{{Redirect|Dragon|the mentioned feature|Red Dragon|the rendering engine|RenderDragon|other uses|Dragon (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox entity
| image = Ender Dragon.gif
| imagesize = 250px
| invimage = Ender Dragon Spawn Egg
| health = {{hp|200}}
| behavior = Hostile
| mobtype = [[Monster]]
| size = Height: 8 blocks<br>Width: 16 blocks
| speed = 0.7
| damage = '''Melee:'''<br>
Peaceful: {{hp|0}} (but still performs attack animation)<br>Easy: {{hp|6}}<br>Normal: {{hp|10}}<br>Hard: {{hp|15}}<br>
'''Wings:'''<br>Easy: {{hp|3}}<br>
Normal: {{hp|5}}<br>Hard: {{hp|7}}<br>
'''Dragon's breath:'''<br>
{{hp|6}} per second<br>
'''Dragon fireball:'''<br>
{{hp|12}} per second
| spawn = {{BiomeLink|The End}}
}}
The '''ender dragon''' is a giant flying hostile [[boss mob]] found when first entering [[the End]]. It is the largest naturally spawning mob in the game. Defeating it activates the [[exit portal]] that allows return to the [[Overworld]] and spawns [[end gateway]]s that provide entry to the [[Terrain features#Outer island|outer end islands]]. Its attacks involve charging at the player and hurling its acidic breath at them.

== Spawning ==
=== Initial spawning ===
The ender dragon spawns 20 [[game tick]]s (1 second) after an entity first arrives in the End, along with the bedrock frame for the exit portal.

=== Re-summoning ===
[[File:Respawn ender dragon.png|right|thumb|This image shows how the player can arrange end crystals to respawn the ender dragon.]]
Players can re-summon the dragon by placing four [[end crystal]]s on the edges of the [[exit portal]], one on each side. If the exit portal is ever destroyed, end crystals can be placed on obsidian blocks at the precise location where the original exit portal once stood. {{IN|Bedrock}}, the crystals can be placed one block further away. When it is re-summoned, the four end crystals point to the tops of each pillar, setting off a series of explosions that resets the obsidian pillars, iron bars, and end crystals. The top of each pillar explodes, destroying any player-placed blocks. Eventually, all of the end crystals point at the [[coordinates]] of (0.0, 128, 0.0) and the ender dragon spawns there. The four crystals placed around the [[exit portal]] then explode. If the player does not pick up the dragon egg and starts to re-summon the dragon, the dragon egg disappears.

If the dragon goes through an [[end gateway]], another immediately spawns at (0, 128, 0) while the other dragon flies to (0, 128, 0).

== Drops ==
After the ender dragon is slain for the first time, the following events take place:
* First, it moves to the exit portal. During this final move, the dragon can still damage other entities, despite being "dead".
* When it reaches 0,0 it slowly ascends, its wings and body becoming more tattered until it disappears in beams of light erupting from its center. A loud sound, "Ender dragon death.ogg" is played. This takes 10 seconds.
* After about 9 seconds of that, there is an explosion of {{xp|12000}} [[experience]] points (ten drops of 960 and one drop of 2400) &mdash; enough to bring a player from no experience all the way up to level 68. Some of the experience orbs can drop into the exit portal and can then be retrieved in the Overworld.
* Shortly after, the bedrock structure fills in with an end portal interface to become the [[exit portal]], enabling the player to transport back to the [[Overworld]] and [[respawn]] at their spawn point, or at [[world spawn]] if they didn't set a [[spawn point]].
* At the same time, a [[dragon egg]] appears above the island's central bedrock structure. If a block exists right above the center of the central bedrock structure, then the dragon egg spawns 1 block above the highest block at (0,0). If the highest block is at the height limit, then the dragon egg does not spawn.
* An [[end gateway]] portal is generated 96 blocks away from the exit portal always floating at y: 75.

When a re-summoned ender dragon is slain, the same events occur, except that only {{xp|500}} experience points are dropped{{only|je}}, and if there are already 20 end gateway portals, no more are generated. {{IN|java}}, the dragon egg appears only the first time the ender dragon is slain; {{in|bedrock}}, it appears the first and second time (due to a bug).

== Behavior ==
{{see also|Tutorials/Defeating the ender dragon}}
During the battle with the ender dragon, unique music called "[[Music#End music|Boss]]" plays, the edges of the screen darken, black [[fog]] appears, and [[chunk]]s around the exit portal are constantly loaded regardless of render distance. These happen as long as there is at least one player within a Euclidean distance of 192 blocks from (0.0, 128, 0.0).

The ender dragon has a light purple [[boss bar|health bar]] that appears at the top of the [[player]]'s screen. Its health is restored by nearby end crystals, indicated by a white beam connecting the dragon and the crystal. Destroying an end crystal that is actively healing the dragon causes {{hp|10}} damage to it. 

The dragon can take damage only from explosions and player-based damage. {{IN|java}} it takes damage of (normal damage ÷ 4 + 1) when hit on any part that is not its head. {{IN|bedrock}} the dragon has similar armor, but is temporarily removed when a projectile hits its head. Thus making it the most resilient mob in the game despite it having less health than the [[wither]]. {{IN|JE}}, although the particle is displayed, [[critical hit]]s do not apply to the ender dragon, since it can be applied only to [[living entities]]. While the ender dragon is a living entity, the parts that are damaged are actually non-mob entities. Suffocation is completely non-applicable, as it either phases through or immediately destroys any block it touches.

The dragon is immune to all [[status effect]]s, except for Instant Damage coming from the players (player-thrown [[Splash Potion|splash]] or [[Lingering Potion|lingering]] potion of Harming).

[[File:ender dragon green hitboxes.png|thumb|The green hitboxes of the ender dragon.]]
By using the {{key|F3+B}} shortcut, the dragon's [[bounding box]] appears.{{only|java}} However, it cannot be damaged at just any spot in this large volume: eight green sub-[[Tutorials/Hitboxes|hitboxes]] are also shown, which indicate the locations where the dragon can take damage: the tail, body, head, and wings.

The ender dragon is immune to fire, falling, drowning, freezing, poisoning, and even the void.

