End Crystal
End Crystals sit atop obsidian pillars in The End, healing the Ender Dragon and exploding violently when struck.
Description
Players craft one from a glass bottle, an eye of ender, and a ghast tear in a specific arrangement. Placing four around the central exit fountain respawns the Ender Dragon for a repeat battle. The item also activates a Respawn Anchor in the Nether. When struck by projectile or melee, an End Crystal detonates with an explosion similar in power and radius to TNT — dangerous in close combat and useful as a trap component in adventure maps and defensive builds.
Guide
How to craft and use End Crystals in Minecraft
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1
Craft the End Crystal
Open a crafting table and fill the entire top row with 3 glass, place 3 more glass in the left-center, right-center, and bottom-center slots, add 1 eye of ender in the center slot, and 1 ghast tear in the bottom-center slot. This arrangement produces 1 End Crystal. Obtain a ghast tear by killing a Ghast in The Nether.
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2
Travel to The End and assess natural crystals
Enter The End through the End Portal in a Stronghold. Up to 24 End Crystals naturally spawn on top of the obsidian pillars surrounding the central island. These crystals heal the Ender Dragon by 1 heart per second when the dragon flies within range.
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3
Destroy all natural End Crystals before fighting
Shoot each naturally-spawned End Crystal with a bow, throw a snowball, or hit with an ender pearl to destroy it before engaging the Ender Dragon. End Crystals explode on contact, dealing severe damage equal to roughly 6 TNT blasts, so maintain distance when destroying them.
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4
Respawn the Ender Dragon using crafted End Crystals
After defeating the Ender Dragon, place 1 End Crystal on each of the 4 sides (North, South, East, West) of the exit portal fountain — the bedrock structure at the center of the End island. All 4 crystals must be placed correctly to trigger the respawn sequence.
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5
Manage explosion hazard
End Crystals explode when damaged by any source including player attacks, arrows, and even other explosions. Keep at least 10 blocks away when triggering an explosion. Iron golems and other mobs can accidentally detonate crystals, so clear the area before placing them.
End Crystals that sit on top of the obsidian pillars are protected by iron cages in some cases. Use a bow or throw a projectile from range rather than climbing the pillar to minimize explosion damage.
How to craft this block
Frequently asked questions
What ingredients do I need to craft an End Crystal?
An End Crystal requires 7 glass blocks, 1 eye of ender, and 1 ghast tear. Place the 7 glass in a specific pattern on a crafting table with the eye of ender in the center and the ghast tear at the bottom-center. Obtain ghast tears by killing Ghasts in The Nether.
How powerful is an End Crystal explosion?
An End Crystal explosion has a blast power of 6, equivalent to roughly 6 stacked TNT detonations. This explosion destroys nearby blocks and deals up to 50 damage points to unprotected players, making End Crystals among the most powerful explosion sources in Minecraft.
How do I destroy an End Crystal without taking damage?
Shoot the End Crystal with a bow from at least 10 blocks away, throw a snowball, use an ender pearl, or fire a crossbow. Avoid using melee attacks unless wearing Protection IV diamond armor or better. Snowballs are the safest option since they deal no damage to the player on miss.
How do I respawn the Ender Dragon using End Crystals?
Craft 4 End Crystals and travel to The End after defeating the Ender Dragon. Place 1 End Crystal on each of the 4 cardinal sides (North, South, East, West) of the bedrock exit portal fountain in the center of the main End island. The Ender Dragon will respawn once all 4 crystals are placed correctly.
How many End Crystals spawn naturally in The End?
Between 4 and 24 End Crystals spawn naturally on top of the obsidian pillars in The End, depending on the world seed. Pillar heights and the number of crystals vary per world. Some crystals rest in iron cages on the taller pillars.
Are End Crystals different in Java Edition versus Bedrock Edition?
End Crystals function identically in both Java Edition and Bedrock Edition for healing the Ender Dragon and triggering respawns. Minor differences exist in explosion particle effects and the exact interaction timing for respawn placement.
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