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Skeleton Skull — Minecraft block

Skeleton Skull — Minecraft block

Skeleton Skull

Skeleton Skull is a mob head dropped when a charged creeper kills a skeleton — a renewable trophy (farmable endlessly) for spooky builds.

Block ID minecraft:skeleton_skull
Mod Vanilla
Game versions
1.21

Description

Skeleton Skull is a decorative mob head that drops when a charged creeper's explosion kills a skeleton in Minecraft and also generates naturally in ancient cities, which keeps the trophy renewable but deliberately rare. Added in Java Edition 1.4.2, Skeleton Skull has a hardness and blast resistance of 1.0 and can be mined by hand or with any tool — no tool breaks it faster. Skeleton Skull can be placed flat on the floor in one of 16 rotations or attached to the side of a block as a wall-mounted skull.

Skeleton Skull also doubles as a functional item: worn in the helmet slot, the range at which skeletons detect the player shrinks by 50%, useful for sneaking past skeleton spawners. Placing Skeleton Skull on top of a note block makes the note block play the skeleton's bony rattle instead of a normal note. Builders use Skeleton Skull for graveyards, dungeon trims, witch huts, and Halloween scenes where the bone-white texture instantly reads as 'undead'. Unlike the Wither Skeleton Skull, the plain skull cannot summon the Wither boss.

Block properties

Item ID minecraft:skeleton_skull
/give command /give @p minecraft:skeleton_skull
Stackable Yes (64)
Renewable Yes
Hardness 1
Blast resistance 1
Java Edition 1.4.2

Java & Bedrock Guide

How to get a Skeleton Skull in Minecraft

  1. 1

    Gather a skeleton and a creeper

    Lure a skeleton and a creeper close together at night or in a dark cave where both naturally spawn.

  2. 2

    Charge the creeper

    During a thunderstorm let lightning strike the creeper, or hit it with a Channeling trident in rain, to turn it into a charged creeper.

  3. 3

    Make the charged creeper kill the skeleton

    Position the charged creeper so its explosion kills the skeleton — only a charged creeper's blast drops the Skeleton Skull.

  4. 4

    Collect and place the skull

    Pick up the Skeleton Skull and place it on a floor or wall, or equip it in the helmet slot to reduce skeleton detection.

Important

Only a charged creeper's explosion drops a Skeleton Skull; a normal skeleton death drops bones and arrows, never the skull.

Related blocks

Frequently asked questions

How do you get a Skeleton Skull in Minecraft?

A Skeleton Skull drops when a charged creeper's explosion kills a skeleton, and skeleton skulls also generate naturally in ancient cities. Normal skeleton deaths never drop the skull.

Can you craft a Skeleton Skull?

No. A Skeleton Skull cannot be crafted; it is obtained from a skeleton killed by a charged creeper or found naturally in ancient cities.

Does wearing a Skeleton Skull do anything?

Yes. Worn in the helmet slot, a Skeleton Skull reduces the distance at which skeletons detect the player by 50%.

Can a Skeleton Skull summon the Wither?

No. Only three Wither Skeleton Skulls placed with soul sand summon the Wither; the plain Skeleton Skull cannot.

What happens if you put a Skeleton Skull on a note block?

A note block topped with a Skeleton Skull plays the skeleton's rattling ambient sound instead of a musical note.