Minecraft is a sandbox video game that can be played across several platforms. You can choose to play with a computer bot or with other players. Killing the Ender Dragon is a highlight for many players. You can also use Minecraft console commands to help with your gameplay.
You might choose to respawn the Ender Dragon for many reasons such as gaining access to Dragon's Breath or 500 experience points. Knowing how to respawn the Ender Dragon in Minecraft allows you to do it multiple times. If you're playing on a server, check with your Minecraft server hosting provider for specific instructions or limitations.
How to Respawn the Ender Dragon
To respawn the Ender Dragon, you need to craft and place 4 End Crystals on the Exit Portal in The End. Here's what you'll need:
Required Materials
- 4 Ghast Tears (obtained by killing Ghasts in the Nether)
- 28 Glass blocks (made by smelting sand in a furnace)
- 4 Eyes of Ender (crafted from Ender Pearls and Blaze Powder)
Steps to Respawn
- Open your crafting table
- Craft Blaze Powder from Blaze Rods by placing them in the crafting grid
- Combine Ender Pearls with Blaze Powder to create Eyes of Ender
- Craft End Crystals: place an Eye of Ender in the center, a Ghast Tear below it, and surround with 7 glass blocks
- Go to The End through the End Portal
- Place one End Crystal on each side of the Exit Portal (the bedrock structure in the center)
- Wait about 20 seconds for the respawn animation
Important: If you haven't collected the Dragon Egg from your first fight, pick it up before placing the End Crystals or it will be destroyed.
About The Ender Dragon
The Ender Dragon is the final boss of Minecraft. It only appears in The End dimension. In your first encounter, defeating it grants 12,000 experience points and drops the Dragon Egg. Subsequent battles yield 500 experience points each. For a comprehensive overview of the Ender Dragon, check out the official Minecraft Wiki.
Before respawning the Ender Dragon, you must have defeated it at least once. To find The End initially, locate a Stronghold in the Overworld using Eyes of Ender. These fly toward the nearest Stronghold when thrown.
Once at the Stronghold, find the End Portal room. Activate the portal by placing Eyes of Ender in all 12 frame blocks. Jump through to reach The End and fight the dragon.
Detailed Material Requirements
To craft the 4 End Crystals needed for respawning, gather these materials:
4 Ghast Tears
Obtain Ghast Tears by killing Ghasts in the Nether. Use a bow and arrows or a Looting-enchanted sword. Be careful that tears don't fall into lava. Ghasts also drop gunpowder.
28 Glass Blocks
Create glass blocks by smelting sand in a furnace. You'll need 28 total.
4 Eyes of Ender
Craft Eyes of Ender by combining Ender Pearls with Blaze Powder in your crafting grid.
16 Ender Pearls
Ender Pearls drop from Endermen when killed. You can find Endermen in the Overworld at night or in The End.
8 Blaze Rods
Obtain Blaze Rods by killing Blazes in Nether Fortresses. Blazes drop 0-1 Blaze Rods (up to 4 with Looting III).
Tips for Success
- The Exit Portal temporarily disappears during the respawn process
- All obsidian pillars regenerate with new End Crystals
- Iron bars around some crystals also regenerate
- The dragon follows the same attack patterns as the first fight
- Consider bringing beds for explosive damage or a bow with arrows
- Enchanting your gear improves your chances significantly
Summary
Respawning the Ender Dragon is straightforward once you have the materials. The most challenging items to obtain are typically the Ghast Tears from the Nether. You can respawn and fight the dragon as many times as you want.
Remember to collect the Dragon Egg before respawning if you haven't already. The Exit Portal disappears during respawn but returns after defeating the dragon. For more Minecraft tips, check out our guides on finding diamonds or explore different Minecraft biomes.