How to defeat the Ender Dragon in Minecraft (and not die trying)

So… you’re thinking about beating Minecraft. Not just building a castle or taming a horse, but actually slaying the Ender Dragon.

Good. It’s time.

But make no mistake — this isn’t just a boss fight. It’s a full-on finale. With void pits. Flying death. And, of course, about 400 angry Endermen.

Let’s make sure you don’t go in underdressed.

Step 1: Prepare like your blocky life depends on it

Because it does.

Essential gear:

• Full enchanted diamond or netherite armor
• Enchanted bow (Power IV or V, Infinity or lots of arrows)
• Diamond sword (Sharpness IV or V)
• Pickaxe (to break through obsidian)
• Plenty of food (golden carrots or steak)
• Ender pearls (for emergencies)
• Blocks (for climbing towers)

Potions to bring:

• Slow falling (so you don’t get yeeted into the sky and die)
• Strength
• Regeneration
• Healing

Optional but helpful:

• Pumpkin helmet (Endermen won’t aggro when you look at them)
• Water bucket (for Endermen and falling damage)

Step 2: Find the End portal (and don’t fall in too early)

You’ll need:

• 12 Eyes of Ender (crafted from Blaze Powder + Ender Pearls)

Steps:

1. Throw an Eye of Ender. Follow its path.
2. Dig when it drops into the ground.
3. Find the stronghold.
4. Locate the portal room.
5. Fill the End portal with Eyes of Ender.
6. Take a deep breath.

Pro tip: Place a bed nearby (not inside — it’ll explode in the End) to set your spawn just in case.

Step 3: Enter the End (and don’t panic)

You’ll spawn on a small obsidian platform. Sometimes it’s floating.

First job: Bridge to the main island safely. Don’t sprint. Don’t fall. Don’t look at Endermen.

Once you’re on the island, the dragon will be circling overhead — and the real fight begins.

Step 4: Destroy the healing crystals first

The Ender Dragon gets health from end crystals on top of obsidian towers.

You need to break all of them, or it’ll just keep healing.

How:

• Shoot them with a bow (most of them)
• Climb and hit with your sword (carefully — they explode)
• Use water buckets to descend safely

Once they’re gone? Game on.

Step 5: Bring the dragon down

Once the crystals are gone, start damaging the dragon:

• Shoot with arrows while it flies
• Hit with your sword when it perches in the center
  • Pro tip: Aim for the head, not the wings
• Don’t stand in the purple breath cloud — it hurts

Watch your health. Watch your step. And don’t stand still for too long — the void is one wrong move away.

Step 6: Victory (and what happens next)

When the Ender Dragon dies:

• It drops a ton of XP (like, 70+ levels)
• It spawns an End portal back home
• It leaves behind a floating Dragon Egg

How to collect the egg:

1. Don’t break it directly — it teleports.
2. Place a torch under the egg.
3. Break the block it’s sitting on — the egg drops.

Congrats. You did it. Minecraft: beaten.

Bonus: What to do after the dragon

Think it’s over? Think again.

• Explore the outer End islands
  • Use the End gateway (tiny portal nearby)
• Find an End City
• Loot an Elytra (wings = flight)
• Battle Shulkers for Shulker Boxes (mobile storage!)
• Build an XP farm at the portal (yes, that’s a thing)

The End isn’t the end — it’s just the next dimension of cool.

Final thoughts: Big dragon, bigger win

The Ender Dragon is tough, but not unbeatable. With prep, potions, and maybe a few screams, you’ll take it down — and walk away with stories, loot, and a shiny egg.

Need a place to fight the dragon with your crew? LumaBlast servers are perfect for group battles, shared prep, and respawn-free zone drama.