assumptions, anyway im making my way to get the best items in the game, so if a new dimension is introduced ill be more than ready.

[@jamesbates48]

I think we can all agree that these are some of the most quality videos on minecraft KZbin

[@hackidreemurr]

This video makes me feel like I'm reading a book in a village's library about the Ancient cities and the Warden. You have a really calm voice and I love the background ambience.

[@Nerine98]

Imagine that getting close to this structure would cast random enchantments on your equipment draining your experience/warden's life :D And imagine how unique/creepy Steve is, being a walking creature that sucks in the experience/soul energy, being able to respawn from death in an unchanged form as well.

[@failedwizard0133]

Could be that Steve is the perfected form of the warden having beee. Created to respawn by drawing the worlds energy

[@thatonepossum5766]

“The peaceful villagers, the livestock, the wandering traders, all of these go about there daily lives, oblivious to what lies beneath their feet” My Friend: *lives in a village generated in the mouth of a cave leading to the deep dark, and who’s inhabitants just go to the Nether on a whim…* *and also the iron golem is a total psychopath- it murdered me ;-;*

[@E.h.a.n]

*LORE*

[@thatonepossum5766]

@@E.h.a.n honestly though that village could have some really cool player-made lore if he wanted to do it. Unfortunately he’s more interested in exploring and summoning wardens than crafting lore. It’s a really cool seed- his base isn’t the only awesome generation. Mine features a lake surrounded by mountains, with the entrance to a massive underwater cave in the bottom. Oh, and floating islands above. :)

[@ammyshadows3817]

I wonder what the seeds are But I suspect that they are lost to time?

[@thatonepossum5766]

@@CatholicCarlismEnjoyer I’ll ask the server owner. :)

[@thatonepossum5766]

@@CatholicCarlismEnjoyer so long as I’ve put it down right, the seed is -942649820095550092. The village with cave is around 1800, 2400, and the cool generation around my base is just a little way west of spawn (I don’t know the coords on that one. I just live there! xD).

[@SHDUStudios]

I know we’re going at this from Watsonian perspective, but I don’t think that Mojang would hype up the cities so much and specially the giant catalyst in the middle, if it was just a big enchanting table. I agree with your theory wholeheartedly, I just think the giant catalyst in the middle may do something additional.

[@cjaymeme]

I could see the giant catalyst, when activated, becoming so overcharged with soul energy that it opens a portal to some kind of soul dimension, which could be the Aether we've all been wanting. After all, why would the ancient builders abandon the cities? Maybe they found a better way to obtain energy once their catalyst did something unexpected.

[@SHDUStudios]

@@cjaymeme I like it.

[@0Blueaura]

@@cjaymeme perhaps they found a way to escape the otherworld destruction of the ancient builders by channeling enough energy.

[@deadlyadder2330]

@@cjaymeme i do like the idea of a new dimension, but the thing about that is... it isn't unique. we already have the end dimension

[@deadlyadder2330]

floating islands would not be unique, an underground dimension would not be unique, another regular world with a sky and normal ground would not be unique. it would have to be so vastly different from any of these, but what the heck would that even be?

[@Slykooper__]

Theory: what if the illagers went to the cities to charge up things like totems and their special powers and the vexes are souls of fallen soldiers fighting off a warden that has spawned

[@heatheroconnor3201]

This dude has the perfect voice for telling Minecraft lore. Actually this dude has the perfect voice for anything mysterious.

[@BeepBoopBee]

I feel like this is very similar to what the developers probably intended to be the backstory of the warden, skulk, deep dark and ancient city. The main part that gives me that feeling is your description of how the ancient city works. The details of where wool is placed, how you're safe in the moat of the warden is above it, the watchtowers being able to see the redstone lamps in the center, etc etc. You did mention that we never see the structure in the middle actually functioning as a catalyst, that doesn't necessarily mean that it's not a catalyst. For all we know there's some type of item we need to activate it or it's simply broken beyond repair. I think that last reason is actually pretty plausible. We're talking about an ancient city built by an ancient civilization. And yes, the illagers seemingly repaired a lot of the structure. But if they repaired it, then why aren't they there anymore? Maybe it's because in the process of getting valuable things like enchanted gear, godapples, XP bottles and such, they accidentally broke the catalyst. The source of so many valuables and the sole reason they repaired the city is broken. Why would you stay? Especially since you now no longer have a relatively safe way of dealing with the danger of the warden. You pick up as many of the valuables as you can carry and leave. Of course you can't take everything with you, which is why there's still so much good loot when the player arrives.

