Minecraft Stronghold Guide — Finding the End Portal

What is a Stronghold?

A Stronghold is an underground dungeon containing the End Portal — the only way to reach the End dimension and fight the Ender Dragon. Every world has exactly 128 strongholds.

Finding a Stronghold

Eye of Ender Method

1. Craft Eyes of Ender: Ender Pearl + Blaze Powder
2. Right-click to throw one into the air
3. It flies toward the nearest stronghold
4. Follow the direction it travels
5. When it falls straight down, dig
6. Takes 12–20 eyes minimum to prepare

Eyes of Ender break 20% of the time — bring extras.

Command Method

/locate structure stronghold

Shows coordinates instantly. Use in survival if you have cheats enabled.

Exploring the Stronghold

Strongholds are large and maze-like. Key rooms:

Room	Contents
Portal Room	End Portal + Silverfish spawner
Library	Bookshelves + 2 large chests
Storage Room	Chest with loot
Fountain Room	Stone + water feature
Prison Room	Iron bars + chest

Mark your path with torches to avoid getting lost.

Activating the End Portal

The portal frame has 12 blocks. Some are already filled with Eyes of Ender (random number, 0–12).

1. Find the Portal Room
2. Fill all empty frames with Eyes of Ender
3. Portal activates when all 12 are filled
4. Jump in to enter the End

Note: The portal frame generates facing inward. Stand in the center while placing eyes.

Silverfish Warning

Strongholds have Silverfish Spawners near the portal room. Silverfish:

• Hide inside stone blocks
• Swarm when one is attacked
• Not individually deadly but overwhelming in groups

Kill the spawner first before fighting groups.

Loot Highlights

The two library chests are the best in strongholds:

• Enchanted Books
• Diamonds
• Iron/Gold
• Compass + Paper
• Apples

Related Guides

• Nether/End Guide
• Boss Guide
• Survival Guide