Need more End Gateway Portals? Our complete step-by-step guide shows you exactly how to respawn the Ender Dragon in Minecraft without commands. Learn the End Crystal recipe, farm XP, and collect Dragon’s Breath.
The Ender Dragon is the ultimate challenge in Minecraft, representing the pinnacle of the game’s endgame content. Whether your goal is to hone your combat skills, gather valuable resources, or explore the Outer End Islands for rare items like Elytra, knowing how to respawn the Ender Dragon is essential.

This guide walks you through every step in a detailed, friendly, and practical way—from gathering materials to strategic combat tips and advanced farming strategies.
What Is the Ender Dragon and Why Respawn It?
The Ender Dragon is the largest naturally spawning boss in Minecraft and is widely regarded as the “final boss” of the game. She inhabits The End, a mysterious, floating dimension made up of a central End island and several Outer End Islands. The dragon protects both the Exit Portal, which returns players to the Overworld, and the End Gateway Portals, which give access to remote islands rich in loot and adventure.
Players respawn the Ender Dragon for several key reasons:
- Game Progression: Every respawn creates a new End Gateway Portal, allowing safe travel to the Outer End Islands. These islands contain End Cities, Shulkers, Elytra, and other valuable items that are otherwise inaccessible.
- Experience Farming: The first dragon kill drops approximately 12,000 XP in Java Edition, enough to take a player from level 0 to 68. Later kills drop 500 XP, making the dragon a reliable source for enchanting and repairing gear.
- Dragon’s Breath Collection: Respawning allows players to collect Dragon’s Breath, essential for crafting Lingering Potions, which are crucial for advanced potion brewing and combat strategies.
- Arena Reset: Respawning restores the obsidian pillars and End Crystals, creating a fresh battleground that supports repeated fights and XP farming.
- Multiplayer and Challenge: On multiplayer servers, respawning ensures new players can experience the fight. It also provides opportunities to practice tactics, attempt speedruns, or complete achievements like “The End, Again…”
In short, respawning the Ender Dragon combines practical benefits with a sense of challenge, making it a must-do for every serious Minecraft player.
How Do You Respawn the Ender Dragon in Minecraft?
Unlike the first encounter, respawning the Ender Dragon is a deliberate, player-driven process. It involves crafting and placing End Crystals around the Exit Portal. After completing the ritual, the dragon will appear at coordinates (0, 128, 0) on the central End island.
Important points to consider:
- Survival Mode: This process is designed for survival play. Creative mode offers summoning commands, but they skip the intended progression.
- Arena Reset: Placing the crystals restores the obsidian pillars and previously destroyed End Crystals, effectively resetting the arena for a fresh fight.
- Preparation: Success requires proper gear, strategy, and resource management to withstand the dragon’s attacks and the hazards of the End.

What Do I Need to Respawn the Ender Dragon?
To successfully respawn the Ender Dragon, ensure you have the following:
- 4 End Crystals (mandatory for the ritual)
- Optional Gear for Survival:
- Full diamond or netherite armor
- Enchanted weapons, such as bows with Power or Infinity
- Potions, including Healing, Regeneration, Strength, and Slow Falling
- Glass bottles for collecting Dragon’s Breath during combat
- Crafting Ingredients for End Crystals:
- 7 Glass Blocks per crystal
- 1 Eye of Ender per crystal (crafted from Ender Pearl + Blaze Powder)
- 1 Ghast Tear per crystal
Tip: Bringing extra blocks, end rods, or building tools can help create safe zones or vantage points during combat, improving survival chances.
How to Craft End Crystals in Minecraft
Crafting End Crystals is simple but requires precise arrangement:
- Place 1 Eye of Ender in the middle square of the crafting table.
- Place 1 Ghast Tear in the bottom middle square.
- Surround the remaining squares with 7 Glass Blocks.
Repeat four times to craft the required End Crystals.
Tip: Ghast Tears are rare, so fight multiple Ghasts in the Nether. Using a bow with Infinity enchantment ensures you never run out of arrows while grinding.
Tip: Eyes of Ender can double as tools for locating Strongholds, helping gather additional resources efficiently.
Tip: Smelting sand for glass can be accelerated by using multiple furnaces, allowing faster End Crystal crafting.
