How Many Ender Pearls Should I Have? A Comprehensive Minecraft Guide
The short answer is: it depends on what you plan to do! However, if your goal is to complete Minecraft by defeating the Ender Dragon, you’ll need a minimum of 16 Ender Pearls – four to make the 12 required Eyes of Ender and more for other purposes. This might seem straightforward, but understanding why and how you’ll use them is crucial to effectively gathering this vital resource. But, in reality, having a much higher supply of ender pearls will be necessary for advanced travel and various other situations. This guide will not only answer the title question, but will also cover everything you need to know about these coveted items.
The Core Need: Eyes of Ender
The primary function of Ender Pearls in progressing through the game is to craft Eyes of Ender. These are essential for locating and activating the End portal, your gateway to the final boss.
The Crafting Process
- You need one Blaze Rod and one Ender Pearl to craft one Eye of Ender.
- To activate the End portal, you’ll need 12 Eyes of Ender.
This immediately means you need at least 12 Ender Pearls, for the Eyes of Ender, but also 12 Blaze Rods as well, which also means you will need a substantial amount to make it worthwhile.
The Real Number You’ll Need
However, simply getting 12 Ender Pearls may not be enough. You’ll want to have extras for the following:
- Locating the Stronghold: Many players use 2 or 3 Eyes of Ender when hunting for the Stronghold, and often go over the 1 or 2, as noted in the article. It’s not always a linear path. The eyes point towards the stronghold in a direction, so its useful to have many.
- End Gateway Travel: Once you beat the Ender Dragon, you’ll likely want to explore the outer islands of the End. Ender Pearls are essential for traveling to these islands via End Gateways.
- Emergency Teleportation: Ender Pearls can be used for quick getaways in dangerous situations, avoiding falls, or navigating challenging terrain, not just in the End.
- Endermite Spawning: While usually not the main focus, you will likely spawn some endermites by tossing Ender Pearls.
Considering all these uses, aiming for at least 30 to 60 Ender Pearls is a more realistic goal, as it will give you plenty of options and less worrying. This allows a good amount for making eyes of ender and other uses, along with an allowance for miss throws, or getting killed by other mobs.
Understanding Ender Pearl Mechanics
Before we dive into FAQs, it’s good to understand how Ender Pearls work, as this also determines how many you will use.
- Teleportation: Throwing an Ender Pearl instantly teleports you to the location where it lands.
- Cooldown: There’s a one-second cooldown before you can throw another Ender Pearl.
- Void: If an Ender Pearl falls into the void, it disappears and doesn’t teleport you.
- Stacking: Ender Pearls stack up to 16, as they are thrown items, unlike regular items.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Ender Pearls
Here are 15 frequently asked questions, designed to provide a comprehensive understanding of Ender Pearls in Minecraft.
1. How do I get Ender Pearls?
The most common method is by killing Endermen. They have a chance to drop 0-1 Ender Pearls upon death. Alternatively, you can trade with Expert-level Cleric villagers for Ender Pearls, or by bartering with Piglins in the Nether.
2. Is there a reliable way to farm Ender Pearls?
Yes, there are a few reliable methods. Creating an Enderman farm in the End or the warped forests is the best method. Also, bartering with piglins is a fairly reliable method. This will increase your supply of these items.
3. How many Eyes of Ender do I actually need for the End portal?
While 12 Eyes of Ender are required to fully activate the portal, each frame block has a 10% chance of already containing one. However, to be safe, you should have all 12 as you could get unlucky, and have none spawned in.
4. What happens if I throw an Ender Pearl into the void?
If an Ender Pearl falls into the void, it will disappear, and you won’t be teleported. Make sure to be aware when tossing an Ender Pearl over an edge.
5. Can I enchant Ender Pearls?
No, Ender Pearls cannot be enchanted. However, there are other items which you can enchant to help you locate an End portal, and traverse the End.
6. Are Endermen more common in the Nether?
While they spawn in the Nether, Endermen are most commonly found in the warped forests and rarely in soul sand valleys. They are less common in the Nether Wastes.
7. Why do Endermen hate being looked at?
Endermen are designed to be aggressive when looked at. This is due to their design, as they are able to instantly teleport in front of you. Looking directly at them is coded in the game as a precursor to a fight.
8. Why do Endermen hate water?
Endermen take damage when they are in contact with water. This is written directly into the game’s code. This is also why they are also hurt by the rain.
9. What is an Endermite and how is it related to Ender Pearls?
An Endermite is a mob that has a small chance (5%) to spawn when a player throws an Ender Pearl. They will attack the player and despawn after 2 minutes.
10. Can Endermites be made into a permanent lure for Endermen?
Yes, if you name an Endermite with a name tag and trap it in a minecart, it will become a permanent lure. This will cause any enderman that can see it to try and fight the Endermite, making it a useful tool for a farm.
11. What is the stack size of Ender Pearls?
Ender Pearls stack up to 16 per slot.
12. Can I trade for Ender Pearls with villagers?
Yes, Expert-level Cleric villagers have a chance to sell Ender Pearls in exchange for emeralds. The trade is about 5 emeralds per Ender Pearl in both Java and Bedrock edition.
13. Can I destroy the Ender Dragon egg?
If you destroy the dragon egg, it will respawn in the End. You cannot permanently remove it, except in the world editor.
14. How do I use Ender Pearls to explore the outer islands of the End?
Use Ender Pearls to teleport to the End gateways that appear after the Ender Dragon is defeated. These gateways will take you to the outer islands. This will require several Ender Pearls, so be prepared.
15. What are the advantages of having a large supply of Ender Pearls?
A large supply of Ender Pearls makes travel much faster, and also allows you to escape quickly if you are in danger. You can also easily access the End gateways for exploring, and allows you more freedom to explore.
Final Thoughts
So, while you technically can beat Minecraft with 16 Ender Pearls, having a much higher stash ensures a much smoother and more enjoyable experience. It allows you more flexibility with your travels, and more space for error. Aim for at least 30 to 60 and you’ll be well-equipped for anything the game throws your way. Happy Minecrafting!