Look, we’ve all been there. You’ve spent hours mining diamonds, you’ve finally got a decent set of armor, and now you’re staring at a chest full of Blaze Rods wondering if you’re actually ready. Knowing how to get to the Ender Dragon isn't just about finding a portal; it’s about surviving the sheer chaos of the End itself. It’s a long walk. It’s dangerous.
Honestly? Most players die before they even see the dragon because they rush the preparation phase.
Minecraft doesn't exactly give you a GPS for this. You’re essentially hunting for a needle in a haystack—except the needle is a massive stone fortress buried deep underground and the haystack is an infinite procedurally generated world. To make it to the "The End," you need to master three distinct phases: the Nether hunt, the Overworld search, and the Stronghold navigation. If you mess up any of these, you’re just wasting your time.
First, you need the "Keys" to the End
You can't just stumble into the End. You have to earn it. The gateway is locked, and the keys are Eyes of Ender. To make these, you need two things that don't belong together: Ender Pearls and Blaze Powder.
Blaze Powder comes from Blazes. Obviously. You’ll find them in Nether Fortresses. If you haven't found a fortress yet, look for the "soul sand valley" or "nether wastes" biomes, as they tend to pop up there more frequently. You need at least 7 or 8 Blaze Rods to be safe, which you then craft into powder.
Then come the pearls. Endermen are a pain. You can hunt them in the Overworld at night, but it’s slow. A much faster way? Trade with Piglins in the Nether. Toss them gold ingots and they might spit back some pearls. It’s basically gambling, but it beats chasing a teleporting stick-figure through a forest for three hours. Once you have both, combine them in your crafting grid. You’ll want about 12 to 16 Eyes of Ender. Why so many? Because they have a nasty habit of shattering when you throw them.
Tracking the Stronghold: The "Eye" in the Sky
This is where the actual hunt for how to get to the Ender Dragon gets technical. When you’re back in the Overworld, hold an Eye of Ender and "use" it (right-click). The eye will float up into the air and travel in the direction of the nearest Stronghold.
It stays in the air for a few seconds then drops—or explodes.
Don't just spam them. That’s a rookie mistake. Throw one, follow the direction for about 200 or 300 blocks, and then throw another. If the eye starts heading into the ground, stop. You’re standing on top of it. Well, not on it, but it’s somewhere beneath your feet. Strongholds are massive, messy structures made of stone bricks, mossy stone, and cracked bricks. They are labyrinthine. You’ll know you’re in the right place when you see iron bars and library bookshelves.
Interestingly, Strongholds don't just spawn anywhere. In Minecraft: Java Edition, they spawn in rings around the world origin ($0,0$). The first ring contains three strongholds between 1,280 and 2,816 blocks from the center. If you're 5,000 blocks out, you’re looking for a completely different ring. Bedrock Edition is a bit more chaotic, often placing them under villages, which makes life a lot easier if you're lucky.
Finding the Portal Room (The Hard Part)
The Stronghold is a death trap. Seriously. It’s filled with silverfish, zombies, and enough winding hallways to make your head spin. You are looking for one specific room: the Portal Room.
It’s a small room with a pool of lava in the center and a floating frame of 12 blocks. There’s usually a Silverfish spawner sitting right at the top of the stairs. Break that spawner immediately. I’ve seen entire speedruns end because someone got swarmed by those tiny grey nuisances while trying to place their eyes.
Look at the frame. Some of the blocks might already have Eyes of Ender in them—this is pure RNG (random number generation). You need to fill the empty sockets. Once the 12th eye is placed, the center of the frame will turn into a black, starry void. That’s your ticket out of this dimension.
Expert Pro-Tip: Before you jump in, set a spawn point. Put a bed in the room next to the portal, sleep in it, and then leave it there. If the dragon knocks you into the void (and she will try), you don't want to wake up 2,000 blocks away at your original world spawn.
🔗 Read more: Playing Monopoly Board Game Online: Why It’s Still Ruining Friendships (And We Love It)
The Gear Check: Don't Go In Naked
If you jump into that portal with just an iron sword, you’re going to have a bad time. The Ender Dragon isn't just a boss; she’s an environmental hazard.
- A Good Bow: This is non-negotiable. You have to shoot the End Crystals on top of the obsidian pillars. If you don't, the dragon will just keep healing. Get an "Infinity" enchantment if you can. If not, bring at least two stacks of arrows.
- Empty Buckets and Water: Water is your best friend. Endermen hate it. If you get swarmed, stand in a puddle. Also, if the dragon flings you 50 blocks into the air, a "clutch" water bucket placement on the ground is the only thing that will save you from a "fell from a high place" death message.
- Slow Falling Potions: These are the secret weapon of pro players. Brew them using Phantom Membranes. They make you drift down like a feather, completely neutralizing the dragon’s "wing flap" attack that sends players flying.
- Carved Pumpkin: It looks stupid, and it ruins your UI, but if you wear it on your head, Endermen won't attack you when you look at them. It’s a literal life-saver.
Stepping Through the Void
When you finally figure out how to get to the Ender Dragon and jump through that portal, you’ll spawn on a platform made of obsidian. Sometimes it’s buried inside an island; sometimes it’s floating in the air away from the main island.
If you're floating, start crouching (sneaking) and build a bridge toward the main landmass. Do not—under any circumstances—look an Enderman in the eye while you are bridging. They will teleport behind you and knock you into the void, ending your run instantly.
Once you’re on the main island, the fight begins. The dragon will circle the obsidian pillars. Your first task is to destroy the crystals. Some are behind iron bars; you'll have to pillar up with blocks to reach those. Be careful: when a crystal explodes, it deals massive damage. Hit it with a snow ball or an arrow from a distance if you can.
✨ Don't miss: Getting Stuck on the Connections Hint May 1? Here Is How to Solve Today's NYT Grid
Surprising Details About the Fight
Most people think you just hit the dragon until it dies. That’s the slow way. The "pro" way involves beds.
Because you cannot sleep in the End, beds explode with more force than TNT. If you place a bed on the "bedrock fountain" (the portal home) and try to sleep in it just as the dragon’s head lowers, you can deal massive "burst" damage. It’s risky. It’s explosive. But it’s how the fastest players in the world do it.
Also, watch out for "Dragon's Breath." That purple cloud on the ground isn't just for show. It lingers and drains your health incredibly fast. If you have empty glass bottles, you can actually collect this breath to make Lingering Potions later. It’s the only way to get that specific resource in the game.
Summary of Actionable Steps
Getting to the dragon is a test of patience more than skill. Follow this workflow to ensure you don't lose your progress:
- Stockpile Gold: Trade it with Piglins in the Nether to get at least 12 Ender Pearls without having to fight a single Enderman.
- Blaze Hunting: Kill Blazes in a Fortress for at least 7 rods.
- The "Triangulation" Method: Throw an Eye of Ender, run 200 blocks, throw another. If the angle changes sharply, you've passed the Stronghold.
- The Safety Bunker: Once you find the Portal Room, place a bed, a chest with spare food, and a furnace nearby.
- Armor Up: Ensure your armor has "Protection IV" and your boots have "Feather Falling." These are the two most important enchantments for this fight.
- The Final Jump: Inventory check. Do you have blocks? Water? A bow? Food? If yes, jump in.
The End isn't the end of the game; it’s actually the beginning of the "late game." Killing the dragon opens up the Outer Islands, where you can find End Cities and the Elytra (wings). But you can't fly until you've faced the beast. Gear up, keep your eyes on the ground, and don't forget your water bucket.