Minecraft wiki entry for Desert_survival, associated text: First of all, dig up a lot of sand to craft into sandstone, as that is the best material available for the moment. Focus on building a more secure house than you normally would, as it will take a long time to find enough wool for a bed. Prepare for the possibility of an emergency shelter on your first night. The two best are the Three-Down-One-Up and a jump pillar. Food may not be an issue if you can effectively hunt rabbits. Otherwise, look for any naturally generated structures that may contain a chest. They may contain useful materials. Deadbush is quite a common item in desert biomes. Use them to craft sticks. Then, if you find a desert village and it has a blacksmith, check the loot. You might find some iron. If you find 3 ingots, craft a pickaxe and mine some stone later on. Then, load up on cooked rabbit and then you can go mine and proceed with your game.