[@JRexRegis]

Hell, the Endermen can obviously use their pearls with much, much greater skill than the player. We toss it, and it breaks, which damages us - they can warp around at will without throwing anything. Witches can also brew potions without a brewing stand, and villagers can enchant items without enchanting tables. If the ancient city is some kind of enormous machine, we might simply not have some innate ability allowing us to use it, even if it is repaired. Maybe it requires the ability to mentally interact with soul energy, or the ability to deliberately infuse our experience into things without the aid of tools.

[@rustyhowe3907]

This is probably where a good chunk of the sculk comes from as well; treasure hunters along with the original inhabitants of the cities that *possibly* bit off more than they could chew when it came to dealing with Wardens no matter how clever their inventions or how good they thought they were. The sculk grew too big to hold back and control and with it came endless waves of Wardens that killed them and the sculk ate them.

[@captainsprinkles6557]

I know the Stranger Things analogy has been made a lot, but I wanna add something. Obviously The Deep Dark = The Upside Down, hivemind, black-blueish texture, vines, etc. The Warden = The Demogorgon, it detects someone near the hivemind, lights flicker, it bursts through the wall, and they're both blind. What I want to add is that Vecna(The main villain of season 4) needs to kill *four* kids to make the Upside-Down come to Earth, and each time a kid dies, they hear a clock ticking. That clock has *four* chimes. In order for the Warden to appear, you need to activate a shrieker *four* times. Even more so, the ancient city has *four* lamps. Each one of them is connected to a sensor.

[@yeahkeen2905]

That’s just a massive coincidence. The deep dark and the skulk have been in development for 2-3 years now and Stranger Things S4 came out a few months ago.

[@diceguy10]

and this comment has *four* likes right now LOL

[@swaggasaurus4837]

@@yeahkeen2905 Well, to be fair, S4 was also in development a few years ago and - if my memory serves correct - it was supposed to come out earlier in 2020 but got delayed due to Covid. Its still a coincidence but the similarities are fun to acknowledge.

[@ItsMayo14]

While the artificial catalyst theory makes a lot of sense, the center structure has all the features other portals in Minecraft have. A very hard material - Reinforced deepslate and some kind of heat - the huge amount of soulfire below it.

[@bobjoe3492]

As a few others have said, wouldn't be surprised if it was a dimension planned to be released after the overworld, nether, and end are all polished out completely.

[@astromaniac2889]

This makes so much sense to me, the ancient builders NEVER discovered how to craft enchanting tables, so that is probably why the artificial sculk catalyst is so huge, the reason we probably can’t activate it is because of how weathered the ancient city is, and the fact they need a warden to activate it, and the center of the city is shaped like a warden was pretty cool to me. Keep up the good work man!

[@SpringDavid]

You know what would be funny? If the "artificial catalyist" is the reason undead mobs and players exist, the undead are failed respawn attempts while players are successful attempts.

[@evo.spartan]

I think that the player is the end result of an ancient city. The player is the only "mob" that can absorb soul energy in the form of xp and actually use it. Therefore the player is the ultimate ancient builder.

[@Crappy9922]

I was really hyped reading this comment! ...But the ancient builders must have also used XP to enchant, since we find many items in all dimensions that have been enchanted. I onky realized after reading your comment again :(

[@evo.spartan]

@@Crappy9922 however there are none enchanting table left by the ancient builders

[@sunnyboi2461]

Until Minecraft says otherwise every one of RGN's videos I believe are Canon cause the effort and knowledge and everything put into these is beyond impressive 💙

[@eskarinakatz7723]

I would consider the Sculk an egregore-entity, a bit like the Flood from Halo. It’s a set of blocks or perhaps a floor that wants to eat your experience. It may be intelligent, either in the way a Venus flytrap is intelligent, or as a full on transsapient eldritch horror. The specialist Sculk blocks and the Warden act like different organs/organ systems for the greater entity.

[@QUBIQUBED]

I think they’re an extremely advanced form of fungus

[@senpyrothewizard8172]

This tracks with the original plans for the Sculk's design, which was flesh with holes in it. Trypophobia was an inspiration in that design.

