Minecraft:Stronghold

Template:For Template:Infobox structure Template:Relevant tutorial A stronghold is a rare underground Minecraft:structure in the Minecraft:Overworld, and is the only place where an Minecraft:End portal can be found. Strongholds can be located by using an Minecraft:eye of ender.

Generation

File:EndPortalRoom.png

The End portal room

Strongholds generate at any Y level, mostly underground, and prefer to generate in Minecraft:biomes above sea level, but generate underwater if necessary. Strongholds may generate at Minecraft:bedrock level, cutting the bedrock.

Most parts of the stronghold can be overwritten by Minecraft:caves, Minecraft:ocean monuments, ancient cities, Minecraft:mineshafts, Minecraft:fossils, Minecraft:amethyst geodes, Minecraft:trial chambers, and Minecraft:monster rooms; but it is rare for the Minecraft:End portal to be replaced, which would force a player to find one of the other strongholds, as a portal can be activated only with all 12 Minecraft:End portal frames present. Minecraft:Canyons do not overwrite strongholds; rather, a stronghold can occasionally be found exposed by a canyon.

Bedrock Edition

Template:IN, strongholds generate randomly throughout the world and they are at least 160 blocks away from the world origin. There is no limit to the number of strongholds that can generate, unlike in Java Edition. There are 3 extra strongholds at least 453 blocks away from the world origin, which tend to be close to the 453-block boundary, and are guaranteed to generate below meeting points of a Minecraft:village. In rare cases, these 3 extra strongholds can be very far from the world origin, sometimes over 10,000 blocks away.

Java Edition

File:Strongholds 1.9.svg

Stronghold layout through the world Template:In

Template:IN, all strongholds are located at random coordinates within rings in all biomes, where each ring is a certain radius from the center of the world (X=0, Z=0). For a given ring, the strongholds are generated at roughly equal angles from the center point of the world (for instance, each stronghold in a ring of 3 is in the region of 120 degrees from the others, measured from the origin). The game does not generate a stronghold partially above ground; any portion above the sea level is replaced with Minecraft:air, leaving a cutaway. If a stronghold generates in an Minecraft:ocean, which occurs rarely, it typically generates with terrain covered above it. Strongholds are biased towards biomes in the Template:Cd biome tag.Template:Info needed

There are eight rings, containing 128 strongholds in total:

1. The first ring has 3 strongholds within 1,280–2,816 blocks of the origin.
2. The second ring has 6 strongholds within 4,352–5,888 blocks of the origin.
3. The third ring has 10 strongholds within 7,424–8,960 blocks of the origin.
4. The fourth ring has 15 strongholds within 10,496–12,032 blocks of the origin.
5. The fifth ring has 21 strongholds within 13,568–15,104 blocks of the origin.
6. The sixth ring has 28 strongholds within 16,640–18,176 blocks of the origin.
7. The seventh ring has 36 strongholds within 19,712–21,248 blocks of the origin.
8. The eighth and outermost ring has 9 strongholds within 22,784–24,320 blocks of the origin.

The number of strongholds in each ring is the triangular number of the number one more than the ring number, except for the outermost ring, where 45 would be expected.

The outermost ring has the further unusual property of putting the strongholds at angles of roughly 36° (not the expected 40°) as if there were to be ten equally spaced strongholds, like in the third ring. One of these ten does not generate, however, keeping the number at nine.

Structure

File:Stronghold isometric view.png

An isometric view of a stronghold in a superflat world.<ref group="n">In superflat worlds, strongholds generate with the maximum number of rooms possible.</ref>

Stronghold generation starts with a spiral staircase room that leads down to a five-way intersection. From there, additional rooms are randomly generated. The layout can extend up to 50 rooms away from the original room and within a horizontal radius of 112 blocks.Template:Info needed If no portal room is generated during this process, the stronghold generation restarts.

Blocks

The distribution of stone brick variants is roughly as follows:

• Template:BlockLink: 45%
• Template:BlockLink: 30%
• Template:BlockLink: 20%
• Template:BlockLink: 5%

Minecraft:Infested cracked stone bricks and Minecraft:infested mossy stone bricks do not naturally generate; they only appear when Minecraft:silverfish infest these blocks.<ref>Template:Bug</ref>

Components

Fountain= File:Stronghold large room (fountain).png Pillar= File:Stronghold large room (pillar).png Store= File:Stronghold large room (store).png </tabber> Small= File:Stronghold library (small).png </tabber>

