For many Minecraft players, fighting the Ender Dragon is one of the first goals. It is the “official” end, introduced with the 1.0 release in 2011 and has remained largely unchanged since then. However, the fight is not exactly easy and can be a significant challenge, especially for new and inexperienced players. That’s why today we are looking at the best strategies to make this battle manageable, even for beginners!
Finding the Ender Dragon: Here’s How
To defeat the Ender Dragon, you must first find it. It does not appear in the Overworld, nor in the Nether. The dragon has its own dimension, which you can only reach through a special portal. These portals can be found in generated fortresses (Strongholds) that are hidden deep underground.
In a Minecraft world, there are 128 such fortresses that appear at regular intervals from each other. You can find them by crafting Ender Eyes from Ender Pearls and Blaze Powder and activating them. They float through the air and give you a general direction to the fortress. You should definitely have plenty of Ender Eyes with you, as they can break, and in the worst case, you’ll need 12 pieces to activate the portal.
Optimally Equipped: Items for the Dragon Fight
Once you have found a fortress 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 additional 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 various phases, which you should definitely prepare for. This not only makes it easier but can also prevent your death. Approach strategically and focus on the right aspects of the battle at different times.
Activate the End Portal and Travel to the Dimension
Once you jump through the End Portal, two scenarios can await you. You will spawn either on a 5x5 obsidian platform somewhat away from the main island or in a 5x5x3 enclosed space. First, you need to get familiar with your surroundings and find your way to the main island.
The End Island is a large island made of End Stone, where you will see some large obsidian pillars. The Ender Dragon is probably already hovering above you, but it’s not your priority yet. The many Endermen will surely catch your attention. They are the biggest hurdle, as you should avoid direct eye contact or wear a pumpkin head. This restricts your field of vision, 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 doesn’t make sense to attack it directly yet. Some of these crystals can be reached directly with a bow and a precise shot from the ground, while others are either too high or enclosed in 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 you, will probably try to fling you into the air. You can easily destroy the crystals with your fist.
Attack Phase: Weakening the Ender Dragon
Once you have 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. It will continue to soar through the air, and you can try to hit it with your bow and some well-aimed shots. This doesn’t do much damage but can shorten the battle by a few minutes.
You can attack the Ender Dragon directly with a sword or axe when it comes to the center and lands on the End Fountain. Focus on its head, as this is where you deal the most damage. The hitbox can be a bit odd, but you can press F3+B to display it.
The attack you should watch out for most during this phase is the Dragon’s Breath. It creates a poisonous cloud on the ground that deals damage. You should keep moving while attacking the head. If the dragon flings you into the air with its attack, quickly grab your water bucket and try to break your fall with it. Or have enough Potions of Slow Falling with you to negate the damage from your impact.
Victory Over the Ender Dragon
After several phases, you will finally bring the health bar to zero and defeat the dragon. It then ascends into the air and explodes in a confetti of light and plenty of experience points. At the same time, the End Fountain activates for your journey home, and an End Gateway Portal to the outer End Islands appears on the outer edge of the island.
Your coolest reward is probably the Ender Dragon Egg, which only exists once per world! You can collect it by nudging it once, letting it teleport, and then dropping it onto a torch. It’s purely decorative, but a great souvenir from a battle.
After that, all that’s left is a jump into the End Fountain and the credits of Minecraft. It’s 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 ending 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’re up for it, you can defeat the boss over and over again. For this, you need four End Crystals, which you can craft from glass, an Ender Eye, and a Ghast Tear. Place these around the fountain and summon the dragon again!
Conclusion
The Ender Dragon is both the end and the beginning of a Minecraft world and is an integral part of the progression! It’s not only a significant challenge but also gives you access to the outer End Islands and a lot 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.
