The End is Minecraft’s final dimension—a haunting void filled with floating islands, Endermen, and some of the game’s most valuable late-game rewards. Whether you’re venturing in to defeat the Ender Dragon, hunt for Elytra, or build powerful XP farms, this dimension offers unique challenges and rare treasures. This comprehensive guide explains every End biome, structure, mob, resource, mechanic, and survival strategy so you can fully master Minecraft’s most mysterious realm.
Overview of The End Biome
The End is a dimension made up of multiple sub-biomes, all composed primarily of End Stone islands floating over the Void. Once accessed, it becomes a major end-game hub for exploration, farming, and loot hunting. While many players treat The End as a final boss arena, it has far more depth, rewards, and long-term uses than most expect.
How to Reach The End
Find a Stronghold
- Use Eye of Enders to track a Stronghold.
- Follow the Eyes until they fall sharply downward.
- Dig down to reveal the Stronghold’s corridors.
Activate the End Portal
- Locate the End Portal room.
- Place Eyes of Ender into all 12 portal frame slots.
- Jump in to enter The End dimension.
Preparation Checklist
To increase your chance of survival, bring:
- Diamond or netherite armor (Feather Falling recommended)
- Bow/crossbow with lots of arrows
- Strong melee weapon
- Water bucket for Endermen
- Ender Pearls
- Plenty of blocks for bridging
- Golden apples, food, and potions
- Slow Falling, Strength, and Instant Health potions
End Biome Generation & Sub-Biomes
Each area of The End has its own terrain shape, mob presence, and structure generation rules.
The End (Main Island)
- Central island where players spawn.
- Features obsidian pillars, End Crystals, and the Ender Dragon fight.
- After the dragon is defeated, the exit fountain appears.
End Midlands
- Medium-sized outer islands.
- Common location for End City generation.
End Highlands
- Largest and tallest outer islands.
- Best biome for finding End Cities and End Ships.
End Barrens
- Thin coastal areas on the edges of larger islands.
- Transitional zones often found near gateways.
Small End Islands
- Scattered miniature islands in the far outer End.
- Often bridge or pearl points between larger landmasses.
Biome Behavior & Game Mechanics
The End has several unique behaviors that differ from the Overworld and Nether.
Light & Weather
- No weather, no day/night cycle.
- Skybox remains static.
- Light level is constant, but ambient visibility is lower.
Beds & Respawn Anchors
- Beds explode.
- Respawn Anchors cannot be charged.
- You cannot set a spawn point in The End.
Mob Spawning Rules
- Only Endermen spawn naturally.
- Ender Dragon appears once (or when respawned).
- Shulkers spawn only in structures.
Void Mechanics
- Falling into the Void causes rapid damage until death.
- All dropped items are lost permanently.
Key Features of The End Biome
Terrain and Environment
- End Stone islands of varying size and height.
- Sparse vegetation limited to Chorus Plants.
- Large empty gaps between islands, requiring bridging or teleportation.
Environmental Hazards
- Falling into the Void (most common fatal mistake).
- Knockback from Shulkers, Dragon, or Endermen.
- Deathly drops inside End Cities.
- Dragon’s Breath attacks on the main island.
Mobs Found in The End
Endermen
- Extremely common.
- Will attack if looked at directly.
- Farmable for Ender Pearls.
Ender Dragon
- Found only on the main island until defeated.
- Attacks include:
- Perch attacks
- Fireball/dragon’s breath
- Wing knockback
- Crystals healing the dragon
Shulkers
- Found in End Cities.
- Shoot homing projectiles that cause Levitation.
- Drop Shulker Shells (craft Shulker Boxes).
Ender Dragon Strategy (Expanded)
Destroy the Crystals First
Crystals come in two types:
- Uncaged crystals (easy bow shot).
- Caged crystals (requires climbing or breaking iron bars).
Use Slow Falling
Prevents deadly falls from dragon knockback.
Best Combat Tips
- Use a bow for most of the fight.
- Attack with a sword when the dragon perches.
- Avoid standing in dragon’s breath.
- Bring Ender Pearls to escape dangerous falls.
- Build emergency platforms if needed.
Respawning the Ender Dragon
You can fight the dragon again.
How to Respawn
- Craft four End Crystals (Ghast Tear + Eye of Ender + Glass).
- Place them around the exit portal.
- A new fight begins with all crystals regenerating.
Why Respawn the Dragon
- Additional dragon eggs (Bedrock Edition only after first)
- More experience
- Achievement completion
Structures and Points of Interest
Obsidian Platform
- Safe spawn platform upon entering The End.
End Spikes
- The obsidian pillars holding the healing crystals.
