Minecraft the End Update

December 19, 2016, marks a pivotal moment in Minecraft’s history for Bedrock Edition players, as it was the official release date of the “Ender Update” (version 1.0) for Pocket Edition and Windows 10 Edition. While community discussions often speculate about a future “The End Update” for newer versions, the 2016 release was the definitive overhaul of Minecraft’s final frontier, transforming the once barren dimension into a rich, challenging, and rewarding experience. This guide delves into the comprehensive changes and additions that cemented The End as a full-fledged part of the Minecraft universe.

The End Dimension: A New Frontier Unveiled

Before the Ender Update, The End was largely a single island with the Ender Dragon and little else. This update completely revamped the dimension, introducing expansive outer islands and a host of new structures, mobs, and items that dramatically altered gameplay and progression.

• The Ender Dragon: Conqueror’s Challenge
  The iconic boss of The End was fully implemented, with the crucial addition of being respawnable. This allowed players to re-engage in the epic battle, offering renewed challenges and opportunities to collect Dragon’s Breath for potion crafting.
• End Cities and End Ships: Treasures in the Void
  Vast, towering structures found on the outer End islands, End cities are complex dungeons teeming with new dangers and rewards. Often, an End ship can be found floating nearby, containing some of the game’s most coveted items.
• Shulkers: The Levitation Menace
  Exclusive to End cities, Shulkers are unique hostile mobs that blend into their surroundings. Their primary attack fires “Shulker Bullets” that inflict a levitation effect on players, making falls from great heights a constant threat.
• Shulker Shells and Shulker Boxes: Portable Storage Mastery
  Defeating Shulkers yields Shulker Shells, a vital crafting ingredient for Shulker Boxes. These revolutionary storage blocks retain their contents when broken, making them indispensable for inventory management and long-distance hauling.
• Chorus Fruit: A Taste of Teleportation
  Found growing on Chorus Plants throughout the outer End islands, Chorus Fruit is a unique food item. Consuming it instantly teleports the player a short, random distance, offering both a quick escape and a potential hazard.
• Elytra: Soaring Through the Skies
  Perhaps the most game-changing addition, the Elytra are rare gliding wings found exclusively in End ships. Equipping them allows players to glide through the air, providing unparalleled mobility and exploration capabilities, especially when combined with fireworks for propulsion.
• New Decorative and Building Blocks
  The update introduced a suite of new blocks to match The End’s aesthetic. This includes End Stone Brick, various Purpur Blocks (block, pillar, slab, stairs), and the elegant End Rod, a light source perfect for decoration. The Dragon Head, a decorative trophy, can also be found on End ships.
• Ender Crystals: Dragon’s Lifeline and Respawn Mechanism
  These mysterious entities, found atop obsidian pillars, heal the Ender Dragon during the initial fight. They are also the key to respawning the Dragon, requiring four to be placed around the central exit portal.
• Dragon’s Breath: Potent Potion Ingredient
  Collected from the Ender Dragon’s breath attacks, this item is essential for crafting Lingering Potions, which create cloud effects for area-of-effect potions.

The Journey to the Void’s Edge: A Step-by-Step Guide

Accessing and conquering The End requires specific steps and careful preparation.

1. Locate a Stronghold: The Gateway Keeper
   The journey begins by finding a Stronghold, rare underground structures housing the End Portal. Players craft and use Eyes of Ender, which, when thrown, float towards the nearest Stronghold. Following these eyes is the most reliable method to pinpoint its location.
2. Activate the End Portal: Opening the Path
   Once inside a Stronghold, players must locate the End Portal frame. This frame typically consists of 12 blocks, some of which may already contain Eyes of Ender. To activate the portal, the remaining empty slots must be filled with Eyes of Ender. All 12 must be present for the portal to become active.
3. Enter The End: The Point of No Return
   With the portal active, jumping into its shimmering surface instantly transports the player to The End dimension. Players will spawn on the central obsidian island, directly facing the Ender Dragon.
4. Defeat the Ender Dragon: The Ultimate Battle
   The primary objective upon entering The End is to defeat the Ender Dragon. This involves two critical phases:
   • Destroying Ender Crystals: The Ender Dragon heals from Ender Crystals perched atop obsidian pillars. Some are protected by iron bars. Players must destroy all of these crystals, often by bridging to them or shooting them with a bow, to prevent the Dragon from regenerating health.
   • Engaging the Dragon: Once the crystals are gone, the Dragon will periodically perch on the central portal. This is the prime opportunity to attack it with swords, bows, or other weapons. The battle requires patience, strategic dodging of its attacks, and avoiding its dangerous breath.
5. Access Outer End Islands: Beyond the Central Isle
   After the Ender Dragon is defeated, it drops a large amount of experience, and an Exit Portal appears, allowing players to return to the Overworld. Crucially, an End Gateway Portal also materializes. Throwing an Ender Pearl into this small portal teleports the player to the outer End islands, where End cities, Shulkers, Chorus Forests, and the coveted Elytra can be found.

