How to Find a Stronghold in Minecraft and What’s Hidden Inside

Minecraft strongholds: mysterious, ancient underground structures brimming with secrets and peril. These labyrinthine complexes offer thrilling adventures, rewarding players with valuable resources and crucial upgrades. Dare to delve into their shadowy corridors and face the monsters that lurk within?

Table of Contents

• What is a Stronghold in Minecraft?
• How to Find a Stronghold in Minecraft
• Eye of Ender
• The Locate Command
• Stronghold Rooms
• Library
• Prison
• Fountain
• Secret Rooms
• Altar
• Stronghold Mobs
• Rewards
• Portal to the Ender Dragon

What is a Stronghold in Minecraft?

Strongholds are ancient, underground catacombs filled with valuable loot, intriguing rooms (prisons, libraries, and more!), and—most importantly—a portal to The End, the game's final boss battle. Navigating these twisting passages is a true test of skill and resourcefulness. While exploration yields riches, finding a stronghold requires a specific method; simply digging won't cut it.

The key to unlocking the End portal lies within the Eye of Ender, detailed in the next section.

How to Find a Stronghold in Minecraft

Eye of Ender

This is the intended and most reliable method for locating a stronghold. To craft it, you'll need:

• Blaze Powder (from Blaze rods dropped by Blazes)
• Ender Pearls (dropped by Endermen, purchased from villager priests, or found in stronghold chests)

Holding the Eye of Ender, throw it; it will float briefly in the direction of the nearest stronghold. Remember, each Eye is a single-use item. In survival mode, expect to need around 30.

You’ll need a plentiful supply to activate the End portal; without enough Eyes, you risk a fruitless journey.

The Locate Command

A less conventional (and arguably unfair) method involves using cheat commands. Enable cheats in your game settings, then enter:

/locate structure stronghold (for versions 1.20 and above)

This command provides approximate coordinates. Use /tp to teleport near the stronghold, but be prepared for some exploration to find the exact entrance.

Stronghold Rooms

Library

These spacious rooms, often tucked deep within the stronghold, feature stone blocks, bricks, bookshelves, and cobwebs. Chests near the bookshelves hold enchanted books and other valuable resources.

Prison

A confusing maze of narrow corridors and dim lighting, the prison is a dangerous place, teeming with skeletons, zombies, and creepers. Careful navigation is key to survival.

Fountain

A striking central chamber, the fountain adds a mystical touch to the stronghold.

Secret Rooms

Hidden behind walls, these chambers often contain chests with valuable loot, but beware of hidden traps!

Altar

An eerie room of stone bricks and torches, the altar holds an air of ancient mystery.

Stronghold Mobs

Strongholds are populated by skeletons, creepers, and silverfish. While manageable with basic iron armor, these mobs still pose a threat.

Rewards

The loot found within strongholds is random, but potential rewards include enchanted books, iron armor, iron swords, and even diamond horse armor.

Portal to the Ender Dragon

The stronghold's ultimate prize: the portal to the Ender Dragon, the final boss of Minecraft's survival mode. Beyond the challenge of defeating the dragon, the journey through the stronghold itself offers a rewarding and unforgettable experience.