End Fountain (Exit Portal)
- Appears after the dragon is defeated.
- Used to return to the Overworld.
End Gateways
- Small floating portals.
- Used to access outer islands (1,000+ blocks away).
End Cities
- Large tower structures filled with loot.
- Home to Shulkers and Purpur blocks.
- Often contain multiple floors, bridges, and treasure rooms.
End Ships
- Contain the Elytra.
- Hold healing potions, gold, and enchanted gear.
- Always spawn with a Dragon Head attached.
Best Strategies for Looting End Cities
Keep Slow Falling Active
Levitation + Slow Falling = safe, controlled ascent.
Use Shields to Block Shulker Shots
Reduces levitation exposure.
Bring Many Blocks
Useful for:
- Patching parkour gaps
- Creating safe platforms
- Blocking shulker line-of-sight
Check All Rooms
Treasure rooms often hide behind corner hallways or upper platforms.
Use Ender Pearls to Enter Ships
The fastest way to reach the Elytra room.
Chorus Plants & Farming
How Chorus Plants Work
- Grow from Chorus Flowers.
- Flowers at the top allow further growth.
- Breaking the bottom block destroys the whole plant.
How to Farm
- Bring Chorus Flowers back from the End.
- Plant them on End Stone only.
- Collect Chorus Fruit by breaking fully grown plants.
- Smelt Chorus Fruit to create Popped Chorus Fruit.
Uses
- Purpur blocks
- Teleportation food
- Decorative purple themes
Resources and Blocks Unique to The End
Resource Table
| Resource | Where It Appears | Main Uses |
|---|---|---|
| Elytra | End Ships | Gliding, exploration |
| Shulker Shells | End Cities | Shulker Boxes |
| End Stone | Across all islands | Building, decoration |
| Purpur Blocks | End Cities | Decorative blocks |
| Chorus Fruit | All outer islands | Food, crafting |
| Popped Chorus Fruit | Smelting chorus fruit | Purpur blocks |
| Dragon’s Breath | Dragon fight | Lingering potions |
| End Rods | End Cities | Light source |
Survival Tips for The End
Highly Recommended Items
- Feather Falling boots
- Slow Falling potions
- Water bucket (Endermen defense)
- Blocks (LOTS)
- Ender Pearls
- Totem of Undying
- Pumpkin helmet to avoid Endermen agro
During the Dragon Fight
- Shoot down all crystals.
- Keep moving to avoid breath and charges.
- Use melee attacks only when the dragon perches.
Exploring Outer Islands
- Always crouch while bridging.
- Use Ender Pearls for long gaps.
- Don’t travel with extremely valuable items unless needed.
Building in The End
Why Build Here?
- Minimal mob spawns.
- Ideal for:
- Enderman XP farms
- Chorus farms
- Large megabases
- Void builds
Building Tips
- Use slabs or carpets to prevent Enderman spawns.
- Place water strategically to push Endermen away.
- Build platforms over the Void only with safety rails.
How to Return to the Overworld
There are only two reliable methods:
- Jump into the exit portal (fountain).
- Use commands (if cheats enabled).
Dying returns you to your spawn point, not The End.
Biome Generation Rules Summary
- The main island is always the central biome “The End.”
- Outer End islands generate 1,000+ blocks away.
- Small End Islands generate between gateways and large island clusters.
- End Cities generate only in End Highlands or End Midlands.
- End Ships generate only alongside qualifying End Cities.
Recommended Minecraft Seeds (Java & Bedrock)
Java Edition Seeds
1. End City Visible Immediately After Entering Outer End
Seed: 348972781
- End Gateway spawns facing a near End City.
- Easy Elytra run.
2. Double End Ship Cluster
Seed: 89766127
- Two End Ships within render distance.
- Great for multiplayer worlds.
3. Near-Spawn Stronghold → Early End Access
Seed: 91205060
- Stronghold only a few hundred blocks from spawn.
- Fastest path to early End exploration.
Bedrock Edition Seeds
1. End City Very Close to Gateway
Seed: 11052341
- Gateway spawns on the edge of a large island.
- End City visible from arrival point.
2. Triple End City Region
Seed: 50077249
- Massive island cluster with three cities.
- Ideal for heavy shulker farming.
3. Chorus Forest Mega-Island
Seed: 30094090
- Huge outer island thick with chorus plants.
- Great for farming and building.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do End biomes regenerate naturally?
No, they remain as generated.
Do mobs other than Endermen spawn naturally?
Only Endermen, Shulkers (structure-spawn), and the dragon.
Are End Cities infinite?
Yes. You can explore outward indefinitely.