=== Movement ===
The ender dragon is a flying mob and cannot stand on the ground. It flies around the End's main island.

The dragon can pass through all [[block]]s and destroys most of them, but it can still be affected by flowing [[water]], [[lava]], and [[bubble column]]s. Blocks not destroyed are those that naturally generate on the central End island, such as end stone, and those that are intended to be indestructible, such as bedrock.

* {{BlockLink|Barrier}}
* {{BlockLink|Bedrock}}
* {{BlockSprite|chain-command-block}} {{BlockSprite|command-block}} {{BlockSprite|repeating-command-block}} [[Command block]]s
* {{BlockLink|Crying obsidian}}
* {{BlockLink|End stone}}
* {{BlockSprite|end-portal}} [[End portal (block)|End portal]]
* {{BlockLink|End portal frame}}
* {{BlockSprite|end-portal}} [[End gateway (block)|End gateway]]
* {{BlockLink|Fire}}
* {{BlockLink|Iron bars}}
* {{BlockLink|Jigsaw}}
* {{BlockLink|Light block}}
* [[Moving piston|Moving Piston]]
* {{BlockLink|Obsidian}}
* {{BlockLink|Reinforced deepslate}}
* {{BlockLink|Respawn anchor}}
* {{BlockLink|Soul fire}}<ref group="note">Soul fire is destroyed only if the [[soul sand]] or [[soul soil]] is destroyed underneath it.</ref>
* {{BlockLink|Structure block}}
{{IN|java}}, these blocks are marked under the <code>dragon_immune</code> [[tag]], with the exception of light blocks and fire, which are marked as <code>dragon_transparent</code>.

Destroyed blocks are not [[Drops|drop]]ped, although containers other than [[shulker box]]es drop their contents.

=== Attacking ===
[[File:Dragon breath attack.png|thumb|right|The dragon performing its toxic breath attack.]]

The dragon never targets any entity but the player, although other mobs may turn hostile to the dragon when hit, and the dragon may sometimes retaliate against other mobs if it takes damage to a projectile. Any entities hit by its wings are dealt {{hp|5}} damage (or {{hp|10}} damage if hit by its head), and {{in|java}}, are thrown into the air, sometimes to fatal heights or off the island. Neither of these effects is applied for {{frac|1|2}} second after the dragon takes damage.

The ender dragon has four main states of behavior: 

; Guarding
* The dragon begins in this state, circling the ring of obsidian pillars on either the outside if there are still end crystals or the inside if the crystals are destroyed.
* With each crystal's destruction, it takes damage and there is an increased chance of the dragon switching states.

:; Targeting
:* Whenever the dragon finds itself less than 10 blocks or more than 150 blocks from its current target, it attempts to choose a new target. When damaged it targets a point just behind itself, causing it to turn away and choose a new target.

; Strafing
* Upon the destruction of an end crystal, the dragon switches to strafing. As soon as it is within 64 blocks, it shoots a [[#Dragon Fireball|fireball]] at the player.
* ''The dragon resumes circling after this state.''

; Diving
* The dragon dives onto the target player's position, taken at the start of the dive. The dragon never seems to perform this attack mid-flight in game, it only seems to do it when exiting the portal.
* ''The dragon resumes circling after this state, whether or not it actually hit the player.''

; Perching
* While Guarding and the dragon has reached the end of the path, it has 1 in (3 + crystals alive) chance (~7.7% up to 33%) to go to the exit portal structure (approaching from the side opposite the player if possible) and lands on the highest block of the coordinates (X=0, Z=0), up to (Y=101).{{Only|BE}} The dragon circles above the exit structure while slowly descending {{In|je}}, or dive from the obsidian pillars {{In|be}}. If there is no block in (X=0, Z=0) the dragon freezes right when it switches to perching.{{Only|BE}} The dragon is immune to arrows in this state; they all catch fire and bounce off. {{IN|java}} it is also immune to thrown tridents in this state.
:; Dragon's breath
:* After 1.25 seconds, if a player is within 20 blocks of the exit portal structure, the dragon roars and use its ''3-second breath attack'', damaging players similarly to a [[lingering potion]] of [[Harming]]. This does not happen on Peaceful difficulty {{In|java}}. An area of visible particles in the shape of a horizontal disc one block tall and 5 to 6 blocks in diameter appears where the breath attack strikes, either on the ground or floating in the air, at whatever point the breath attack struck a block. The harming effect zone where the player takes damage is confined to a smaller area in the center this visible cloud, covering about 3 to 4 blocks.
:* The harming effect portion of the purple clouds emitted from the dragon's breath attack can be collected in a [[glass bottle]] to obtain [[dragon's breath]]. Each bottle of dragon's breath collected removes one block from the lingering damage zone of the breath attack. The visible clouds remain for 3 seconds whether the dragons breath is bottled or not. By rapidly collecting all of the harmful blocks, usually around three, even a direct hit from the breath attack can be mostly and even entirely negated before the player suffers any damage.
:; Charge
:* If the player is not near the portal within 5 seconds of the dragon's landing, it charges at players within 150 blocks.
:; Take-off
:* After four consecutive breath attacks, or if the dragon fails to locate a player within 150 blocks, it takes off from its perch. {{IN|java}}, it always takes off in Peaceful difficulty, making it difficult to land melee hits.
:* ''The dragon resumes circling after this state.'' 
:;Escape
:*If cumulative damage taken while perched exceeds {{hp|50}}<!-- 25% of max HP -->, the dragon takes off and resets the damage accumulator. The accumulator is not reset if it does not take enough damage.
:* ''The dragon resumes circling after this state.''

{{IN|je}}, when the dragon takes a fatal blow, it flies toward the exit portal structure before dying, unless it cannot find it within 150 blocks, or it is inside blocks.