Beyond the Void: Other Key Implementations

The Ender Update wasn’t solely focused on The End dimension itself; it also brought several related features that improved quality of life and expanded crafting possibilities.

• Ender Chest: Personal Anywhere Storage
  This special storage block, crafted with obsidian and an Eye of Ender, provides a personal inventory space that is accessible from any other Ender Chest in the world. This makes it invaluable for safely storing important items or transporting resources across long distances.
• Expanded Potion Crafting: Lingering Potions and Tipped Arrows
  The update enabled survival players to craft Lingering Potions by combining a splash potion with Dragon’s Breath. These potions, when thrown, leave a lingering cloud of effect. Furthermore, Lingering Potions can be used to craft Tipped Arrows, imbuing arrows with various potion effects for ranged combat.
• Increased World Height: Building to New Altitudes
  A significant technical change, the world height was increased to 256 blocks, offering more vertical space for building and exploration across all dimensions.
• Strongholds: Fully Realized Structures
  The implementation of Strongholds was completed, ensuring they spawned consistently and contained the End Portal frames necessary for progression.

Mastering The End: Essential Strategies for Survival

The End is a perilous place, and preparation is key to success.

• Arm Yourself Appropriately: Bring a powerful bow with plenty of arrows (preferably enchanted with Power and Infinity), a strong sword (Diamond or Netherite), and durable armor. Efficiency-enchanted pickaxes are useful for clearing obsidian.
• Carry Building Blocks: A stack or two of dirt, cobblestone, or other inexpensive blocks is crucial for bridging gaps, building temporary shelters, or quickly reaching Ender Crystals.
• Potions are Your Friends: Potions of Healing (Instant Health II) are vital for quick recovery. Potions of Strength can boost your damage against the Dragon. For exploring End cities, Potions of Slow Falling are invaluable, negating the levitation effect of Shulkers and preventing fatal falls.
• Confronting Shulkers: Be extremely cautious in End cities. Shulkers can be hidden on walls and ceilings. Use a shield to block their bullets or kill them quickly before they can apply levitation.
• Elytra Proficiency: Once you acquire Elytra, practice flying in a safe environment. Always carry fireworks rockets to propel yourself, as they are essential for sustained flight and navigating the vast distances between outer islands. Misjudging a glide without rockets can be deadly.

Pitfalls of the Portal Jumper: Common Mistakes to Avoid

Even seasoned players can make mistakes in The End. Here are some common pitfalls:

• Under-preparation: Entering The End without sufficient food, arrows, armor, or healing items is a recipe for disaster. Always over-prepare.
• Ignoring Ender Crystals: Attempting to fight the Ender Dragon while its healing crystals are still active is a common mistake that prolongs the fight and wastes resources. Always prioritize destroying them first.
• Falling into the Void: The End’s landscape is characterized by massive drops into the void. A moment of carelessness, a misplaced block, or a Shulker’s levitation can send you plummeting to your demise. Always be aware of your footing.
• Getting Lost or Overwhelmed in End Cities: These structures are labyrinthine and filled with Shulkers. Rushing in without a plan can lead to being surrounded, levitated, and dying from fall damage or Shulker fire. Take your time, clear areas, and mark your path.
• Mismanaging Elytra Flight: While exhilarating, flying with Elytra requires practice. Misjudging distances, hitting obstacles, or running out of fireworks rockets at high altitudes can result in a fatal impact. Always carry extra rockets and have an emergency landing strategy.

The Ender Update fundamentally transformed Minecraft, adding a challenging endgame, revolutionary mobility with Elytra, and essential utility with Shulker Boxes. It solidified The End as a vibrant and rewarding dimension, offering countless hours of exploration and adventure for those brave enough to face its perils.