The battle against the Ender Dragon is one of the first goals for many Minecraft players. It is the “official” end, introduced with the 1.0 release in 2011, and hasn’t changed much since. However, the fight is not exactly easy and can be a significant challenge, especially for new and inexperienced players. So today, we’ll look at the best strategies to help beginners survive the battle!
Finding the Ender Dragon: Here’s How
To defeat the Ender Dragon, you first need to find it. It doesn’t appear in the Overworld or the Nether. The dragon has its own dimension, which you can only access through a special portal. These portals can be found in generated strongholds, hidden deep underground.
In a Minecraft world, there are 128 such strongholds, appearing at regular intervals. You can find them by crafting Eyes of Ender from ender pearls and blaze powder and activating them. They float through the air and give you a general direction to the stronghold. Be sure to have plenty of Eyes of Ender with you, as they can break, and you might need 12 pieces to activate the portal.
Optimally Equipped: Items for the Dragon Fight
Once you’ve found a stronghold and the room with the End Portal, you should prepare for the fight. It’s best to set up a small base in the stronghold, with a bed and a chest for extra equipment. If you die, you’ll respawn right next to the portal.
Your inventory should include:
- Diamond Armor (boots with “Feather Falling” enchantment)
- Diamond Sword/Axe
- Shield
- Bow + plenty of arrows
- Pickaxe
- Food
- 2x 64 Building Blocks
- Water Bucket
- Potions of Slow Falling (can be crafted from phantom membrane)
- Pumpkin Head
Combat Strategy for the Ender Dragon
The battle against the Ender Dragon occurs in different phases, and you should be prepared for each one. This not only makes it easier but can also prevent your death. Go strategically and focus on the right aspects of the fight at different times.
Activating the End Portal and Traveling to the Dimension
Once you jump through the End Portal, two different scenarios can await you. You’ll either spawn on a 5x5 obsidian platform a bit away from the main island – or you’ll be buried in a 5x5x3 room. First, you need to familiarize yourself with your surroundings and find your way to the main island.
The End Island is a large island made of end stone, where you’ll see some large obsidian pillars. The Ender Dragon is likely already flying above your head, but it’s not your priority yet. You’ll also notice many Endermen. They are the biggest hurdle, as you should avoid eye contact or wear a pumpkin head. However, this restricts your field of view, so it’s not necessarily practical.
Destroying End Crystals: The Key to Victory
Your first task is to destroy the End Crystals on the obsidian pillars. They heal the dragon, so it’s not worth attacking it directly yet. Some of these crystals can be hit directly with a bow from the ground, while others are either too high or surrounded by an iron bar cage.
Use your building blocks to stack up. Drink your Potion of Slow Falling beforehand to avoid fall damage. The dragon, still flying around, will likely try to knock you into the air. You can easily destroy the crystals with your fist.
Attack Phase: Weakening the Ender Dragon
Once you’ve destroyed all the End Crystals on the pillars, the dragon can no longer regenerate and is now vulnerable to your attacks. Follow a specific pattern afterward. It will continue to fly through the air, and you can try to hit it with your bow and some good shots. This doesn’t do much damage but can shorten the fight by a few minutes.
You can directly attack the Ender Dragon with a sword or axe when it comes to the center and lands on the End Fountain. Focus on its head, as that’s where you deal the most damage. The hitbox can be a bit tricky, but you can press F3+B to display it.
The attack you should be most cautious of during this phase is the dragon’s breath. It creates a poisonous cloud on the ground that damages you. So, you should keep moving while attacking the head. If the dragon knocks you into the air with its attack, grab your water bucket and try to stop the fall. Or you have enough Potions of Slow Falling to negate the damage from your impact.
The Victory over the Ender Dragon
After several phases, you’ll finally bring the health bar to zero and defeat the dragon. It will then rise into the air and explode into a confetti of light and plenty of experience points. At the same time, the End Fountain activates for your way home, and an End Gateway Portal to the outer End Islands appears at the edge of the island.
Your coolest reward is probably the Ender Dragon Egg, which exists only once per world! You can collect it by nudging it once, letting it teleport, and then letting it fall onto a torch. It serves as pure decoration but is a great souvenir from the fight.
After that, all that’s left is a jump into the End Fountain and the Minecraft End Credits. These are not just the developers’ credits but also a poem written by Julian Gough. It’s worth reading through! It’s surprisingly philosophical and an interesting end for a game like Minecraft.
Summoning the Ender Dragon Again: Here’s How
Of course, for many players, the fight against the Ender Dragon is just the beginning of their world. And if you feel like it, you can defeat the boss again and again. You need four End Crystals, which you can craft from glass, an Eye of Ender, and a ghast tear. Place them around the fountain and summon the dragon once more!
Conclusion
The Ender Dragon is both the end and the beginning of a Minecraft world and is an essential part of progression! It’s not only a big challenge but also gives you access to the outer End Islands and lots of great loot. Rent your own Minecraft server with us and defeat the Ender Dragon together with your friends. The battle is a great experience, and every Minecraft player should read the End Poem at least once.