== Dragon Fireball ==
{{Infobox entity
| title = Dragon Fireball
| image = <gallery>
Dragon Fireball JE2.png|{{JE}}
Dragon Fireball BE.png|{{BE}}
</gallery>
| imagesize = x80px
| image2size = x80px
| size = Height: 1 block<br>Width: 1 block
| networkid = '''[[JE]]''': 93
}}
'''Dragon fireballs''' are special [[fireball]]s that the ender dragon fires while strafing. They cannot be deflected unlike [[ghast fireball]]s, and they do no impact [[damage]]. Instead, they deposit purple [[Lingering Potion#Area Effect Cloud|effect clouds]] across the ground that damage players the same way a lingering [[potion of Harming]] II does. This means that the ender dragon's fireballs deal magic damage, which ignores any damage reduction that comes from the player's unenchanted armor. However, its damage does get reduced by armor enchanted with the [[Protection]] enchantment. The purple effect cloud's hitbox slowly grows larger in diameter until it disappears.

As with its close-ranged breath attack, the purple clouds can be bottled to obtain the [[dragon's breath]].

Unlike lingering potions of Harming, the effect cloud does not shrink when affecting mobs.
{{-}}

== Sounds ==
{{Edition|Java}}:<br>
Ender dragons use the Hostile Creatures sound category for [[Sound#Entity-dependent categories|entity-dependent sound events]].
Dragon fireballs use the Friendly Creatures sound category for [[Sound#Entity-dependent categories|entity-dependent sound events]].

{{SoundTable
| type = java
| {{SoundLine
| sound =Ender dragon idle1.ogg
|sound2=Ender dragon idle2.ogg
|sound3=Ender dragon idle3.ogg
|sound4=Ender dragon idle4.ogg
|subtitle=Dragon roars
|source=hostile
|description=Randomly
|id=entity.ender_dragon.ambient
|translationkey=subtitles.entity.ender_dragon.ambient
|volume=5.0
|pitch=0.8-1.2
|distance=16}}
| {{SoundLine
|subtitle=Dragon growls
|source=hostile
|description=While an ender dragon is on its perch
|id=entity.ender_dragon.growl
|translationkey=subtitles.entity.ender_dragon.growl
|volume=2.5
|pitch=0.8-1.1
|distance=16}}
| {{SoundLine
|subtitle=Dragon growls
|source=hostile
|description=While an ender dragon is being resummoned <ref group=sound>While the pillars are preparing to be resummoned, it occurs at 0 seconds, 2.5–2.6 seconds, and 4.75–5 seconds. When the ender dragon is about to be summoned, it occurs 5–4.75 seconds before and 2–0 seconds before.</ref>
|id=entity.ender_dragon.growl
|translationkey=subtitles.entity.ender_dragon.growl
|volume=64.0
|pitch=0.8-1.1
|distance=16}}
| {{SoundLine
|sound=Ender dragon death.ogg
|subtitle=Dragon dies
|source=hostile
|description=When an ender dragon dies <ref group=sound>Does not trigger at all if the {{cmd|/gamerule globalSoundEvents}} is <code>false</code></ref>
|id=entity.ender_dragon.death
|translationkey=subtitles.entity.ender_dragon.death
|volume=5.0
|pitch=1.0
|distance=16 (technical) / ∞ (effective)}}
| {{SoundLine
|sound=Ender dragon flap1.ogg
|sound2=Ender dragon flap2.ogg
|sound3=Ender dragon flap3.ogg
|sound4=Ender dragon flap4.ogg
|sound5=Ender dragon flap5.ogg
|sound6=Ender dragon flap6.ogg
|subtitle=Dragon flaps
|source=hostile
|description=Periodically depending on the ender dragon's speed
|id=entity.ender_dragon.flap
|translationkey=subtitles.entity.ender_dragon.flap
|volume=5.0
|pitch=0.8-1.1
|distance=16}}
| {{SoundLine
|sound=Ender dragon hurt1.ogg
|sound2=Ender dragon hurt2.ogg
|sound3=Ender dragon hurt3.ogg
|sound4=Ender dragon hurt4.ogg
|subtitle=Dragon hurts
|source=hostile
|description=When an ender dragon is damaged
|id=entity.ender_dragon.hurt
|translationkey=subtitles.entity.ender_dragon.hurt
|volume=5.0
|pitch=0.8-1.2
|distance=16}}
| {{SoundLine
|sound=Ghast fireball4.ogg
|subtitle=Dragon shoots
|source=hostile
|description=When an ender dragon shoots a fireball
|id=entity.ender_dragon.shoot
|translationkey=subtitles.entity.ender_dragon.shoot
|volume=10.0
|pitch=0.8-1.2
|distance=16}}
| {{SoundLine
|sound=Explosion1.ogg
|sound2=Explosion2.ogg
|sound3=Explosion3.ogg
|sound4=Explosion4.ogg
|subtitle=Explosion
|source=hostile
|description=When a dragon fireball impacts
|id=entity.dragon_fireball.explode
|translationkey=subtitles.entity.generic.explode
|volume=1.0
|pitch=0.9-1.0
| distance = 16
}}
}}

{{Edition|Bedrock}}:
{{SoundTable
| type = bedrock
| {{SoundLine
| sound =Ender dragon idle1.ogg
|sound2=Ender dragon idle2.ogg
|sound3=Ender dragon idle3.ogg
|sound4=Ender dragon idle4.ogg
|source=hostile
|description=Randomly and randomly while being resummoned, except while the pillars are being recharged
|id=mob.enderdragon.growl
|volume=640.0
|pitch=0.8-1.2}}
| {{SoundLine
|sound=Ender dragon death.ogg
|source=hostile
|description=When an ender dragon dies
|id=mob.enderdragon.death
|volume=640.0
|pitch=0.8-1.2}}
| {{SoundLine
|sound=Ender dragon hurt1.ogg
|sound2=Ender dragon hurt2.ogg
|sound3=Ender dragon hurt3.ogg
|sound4=Ender dragon hurt4.ogg
|source=hostile
|description=When an ender dragon is damaged
|id=mob.enderdragon.hit
|volume=560.0
|pitch=0.8-1.2}}
| {{SoundLine
|sound=Ender dragon flap1.ogg
|sound2=Ender dragon flap2.ogg
|sound3=Ender dragon flap3.ogg
|sound4=Ender dragon flap4.ogg
|sound5=Ender dragon flap5.ogg
|sound6=Ender dragon flap6.ogg
|source=neutral<!--not a typo-->
|description=Periodically depending on if the ender dragon is perching
|id=mob.enderdragon.flap
|volume=400.0
| pitch = 0.8-1.2
}}
}}

