How to Get Mob Heads in Minecraft: A Comprehensive Guide
Mob heads in Minecraft are decorative items that can add a touch of flair and personality to your builds. They can also be used to create disguises or even trigger redstone contraptions. While some mob heads are relatively easy to obtain, others require specific conditions and a bit of luck. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the different types of mob heads, how to acquire them, and some creative ways to use them.
Types of Mob Heads
There are several types of mob heads available in Minecraft, each representing a different mob. These include:
* **Creeper Head:** A green, blocky head representing the iconic Creeper.
* **Skeleton Skull:** A bone-white skull representing a Skeleton.
* **Wither Skeleton Skull:** A black skull representing a Wither Skeleton.
* **Zombie Head:** A green, decaying head representing a Zombie.
* **Dragon Head:** A black head with purple eyes representing the Ender Dragon.
* **Player Head:** A head that looks like the skin of a specific Minecraft player.
Obtaining Mob Heads
The method for obtaining mob heads varies depending on the type of head. Here’s a breakdown of each:
1. Creeper, Skeleton, Zombie, and Wither Skeleton Heads
These heads are obtained as rare drops from Creepers, Skeletons, Zombies, and Wither Skeletons, respectively. However, there’s a catch: the mob must be killed by a charged Creeper. A charged Creeper is a Creeper that has been struck by lightning.
**Steps to get these heads:**
1. **Find a Creeper, Skeleton, Zombie or Wither Skeleton:** Naturally spawn in the world, usually at night or in dark locations. Wither Skeletons are exclusively found in Nether Fortresses.
2. **Create a Charged Creeper:** This is the most challenging part. There are a few ways to do this:
* **Lightning Rod:** Place a Lightning Rod in an area where Creepers spawn. During a thunderstorm, there’s a chance lightning will strike the rod and charge any nearby Creepers. This is the safest and most reliable method, but it requires patience and a thunderstorm.
* **Channeling Trident:** Obtain a Trident enchanted with Channeling. During a thunderstorm, throw the Trident at a Creeper. If the Trident hits the Creeper when lightning strikes, it will become charged. This is a more active method but requires a rare Trident and a specific enchantment.
* **Lightning Spell (Commands):** If you have access to commands (e.g., in Creative mode or on a server where you have operator privileges), you can use the `/summon lightning_bolt ~ ~ ~` command to summon lightning near a Creeper. Be careful, as this can also set the surrounding area on fire.
3. **Position the Charged Creeper:** Once you have a charged Creeper, carefully lead it (or lure it) close to the Skeleton, Zombie, or Creeper you want to get the head from. Be extremely cautious, as charged Creepers have a significantly larger explosion radius than regular Creepers.
4. **Detonate the Charged Creeper:** Allow the charged Creeper to explode near the target mob. The explosion must kill the target mob. The blast radius for a charged creeper is large. Consider building a temporary structure around the mobs you want to get the head from to contain the explosion and avoid damage to the surrounding area. Consider using blast-resistant blocks like obsidian.
5. **Collect the Head:** If you’re lucky, the Skeleton, Zombie, Creeper, or Wither Skeleton will drop its head. The drop rate is quite low, typically around 3% without the Looting enchantment.
6. **Looting Enchantment (Recommended):** The Looting enchantment significantly increases the chance of a mob dropping its head. Using a sword with Looting III will greatly improve your odds. You can apply Looting to a sword using an enchanting table or by combining an enchanted book with a sword on an anvil.
**Important Considerations:**
* **Safety First:** Charged Creepers are extremely dangerous. Always keep a safe distance and use appropriate armor to protect yourself from the explosion.
* **Containment:** Building a small enclosure around the target mob and the charged Creeper can help contain the explosion and prevent unnecessary damage to the surrounding area.
* **Creeper vs. Creeper:** You can use a charged Creeper to kill another Creeper to get a Creeper head, but this can be risky, as the resulting explosion might destroy the head.
2. Dragon Head
The Dragon Head is obtained after defeating the Ender Dragon in the End dimension. It is located on the front of the End Ship, which spawns after the dragon is defeated. There is only one Dragon Head per End City/End Ship, so you will need to locate and explore more than one end city to obtain more than one dragon head.
**Steps to get the Dragon Head:**
1. **Defeat the Ender Dragon:** Enter the End dimension and defeat the Ender Dragon.
2. **Find an End City:** After defeating the Ender Dragon, a portal will appear, leading to the outer islands of the End. Explore these islands to find an End City.
3. **Locate the End Ship:** End Cities often have End Ships docked nearby. The End Ship is a long, narrow vessel that floats in the air.