How to Place End Crystals on the Portal to Spawn the Ender Dragon Again
After crafting your End Crystals, perform the respawn ritual:
- Locate the Exit Portal in the central End island.
- Place 1 End Crystal on each side of the portal frame, for a total of 4.
- The crystals will activate, explode, and restore the arena, including regenerating obsidian pillars and End Crystals.
- Once activated, the Ender Dragon respawns at
(0, 128, 0)and initiates a new battle.
Tip: Clear any blocks above the portal to ensure the dragon spawns correctly.
Tip: In multiplayer, coordinate crystal placement to avoid damage from explosions during activation.
Tip: Use the arena reset as an opportunity to set up XP farms or Dragon’s Breath collection zones.
Does Respawning the Ender Dragon Reset the Island?
Yes. Respawning the dragon restores:
- Obsidian pillars to their original heights and positions
- End Crystals on the pillars, which restore the dragon’s healing
- Dragon health bar, making it a fully fresh fight
Tip: Use this reset to practice combat strategies or prepare for efficient XP and Dragon’s Breath farming.
How Many Times Can You Respawn the Ender Dragon?
- Unlimited respawns in survival mode
- Experience points decrease with each kill:
- First kill: ~12,000 XP (Java Edition)
- Subsequent kills: 500 XP each
- Dragon egg appearance:
- Java Edition: only on the first kill
- Bedrock Edition: first two kills
- Maximum of 20 End Gateway Portals per world, allowing repeated Outer End Island access
Tip: Plan resource collection and potion brewing strategies around the maximum number of respawns for long-term survival and farming efficiency.
Tips for a Successful Ender Dragon Respawn
- Strategic positioning: Climb pillars and use blocks to create safe zones or vantage points.
- Destroy End Crystals on pillars first to prevent healing during combat.
- Collect Dragon’s Breath in glass bottles to craft Lingering Potions.
- Prepare potions and food before engaging the dragon.
- Use ranged weapons like bows or crossbows to avoid damage from dragon charges.
- Coordinate attacks in multiplayer, especially when respawning the dragon multiple times.
- Set up XP farms using End Crystals and the arena reset mechanics to efficiently collect experience points.
FAQ About Respawning the Ender Dragon in Minecraft
How do you respawn the Ender Dragon in Minecraft?
Place 4 End Crystals around the Exit Portal. The crystals activate and restore the arena, causing the dragon to respawn.
Do you get another dragon egg when you respawn the Ender Dragon?
Only on the first kill in Java Edition and the first two kills in Bedrock Edition.
How many End Crystals does it take to respawn the Ender Dragon?
4 End Crystals are required.
What is needed to craft End Crystals?
Each crystal requires 7 Glass Blocks, 1 Eye of Ender, and 1 Ghast Tear.
Do the Ender Dragon pillars regenerate when you respawn the dragon?
Yes, the obsidian pillars and End Crystals return to their original positions.
How much XP does the Ender Dragon drop?
First kill: ~12,000 XP; subsequent kills: 500 XP in Java Edition.
Can you respawn the Ender Dragon multiple times?
Yes, unlimited in survival mode, though rewards and XP differ with each kill.
Can respawning the dragon be used for content creation?
Absolutely. Streamers and YouTubers often respawn the dragon to create epic battles, test gear, or build XP and Dragon’s Breath farms.
Conclusion: Mastering the Ender Dragon Respawn for XP, Loot, and Adventure
Respawning the Ender Dragon is not just about a repeat fight; it’s a strategic step for progression, resource gathering, and advanced combat in Minecraft. With the right preparation, crafted End Crystals, and careful execution, players can enjoy repeatable boss fights, XP farming, and Dragon’s Breath collection.
Whether you’re playing solo or coordinating with friends, mastering how to respawn the Ender Dragon ensures that The End remains both challenging and rewarding, keeping your Minecraft adventures engaging and fun.
Official Minecraft Guides
- Ender Dragon – Minecraft Wiki: Comprehensive info about the Ender Dragon’s behavior, attacks, and respawning.
- End Crystals – Minecraft Wiki: Detailed crafting recipe, usage, and placement mechanics.
- The End – Minecraft Wiki: Everything about the End dimension, End Gateway portals, and Outer End Islands.
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