Can You Defeat the Ender Dragon with Beds?
Yes, absolutely! You can indeed defeat the Ender Dragon in Minecraft using beds. This method might seem unconventional, but it’s a surprisingly effective and often preferred strategy, especially by experienced players. The trick lies in understanding how beds function in the End dimension. When you attempt to sleep in a bed in the End, it doesn’t allow you to rest; instead, it explodes violently. This explosion can be strategically used to damage the Ender Dragon.
How Bed Explosions Work Against the Ender Dragon
The core principle behind this strategy is exploiting the explosive nature of beds in the End. Because the Ender Dragon has a limited set of attacks and a predictable routine, you can place beds near where it perches. When the dragon comes to the center of the End platform, placing and then interacting with a bed will cause it to explode.
Strategic Bed Placement
The most common method involves placing the beds on the bedrock platform in the center of the End. This is the very place where the Ender Dragon comes to perch and attempt to heal itself. The timing of the bed explosion is crucial. You want to detonate the bed as close to the dragon as possible. If timed correctly, the explosion will not only damage the Ender Dragon but also push it up slightly, allowing you to place another bed for another blast. This continuous push-and-explode tactic can rapidly deplete its health.
Preparing for the Bed Strategy
To execute this strategy efficiently, you’ll need to gather a significant number of beds. A good starting point is at least 20, though bringing more is highly recommended, especially if you are not completely comfortable with the timing. You can acquire beds by crafting them, using three wooden planks and three wool pieces together. Alternatively, you can find them in villages or abandoned mineshafts. Also, it’s helpful to come prepared with some armor and perhaps a few healing potions. While the bed explosions are powerful against the dragon, they can also hurt you, so some form of protection is essential.
Timing Is Key
The timing of the bed explosion is the most difficult part of this method. It takes practice to get the timing just right to hit the dragon with the explosion, especially as it perches to recover. Often, when a player first attempts the bed method, they have issues because the dragon moves just before the bed explodes. Patience and practice are key to mastering this timing, but it is well worth the effort.
Other Methods and Comparing to Bed Strategy
While beds are an efficient method to defeat the Ender Dragon, they are not the only one. Here are some alternatives and why beds sometimes have an edge:
- Bow and Arrows: A classic method, especially with enchanted bows. This approach requires more consistent aim and can take a longer time. It is effective against the dragon, but the amount of damage per hit is much lower, unless enchanted.
- Snowballs: Surprisingly effective, as they deal significant damage to the dragon even though they are generally not offensive against other mobs. This is helpful in a pinch, but not usually the go-to option.
- Tipped Arrows: If you are playing on Bedrock Edition, you can use tipped arrows of harming, which can greatly increase your damage output. This method is more involved than beds, but more reliable than a regular bow and arrows.
The bed strategy tends to be popular due to its high damage output and the relative simplicity. While it does require a large supply of beds and some precise timing, the massive damage it can inflict makes it a quick and efficient way to defeat the Ender Dragon once mastered.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Killing the Ender Dragon with Beds
1. How many beds are needed to kill the Ender Dragon?
While you can technically defeat the dragon with fewer, it’s recommended to bring at least 20 beds. This provides a buffer for any mistakes in timing or if the dragon moves unexpectedly. Having a larger supply ensures you don’t run out mid-fight.
2. Can you kill the Ender Dragon with beds on Bedrock Edition?
Yes, the bed explosion strategy works just the same on Bedrock Edition. The physics of bed explosions in the End are consistent across different versions of the game.
3. What happens if you try to sleep in a bed in the End?
Trying to sleep in a bed in the End causes it to explode. This is the core mechanic of this strategy, using the explosion to deal damage to the Ender Dragon. It does not work to allow you to sleep.
4. Are bed explosions the most powerful attack against the Ender Dragon?
Yes, bed explosions deal a very large amount of damage to the Ender Dragon, making them one of the most, if not the most, powerful single-hit attacks. This is why this strategy is so common.
5. Can you kill the Ender Dragon without destroying the Ender Crystals?
Yes, it’s possible to kill the Ender Dragon without destroying the Ender Crystals, although it is significantly more difficult. You will need to be able to deal a massive amount of damage to the dragon consistently as these crystals will heal the dragon constantly until they are destroyed.
6. Do tipped arrows work on the Ender Dragon?
Yes, tipped arrows, particularly those of harming, can deal significant damage to the Ender Dragon, especially in Bedrock Edition where the damage is higher. They can be made using potions brewed into cauldrons.
7. Can you kill the Ender Dragon multiple times?
Yes, you can fight and kill the Ender Dragon as many times as you want. After the first victory, you simply need to place four Ender Crystals on the portal to summon the dragon again.
8. What do you get after killing the Ender Dragon 20 times?
After defeating the Ender Dragon 20 times, a special reward awaits you in the overworld, a white steed with wings that allows you to fly, like Elytra, but without any durability or repair concerns.
9. Can you kill the Ender Dragon on peaceful mode?
Yes, the Ender Dragon spawns even in peaceful mode, and you can attack and defeat it. Peaceful mode does not change the battle, other than the absence of other hostile mobs. However, it does not hinder your ability to use the bed method.
10. Why do beds explode in the Nether and the End?
Beds explode in these dimensions because the game is not programed to use them there. Beds are programmed to be usable at night in the Overworld, and the game interprets that as not allowing you to sleep in dimensions where night does not exist.
11. What blocks is the Ender Dragon unable to destroy?
The Ender Dragon destroys almost all blocks it passes through, except for blocks that naturally generate on the central End island like End Stone, Obsidian, Bedrock, and some indestructible blocks like Crying Obsidian and Respawn Anchors.
12. How much damage does the Ender Dragon take from attacks?
The Ender Dragon takes only ¼ of normal damage from attacks on parts of its body that are not its head. Its head, on the other hand, takes full damage, however, hitting it is difficult.
13. Is the Wither stronger than the Ender Dragon in Bedrock Edition?
In terms of health points, the Wither has more. However, their attack strengths are close to equal, both dealing a large amount of damage. Therefore, neither is considered strictly stronger than the other.
14. Is the Ender Dragon a girl?
Yes, the Ender Dragon is female and nicknamed “Jean” by Notch, the creator of Minecraft. This is noted from the fact that the Ender Dragon drops an egg upon defeat, which in almost all cases, means that the mob is female.
15. Is the End infinite?
Yes, the End is technically infinite. This means that there is no limit to where you can go outside the main central island. The generation of the dimensions makes it so that for all intents and purposes, it’s infinite.
By understanding these mechanics and answering these common questions, you can be much better prepared to take on the Ender Dragon and use the bed strategy to achieve victory!