The Ender Dragon is the ultimate boss in Minecraft, and defeating it marks a significant milestone in your Minecraft journey. But before you can claim victory, you need to find the Ender Dragon’s lair. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the process of locating the End portal, preparing for the End, and ultimately, facing the Ender Dragon.
Understanding the Goal: Reaching the End Dimension
The Ender Dragon resides in the End dimension, a desolate and dangerous realm. To reach it, you’ll need to locate and activate an End portal, a naturally generated structure hidden within strongholds. Strongholds are underground fortresses containing libraries, dungeons, and, most importantly, the portal to the End.
Phase 1: Gathering the Essentials
Before embarking on your quest to find the End portal, it’s crucial to gather essential resources and equipment. This preparation will significantly increase your chances of survival and success in the End.
1. Crafting Eye of Ender
Eyes of Ender are the key to locating strongholds. You’ll need at least 12, but crafting more is highly recommended. To craft an Eye of Ender, you need:
- Blaze Powder: Obtained by crafting Blaze Rods, which are dropped by Blazes in the Nether.
- Ender Pearl: Dropped by Endermen, which are commonly found in all dimensions, but more frequently in the Warped Forest biome of the Nether.
To craft an Eye of Ender, combine one Blaze Powder and one Ender Pearl in a crafting table.
2. Equipping Yourself for the Stronghold and the End
The stronghold and the End are dangerous places. Here’s a list of recommended equipment:
- Diamond Armor: Fully enchanted diamond armor is highly recommended. Prioritize enchantments like Protection, Fire Protection, Blast Protection, and Projectile Protection to mitigate various types of damage. Feather Falling boots are essential to avoid fall damage within the Stronghold.
- Diamond Sword: A diamond sword with Sharpness, Smite (if you expect to fight undead mobs in the Stronghold), Fire Aspect, and Looting enchantments.
- Bow and Arrows: A bow with Power, Punch, Flame, and Infinity/Mending enchantments. Arrows are vital for destroying the Ender Dragon’s healing crystals. Bring at least 64 arrows, but more is better.
- Pickaxe: A diamond or netherite pickaxe for mining any obstacles you encounter. Efficiency and Fortune/Silk Touch are helpful enchantments.
- Food: Bring a large supply of high-saturation food items, such as Golden Carrots, Steak, or Cooked Porkchops, to replenish your hunger.
- Potions:
- Potion of Healing/Regeneration: For quick health recovery during combat.
- Potion of Fire Resistance: Protects against lava and fire damage, especially useful in the Nether and the End.
- Potion of Slow Falling: Can save you from fatal falls.
- Potion of Strength: Increases your damage output.
- Potion of Invisibility: Useful for navigating the Stronghold undetected.
- Potion of Night Vision: Enhances visibility in dark areas.
- Water Bucket: Useful for extinguishing fires, creating obsidian, and safely descending from heights.
- Blocks: Bring a stack or two of building blocks (Cobblestone, Dirt, or any other non-gravity affected solid block) for bridging gaps and building defenses.
- Ender Chest: A portable storage container that allows you to access your items from anywhere in the Overworld, Nether, and End, as long as you have another Ender Chest placed. Useful for storing important items.
- Jack o’Lantern or Carved Pumpkin: Wearing this can prevent Endermen from attacking if you accidentally look at them.
Phase 2: Locating the Stronghold
Now that you’re equipped, it’s time to find the Stronghold. Follow these steps:
1. Using Eyes of Ender
Equip an Eye of Ender and right-click (or use the appropriate button on your console or mobile device) to throw it. The Eye of Ender will fly in the direction of the nearest Stronghold. Follow the Eye of Ender’s path.
2. Tracking the Eye of Ender
Continue following the Eyes of Ender. As you get closer to the Stronghold, the Eyes of Ender will fly higher and farther. Eventually, the Eye of Ender will hover in place or descend into the ground. This indicates that you’re directly above the Stronghold.
3. Digging Down
Carefully dig straight down from where the Eye of Ender hovered. Be cautious of falling into caves or lava pools. It’s recommended to dig a staircase down to avoid fall damage. You may need to use a potion of night vision to see in the dark. Prepare for potential hostile mobs.
4. Exploring the Stronghold
Once you’ve reached the Stronghold, explore the complex network of corridors, rooms, and staircases. Be prepared to encounter hostile mobs like Silverfish, Zombies, Skeletons, and Spiders. Clear out these mobs as you explore.
