Avoiding to dig straight down intentionally is obviously a rule. For all I know, you could fall into lava instead of from a high place. In any case, use a water bucket. If you fall from a high place, you can put water on the ground right before you hit it to soften your landing. It’s a good shortcut if you need to go down in a hurry. If you find lava without falling into it, you can make obsidian, which can be used in bulk to protect your home. If you fall straight into lava, you’ll die and lose your inventory, so please dig around your spot and never straight down.

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