What Gives You the Most XP in Minecraft Besides the Ender Dragon?

While the Ender Dragon reigns supreme as the ultimate XP dispenser in Minecraft, showering you with a massive 12,000 XP upon its first defeat (and a still-significant 500 XP on subsequent encounters), most players spend far more time seeking efficient XP sources elsewhere. So, if we exclude the end game boss, what gives you the most XP in Minecraft? The answer lies in a combination of strategic mob farming and resource exploitation, specifically targeting certain hostile mobs, efficient smelting methods, and even certain ore mining. Let’s dive into the details, focusing on the most effective ways to level up beyond the Ender Dragon’s reward.

Understanding XP Sources in Minecraft

Before we delve into the top contenders, it’s essential to grasp the fundamental ways XP is generated in Minecraft. XP comes from:

• Mob Kills: Most hostile mobs drop a base amount of XP, with some variation based on their type and any armor or items they are carrying.
• Smelting Items: Processing raw materials in a furnace or blast furnace generates XP.
• Mining Specific Ores: Certain ores directly drop XP when mined.
• Trading: Trading with villagers can generate small amounts of XP.
• Fishing: Successfully catching fish yields some XP.
• Bottle of Enchanting: Breaking bottles of enchanting releases XP orbs.
• Other Special Cases Some unique blocks, like sculk, drop xp when broken.

With this in mind, we can analyze which of these sources is most efficient in a practical Minecraft setting.

Top XP Farming Methods Excluding the Ender Dragon

1. Ravagers

While not easily farmed because they only spawn during raids, ravagers offer significant XP gains. They drop 20 XP when killed, making them a significant source compared to common hostile mobs. Although they boast 100 health points, which is double the health of Piglin Brutes (who also drop 20 XP), they are far less common and are usually involved in challenging combat situations, making them risky to farm. However, if you’re brave and skilled enough to defeat raids efficiently, you’ll be rewarded.

2. Mob Grinders and Spawner Farms

Mob grinders are a staple for efficient XP farming. These farms utilize mob spawners found in dungeons or created via in-game mechanisms to continuously spawn hostile mobs which are then dispatched. Spawners offer an endless source of mobs, and while they each drop relatively little XP individually, the combined amount from an automated grinder makes this method incredibly effective.

Common mob grinder designs target:

• Zombies: Adult zombies drop 5 XP and an additional 1-3 XP per item. Baby zombies drop 12 XP and an additional 1-3 XP per item.
• Skeletons: Skeletons drop 5 XP, plus 1-3 for equipped items.
• Spiders: Spiders drop 5 XP, regardless of status effects.

By strategically positioning traps and kill zones, players can minimize risk while maximizing XP gains.

3. Mining for XP-Bearing Ores

Certain ores offer XP directly upon being mined, making them an excellent source of quick, albeit finite, XP. The best ores for this are:

• Nether Quartz: Nets the highest per-block XP payout of 3.5 XP.
• Diamond Ore: Provides a substantial chunk of XP when mined.
• Redstone Ore: Also drops experience when mined.
• Lapis Lazuli Ore: Gives a decent amount of XP when mined.
• Emerald Ore: Grants good experience when mined.
• Coral: Coral also drops a good amount of experience when mined

While these ores aren’t infinite, they present a great way to level up when exploring new areas.

4. Optimized Smelting

Smelting certain items provides XP alongside the processed resources, allowing for a passive XP gain while working on other tasks. Some smelting options offer higher levels of efficiency:

• Bamboo and Cacti: Creating a dedicated system for smelting bamboo and cacti into green dye offers a steady stream of both XP and a usable resource.
• Stone and Sand: If you are trying to create a lot of construction blocks from cobblestone or sand, you can create a lot of XP with this method.
• Nether Quartz: Smelting nether quartz yields 3.5 xp per block, making it the highest of any smelting output.
• Kelp Blocks: Though kelp grants only a tiny amount of XP (0.1) per smelted item, large scale farms can generate massive amounts of kelp and thus, XP.

By automating the process, you can effectively create an XP farm that runs alongside your other projects.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Does Fortune increase XP drops?

No, the Fortune enchantment only affects the number and chances of item drops when mining. It does not increase the amount of XP dropped.

2. Do mobs killed by lava drop XP?

Yes, if a mob is killed by environmental damage, such as lava or fall damage, it still drops the XP it normally would, just as if you had killed it.

3. How much XP does a creeper drop?

A creeper drops 5 XP when killed by a player or a tamed wolf.

4. Do all mobs drop the same amount of XP?

No, hostile mobs generally give more XP than passive mobs. Baby animals, bats, golems, and villagers give no XP orbs at all. The Ender Dragon gives the most, and then special hostile mobs like the ravager follow behind.

5. Which gives more XP: zombies or skeletons?

Both zombies and skeletons drop 5 XP as a base. However, zombies can drop an additional 1-3 XP per equipped item. Baby zombies always drop 12 XP plus the additional 1-3. Therefore, baby zombies generally give the most XP of those two mob types.

6. How much XP does smelting cactus give?

Smelting cactus gives 3.0 XP per item.

7. How much XP does a spider drop?

A spider drops 5 XP when killed by a player or a tamed wolf.

8. How much XP does a warden drop?

A warden drops 5 XP when killed by a player or a tamed wolf.

9. Does breaking Sculk blocks give XP?

Yes, Sculk blocks give XP when broken by a tool not enchanted with Silk Touch.

10. Does using a campfire destroy XP?

No, campfires do not affect XP orbs. They do not kill mobs nor destroy XP.

11. What is the best ore to mine for XP?

Nether quartz is the best ore to mine for XP because it gives the most XP per block at 3.5 XP per.

12. Can you farm XP with dungeons?

Yes, dungeons are a great place to set up an XP farm by utilizing the spawner found inside. They are ideal places for creating mob grinders.

13. What is the Minecraft XP cheat?

In Minecraft: Bedrock Edition, you can use the following commands:

• /xp <amount> <player> – Adds experience points to a player’s total.
• /xp <amount>L <player> – Adds experience levels to a player’s total.

14. How does breeding animals yield XP?

Breeding animals does not give direct XP orbs in vanilla Minecraft. However, it’s often paired with other XP methods like killing offspring for meat.

15. Is there a difference in XP drops when using different weapons?

No, the type of weapon used to kill a mob does not impact the XP gained. The XP drop is based on the type of mob and whether the player or a tamed wolf does the killing.

Conclusion

While the Ender Dragon offers the largest single XP reward, consistent and efficient XP farming relies on combining several methods. Creating a good mob grinder, strategically mining the correct XP-bearing ores, and utilizing efficient smelting techniques can bring you to higher levels more effectively. By understanding the mechanics of XP generation, you can maximize your progress and spend less time grinding and more time building and exploring. With the right planning and strategy, you’ll be well on your way to becoming a master of Minecraft.