== Data values ==
=== ID ===
{{edition|java}}:
{{ID table
|edition=java
|showentitytags=y
|generatetranslationkeys=y
|displayname=Ender Dragon
|spritetype=entity
|nameid=ender_dragon}}
{{ID table
|displayname=Dragon Fireball
|spritetype=entity
|nameid=dragon_fireball
|entitytags=impact_projectiles
|foot=1}}

{{edition|bedrock}}:
{{ID table
|edition=bedrock
|shownumericids=y
|generatetranslationkeys=y
|displayname=Ender Dragon
|spritetype=entity
|nameid=ender_dragon
|id=53}}
{{ID table
|displayname=Dragon Fireball
|spritetype=entity
|nameid=dragon_fireball
|id=79
|foot=1}}

=== Entity data ===
Ender dragons have entity data associated with them that contain various properties.

{{el|bedrock}}:
:See [[Bedrock Edition level format/Entity format]].

{{el|java}}:
{{main|Entity format}}
{{/ED}}

Dragon fireballs have entity data associated with them that contain various properties.

{{/ED1}}

=== Command details ===
[[File:Dragonfireballimpact.jpg|thumb|A dragon fireball spawned by a command (left) and the damage and the explosion it caused (right).]]
{{IN|java}}, the {{cmd|summon ender_dragon}} command, by default, summons a harmless ender dragon that hovers in place. Setting the <code>DragonPhase</code> tag (by issuing either the {{cmd|summon ender_dragon ~ ~ ~ {DragonPhase:0} }} or the {{cmd|data merge entity <selector> {DragonPhase:0} }} commands) starts the ender dragon's ordinary behavior, although the health bar does not appear because it is managed by the ender dragon fight status rather than by the dragon entity itself. If spawned away from the center of the map (x=0, z=0), it flies to the center then resumes normal behavior (see [[#Behavior]]).

== Achievements ==
{{Load achievements|The Somic;The End.;The end... Again...;You Need a Mint;Monster Hunter;Overkill;Over-Overkill}}

== Advancements ==
{{Load advancements|Free the End;The Next Generation;The End... Again...;You Need a Mint;Monster Hunter;Monsters Hunted;Is it a Plane?;Take Aim;Arbalistic;A Throwaway Joke;Adventure;Over-Overkill}}

