GuidesJun 26, 2026 5 min read
How to Find a Stronghold and Reach the End
Strongholds hide the only way to the End. Here's how to use Eyes of Ender to find one fast.
To reach the End you need to find a Stronghold and activate its End Portal. Eyes of Ender are your compass.
Craft Eyes of Ender
Combine Blaze Powder (from Blaze Rods, dropped by Blazes in Nether fortresses) with an Ender Pearl (dropped by Endermen). Make at least 12–15 — you'll use some to find the portal and up to 12 to fill it.
Triangulate the stronghold
- 1.Throw an Eye of Ender into the air (right-click). It floats toward the nearest stronghold, then falls.
- 2.Walk in that direction and throw another every 100–200 blocks.
- 3.When an eye starts flying downward instead of forward, you're on top of it — dig straight down carefully (never directly below your feet).
TipEyes have a chance to shatter on use, so bring spares. When they stop moving forward, the stronghold is right below you.
Activate the End Portal
Strongholds are mazes — look for the portal room (a lava pool with a stone frame). The 12 frame blocks each need an Eye of Ender:
- Some frames already have eyes (random). Fill the empty ones.
- Once all 12 are filled, the portal activates. Jump in to reach the End.
TipBring a bed to set your spawn nearby, plus gear for the Ender Dragon fight waiting on the other side.
Want a head start? Some seeds put a stronghold right at spawn.
#Stronghold#End Portal#Eyes of Ender