How do you get to the End in Minecraft?
Gathering Eyes of Ender
First, collect ender pearls by killing endermen (found in the Overworld and Nether) or by bartering with piglins. Then, get blaze powder by crafting blaze rods from blazes in the Nether into powder. Combine one blaze powder with one ender pearl to craft one eye of ender. You'll need up to 12 eyes to fill the portal, but some may already be in place, so bring extra.
Eyes of ender can also be thrown to locate the stronghold: when thrown, they float toward the stronghold and then drop. Follow them until they point downward, indicating the stronghold is below you.
Finding and Activating the End Portal
Strongholds generate underground in most biomes, often near villages or underwater. Once you find the stronghold, locate the portal room. The End portal frame has 12 slots; place an eye of ender in each empty slot by right-clicking. When all 12 are filled, the portal activates.
Jump into the portal to enter the End. Be prepared for the Ender Dragon fight: bring armor, weapons, blocks, and optionally a pumpkin to avoid enderman aggro. After defeating the dragon, you can return through the exit portal.
Common mistakes
- Thinking you can build an End portal like a Nether portal—it must be found in a stronghold.
- Not bringing enough eyes of ender; if you run out, you'll need to backtrack.
- Forgetting that eyes of ender have a chance to break when thrown, so bring extras for locating the stronghold.
