Defeating the beast at the heart of the End is about mastering a high-speed science. Whether you are aiming for a personal best or your first sub-20 minute run, these ender dragon speedrun tips will help you master the 1.16+ mechanics. You need to move fast through the Nether and enter the portal with enough beds to finish the job in seconds.
The secret to a world-class time lies in the one-cycle technique, where you use exploding beds to take down the dragon during its very first perch. By placing an obsidian block at the center of the portal and timing your clicks as the dragon’s head dips, you can deal massive damage instantly. Mastering this rhythm saves you from chasing the dragon around the sky and ensures you exit the End before the clock catches up to you.
Key Takeaways
- Master the one-cycle technique by placing an obsidian pedestal on the rim of the exit portal and detonating beds as the dragon’s head dips during its perch.
- Destroy End Crystals immediately upon entering the End to manipulate the dragon’s AI and force it to land at the central portal more frequently.
- Position yourself inside the lower bedrock fountain area to use the environment as a shield, minimizing self-damage while maintaining reach to the bed’s pillow.
- Carry at least five to six beds and use visual cues, such as the dragon’s neck movements, to maintain the rhythmic clicking necessary for maximum explosive damage.
Master The One Cycle Bed Explosion Technique
To master the one cycle, you need to set up your pedestal before the dragon even thinks about landing. Start by placing a single block of obsidian on the top rim of the bedrock exit portal, specifically on the side the dragon is approaching from. You should stand inside the fountain area, looking up at your obsidian block while holding your beds ready in your hotbar. This position keeps you safe from the exploding beds while allowing you to reach the pillow of the bed easily. Make sure you have at least five to six beds crafted from wool and planks to ensure you have enough firepower to finish the job.
Timing your clicks is the most important part of the entire process to ensure you deal maximum damage. You want to place and right click the bed just as the dragon’s head dips down into the explosion range during its perching animation. If you click too early, the dragon will simply fly away, but clicking too late might result in you taking too much damage yourself. Watch for the dragon to hover directly over the portal and wait for that specific moment its head lowers toward the bedrock. Consistently hitting this window allows you to deplete its health bar in seconds without ever needing to use a bow.
Practice makes perfect when it comes to managing your rhythm and inventory during this intense moment. You can use snowballs or a bow to nudge the dragon toward the center if it is taking too long to perch. Once the cycle starts, stay calm and focus on the rhythmic clicking needed to detonate each bed in rapid succession. High level players often use a specific visual cue, like the dragon’s neck movements, to know exactly when to trigger the next blast. Mastering this technique is the fastest way to see the credits roll and shave minutes off your personal best time.
Destroy End Crystals To Force Faster Dragon Perching
To speed up your run, you need to understand that the Ender Dragon’s behavior is not just random movement. The dragon operates on a specific AI cycle where it chooses between several states, such as circling, strafing, or perching. Every time the dragon finishes a circling flight, the game checks to see if it should land on the central exit portal. By destroying the End Crystals on top of the obsidian towers, you significantly increase the mathematical odds of the dragon choosing to perch. This is because the dragon is programmed to prioritize landing once its healing sources are gone.
You do not need to take down every single crystal to see a difference, but clearing them quickly is a major advantage for your time. For every crystal that remains active, the dragon has a high chance of staying in its hover or strafe mode to protect its healing source. Once you shoot a crystal down with your bow or snowballs, the AI recalculates its next move almost immediately. This forces the boss to stop flying in circles and head toward the center of the arena much faster. It is a simple strategy that turns a long, frustrating fight into a predictable encounter.
Professional speedrunners use this mechanic to ensure they aren’t standing around the portal waiting for minutes at a time. If you leave the crystals up, the dragon might stay in the air indefinitely, which can easily ruin a world record pace. Focus on sniping the crystals from the ground as soon as you enter the End dimension to trigger that landing animation. Once the dragon starts its descent toward the bedrock fountain, you can get into position for your bed cycle. Taking out the crystals is the most reliable way to take control of the fight and finish the game on your own terms.