== Video ==
{{yt|NDHnDP5CxKY}}

== History ==
{{More images|section=16|Ender dragon before [[19w39a]] and [[19w41a]]}}
{{HistoryTable
|{{HistoryLine||June 14, 2009|link=https://notch.tumblr.com/post/123343045/my-vision-for-survival|[[Notch]] believed that [[Survival]] mode should have some sort of goal, which he had not yet formulated: "While it could be fun to just see how long you can survive in survival mode, I believe there might be a need for some kind of goal. Make the most money in a month? Kill a big evil [[mob]] in the shortest time? I don’t know yet."}}
|{{HistoryLine||June 30, 2010|link={{ytl|NszGurDUlHc}}|In a video called "Minecraft Flight" posted by [[Notch]] on [[wikipedia:Youtube|YouTube]], he mentioned that dragon lairs may be an addition in the video description.}}
|{{HistoryLine||August 31, 2010|link=http://www.minecraftforum.net/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=30688|Later in an interview on [[MinecraftCon 2010]], Notch hinted at dragons as a possible planned [[mob]]. Then, for about one year, there was no more mention of it and dragons solely remained a potential work-in-progress.}}
|{{HistoryLine||June 18, 2011|link=http://www.justin.tv/citricsquid/b/288355296|[[Notch]] has stated in the past that if dragons ''are'' added, they would not be mountable as it would put too much pressure on [[multiplayer]] servers.}}
|{{HistoryLine||September 1, 2011|link={{ytl|KavmNrLtdso|t=3m11s}}|Notch stated that "dragons will be added eventually".}}
|{{HistoryLine||October 6, 2011|link={{tweet|notch|122088904793927680}}|The name "ender dragon" was first made known through a tweet by [[Notch]] reading "raqreqentba", which could be decoded using the [[wikipedia:ROT13|ROT13 cipher]], translating to "enderdragon".}}
|{{HistoryLine||October 7, 2011|link={{tweet|notch|122249624407916544}}|[[Notch]] reveals a [https://web.archive.org/web/20230417191739/https://imgur.com/xj6us screenshot] of the "progress so far" on the ender dragon: the dragon flying through the skies of [[the End]]. He also [{{tweet|notch|122323222497730560}} shared] an [https://web.archive.org/web/20230417162304/https://imgur.com/a/59H3o album] of images of the ender dragon in flight through the [[Overworld]], showcasing its animation.}}
|{{HistoryLine||October 9, 2011|link={{tweet|notch|122978062143979522}}|Notch tweets an [https://web.archive.org/web/20230417164125/https://imgur.com/a/CT78i example] of a "[[texture pack]]er tool" he wrote for the purpose of giving the ender dragon its skin. He [{{tweet|notch|123063108020350976}} shared] his [https://web.archive.org/web/20230416223001/https://imgur.com/QV0gQ progress] midway through designing the skin, later [{{tweet|notch|123087840946040832}} announced] when the [https://web.archive.org/web/20230417225623/https://imgur.com/a/5PnQS base texture] was done, and [{{tweet|notch|123129273899941888}} posted] when he had [https://web.archive.org/web/20230417222733/https://imgur.com/a/vk1pf enlarged the wings].}}
|{{HistoryLine||October 10, 2011|link={{ytl|ehlpLRrwojo}}|[[Notch]] released a video showing a small clip of [[the End]] that also shows the ender dragon fly into the top of the frame.}}
|{{HistoryLine||October 12, 2011|link=https://www.reddit.com/r/Minecraft/comments/l9m8m/why_ender_dragons_wont_spawn_in_main_world/c2qxhwh/|In a [[wikipedia:Reddit|Reddit]] post Notch also said, "They will be different dragons. The Ender Dragon will probably become larger, and the ones in the main world will be this size, won't go through terrain, and will be red because dragons are red."<ref>http://www.reddit.com/r/Minecraft/comments/l9m8m/why_ender_dragons_wont_spawn_in_main_world/c2qxhwh</ref>
|Notch stated in a [[wikipedia:Twitter|Twitter]] post that "Dragons have 6 limbs", consisting of 2 wings, and 4 legs.<ref>{{tweet|notch|124246459775328257|Dragons have six limbs.|October 12, 2011}}</ref>}}
|{{HistoryLine|java}}
|{{HistoryLine||1.0.0|dev=Beta 1.9 Prerelease 4
|[[File:Ender Dragon.png|32px]] Added the ender dragon. 
|The ender dragon currently exists in the code, mostly functional, however, the dragon has not been enabled in-game yet and [[player]]s are unable to [[damage]] it. Certain mods can allow the spawning of the ender dragon, but again, no physical interactions are currently available.}}
|{{HistoryLine|||dev=Beta 1.9 Prerelease 5|Added the ability for [[player]]s to [[damage]] ender dragons. Ender dragons require mods or a [[mob spawner]] to be brought into the game, however. 
|The ender dragon's [[health]] has been changed to {{hp|1}} to test its new death animation.}}
|{{HistoryLine|||dev=Beta 1.9 Prerelease 6|[[File:Ender Dragon.png|32px]] Ender dragons have been officially implemented into the game. This includes a single ender dragon as a boss battle, spawning naturally when the [[player]] first enters [[the End]].}}
|{{HistoryLine||April 28, 2012|link={{tweet|jeb_|196190099627708417}}|[[Jeb]] mentioned that he wouldn't be adding any more boss [[mob]]s until he makes the ender dragon "more fun first".}}
|{{HistoryLine||1.3.1|dev=12w24a|The bug in which the ender dragon would be unable to damage the player after the player was attacked once has been fixed.
|The [[experience]] drop of ender dragons has been reduced from 20,000 to 12,000.}}
|{{HistoryLine||1.4.2|dev=12w34b|"Boss Health" now says "Ender Dragon".}}
|{{HistoryLine|||dev=1.4|Before this update, ender dragons used the same [[damage]] sound as the [[player]]. Ender dragons now have their own [[sound]].
|The wither was added, despite jeb saying he would not add another boss until the ender dragon was revamped.}}
|{{HistoryLine||1.5|dev=13w09c|A bug where [[sword]]s take no [[damage]] when used on the ender dragon has been fixed.}}
|{{HistoryLine||1.5.1|dev=13w11a|Before this snapshot, the [[gamerule]] <code>mobGriefing</code> didn't prevent the ender dragons from destroying [[block]]s when they fly through them. Now, <code>mobGriefing</code> from the {{command|gamerule}} [[command]] prevents the ender dragon from destroying blocks at their sight.}}
|{{HistoryLine||2013 Music Update|A [[music]] track now accompanies the ender dragon boss fight.}}
|{{HistoryLine||1.8|dev=14w20a|The ender dragon no longer breaks [[barrier]]s.}}
|{{HistoryLine||1.9|dev=15w31a|The ender dragon boss fight has been revamped to be similar to the [[Legacy Console Edition]].
|The ender dragon can now be re-summoned by placing [[clay]] in a creeper face pattern in the End.
|The ender dragon no longer destroys [[iron bars]].
|[[File:Dragon Fireball JE1 BE1.png|32px]] The ender dragon produces a [[#Dragon Fireball|fireball]] during its attack.}}
|{{HistoryLine|||dev=15w32a|The ender dragon's [[#Dragon Fireball|fireballs]] now give off ender acid [[particles]] upon [[explosion|exploding]] and no longer light ground on [[fire]].
|The ender dragon's charge/knockback attack has now returned.
|The ender dragon's wings now [[damage]] the [[player]], prevent side and back melee attacks when the dragon lands on the [[exit portal]].
|Dragon breath from the ender dragon now shoots out farther.
|The ender dragon now immediately charges at the player after finishing the ender acid attack.
|The ender dragon's ender acid attack now goes around the whole [[exit portal]].