Phase 3: Activating the End Portal
The End portal is located within a specific room in the Stronghold, a square room with a silverfish spawner and a lava pool. Look for it carefully, as it can be hidden behind walls or in obscure corners.
1. Identifying the End Portal Frame
The End portal frame is a 3×3 square of End Portal Frame blocks, suspended over a lava pool. Each End Portal Frame block has a slot for an Eye of Ender.
2. Inserting Eyes of Ender
Right-click on each End Portal Frame block to insert an Eye of Ender. You need to fill all 12 slots to activate the portal. Some slots may already have Eyes of Ender in them; these are pre-generated. If you’re unlucky, some End Portal Frames may be broken or missing, making the portal unusable in that specific Stronghold. In this case, you’ll need to locate another Stronghold.
3. Activating the Portal
Once all 12 Eyes of Ender are in place, the End portal will activate, creating a swirling black void. This is your gateway to the End dimension.
Phase 4: Preparing for the End Dimension
Before jumping into the End portal, take a moment to prepare for the unique challenges of this dimension. The End is a hostile environment with limited resources and a powerful boss waiting for you.
1. Double-Checking Your Equipment
Ensure you have all the essential equipment listed earlier in this guide. Pay close attention to your armor, weapons, food, and potions. Make sure everything is fully repaired and enchanted.
2. Placing a Bed Near the Portal (Optional, but HIGHLY Recommended)
Place a bed near the End portal. While you cannot sleep in the End or the Nether, having a bed nearby serves as a respawn point in case you die before establishing a safe location in the End. This saves you from having to re-locate the stronghold and reactivate the portal every time you die. If you have more than one person going to the end, coordinate the placement to avoid accidentally setting each other’s respawn points back to the overworld.
3. Consider Bringing an Extra Set of Armor and Weapons
The End can be a dangerous place, and it’s possible your armor and weapons might break during the fight with the Ender Dragon. Bringing an extra set can be a lifesaver.
4. Prepare Your Inventory
Organize your inventory to ensure you have quick access to essential items like potions, food, and building blocks.
Phase 5: Entering the End
When you’re ready, take a deep breath and jump into the End portal. You’ll be transported to the End dimension.
Phase 6: Surviving the Initial Landing
You’ll spawn on a small obsidian platform surrounded by the void. Be careful not to fall off the platform. The Ender Dragon will be circling in the distance. The end is comprised of a main island and surrounding smaller islands.
1. Immediate Actions
- Assess Your Surroundings: Quickly look around to get a sense of the environment. Identify the Ender Dragon’s location and the placement of the obsidian pillars.
- Place a Block: Place a block on the edge of the platform to prevent yourself from accidentally walking off.
- Eat Food: Replenish your hunger bar to ensure you have maximum health regeneration.
Phase 7: Destroying the Ender Crystals
The Ender Dragon is protected by Ender Crystals, which are located on top of the obsidian pillars. These crystals heal the Ender Dragon, making it nearly invincible if they’re not destroyed. Destroying the crystals should be your first priority.
1. Methods for Destroying Crystals
- Bow and Arrows: The safest and most common method. Aim for the crystals and shoot them with your bow. Be careful, as the crystals will explode when destroyed, dealing damage.
- Snowballs: Also a safe method. Snowballs do not damage the player.
- Melee Combat: A riskier method. You can climb the obsidian pillars and attack the crystals with your sword. However, you’re vulnerable to the Ender Dragon’s attacks and the crystal explosions. Use blocks to create a safe platform to strike from.
- Water Bucket + Bed: This is a very advanced strategy and can be dangerous. By placing a bed close to a crystal and sleeping on it, you will cause an explosion that will destroy the crystal and do significant damage to the dragon. This also causes massive knockback to you and can knock you off the pillar into the void. It is advised to wear blast protection armor and bring slow falling potions.
2. Prioritizing Crystal Destruction
Start by destroying the crystals that are encased in iron bars or cages, as they are harder to reach. Then, focus on the remaining crystals. Pay attention to the Ender Dragon’s movements, as it can knock you off the pillars.
Phase 8: Fighting the Ender Dragon
With the Ender Crystals destroyed, the Ender Dragon is now vulnerable. The strategy is to attack it when it perches on the end portal to shoot a fireball. Alternatively, advanced players can use beds to instantly deal massive damage to the dragon.
1. Attacking the Ender Dragon
- Melee Combat: When the Ender Dragon perches on the End portal, run up and attack its head with your sword. This is the most effective way to deal damage. However, be prepared to retreat quickly when it takes off again.