Position Your Bed Pedestal For Maximum Head Damage
To master the one-cycle technique, you need to place your obsidian block exactly on the top edge of the exit portal. Position this pedestal on the side of the bedrock pillar that the dragon is currently flying toward. You want the block to be at eye level while you stand in the fountain area below. This specific height ensures that when you place a bed on top, the explosion happens right where the dragon’s head lowers. If your pedestal is too low or too high, the blast will hit the body instead and deal much less damage.
Once your obsidian is set, you should stand inside the fountain and look up at the pillow end of the bed. Timing is everything here because you need to click the bed just as the dragon’s head dips into the explosion radius. You can use a practice map or a timer to get used to the rhythm of the perch animation. Most runners find that clicking right as the chin passes through the bed yields the best results. A well-placed bed can take out a massive chunk of health, often requiring only four or five beds to win the game.
Keep a stack of blocks like cobblestone or dirt handy to quickly build a small safety barrier if you are worried about blast backfire. You should also make sure your feet are lower than the bed to minimize the damage you take from your own explosions. If you find yourself getting knocked back too far, try crouching or placing a single block between you and the bed’s headboard. This setup allows you to stay in position and spam the next bed immediately. Practice this routine until the movement feels like second nature and you will be seeing the credits in no time.
Master the One-Cycle Bed Method
Mastering the Ender Dragon speedrun is all about turning chaos into a predictable routine through practice and timing. You now know that the one-cycle bed method is the most efficient way to end the game without waiting for multiple perches. By placing your obsidian pedestal at the correct height and clicking the pillow as the dragon’s head dips, you can deal massive explosive damage. Remember that positioning yourself below the bed is safer and helps you avoid getting launched into the air. Keeping a steady rhythm with your clicks will ensure you get the most out of every single bed in your inventory.
The best way to get comfortable with these high-stakes mechanics is to head into a creative world for some stress-free practice. You can use commands to spawn the dragon and give yourself infinite beds to perfect your timing without the fear of losing a real run. Focus on watching the dragon’s hitbox and learning exactly when its head enters the explosion radius for maximum impact. Once you can consistently land four or five beds in a row, you will feel much more confident entering the End in your survival worlds. Just as you must learn how to defeat the Wither boss to progress in other areas of the game, mastering the dragon is essential for any serious player. Every top speedrunner started exactly where you are, so keep practicing and you will be seeing those credits roll in record time.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is a one-cycle and why should I use it?
A one-cycle is a pro move where you defeat the dragon during its very first landing at the center portal. You use the massive power of exploding beds to deal damage quickly, which saves you several minutes of waiting for the dragon to fly around.
2. How many beds do I need to bring to the End?
You should carry at least five to six beds in your hotbar to be safe. While experts can sometimes finish the job with fewer, having extras ensures you have enough firepower to kill the dragon even if your timing is slightly off on one or two clicks.
3. Where exactly should I place the obsidian block?
Place your single obsidian block on the top rim of the bedrock fountain. Position it on the side the dragon is flying from so you can stand safely inside the fountain area while reaching up to place your beds.
4. When is the perfect moment to click the bed?
Wait for the dragon to hover directly over the portal and watch for its head to dip down toward the fountain. Right-click the bed’s pillow precisely as the head enters the explosion range to deal the maximum amount of damage possible.
5. How do I avoid dying from my own bed explosions?
Stand inside the lower part of the bedrock fountain while you look up at your obsidian block. This positioning uses the bedrock and the obsidian as a shield to protect your character from the blast while still letting you hit the dragon’s head.
6. What happens if I click the bed too early?
If you trigger the explosion before the dragon’s head is low enough, the beast will get scared and fly away immediately. This forces you to wait for a second perch, which can add significant time to your speedrun clock.
7. Do I need any special gear besides beds and obsidian?
You primarily need your beds and one piece of obsidian, but having a good sword or some blocks to build up can help if the dragon survives the initial cycle. For those looking to optimize their survival, checking out the ultimate Minecraft potion brewing chart can provide extra buffs like Strength or Fire Resistance. If you want to skip the grind for gear entirely, you can learn how to find diamonds fast to ensure you are fully equipped before the big fight. Make sure your hotbar is organized so you can swap to your beds instantly when the dragon begins to land.