[@PelinalDidNothingWrong]

Skulk is the Flood confirmed

[@IAmAlpharius20]

@@PelinalDidNothingWrong *Long have I waited*

[@natalieholt563]

Maybe the cities themselves will become that entity, much like the nether/obsidian portals that already exist. Leading to more answers or questions.

[@fredashay]

I know someone who grew up on a farm built in the 1800s. There was a large stone building on the property they called the "ice house." In the olden days, they would gather ice from a pond on the property in the winter and store it in the ice house. In the summer they would take the ice and put it in their "ice boxes" (a primitive refrigerator made of wood) to keep their food cold.

[@God-gy7lb]

You know it's about to get crazy when the Minecraft video essay has 3 disclaimers at the beginning.

[@stiw91]

Man, watching this really made me smile, the editing, music, and general presentation are simply fantastic, and that's not even mentioning the theory itself, the way you describe and explain things, everything feels logical as you move from one point to the next, overall it's nice to have and watch another Minecraft Deep Dive!

[@QUBIQUBED]

Fun fact: he makes the music himself

[@salemwitch4138]

Finally, someone who doesn't just say that this is a portal! I really enjoyed this video, it just shows how much effort you put in your videos

[@Azarilh]

It was called portal by the devs themselves soooo... The small statue of it to be specific.

[@DarkMirria1]

@@Azarilh Wasn’t that changed though, they used to be called that but aren’t anymore.

[@Azarilh]

@@DarkMirria1 And why do you think they called it portal initially? By mere accident?

[@DarkMirria1]

@@Azarilh It was changed from “portal” to simply “statue”, the previous concept most likely no longer applies to the end product. I recall the devs mentioning that there is no new dimension, thus again calling them portals is no longer relevant. It was just a past concept.

[@Azarilh]

@@DarkMirria1 Doesn't need to be a new dimension just cos it's a portal. And do you think they were thinking about building a portal but then chanegd idea at the end but kept the portal as something else? Kinda weird unless they didn't think about stuff proprely before adding structures.

[@thomasalvarez6456]

I dread for when that portal might open, someone worse than a Warden awaits.

[@josgretf2800]

Small nosed villagers (shudders)

[@anomalocaristheabnormalshr3248]

@@josgretf2800 jesus christ man don’t say that

[@kkrup5395]

Idk. wee need a second ending to the game. Because killing the end dragon is too easy and is hardly an achivement. Moreover it feels wrong because the ender dragon in no way botheres us, she is just chilling in her dimesion carrying the baby and the player breaks in kills her and takes her egg as an trophy. I hope on the other side of the portal we'll get another boss fight and maybe a way to redeem ourself, hach the egg or restore ender deagon population in other way.

[@liviwaslost]

@@josgretf2800 no nosed villagers

[@PeruvianPotato]

@@kkrup5395 Yea, the achievement name "Free the End" sounds much more like the Ender Dragon is running a dictatorship

[@RedLionKNC]

I don’t often comment, much less of this nature, but I wanted to thank you for speaking about the I’m Glad you Stayed Project at the end of the video. I, myself, am a survivor of a suicide attempt, and, much like Dylan, I spent four days in the ICU; only half of which I was awake and semi-conscious, let alone coherent. My heart breaks hearing Dylan and Abby’s story, because I know what it was like to be in the shoes of both Dylan and Abby. Suicide is a horror that no one should go through on either party. If you are struggling, remember that there are people who care, and will always care; family, friends, strangers. I know it’s a difficult thing to hear and accept; I know how hard it is to hear that there are better days ahead, that you’ll get through this time and time again, so much to the point where it seems like the affirmation feels like it comes from a place of societal custom rather than from the heart. But, I promise, every single time you hear those affirmations, they’re true. You are loved. You are cared for. You are strong. You are good.