4. **Find the Dragon Head:** The Dragon Head is located on the front of the End Ship, typically mounted on the bow. It’s usually quite visible.
5. **Break the Block Underneath:** The dragon head is mounted on a single block. If you break that block, the dragon head will be released and can be picked up.
6. **Collect the Dragon Head:** Simply walk up to the Dragon Head and pick it up.
3. Player Heads
Player heads are a bit different from mob heads. They represent the skin of a specific Minecraft player and can be obtained in a few ways:
* **Commands:** The most straightforward way to get a player head is by using the `/give` command. This requires access to commands (e.g., in Creative mode or on a server where you have operator privileges).
* **External Websites/Services:** Several websites and services offer tools to generate the command needed to obtain a player head with a specific skin. These tools usually require you to enter the player’s username.
* **Events/Promotions:** Occasionally, Mojang or server owners will offer player heads as rewards for participating in events or promotions.
**Using the `/give` command:**
The basic syntax for the `/give` command to obtain a player head is:
`/give
Replace `
`/give Steve minecraft:player_head{SkullOwner:Notch}`
This command will give the player “Steve” a player head with the skin of “Notch” (the creator of Minecraft).
**Important Considerations:**
* **Case Sensitivity:** Player usernames are case-sensitive. Make sure you enter the username exactly as it appears in the game.
* **Availability:** The player whose skin you’re trying to obtain must have a Minecraft account and a skin uploaded to their profile.
* **Server Restrictions:** Some servers may disable or restrict the use of commands, so this method may not be available on all servers.
Uses for Mob Heads
Mob heads are primarily decorative items, but they can also be used in some interesting and functional ways:
* **Decoration:** This is the most common use for mob heads. They can be placed on walls, shelves, or displayed on stands to add a unique touch to your builds.
* **Disguises:** Wearing a mob head can make you look like a particular mob, although this doesn’t actually fool the mobs themselves. It can be fun for role-playing or creating themed builds.
* **Redstone Contraptions:** Mob heads can be used in redstone contraptions. For example, player heads can be used to create hidden doors or traps triggered by specific players. Dragon heads will flap their mouth if powered with redstone. This can be incorporated into many different contraptions.
* **Tributes and Memorials:** Mob heads can be used to create tributes to defeated mobs or memorials to players who have left the game.
* **Storytelling:** Incorporate mob heads into your builds to create narratives. A Creeper head mounted above a doorway could signify danger, or a collection of skulls could represent a graveyard.
* **Custom Armor Stands:** Armor stands can be equipped with mob heads, allowing you to create unique characters or statues. Use commands to customize the armor stand’s pose and equipment.
Tips and Tricks
* **Looting is Essential:** As mentioned earlier, the Looting enchantment is crucial for increasing the drop rate of Creeper, Skeleton, Zombie, and Wither Skeleton heads. Invest in a good Looting sword to maximize your chances.
* **Stormy Weather is Your Friend:** Keep an eye out for thunderstorms. This is when you have the opportunity to create charged Creepers. Consider building a lightning rod trap to automate the process.
* **Explore End Cities Thoroughly:** When exploring End Cities for the Dragon Head, be sure to check every corner of the End Ship. The head is usually located on the bow, but it could be hidden in other areas.
* **Experiment with Commands:** If you have access to commands, don’t be afraid to experiment with different variations of the `/give` command to customize the appearance of player heads.
* **Combine with Other Decorations:** Mob heads look great when combined with other decorative items, such as banners, paintings, and item frames. Experiment with different combinations to create unique displays.
* **Use in Themed Builds:** Consider creating themed builds around specific mob heads. For example, you could build a spooky graveyard using Skeleton Skulls and Zombie Heads, or a dragon’s lair using Dragon Heads.
* **Trading with Piglins:** In the Nether, Piglins sometimes offer various items in trades. While rare, they *can* trade a Wither Skeleton Skull. Bartering with Piglins can be risky, so it’s best to bring gold armor to avoid hostility.
* **Advanced Command Usage:** For the truly dedicated, commands allow for incredibly detailed customization of mob heads. Custom textures, names, and lore can be applied to create truly unique items. This can be achieved using external NBT editors and applying the data through the `/give` command.
Conclusion
Mob heads are a fun and versatile decorative item in Minecraft that can be obtained through various means, from defeating the Ender Dragon to luring Creepers into lightning strikes. Whether you’re looking to add a touch of personality to your builds, create disguises, or trigger redstone contraptions, mob heads offer a wide range of possibilities. With a little patience and ingenuity, you can collect them all and create some truly unique and impressive creations. Remember to prioritize safety when dealing with charged Creepers, and have fun exploring the world of Minecraft!