Finding a Stronghold Without Eyes of Ender: Rings, Maps and Triangulation

Eyes of ender are expensive. Each one costs a blaze rod and an ender pearl, and every throw has a 20% chance to break the eye. You also need up to 12 of them to fill the End portal. So wasting them on searching hurts.

The good news is that strongholds follow strict rules. In Java Edition they sit in fixed rings around the world center. This guide explains how to find a stronghold without eyes of ender, and how to use only two eyes when you do throw them. The fastest method of all is to enter your seed in the stronghold finder.

Open the stronghold finder

How stronghold rings work in Java Edition

Java Edition places exactly 128 strongholds in every world. They are split into 8 rings around X 0, Z 0. Within each ring, strongholds are spread out evenly by angle, with a little random variation.

The first ring is the one that matters for most players. It holds 3 strongholds, about 120 degrees apart. So one of them is usually within a few thousand blocks of spawn.

What changes in Bedrock Edition

Bedrock Edition does not use the 128-stronghold ring system. There is no fixed number of strongholds. Many of them generate underneath or next to villages, and others are scattered across the world.

This means the ring trick works much less well in Bedrock. On the plus side, strongholds are more common, so you rarely have to travel far. Checking villages near spawn is a good habit. If you find a village, look for exposed stone bricks or mossy bricks in nearby caves and ravines.

Eyes of ender work in both editions. They always fly toward the nearest stronghold.

Method 1: use a seed map

If you know your seed, this is the quickest and cheapest method. It costs zero eyes.

1. Find your seed first: type /seed in Java, or open the world settings in Bedrock.
2. Open the stronghold finder and enter the seed, edition and version.
3. Pick the stronghold closest to you. Click it to copy a /tp command or note its X and Z.
4. Travel there, then dig down. Strongholds usually sit underground, often below Y 0 in newer versions, but the portal room can be anywhere in the structure.

For long trips, use the Nether. Divide the X and Z by 8 and travel in the Nether instead. The nether portal calculator does the math for you.

A seed map shows where the stronghold starts. The portal room is one room inside a large maze, so expect some digging once you arrive.

Method 2: search without any eyes

Without a seed, you can still narrow the search using the rings in Java Edition:

• Go to the right distance. Head out until you are about 1,300 to 2,800 blocks from 0, 0. That is the first ring.
• Explore caves and ravines. Strongholds often cut into cave systems. Look for stone bricks, cracked bricks, mossy bricks and iron bars.
• Watch for silverfish. Infested blocks are common in strongholds. A silverfish popping out of stone is a good sign you are close.
• Check under villages in Bedrock. This is the single best tip without eyes on Bedrock.

This method is slow and relies on luck. Use it to save eyes, not time. A middle ground is to search the first ring by hand and only throw an eye when you think you are close.

Method 3: triangulate with just two eyes

If you have some eyes, triangulation finds the stronghold with only two throws instead of a dozen.

1. Stand still and throw an eye. Press F3 in Java to see your facing angle. Turn until your crosshair is right on the eye, then note the angle and your X and Z.
2. Walk sideways, at right angles to that line, for at least 200 to 500 blocks. A longer walk gives better accuracy.
3. Throw a second eye and note the new angle and position.
4. The stronghold is where the two lines cross. You can sketch this on paper, or plot both lines on a map.

Pick up each eye if it drops. There is a 20% chance it shatters instead, so carry a few spares. Once you are close, one more throw will show the eye diving into the ground right above the stronghold.

Finding the portal room once you arrive

A stronghold is a maze of corridors, libraries, prisons and staircases. The portal room is usually a short walk from where you break in, but not always.

• Follow corridors and listen. Silverfish spawners only exist in the portal room.
• Mark your path with torches on one side, so you can find your way back.
• The portal room has a lava pool under the frame and a silverfish spawner on the stairs. Break the spawner or light it up first.
• Count the frames that already have eyes. Each of the 12 frames has a 10% chance to start filled, so you might need fewer than 12 eyes.

What to bring for the trip

Finding the stronghold is only half the job. You also need to activate the portal and survive the End. Pack these before you set out:

• Eyes of ender. Up to 12 to fill the frame, plus 2 or 3 for triangulation. Craft them from blaze powder and ender pearls.
• A good pickaxe. You will dig through stone and deepslate to break into the stronghold.
• Torches. Strongholds are dark and full of mobs.
• A bed and blocks. Place your spawn point near the stronghold so a death does not cost you the whole trip.
• Food and armor. Silverfish are weak alone but dangerous in groups.

For the End itself, bring a bow or crossbow with plenty of arrows, blocks for pillaring, and a water bucket. Many players also carry a pumpkin to wear, since endermen will not get angry when you look at them through it.

After you beat the dragon, the End opens up. Outer islands hold end cities with elytra and shulker shells. Use the end city finder to see where they are before you jump through the gateway.

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