[@Marcus3205]

You are loved too. Don’t let anyone else think otherwise, not even your mind. ❤

[@hatsudopia5085]

I found you while looking up stuff for fate in 2022 and now you're my favorite minecraft youtube channel

[@plasmabasher]

I think the use of Soul Lanterns can be very easily explained, at least from what I know; There isn’t any natural light other than the occasional magma pools in the Deep Dark, and there aren’t any trees or naturally flammable things growing in such a hostile place. This means normal combustion fires would be out of the ordinary, and as such their noise would probably draw attention from Sculks. This can be argued by the fact that the Warden is immune to fire and lava damage, but maybe that’s just because *all* Sculk is immune to fire, because an organic network would easily catch fire and cause a chain reaction of Sculk burning and dying. Enter, Soul Fire. Sculk is powered by Souls, that much is obvious, so there must be something the Ancient Builders knew about the relationship between Soul Energy and Sculks. Specifically, why they bothered to use Soul Lanterns and Soul Fire rather than normal ones. Perhaps they think that Soul Lanterns would be safer to use, since they have a similar energy signature to Sculk itself? Maybe Sculk is “allergic” to burning soul fires, because it’s a type of fire that could harm it or suck the soul energy out of the Sculk? Or maybe this is all speculation that Mojang intended for us to lose our heads over? Speaking of speculation, why is it that these Ancient Builders had structures designed to revere the Warden, despite their clear efforts to avoid it? Maybe they treated the Warden as a God, both respecting it but also fearing its power and avoiding it. Are these redstone experiments an attempt to find a weakness to the Warden? Maybe the entire Ancient City has had 3 occupants. Some unknown party that built all the Warden ritual stuff, the Ancient Builders that adapted the city to a Warden observation area, and finally the Illagers who visited that area and set up temporary base? Also, on the topic of Ancient Builders, it’s impossible that those ice boxes and saunas were always there. The ice would eventually melt, considering how deep underground they are and how heat radiating from nearby lava sources would trap heat into the cavern, meaning the temperature of that cavern would be well over the melting point of ice. That could also explain the fire resistance of the Warden and Sculk itself, they’re stuck in a cave that should be broiling hot. Anyway, thanks for reading my text wall rant (unless you scrolled all the way down to the bottom without reading anything)

[@fivebrosstopmos]

Please do a video on the disk! My theory: It's a recording of an army of raiders approaching the deep dark, perhaps the deep dark players were outcasts or exiles, and have been discovered and attacked. The exiles attempt to release the warden, but accidently release something much worse. A beast emerges and quickly destroys both sides. The beast self-destructs, shattering the disks. The fragments are gathered many centuries later by inquisitive illagers, who likely suffer heavy losses as they explore the cities, in most cases they were probably totally wiped out. Because they had little use for them, however, they dump them in loot chests, which they never return to claim.

[@bush_kit]

Perhaps the center statue could be a portal of some sorts, the army could mistake the portal for being the way to summon the Warden, but as it says in your theory, a much worse beast emerges from it and claps them. How to ignite the portal? Idk. It's late and I'm tired.

[@turtlewolf3689]

I don’t understand why some people in the comments seem distraught that this video is set as a premiere. Ladies and Gentlemen.. maybe he wants to build anticipation. Or it could be some other reason. If it’s to hype it up it must be working because I can tell some of you are impatient and on the edge of your seats! I know because I am too! As they say good things come to those who wait. I am excited it’s set as a premiere, rather than getting instant gratification , I have something to look forward to later this evening , that’s how I look at it.

[@KidPrarchord95]

It's quite simple; if they know it exists, they want access instead of being artificially forced to wait for the sake of waiting.

[@turtlewolf3689]

I think it can be quite simple. And you may be absolutely right. But I personally do not think the reason is to have us wait for the sake of it. I think what I mentioned before ( the possibility that it is intended to create anticipation) is what is the case. Your opinion might be possible , mine could be too. There could also be many more reasons other than the both of our opinions. But I have no idea , my best guess is he was attempting to hype up the content, and get us all excited with anticipation.

[@turtlewolf3689]

I absolutely get what your saying though. In our minds we have to wait for the sake of waiting. But I think in retros mind it was a calculated move to hype up his content and plant the seed of anticipation within all of us. Putting a nice little worm on the end of a fish hook to get us all hooked ( so to speak ) him being the fisherman and us being a fish.

[@KidPrarchord95]

@@turtlewolf3689 Yeah.

