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Strongholds in Minecraft are crucial for accessing the End dimension and ultimately battling the ender dragon. They house the end portal, which can only be activated with an ender pearl-based item. In this beginner-friendly guide, you'll learn how to locate, navigate, and activate the end portal room using efficient strategies and in-game mechanics.

What Is A Stronghold In Minecraft?

A stronghold is a large, underground, naturally-generated structure that plays a vital role in your Minecraft journey. Strongholds are packed with stone-based architecture like stone bricks, cracked stone bricks, mossy stone bricks, and stone brick blocks. Their core purpose is to house the portal room, which contains the end portal needed to reach the End.

These structures can include various chambers: stronghold library chest areas for books and enchanted items, stronghold storeroom chest areas for supplies, and empty prison cells. Some even feature wooden and iron doors, staircases like the spiral staircase, and occasional fountain room intersections. Near both the entrance and the next room's entrance, players may also notice architectural variations like stone brick slabs and smooth stone slabs, not their mossy variants.

Where To Find Strongholds In Minecraft With An Eye Of Ender

The primary method to find strongholds is with an Eye of Ender. Crafted from an ender pearl and blaze powder, it points toward the nearest stronghold.

  • Craft Eyes of Ender: Combine blaze powder (from blaze rods) and ender pearl in a crafting grid.

  • Throw and Follow: Throw the Eye of Ender in the air. It flies toward the stronghold, then may break or drop.

  • Triangulate: Repeat from different positions to narrow down its location.

  • Locate Dig Site: Once the eye descends, dig in that location to find the portal room.

In Bedrock Edition, strongholds can generate underwater or beneath village wells, and stronghold generation begins when the player enters the detection range of the world’s ringed stronghold layout.

How To Get An Eye Of Ender

To get an Eye Of Ender in Minecraft:

  • Kill Endermen to collect ender pearls.

  • Fight Blazes in Nether Fortresses for blaze rods.

  • Craft Blaze Powder from rods and combine with ender pearl to get Eyes of Ender.

Repeat this process until you have 10–15 Eyes for searching and activating the end portal.

How To Use Eye Of Ender To Find A Stronghold

To use an Eye Of Ender to find a stronghold in Minecraft:

  • Hold the Eye of Ender.

  • Press the use button (right-click/L2/ZL) to throw.

  • Follow the trajectory; it signals the path to the stronghold.

  • Watch for descent into the ground—dig there to find the portal room.

If you find silverfish inside of stone bricks, you're getting close to a portal room or the stronghold.

Is There Only One Stronghold In A Minecraft World?

No. In Java Edition, up to 128 strongholds spawn in rings around spawn point. The eighth and outermost ring has the final set. In Bedrock Edition, strongholds are more randomly placed and can generate underwater or below villages.

How To Locate A Stronghold With Commands

To locate a stronghold with commands in Minecraft, type the following command:

  • Java: /locate structure stronghold

  • Bedrock: /locate structure: minecraft:stronghold

Teleport with /teleport @s or explore using /gamemode spectator to visually navigate into the portal room.

Navigating A Stronghold In Minecraft

Strongholds are maze-like and complex. To navigate:

  • Recognize Entrances: Wooden and iron doors flush with walls often indicate non-central paths. Use torches to mark explored zones.

Note Key Areas:

  • Stronghold library chest: Contains books and loot.

  • Empty room and fountain room: Transition points.

  • Stone pillar room and spiral staircase room: Central to layout.

  • Use Strategy:

    • Place torches on the right to mark paths.

    • Listen for Silverfish, which indicate you're near the end portal room.

    • Some paths have up to five exits, making torch placement critical.

In some cases, rooms contain stronghold altar chests or may be made of smooth stone and double smooth stone slabs, which stand out from surrounding blocks.

How Deep Are Strongholds In Minecraft

There is no fixed Y-level. Strongholds often generate underwater, deep underground, or even intersect other formations like cave systems, geodes, or mineshafts. They can form with wall partially cut by other terrain or overlap with center structure joining multiple segments. The most well lit rooms in strongholds are usually libraries or areas surrounding the portal.

How To Find The End Portal Room

To find the end portal room within the stronghold:

  • Look for signs like mossy stone bricks, stone brick ring shapes, or iron bar wall sections.

  • Check behind cobblestone stairs leading downward.

The end portal room contains:

  • The end portal, a 12-slot portal frame ring, sometimes already filled partially.

  • A silverfish spawner.

Players may notice infested cracked stone bricks or infested mossy stone bricks around the room's entrance as a subtle warning.

How To Activate The End Portal In Minecraft

The End portal is your gateway to the End dimension, where you’ll face off against the Ender Dragon. To use this portal, you must locate it within the portal room of a stronghold—usually hidden deep underground. The portal room is easily identified by its lava-filled floor, a silverfish spawner near the doorway, and a distinctive 3x3 ring of portal frames forming the end portal structure.

Activating the End Portal (Survival Mode)

To activate a naturally generated end portal, follow these steps:

  • Find the Portal Room: Explore a stronghold until you discover the end portal room. The frame is already placed, but you may need to insert the Eyes of Ender.

  • Place Eyes of Ender: Hold the Eye of Ender and right-click each of the 12 end portal frame blocks.

  • Activation: Once all 12 slots are filled correctly, the portal activates with a starry black center, and you can jump in to enter the End.

Tip: The Eyes of Ender must be placed facing inward. If misaligned, the portal will not activate.

Building an End Portal (Creative Mode)

If you're in Creative mode, you can build an end portal yourself:

  • Place End Portal Frames: Form a square around a 3x3 area using 12 end portal frame blocks. Do not place blocks in the corners.

  • Add Eyes of Ender: While facing inward, insert an Eye of Ender into each portal frame.

  • Final Step: The last eye must be placed while facing the center. If done correctly, the end portal will activate immediately.

Whether you're surviving or building freely, activating the end portal is a crucial step in progressing your Minecraft world and preparing for the battle with the Ender Dragon.

Conclusion

Finding and exploring a stronghold is a pivotal milestone in any Minecraft journey. From the initial spiral staircase to navigating past infested mossy stone bricks and eventually reaching the end portal room, players must master navigation, resource gathering, and strategic planning.

With your knowledge of eye of ender crafting and structure traversal, the path to the ender dragon is now within reach. Grab your torches, prepare your gear, and explore the Minecraft world to uncover the ultimate gateway to the End.