What Happens if You Break the Dragon Egg in Minecraft?
The Dragon Egg in Minecraft is a highly coveted and unique item, often considered a trophy for conquering the formidable Ender Dragon. Its appearance atop the exit portal after the dragon’s defeat marks a significant achievement in the game. However, the question of what happens if you break the dragon egg is a common one among players, and the answer is not as straightforward as one might think.
Essentially, breaking the dragon egg in Minecraft doesn’t destroy it permanently. Instead, the egg will teleport to a nearby location if directly attacked, or fall as an item if broken with a piston or by making it fall into a non-solid block like a torch. If the dragon egg was destroyed or no longer exists in the world it will respawn when you defeat the Ender Dragon again. This ensures that players can obtain this unique item, and if somehow the egg is lost it will return when the ender dragon is defeated once more.
Methods of Breaking the Dragon Egg
Understanding how to break the Dragon Egg is crucial because it is not picked up like a normal item. There are a few ways players can effectively break it in order to pick it up and move it:
Using Pistons
One of the most reliable methods is to use a piston and a lever. By placing a piston directly adjacent to the Dragon Egg and activating it with a lever, you can instantly break the egg, causing it to fall as an item, allowing you to pick it up. This method is preferred because it avoids the random teleportation effect that occurs when hitting the egg directly.
Using Non-Solid Blocks
Another method involves carefully digging beneath the egg, placing a non-solid block such as a torch beneath it, and then removing the supporting blocks. When the egg falls onto the torch, it will break and can be picked up. This is an effective method, but it requires more precision and care.
Unintended Breakage
It is also worth noting that if you try to mine the egg directly with a pickaxe or any other item it will simply teleport to another location nearby. This makes it difficult to obtain the egg without using the methods previously mentioned.
What Happens After Breaking the Dragon Egg?
After breaking the Dragon Egg, it will fall as an item that can be picked up. Once picked up, you can place it anywhere in your world. If the egg somehow gets lost and you do not have it, no need to worry. It will reappear atop the exit portal the next time you slay the Ender Dragon. The game ensures you have at least one, or two if playing on Bedrock, which means that this unique item will not be permanently lost.
Consequences of Breaking it Wrong
If you attempt to break the egg by directly punching or mining it, it will teleport to a random nearby location. This can be frustrating, as it makes it harder to retrieve the egg. This makes it an interesting challenge for players who have not dealt with the Dragon Egg before. This adds to the mystery of the egg and makes it feel more valuable.
Dragon Egg Properties and Limitations
The Dragon Egg has unique properties and limitations which further add to its mystical aura. The egg cannot be destroyed by conventional means like fire, lava, cactus, or explosions. They will not despawn either. These features make the egg both valuable and a bit of a mystery. The egg will stay intact no matter the damage it takes. Also, Endermen are strangely drawn to the egg. They will attempt to pick it up but ultimately fail.
Respawning Behavior
It is important to remember that in Java Edition, only one Dragon Egg is generated on top of the exit portal after the first Ender Dragon defeat. In Bedrock Edition, however, two Dragon Eggs are generated – one after the first defeat and another after the second. Regardless, if the egg is destroyed, it will always be there when the dragon is slain once more. This makes the eggs not as rare as they may seem.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are 15 frequently asked questions related to the Dragon Egg in Minecraft:
1. Can you break the Dragon Egg with a pickaxe?
No, attempting to break the Dragon Egg with a pickaxe or any item will cause it to teleport to a nearby location, making it difficult to pick up.
2. Can Endermen pick up the Dragon Egg?
Endermen will attempt to pick up the Dragon Egg but will eventually give up as they cannot hold it.
3. Can you get more than one Dragon Egg in Minecraft?
In Java Edition, you can only obtain one Dragon Egg per world initially. In Bedrock Edition, you can obtain two, one after each of the first two Ender Dragon defeats. If somehow lost, the egg will return.
4. Does the Dragon Egg burn in lava?
No, the Dragon Egg will not burn in lava. It is immune to fire and lava damage.
5. Can the Dragon Egg be destroyed by explosions?
No, the Dragon Egg is immune to explosions and will not be destroyed by them.
6. Can the Dragon Egg be destroyed by cactus?
No, attempting to break the Dragon Egg by placing it on a cactus will not work. The egg cannot be destroyed using such methods.
7. What happens if the Dragon Egg goes through the End portal?
If the Dragon Egg goes through the portal, it will appear at the world spawn point (X=0, Y=0).
8. Can you use Silk Touch to pick up the Dragon Egg?
No, Silk Touch does not affect the Dragon Egg. The egg needs to fall onto a non-solid block or be pushed by a piston to be picked up.
9. How do you get a Dragon Egg without a piston?
You can obtain the Dragon Egg by digging the blocks from underneath and placing a non-solid block like a torch, causing the egg to fall as an item.
10. Why does the Dragon Egg teleport when I try to mine it?
The Dragon Egg has a unique property that causes it to teleport to a nearby location when anything tries to damage or mine it directly.
11. Can you hatch the Dragon Egg in Minecraft?
You cannot hatch the Dragon Egg to get a baby dragon. However, the Egg is used as a catalyst to respawn the Ender Dragon.
12. Is the Dragon Egg useless?
The Dragon Egg is mainly a trophy and can be used to respawn the Ender Dragon. There are no other functions of the Dragon Egg, though it has been said it could be used in the future.
13. Can you respawn the Ender Dragon?
Yes, you can respawn the Ender Dragon by placing four End Crystals on the edges of the exit portal. This action will reset the obsidian pillars.
14. What happens if the Dragon Egg is lost?
If you lose the Dragon Egg, it will respawn atop the exit portal when the Ender Dragon is defeated again.
15. Can you place multiple dragon eggs?
Yes. You can have multiple Dragon Eggs in your Minecraft world if playing on Bedrock edition, and if you use multiple methods to obtain them. While only two will generate initially, there are methods that allow you to get a practically endless amount of eggs. If you have lost an egg, you can re obtain it by fighting the dragon.
Conclusion
The Dragon Egg, while a seemingly simple block, is surrounded by mystery and intrigue. While it may not hatch a baby dragon, it serves as a symbol of triumph over the Ender Dragon and a valuable trophy for any player. Understanding how to break and manage the Dragon Egg is essential for any player looking to collect every unique item in Minecraft, and respawn the Ender Dragon at will. The Dragon Egg is a rare item that can be collected by knowing the secrets surrounding it.