[@TychoKingdom]

Primieres give you live chat which is nice. Also ya boi was chatting with the people in the live chat soo. That's probably why he did it. To chat with yall. And they are complaining about it. Dang. Smh

[@emberhydra]

The lore of Minecraft is just getting deeper and I love it

[@Ollimus]

32:10 I get the visual of Ravagers carrying cages full of allays to be transferred to woodland mansions, so they can do unthinkable things to the poor guys. The illagers are horrible, corrupt beings indeed

[@Azarilh]

They could use the allays as slaves, poor guys. Oh wait! That's how the players use them too! Just as evil! :D

[@carlossaboya1583]

@@Azarilh nah but we play some music for them too, we're kinda cool

[@Azarilh]

@@carlossaboya1583 lmao

[@Lampe2020]

33:55 Maybe the synthetic catalyst was broken when experimenting around with the ritual, which would explain the sculk all over it? What if, at some point, the Ancient Builders lost control over the ritual and the warden, creating the mass extinction event? And maybe the illagers went the same way except they learned from the errors the Builders made and retreated, abandoning the Anchient Cities?

[@nabongobong9155]

Now we need a series/story about how illagers strive from a bunch of weak villager outcasts to a force to reckon with

[@katie9310]

I absolutely love your deep dives so much and they bring me so much joy. I love writing lore and stuff like this makes me fall in love with worlds so much more thank you for makeing theses

[@boman2000]

These Deep Dives are my favorite part of KZbin, bar none. Very well done! Looking forward to the next ones with great anticipation.

[@spyro2002]

I really like the whole set up of the city being designed to lead the warden to the center I feel like that's really hard to deny with the evidence you've laid out, I'm just personally kinda iffy on what the structure in the city center actually is

[@paritoshbatish9984]

Love this series. You've really given us a new perspective while playing Minecraft, and it's pretty fun and a great topic to discuss with friends while playing

[@birbingtonxxvi8378]

🎉 thanks for paying 🎉

[@RetroGamingNow]

It's fascinating, isn't it! Thank you so much for the kind words, as well as the donation!

[@doctorscientist7570]

I feel as if the skulk catalyst may not entirely be a naturally occurring block. It seems unlikely that a vaguely fungus-like material/organism naturally evolved in caves like the deep dark. Its role seems too specific and too specialized. For one thing, it would be an unsustainable form of reproduction. If supplied with enough mobs, the feedback loop of wardens killing everything they sniff out and facilitating the further spread of skulk could result in skulk and wardens overtaking the overworld. Its "natural" location so deep underground could therefore be a form of containment to prevent this. Furthermore, it seems like more than coincidence the bone-like material's coloration is so similar to end blocks and the portal frame. Perhaps a presently undiscovered entity or ancient faction created the first skulk catalyst as a means to stockpile XP/soul energy. To what end outside of making enchantments cannot be known for sure if this is the case.

[@TheYeetedMeat]

Many bacteria naturally feed on chemicals in caves to fuel ecosystems, sculk might’ve been a more convoluted lifeform in the same niche that began to specialise for the consumption of soul energy leaking from above ground environments. Considering the fact that it forms containers for such energy (sculk blocks) that exceeds the mass of the other parts of sculk, sculk may be incredibly long-lived, spending most of its time subsisting on meagre amounts of soul energy and only reproducing when large amounts of soul energy are released at once, e.g a mob dying. No matter what, it’s more plausible to be natural than most things in the lush caves.

[@princesscadance197]

I fear what happened to the Illagers who discovered the Ancient City. Even Ravagers are melted by Wardens. I can't imagine every Illager was quiet enough to keep the Warden idle.

[@Frostknight231]

They may not have even been able to bring the ravager so my guess is they went there and got wiped only to be one with the skulk or at least thier bodies

[@crispy99996]

​@@Frostknight231but i think their pretty succesful becuase they used some strategies and learn using magic to have totem of undying and to summon allay and vex and use the exp to have more enchantments

[@cherubicboot]

I personally think the main purpose of the ancient city is to release the souls that got trapped inside the sculk, converting them to allay. Why you may ask? 1. Amethyst can duplicate allay. I don't think the ancient city's loot chest includes amethyst for no reason. 2. The sound that warden makes when they died is almost identical with when an allay died. 3. This is the most obvious one, the soul color on warden's heart and soul sand's particle (when using soul speed) is almost identical. Now if the ritual is intended to release souls that got trapped, why is there no allay to be seen in the ancient city? It's because the pillagers took them away. When the pillagers found the ancient city, they realized the ritual that can release trapped souls, captured the remaining allays (this can be hinted from lead generating at ancient city's loot chest), which is why allays only exists at illager's cage on both woodland mansion and outposts. The illagers also learned the ritual, which is the reason why evokers can spawn vexes, since vexes and allays has similiar textures. Also, I apologize if my english is not perfect since English isn't my main language, and it's up to you to agree or disagree with my theory. Please let me know if you have any other opinion! ^^