|The ender dragon no longer stops attacking from single hits.
|The ender dragon now flies back to portal before finishing the death animation.
|The ender dragon no longer takes [[damage]] from [[snowball]]s, [[egg]]s, or other attacks that normally do no damage.}}
|{{HistoryLine|||dev=15w32b|When fatally [[damage]]d, the ender dragon now flies to the [[exit portal]] and [[die]]s rather than resetting to {{hp|1}} and landing.}}
|{{HistoryLine|||dev=15w33a|The ender dragon's wings no longer deal damage while the ender dragon is landed.
|The ender dragon is now immune to [[arrow]]s while landed.
|The ender dragon no longer destroys [[End Portal (block)|end portal blocks]], [[end portal frame]] blocks, or [[End Gateway (block)|end gateway block]]s.
|The ender dragon's breath attack now lasts longer.
|The ender dragon's [[#Dragon Fireball|fireball]] attack is now more or less equivalent to a [[lingering potion]] of [[Harming]] II.}}
|{{HistoryLine|||dev=15w33c|Respawned ender dragons now [[drop]] 500 [[experience]].
|Respawning the dragon also respawns the [[end spike]]s and [[end crystal]]s.}}
|{{HistoryLine|||dev=15w44a|Respawning ender dragons now require placing 4 [[end crystal]]s near the [[exit portal]].
|The ender dragon can no longer be re-summoned using clay.}}
|{{HistoryLine|||dev=15w49a|The ender dragon no longer travels through [[portal]]s.
|The ender dragon no longer rides rideable [[entities]] such as [[minecart]]s or [[boat]]s.
|The ender dragon is no longer affected by [[status effect]]s.}}
|{{HistoryLine||1.11|dev=16w32a|The [[entity]] ID of the ender dragon has been changed from <code>EnderDragon</code> to <code>ender_dragon</code>.
|The [[#Dragon Fireball|fireball's]] entity ID has been changed from <code>DragonFireball</code> to <code>dragon_fireball</code>.}}
|{{HistoryLine|||dev=16w35a|Hitboxes of the [[damage]]able portions of the ender dragon are now visible using {{key|F3+B}}.}}
|{{HistoryLine|||dev=16w40a|The [[tag]]s <code>xTile</code>, <code>yTile</code>, <code>zTile</code>, <code>inTile</code> and <code>inGround</code> have been removed from the dragon fireball [[Chunk format#Projectiles|entity data]].
|The <code>life</code> tag of ender dragons is no longer used for anything, but still saved/read.}}
|{{HistoryLine|||dev=16w43a|The ender dragon is now able to draw from its own [[loot table]].}}
|{{HistoryLine||1.14|dev=19w08a|[[Target selectors]] for the ender dragon (<code><nowiki>@e[type=minecraft:ender_dragon]</nowiki></code>) now target a total of 9 entities per dragon.<ref>{{bug|MC-146503||Ender dragon consists of 9 entities in total|WF}}</ref>}}
|{{HistoryLine|||dev=19w08b|The ender dragon no longer dives straight down to the fountain, instead it slowly descends.|The ender dragon's AI in general has been heavily altered due to a typo in the dragon's vertical velocity while flying<ref>{{bug|MC-272431||Ender Dragon's incorrect velocity while flying causes erratic behavior}}</ref>}}
|{{HistoryLine||1.15|dev=19w39a|The ender dragon no longer has a separate texture for the bottom of its wing anymore.}}
|{{HistoryLine|||dev=19w41a|A black dot on transparent parts of wing texture has been removed from ender dragons.
|A texture for part of wing bottom in the [[explosion|exploding]] ender dragon has been removed.}}
|{{HistoryLine|||dev=19w46a|[[File:Dragon Fireball JE2.png|32px]] The texture of the dragon [[#Dragon Fireball|fireball]] has been changed.}}
|{{HistoryLine||1.17|dev=20w45a|Target selectors for the ender dragon target 1 entity per dragon once again.}}
|{{HistoryLine||1.19.3|dev=22w44a|[[File:Ender Dragon Spawn Egg JE2 BE1.png|32px]] Added [[spawn egg]]s for ender dragons, which can be obtained only with commands as to avoid potential destruction of [[Creative]] builds.<ref>{{bug|MC-189872||Certain mobs don't have spawn eggs|Fixed}}</ref>}}
|{{HistoryLine||1.21.2|dev=24w34a|Dragon fireballs no longer go through the [[world border]] if hit.}}
|{{HistoryLine|pocket}}
|{{HistoryLine||1.0.0|dev=alpha 0.17.0.1|[[File:Ender Dragon.png|32px]] Added the ender dragon.
|[[File:Dragon Fireball JE1 BE1.png|32px]] The ender dragon produces a [[#Dragon Fireball|fireball]] during its attack.}}
|{{HistoryLine|||dev=alpha 1.0.0.2|The ender dragon now goes to the nearest [[end crystal]].}}
|{{HistoryLine||?|Dragon fireballs no longer make a glass sound on impact.}}
|{{HistoryLine||1.1.0|dev=alpha 1.1.0.0|The entity ID of the ender dragon has been changed from <code>dragon</code> to <code>ender_dragon</code>.}}
|{{HistoryLine|bedrock}}
|{{HistoryLine||1.10.0|dev=beta 1.10.0.3|[[File:Dragon Fireball BE2.png|32px]] The texture of the dragon [[#Dragon Fireball|fireball]] has been changed.}}
|{{HistoryLine||1.19.20|dev=Preview 1.19.20.22|Ender dragons can no longer destroy [[crying obsidian]], [[respawn anchor]]s, [[light block]]s, [[allow and deny]] blocks, [[border]]s, and [[jigsaw block]]s.}}
|{{HistoryLine||1.19.60|dev=Preview 1.19.60.20|[[File:Ender Dragon Spawn Egg JE2 BE1.png|32px]] Added [[spawn egg]]s for ender dragons.}}
|{{HistoryLine|console}}
|{{HistoryLine||xbox=TU9|xbone=CU1|ps3=1.00|psvita=1.00|ps4=1.00|wiiu=Patch 1|switch=1.0.1|[[File:Ender Dragon.png|32px]] Added the ender dragon with new attacks (dragon's breath and ender charges).
|[[File:Dragon Fireball LCE1.png|32px]] The ender dragon produces a [[#Dragon Fireball|fireball]] during its attack.}}
|{{HistoryLine||xbox=TU10|xbone=CU1|ps3=1.00|psvita=1.00|ps4=1.00|wiiu=Patch 1|switch=1.0.1|Before this update, ender dragons used the same [[damage]] sound as the [[player]]. Ender dragons now have their own [[sound]].}}
|{{HistoryLine||xbox=TU14|ps3=1.04|psvita=1.00|ps4=1.00|The title of the ender dragon's health bar has been changed from "Enderdragon" to "Ender Dragon".}}
|{{HistoryLine||xbox=TU19|xbone=CU7|ps3=1.12|psvita=1.12|ps4=1.12|wiiu=Patch 1|switch=1.0.1|Ender dragons now share their [[spawn limit]] category with the [[wither]], meaning that the wither cannot be spawned in the end when the ender dragon is alive.}}
|{{HistoryLine||xbox=TU46|xbone=CU36|ps3=1.38|psvita=1.38|ps4=1.38|wiiu=Patch 15|switch=1.0.1|The ender dragon no longer takes [[damage]] from [[snowball]]s, [[egg]]s, or other attacks that normally do no damage.{{check version}}|Dragon fireballs now create dragon's breath on impact. Previously dragon's breath was only created by the ender dragon above the exit portal.|Dragon's breath now only deals damage every second instead of every half second.|Dragon's breath now deals [[knockback (mechanic)|knockback]] away from the ender dragon.|Dragon's breath can now be collected with a [[glass bottle]].}}
|{{HistoryLine||xbox=TU54|xbone=CU44|ps3=1.52|psvita=1.52|ps4=1.52|wiiu=Patch 24|switch=1.0.4|The [[spawn limit]] for boss mobs has been increased, meaning up to 4 withers can now be spawned in the end while the ender dragon is alive.}}
|{{HistoryLine||xbox=TU60|xbone=CU51|ps3=1.64|psvita=1.64|ps4=1.64|wiiu=Patch 30|switch=1.0.11|[[File:Dragon Fireball JE1 BE1.png|32px]] The texture of the dragon [[#Dragon Fireball|fireball]] has been changed.}}
|{{HistoryLine|new 3ds}}
|{{HistoryLine||1.7.10|[[File:Ender Dragon.png|32px]] Added the ender dragon.
|[[File:Dragon Fireball JE1 BE1.png|32px]] The ender dragon produces a [[#Dragon Fireball|fireball]] during its attack.}}
}}

