Eyes of ender: hunt for 12, carry 16
The end portal frame needs 12 eyes, and each throw has a chance to shatter the eye — craft roughly 16 from blaze powder + ender pearls. Throw eyes in the overworld; they fly toward the stronghold. Dig carefully at the landing point: the portal room is usually under a village-adjacent staircase with a lava-fall trap.
Gear that actually matters
An iron set is survivable; diamond is comfortable. Bring a bow with a few stacks of arrows — the dragon spends most of the fight flying and the crystals sit on tall obsidian pillars. A water bucket, slow-falling potions (Phantom Membrane), pumpkin (Endermen cannot see you wearing one), stacks of cobble and a bed are the veteran kit.
Crystals first, always
End crystals on top of the obsidian pillars heal the dragon — shooting them (especially the caged ones, which need a bow and a ladder-and-pickaxe plan) is the whole early fight. Once the last crystal pops, the dragon perches in the middle; hit the head (double damage), dodge the breath, and place your bed trick only if you enjoy explosions.
The egg and the exit
The dragon drops ~12,000 XP and leaves a portal home with the dragon egg on top — push it with a piston or dig beside it, it teleports if you try to mine it directly. The exit portal also becomes the gateway to the outer End cities later.
Sources and standards
Where these figures come from
Every formula on this page is implemented from the published reference material below. Where a value depends on a regional code, the calculator lets you override it rather than assuming one jurisdiction.
- Minecraft — official site — the game of record for mechanics, versions and release notes.
- Mojang Studios — the developer, and the authority on balance changes between versions.
Figures, formulas and reference tables last verified: 19 September 2026.