[@AlexDayz]

*Skulk Vein:* am I a joke to you? In all seriousness though happy to see this series back. I can tell a lot of time and effort was put into it cause of the production value. One thing I never noticed till you pointed it out was the bone-y texture on the Skulk Catalyst and the Shrieker which instantly made me think of the Evoker’s fang attacks which has a somewhat similar look to the shirker. Perhaps it was inspired by it and shaped its spell similar to the shrieker? Also assuming this theory is true perhaps the reason when you kill the Warden near the Artificial Catalyst is cause you’re the only one there. When the ancient builders where there it’s safe to assume there where a few down in the Ancient Cities at a time and with each of them living they probably added more soul energy to the already provided soul energy via the soul sand and soul fire lanterns. There’s also a possibility the frame was some sort of portal that was lite and was way to ignite it was lost to time.

[@magma_fire_bagwan]

Given the texture of Reinforced Deepslate, I'm honestly just picturing a pair of Ancient Builders sitting down and cracking the bones off of a Catalyst manually. Either that or they just strapped bones to Deepslate to Reinforce it, but I don't think that's true given how the Sculk bones are yellowed

[@lirachasmody]

I absolutely LOVE that the deep dark cities also have details of the Illagers exploring and fixing stuff lmao

[@randompianomusic5536]

I just love this guy. His voice, the music, his video style just everything ❤️

[@real_mushroom_hunter]

I think the energy was used to activate the frame as a portal, rather than enchanting, it seems like too much effort to go through for some enchantments. even if it's not a portal, there has to be a bigger purpose than simply enchantments.

[@thekingofnothing8895]

The tag of a small idol was even titled small portal statue, giving us a hint.

[@noaika5342]

i wasnt satisfied with matpat's theory about the warden itself. But given how most of your theories are often the exact opposite of his, i can say, i love this.

[@Recoil1808]

I personally think that the large, central structure is an attempt at a new form of portal (perhaps to the Minecraft version of Sheol/Hades?). It may be that they theorized mere heat wouldn't be enough to power the next portal, as they were attempting to teleport somewhere that broke all the rules. It may also be that the reason that they specifically used skulk is because it is in some way attuned to soul energy, and possibly, whatever world the portals may have led to. Similar to how end portal frames seem to be primarily build of endstone, and Nether Portals are created from solidified lava. This primarily explains why it is so clearly designed as a fortified structure (which I'd argue is a similar reason to why the Strongholds were). It also offers another explanation as to the high level of enchanted gear. It was their back-up equipment, for a wave that never followed, and an expedition that may never have returned.

[@RelicAmbergris]

I think ancient cities in particular began as a graveyard with the Warden being made as someone to protect the dead from being looted, but something went wrong in the progress or in their attempt to make it stronger with the artificial catalyst went disastrously wrong and the souls trapped in the soul sand, desperate for release and sick of being used for energy 'possessed' the Warden in a way to get revenge

[@slashneo5604]

I've been waiting for this

[@danielbaur5765]

I think this is one of your best videos yet. I'm glad you've returned to making deep dive lore videos!

[@aosandstone5493]

Your so good at setting the right tone for the subject your covering

[@jettpack9168]

this is the best lore analysis video ever, not even a joke, this is insanely high quality

[@mkks4559]

Ok, so I'm guessing now, the reason the warden isn't in the Monsters Hunter/Hunted achievements is because the warden is from the ancient race, and human deaths (like villagers or players) aren't included in the Monster Hunter/Hunted achievement. The ancient cities are covered with sculk, and it spreads when a creature dies nearby and drops xp, so the ancient civilization lived in the cities and when they died, they became the sculk, which explains a lot of stuff like what does the warden guard to be called that? It protects the cities that it lived in in a past life. And whose souls are in the warden's chest? They are the souls of the ancient race. And why don't zombies or skeletons spawn in the ancient cities? Because the ancient race that lived in the cities turned into the sculk and not undead mobs like everywhere else (this part is according to other theories). The warden portal structure thing isn't explained by my theory, but perhaps the ancient civilization knew the power they could reach if they were one creature, the warden, so the ancient cities were created to eventually ascend into a more powerful form. Not all the people died to create the warden though, only a few people and the others lived in piece along with the sculk, and Disc 5 is just the ancient civilization summoning the wither which is too powerful so they call for the warden for help (I think, I can't remember all of Disc 5, all I remember is a wither and the warden and perhaps there was a portal being lit).