== Issues ==
{{Issue list}}

== Trivia ==
* If low enough on health, the ender dragon emits beams of light without dying, as if cracked.
* The [[player]] cannot use [[name tag]]s on an ender dragon.
* The ender dragon's hitbox, especially its wings, is larger than the ender dragon itself, causing players to be pushed away from it from farther away than usual.
* If the player kills a summoned dragon in the [[Overworld]] or [[the Nether]], it does not create the [[exit portal]] or a [[dragon egg]].
* In [[Spectator]] mode, the [[player]] cannot view the perspective of the ender dragon, unlike any other mob. However, it is possible through the use of commands (like {{cmd|spectate}}). When this happens, the player's camera appears about 1 block over the dragon's body.
* {{IN|Console}}, the ender dragon's death sound is bass-boosted.{{verify}}
* Using {{key|F3+B}}{{only|je|short=1}} to show hitboxes reveals that the ender dragon's head rotation faces in the opposite direction to where its real head faces. This is also why the ender dragon faces the wrong way when set in a monster spawner.
* When an ender dragon is spawned in the Overworld, it flies to coordinates X=0 and Z=0 and dives at the ground or does the same behavior as if in the End. If end crystals are placed in the Overworld, they heal the dragon as normal, but it does not perch anywhere and continues to fly around forever.
* {{IN|Bedrock}}, there is an unused texture file for a dragon fireball item.
* In ''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]]'', one of the spirits that comes with the Steve/Alex DLC is the ender dragon. It appears as a Legend-class "spirit" that makes the user breathe fire for a long time at the start of each battle.
* If [[commands]] or [[Creative]] mode are used to get [[end portal frame]]s and [[eyes of ender]], a player can skip to the [[end poem]]. 
** If a player destroys [[ender crystal]]s or even hurts the dragon and then uses a player-made portal, upon returning, the player retains their progress.{{only|bedrock|short=1}}

=== Notch-related ===
* On Reddit, Notch suggested the ender dragon's name to be "Jean?" in the same manner he called the [[player]] "Steve?".<ref>{{reddit|l9m8m/why_ender_dragons_wont_spawn_in_main_world|c2qxl5z|name=dragonspawn}}</ref>
** [[Dinnerbone]] later stated that he thinks the name is officially "Jean?".<ref>{{tweet|Dinnerbone|558263033173389313|Officially I think it's "Jean?" ;D|January 22, 2015}}</ref>
** Despite this, an article on Minecraft.net states that  "uttering its true name would unleash a destructive force that would obliterate not only the End, but the Nether and the Overworld at the same time."<ref>{{mcnet|taking-inventory--name-tag|Taking Inventory: Name Tag|March 15, 2019|Duncan Geere}}</ref>
* Also on Reddit, Notch referred to the ender dragon as a she{{citation needed}}, as well as this the Xbox avatar item [https://marketplace.xbox.com/en-US/Product/Ender-Dragon-Pet/00001000-dbea-7223-c1d5-6561584111f7 Ender Dragon Pet] has the description "A cuter, friendlier version of his bigger, less playful Minecraft sister", however it has been later confirmed by Notch,<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20120728170757/http://notch.tumblr.com/post/28188312756/gender-in-minecraft</ref> [[Brandon Pearce]]<ref>{{tweet|kingbdogz|1321887816742219776|All mobs in Minecraft are genderless :)|October 30, 2020}}</ref> and [[Jeb]]<ref>{{ytl|pDBf_IKEq3s|Ask Mojang: Holiday Special with Jeb and Lydia @3:26|Minecraft|December 24, 2020|t=206}}</ref> that all mobs in ''[[Minecraft]]'' have no gender, which includes the ender dragon.
** Despite this, the ender dragon continues to be referred with feminine pronouns {{in|BE}}'s in-game encyclopedia.
* Before it was textured, Notch reported that he was afraid to texture the ender dragon as it was a complicated model.<ref>{{tweet|notch|122600570170249216|I am a bit afraid of texturing the dragon. It's a very big model. I am going to need unhealthy food for this.|October 8, 2011}}</ref> In the end, the dragon model was so complex Notch stated that he gave up making the texture manually and wrote a texture packer tool to aid him in adding the texture to the model. Notch also uploaded the code for the tool so others could use the pack. ([http://pastebin.com/0AcY6YV2 Link to the texture packer])<ref>{{tweet|notch|122978062143979522|Finally gave up on doing it manually and wrote a texture packer tool.|October 9, 2011}}</ref>
** Notch joked about how ''Minecraft'' was "going next-gen" when deadmau5 mentioned this.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20160603021555/https://twitter.com/notch/status/122980577832992768 "Yeah, we're going next gen here!" - @notch] on Twitter; October 9, 2011</ref>
* Notch has uploaded a video showing why ender dragons do not spawn in the main world, as they would destroy any block they touch.<ref>{{ytl|XTpFDRZExAg|Why Ender Dragons won't spawn in the main world|mojnotch|October 12, 2011}}</ref>
** On Reddit, Notch explained that ender dragons destroy Overworld matter because "trying to make an AI to properly navigate arbitrary terrain before the code freeze next tuesday{{sic}} isn't feasible".<ref>{{reddit|dragonspawn|c2qx6qk}}</ref>