- Bow and Arrows: You can also shoot the Ender Dragon with your bow while it’s flying, but this is less effective than melee combat.
- Beds: As previously mentioned, beds can be used to deal massive damage to the dragon. Place a bed and sleep on it as the dragon gets close, then quickly move away from the explosion to avoid damage to yourself. Blast protection armor is highly recommended.
2. Avoiding the Ender Dragon’s Attacks
The Ender Dragon has several attacks you need to avoid:
- Dragon Breath: The Ender Dragon can shoot purple Dragon Breath, which lingers on the ground and deals damage over time. Avoid standing in the Dragon Breath.
- Fireballs: The Ender Dragon shoots fireballs, which can explode and set you on fire. Use a water bucket to extinguish yourself if you catch fire.
- Knockback: The Ender Dragon can knock you off the platform or into the void with its wings. Stay aware of its movements and position yourself strategically.
3. Managing Health and Hunger
Constantly monitor your health and hunger. Eat food to replenish your hunger bar and use potions of healing/regeneration to recover health quickly. Staying alive is crucial to defeating the Ender Dragon.
Phase 9: Looting and Exiting the End
Once the Ender Dragon is defeated, it will explode and drop a large amount of experience orbs and a Dragon Egg.
1. Collecting Experience Orbs
Collect the experience orbs to gain a significant boost to your experience level. This experience can be used to enchant your equipment.
2. Obtaining the Dragon Egg
The Dragon Egg is a unique trophy that can be placed as decoration. To obtain the Dragon Egg, you need to interact with it in a specific way:
- Place a torch or other block one block below the Dragon Egg.
- Break the block that the Dragon Egg is sitting on.
- The Dragon Egg will teleport and fall onto the torch, allowing you to collect it.
3. Exiting the End
After defeating the Ender Dragon, a portal will appear, leading back to the Overworld. This portal is located where the Ender Dragon was perched. Simply jump into the portal to return home.
Phase 10: Exploring the Outer End Islands (Optional)
After defeating the Ender Dragon for the first time, you can explore the outer End islands. These islands contain valuable resources and structures.
1. Finding End City Portals
To reach the outer End islands, you need to find an End gateway portal. These portals are created after defeating the Ender Dragon. They appear randomly in the End. They look like small bedrock circles.
2. Using Ender Pearls to Teleport
Throw an Ender Pearl into the End gateway portal to teleport to the outer End islands. Be careful, as the islands are far apart and you can easily fall into the void.
3. Exploring End Cities
The outer End islands contain End Cities, which are structures filled with valuable loot, including diamond armor, enchanted tools, and Elytra (wings that allow you to fly). Be prepared to encounter Shulkers, hostile mobs that can shoot levitating projectiles. Shulkers are disguised as blocks and can appear out of nowhere. Defeating Shulkers also drops Shulker Shells, which can be used to craft Shulker Boxes.
4. Obtaining Elytra
Elytra are found in End Cities, typically in the treasure room of an End Ship. They allow you to fly, making exploration much easier. Elytra require Phantom Membrane to repair, which are dropped by Phantoms in the Overworld. Phantom’s only spawn when the player does not sleep for 3 or more in-game days.
Tips and Tricks for a Successful Ender Dragon Fight
- Bring a Pumpkin: Wearing a carved pumpkin on your head will prevent Endermen from attacking you, even if you accidentally look at them. This can be helpful for navigating the End and avoiding unnecessary combat.
- Place Torches: Placing torches can help you navigate the End and avoid getting lost.
- Use Beds for Damage: Beds are a powerful weapon against the Ender Dragon, but use them with caution. Be prepared to move quickly to avoid the explosion damage.
- Practice in Creative Mode: Before attempting the Ender Dragon fight in survival mode, practice in creative mode to familiarize yourself with the Ender Dragon’s attacks and the layout of the End.
- Teamwork: If possible, fight the Ender Dragon with friends. Teamwork can make the fight much easier and more enjoyable.
- Take your time: Don’t feel pressured to fight the Ender Dragon as soon as you reach the End. Take your time to prepare and strategize.
- Know the Dragon’s Attack Pattern: The Ender Dragon’s behavior is somewhat predictable. Learning its attack patterns will allow you to dodge and counterattack more effectively.
Conclusion
Finding and defeating the Ender Dragon is a challenging but rewarding experience in Minecraft. By following this comprehensive guide, you’ll be well-prepared to locate the End portal, navigate the End dimension, and ultimately claim victory over the Ender Dragon. Good luck, and happy crafting!