You're wandering through a dark forest, maybe minding your own business while mining some coal, and then you hear it. That distorted, low-frequency warble. You accidentally bumped your mouse, looked a pixel too high, and now a three-block-tall nightmare is shrieking at you. Learning how to kill an enderman in minecraft is basically a rite of passage for every player, whether you're a total newbie or someone who’s been punching trees since the alpha days.
These guys are weird. They don't follow the rules of other mobs. Most enemies just run at you, but the Enderman plays a game of psychological warfare with that creepy "staring contest" mechanic. If you don't know what you're doing, you'll end up dead in a few hits because they hit like a truck, especially on Hard difficulty where they deal 10.5 points of damage per swing.
The Anatomy of the Fight
Before you even swing a sword, you have to understand why they’re so annoying to hit. They teleport. It's not random, though. They teleport when they take projectile damage, when they touch water, or when they just feel like repositioning behind your back to ruin your day. This means bows are basically useless. Don't even try to shoot them unless you have a specific setup, because they’ll just "poof" away before the arrow connects.
Water is their kryptonite. It's the most consistent way to keep them at bay. If you’re panicking, just dump a bucket of water at your feet. They’ll take periodic damage and refuse to step into the puddle. It’s the ultimate "safe zone" trick that most veteran players use when they're caught off guard in the middle of a desert or a plains biome.
The Strategy: How to Kill an Enderman in Minecraft Easily
There are two ways to do this: the "cowardly" way (which is actually the smart way) and the "warrior" way.
👉 See also: The Keepers of the 5 Kingdoms Explained (Simply)
The most effective method, used by speedrunners and casual players alike, is the two-block high shelter. Since Endermen are three blocks tall, they can't fit into spaces where the ceiling is only two blocks high. You basically build a little roof over your head, look the Enderman in the eyes to provoke it, and then laugh as it stands right in front of you, unable to reach your hitbox. From there, you just keep hitting its legs. It's cheesy. It's simple. It works every single time.
Boat Traps and Other Shenanigans
Did you know you can just use a boat? It sounds ridiculous. You place a boat on the ground, and if an Enderman walks over it, they get stuck. Once they're in the boat, their AI sort of breaks. They won't teleport away when you hit them. You can just stand there and wail on them with a stone axe until they drop that sweet, sweet Ender Pearl.
- The Boat Method: Place a boat. Bait the Enderman. Watch it get stuck. Kill it.
- The Water Bucket: Drop water at your feet. Stay in the center. Hit them as they try to approach.
- The Critical Hit: Jump and hit them on the way down. This deals extra damage and shortens the fight significantly.
If you’re feeling brave, you can try the "look at the feet" tactic. If you don't look at their face, they don't aggro. But we're here to kill them, not ignore them. If you're in the End, this becomes a whole different ballgame. You’re surrounded by hundreds of them. In that case, a carved pumpkin is your best friend. Wearing a pumpkin on your head lets you look directly at them without triggering their aggressive state. You’ll have a terrible view because of the pumpkin overlay, but you’ll be safe from accidental eye contact.
Looting and Weaponry
If you're hunting for pearls to get to the Stronghold, you want the Looting III enchantment. Without it, the drop rate for Ender Pearls is honestly depressing. You might kill five of them and get nothing. With Looting III, you can get up to four pearls from a single kill. It’s a massive time-saver.
📖 Related: Sims 4 Worlds List: What Most People Get Wrong
Fire Aspect is a bit of a double-edged sword. While the extra damage is nice, fire damage sometimes triggers their teleportation reflex more frequently, making the fight take longer as they zip around the map trying to extinguish themselves. Usually, a Sharpness V Diamond or Netherite sword is more than enough to handle them in three hits.
Why Endermen Behave the Way They Do
The AI logic behind the Enderman is actually quite sophisticated compared to a Zombie. They have a "stare" state. When you crosshairs hit their head or upper body, they freeze and open their mouths. The moment you look away, the scream starts and the teleportation begins.
One mistake people make is trying to run away in a straight line. Never do that. They are faster than you. Instead, find a wall to put your back against so they can't teleport behind you. If you're in a cave, use the ceiling to your advantage. If you're in the open, the "three-block pillar" method—where you build a pole three blocks up and stand on it—is an option, but it leaves you vulnerable to Skeletons shooting you off.
Common Misconceptions About Endermen
A lot of people think Endermen can pick up any block. They can't. They have a specific "whitelist" of blocks they can grief. They can't pick up your stone bricks or your obsidian, but they will absolutely tear apart your dirt landscape or steal your cacti. If you're building a base and don't want it looking like a Swiss cheese factory, use blocks they can't carry.
Also, some players think you can kill them with Splash Potions of Healing. Nope. That works on undead mobs like Skeletons and Zombies. Endermen aren't undead; they're just... weird interdimensional beings. Use a Smite sword? No effect. You need Sharpness.
Practical Steps for Your Next Hunt
To consistently win these fights, keep your inventory prepped. This isn't just about clicking fast.
- Always carry a water bucket. It is the single most important tool in Minecraft for defense, period.
- Keep a few spare blocks on your hotbar. If you see an Enderman, you should be able to build a 2x2 "umbrella" over your head in under two seconds.
- Aim for the legs. For some reason, hitting their legs seems to reduce the frequency of them teleporting away mid-swing.
- Use a Shield. While they can disable shields with a heavy hit (on Java edition), it still buys you time to reposition.
If you're farming these for the End Portal, head to a Desert biome at night. The flat terrain makes them easy to spot from a distance. Or, if you’ve already beaten the Ender Dragon, build an Enderman farm in the End using an Endermite as bait. It’s the fastest way to get Level 30 in about two minutes.
Killing an Enderman doesn't have to be a gamble. It's all about controlling the environment. Don't let them dictate where the fight happens. Force them into a boat, trap them under a low ceiling, or splash them with a bit of H2O. Once you take away their ability to teleport and overwhelm you, they're just another tall, skinny mob with some valuable loot.
The next time you hear that creepy static sound, don't look down at the ground in fear. Look up, build your shelter, and get those pearls. You’ve got a dragon to find.
Actionable Next Steps
- Craft a Shield and a Water Bucket immediately before heading out at night; these are your primary defensive layers.
- Enchant a Sword with Sharpness (at least level III) to reduce the number of hits needed, as the longer the fight lasts, the more chances they have to teleport away and heal.
- Practice building a "Quick Roof"—place three blocks up and one to the side—to create an instant safe zone where the Enderman cannot reach you.
- Locate a Desert Biome for pearl hunting, as the lack of trees and hills makes it significantly easier to track an Enderman's teleportation path.