[@aguyontheinternet8436]

but zombies are just sick humans, skeletons and wither skeletons are dead humans, so that theory doesn't seem to hold water.

[@mkks4559]

@@aguyontheinternet8436 I think they’re all dead humans. Zombie most likely just died recently so their flesh is still intact.

[@Azarilh]

@@aguyontheinternet8436 Zombies are not sick humans. Zombie villagers are. They can be cured. Normal zombies cannot be cured. That's due to the fact that they were zombified for too long so they are definitely dead by now.

[@wildcard2117]

What if he’s tricking us and this ends up being a video about how the Minecraft pig is actually God or something like that.

[@keksidy]

Nah. You're thinking of the Minecraft cod

[@Q_is_a_good_name]

XD

[@justebob]

No it's just going to be a nother video about Minecraft story line that doesn't exist really and dev take from them to make story's

[@Ollimus]

Lmao, it would still be good content though.

[@oneshotez]

I would delete youtube

[@shortposter_amogus]

A thing I found online, is that a natural skulk shrieker has fast and bright souls swirling in them, but if they are mined with silk touch and placed the souls become slower and darker. I feel like this is why a warden can't spawn from a player-placed shrieker. I have a theory that whenever a shrieker is picked up with silk touch, a bunch of soul energy escapes and makes the shrieker not effective in spawning wardens.

[@NightinLarkMC]

I literally consider this channel science/history class at this point

[@Emperor_Creeper]

Im so excited for this, I can't wait!!

[@aguyontheinternet8436]

HOLY CRAP THIS WAS SO COOL!! Best part was explaining the frame, explains the layout and the loot really, really well, even if it means it isn't a portal. But you brought up the mini frames and never tried to explain them or just touch on them again lol

[@thetruetrident]

Even with the implications of this theory, It could very much end up being a portal. The concept of an artificial sculk catalyst and the concept of a portal spreading sculk both have the same outcome.

[@aguyontheinternet8436]

@@thetruetrident yeah fair. It also had the offshoot explanation of where enchanted golden apples came from. I mean, hell yeah, those wardens are going down if it means getting tons of notch apples. How did a wither kill them? It would have needed to be one damn strong wither if they had that kinda healing on their side.

[@ghhs9292]

This is the first video to convince me on a lot of the lore on the deep dark- then again i got fooled on april fools by the same man that cobblestone is the most important magical block in minecraft…. I love these videos!

[@expiredchili4352]

I imagine the illagers in the city were like “special ops” of some sort, only the best with a crossbow being sent down

[@loturzelrestaurant]

Mojang should use Superpower-Wiki. That would make them realize Soul-Manipulation but also coutless other Things already implemented have Variants, Forms, Versions and naturally-coming Extensions

[@CeDYT]

Ive been watching for awhile probably since the first minecraft deepdive, but man your content is incredible. From the custom made music, well thought out segments, to the precise editing. keep up the great work

[@oakchips]

Big fat thumbs up these videos are so well made! I do nit know many channels that produce this high quality videos

[@the_joke_2685]

I swear this man chooses the absolute perfect music to set the mood

[@beanwithbasicskills4038]

When you hear "Join me for dive benath the waves" you know its gonna be good.

[@Ken-zc5ow]

I swear I could never kill an enderman or witch ever again after watching your videos, you've given them so much life through these deep dives

[@MiklPis]

This is definitely the best theory I've ever heard. It makes perfectly sense. I still do hope for another dimension though - IF they somehow make it make sense. Adding another dimension just for adding it wouldn't make sense. I love your videos!

[@savalanipmations6474]

The deep dark spawns most commonly in mountain biomes and plateaus (biomes with low erosion). Not sure if that means anything to the theory but I thought it was worth mentioning.