== Gallery ==
=== Screenshots ===
<gallery>
File:EnderDragonDissolve.png|The ender dragon after defeat.
File:TheEnderdragon.png|An ender dragon being healed by an [[end crystal]].
File:End Screenshot.png|The ender dragon flying over [[the End]].
File:EnderDragonAttack.png|The ender dragon attacks a [[player]] while being healed.
File:Boss Party.png|Dozens of player-spawned ender dragons and [[wither]]s fighting each other.
File:Minecraft withers enderdragons.png|More ender dragons fighting withers.
File:Enderdragoncrystaldeath.png|The ender dragon dying from the [[explosion]] of the end crystal it was using.
File:DragonPerching.png|The dragon perching on the [[exit portal]].
File:AcidBallAttack.png|The dragon firing a fireball at the player.
File:DragonCharging.png|The dying dragon quickly charging toward the exit portal to roost. A pool of acid lies in the foreground.
File:DragonHitboxes.png|The green hitboxes, visible when {{key|F3+B}} is toggled.
File:Ender Dragon Revival.png|Four end crystals placed at the exit portal to respawn the ender dragon.
File:HealthBarComparison.png|Comparison between the ender dragon and the wither.
File:Two Dragons.png|Screenshot of a possible glitch resulting in the spawning of two ender dragon.
File:Red Dragon (Real).jpg|An ender dragon taking damage in the [[Overworld]].
</gallery>

=== Mojang screenshots ===
<gallery>
File:Glowing Ender Dragon.png| The ender dragon with the [[Glowing]] effect.{{Only|Java}}
File:Dragon Death.png|The ender dragon dying as seen when the player has [[Night Vision]].
</gallery>

=== Textures ===
<gallery class="pixel-image">
Dragon (texture).png|Ender Dragon texture file.
Ender Dragon (ender eyes texture) JE1.png|Ender Dragon eyes texture file.
Dragon Exploding (texture).png|Ender Dragon exploding texture file.
</gallery>

=== Development images ===
<gallery>
Ender dragon.jpg|The first screenshot of the ender dragon.
Ender dragon-bright.jpg|The same screenshot, only brighter.
Ender Dragon Development 1.png|The ender dragon before being textured.
Ender Dragon Development 2.png|The ender dragon before being textured.
Ender Dragon Development 3.png|The ender dragon before being textured.
Ender Dragon Development 4.png|The ender dragon before being textured.
Dragon.png|The ender dragon before being textured.
DragonMulticolorTexture.png|The first ender dragon texture.
DragonMulticolor.png|The ender dragon with its first texture.
QV0gQ.jpg|The ender dragon's texture taking shape.
Ender Dragon Development Night.jpg|The ender dragon with its first semi-complete texture.
FinalTexture.png|The ender dragon's texture at this stage.
Ender Dragon Development Swamp.jpg|The ender dragon with wings more closely resembling their modern form.
DragonTexture.png|The ender dragon's texture at this stage.
FMAhp.jpg|The ender dragon's head and neck were lowered to make it look more "evil".
BNitw.png|The ender dragon flying over the Overworld. 
Ender Dragon Xbox 360.jpg|The first screenshot of the ender dragon in ''[[Xbox 360 Edition]]''.
</gallery>

=== In other media ===
<gallery>
File:EnderUpdate.jpg|The ender dragon in promotional artwork for the [[Ender Update]].
File:Ender Dragon minecraft.net.png|Ender dragon artwork used on the [[Minecraft.net]].
File:FirstEnderDragonDefeated-5f468.png|Artwork for [[Realms Stories]] depicting Ari and Sunny defeating the Ender Dragon.
File:Ender Dragon Mobestiary.jpg|The ender dragon pictured in the [[Minecraft Books#Minecraft Mobestiary|''Mobestiary'']].
File:LEGO Ender Dragon Micromob.png|The ender dragon micromob from [[LEGO Minecraft|LEGO ''Minecraft'']].
File:LEGO Enderdragon.png|LEGO ''Minecraft'' ender dragon minifigure.
File:Enderdragon spirit.jpg|The ender dragon spirit in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]]''.
File:SSBU spirit Ender Dragon.png|The ''Super Smash Bros. Ultimate'' ender dragon spirit.
File:Ender Dragon Plush.jpg|An early, humanoid ender dragon plush.
File:Ender Dragon Plush Unboxed.jpg|An unboxed ender dragon plush.
File:Enderdragon JINX.jpg|Official T-shirt artwork "Enderdragon" featuring [[Steve]] fighting the ender dragon. Made by JINX.
File:Minecraft Heroes Crest JINX.jpg|Official T-shirt artwork "Heroes Crest" featuring an [[iron golem]] and an ender dragon. Made by JINX.
File:Battle by SamCube.jpg|Official T-shirt artwork "Battle" featuring a [[creeper]], an [[enderman]], [[Steve]], a [[ghast]], and either an ender dragon or a [[red dragon]]. Made by SamCube.
File:The End is Nigh JINX.jpg|Official T-shirt artwork "The End is Nigh" made by JINX.
File:The End is Nigh.jpg|A newer version of "The End is Nigh." The text is the [[Standard Galactic Alphabet]], which translates to its title.
File:Ender Dragon Plush JINX.jpg|Ender dragon plush made by JINX.
File:Ender Dragon headlight.jpeg|An officially licensed ender dragon headlight.
</gallery>

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

== References ==
{{reflist|2}}

== Navigation ==
{{Navbox mobs}}

[[Category:Boss mobs]]
[[Category:Hostile mobs]]
[[Category:End mobs]]
[[Category:Monster mobs]]
[[Category:Flying mobs]]
[[Category:Characters]]

[[cs:Drak z Endu]]
[[de:Enderdrache]]
[[es:Enderdragón]]
[[fr:Ender Dragon]]
[[hu:Ender Dragon]]
[[it:Enderdrago]]
[[ja:エンダードラゴン]]
[[ko:엔더 드래곤]]
[[lzh:終眇龍]]
[[nl:Enderdraak]]
[[pl:Smok Endu]]
[[pt:Dragão Ender]]
[[ru:Дракон Края]]
[[th:มังกรเอนเดอร์]]
[[uk:Дракон Енду]]
[[zh:末影龙]]