Pieces

Name Template:Cd	Description	Blocks	Image
Straight Template:Cd	This sub-structure consists of a corridor; it generates with an entrance and an exit on opposite sides, making it a 5 block long corridor. On each side, a side exit has a 50% chance to generate; if it does not, the corresponding side is sealed with a stone bricks wall. This sub-structure can also include up to 4 torches, each with a 10% chance to generate. They are placed hanging on the walls beside the potential side exits, regardless of whether the exits generate. The render on the side depicts the sub-structure with all the features generated.	94-112 Template:BlockLink<ref group="n" name="stonebricks">For simplicity, this number assumes the rooms are composed solely of stone bricks. However, the actual composition is as follows: 45% Template:BlockLink 30% Template:BlockLink 20% Template:BlockLink 5% Template:BlockLink</ref> 0-4 Template:BlockLink	File:Stronghold straight corridor.png
Right turn Template:Cd	These sub-structures are corridors with 90° turns. Both types have an equal chance of appearing.	80 Template:BlockLink<ref group="n" name="stonebricks"/>	File:Stronghold turn corridor.png
Left turn Template:Cd
Spiral staircase Template:Cd	This sub-structure consists of a staircase, with its entrance at the top and its exit at the bottom. Between 0 and 5 spiral staircases can generate per stronghold, plus a starter staircase. When an Minecraft:eye of ender is thrown, it will fly towards chunk coordinates 0, ~, 0 of the chunk the start piece is in. The center of the starter staircase will always generate at chunk coordinates 4, ~, 4. The starter staircase will always generate with an opening as its entrance.	187 Template:BlockLink<ref group="n" name="stonebricks"/> 6 Template:BlockLink	File:Stronghold spiral staircase.png
Start piece Template:Cd
Straight staircase Template:Cd	This sub-structure consists of a staircase, with its entrance at the top and its exit at the bottom. There is also an empty alcove under the stairs. Between 0 and 5 straight staircases can generate per stronghold.	275 Template:BlockLink<ref group="n" name="stonebricks"/> 18 Template:BlockLink	File:Stronghold straight staircase.png
Five-way crossing Template:Cd	This room consists of a small atrium from which 2 to 6 paths can branch out: The first exit (1), located in front of the stairway, always generates, as it acts as the entrance to the room. The second exit (2), located down the stairway, always generates. The upper exit facing east or south (+x or +z) (4 or 5) has a Template:Frac chance to generate. The remaining three exits each have an independent Template:Frac chance to generate. The layout of a five-way crossing The layout of a five-way crossing This room can branch out to hidden rooms. If the room is rotated such that the player faces west or north (-x or -z) when entering it, a hidden room may try to generate. Hidden rooms always attempt to generate directly adjacent to indentations on the same wall; the attempt can sometimes fail meaning no hidden room generates. The indentation (on the left, marked in green) indicates a hidden room attempted to generate behind the wall (on the right, marked in red). In other words, a hidden room can be found behind a smooth wall where an exit can generate. The indentation (on the left, marked in green) indicates a hidden room attempted to generate behind the wall (on the right, marked in red). In other words, a hidden room can be found behind a smooth wall where an exit can generate. Between 0 and 4 five-way crossings can generate per stronghold. In addition to these, an extra five-way crossing always generates as part of the starting point of the structure.	536-572 Template:BlockLink<ref group="n" name="stonebricks"/> 36 Template:BlockLink 1 Template:BlockLink	File:Stronghold five-way crossing.png
Prison hall Template:Cd	This room consists of a corridor with two cells located on one of its sides. Template:IN, jail cells generate without iron doors.<ref name="irondoors"/> Between 0 and 5 prison halls can generate per stronghold.	300 Template:BlockLink<ref group="n" name="stonebricks"/> 20 Template:BlockLink 2 Template:BlockLinkTemplate:Only	File:Stronghold jail cell.png
Chest corridor Template:Cd	This sub-structure consists in a chest on an altar in a corridor. Between 0 and 4 chest corridors can generate per stronghold.	115 Template:BlockLink<ref group="n" name="stonebricks"/> 7 Template:BlockLink 1 Template:BlockLink<ref group="n">This chest uses the altar chest loot. This loot is found in loot_tables/chests/stronghold_corridor.</ref>	File:Stronghold loot altar.png
Room crossing Template:Cd	This large room consists of a cross junction; four exits (including the entrance) always generate. Large rooms come in 4 variants: Empty: has no decoration. Fountain: has a fountain. Pillar: has a stone brick pillar with torches. Store: has 2 floors, each 2 blocks high, with a cobblestone center structure joining the two and a torch housed within the structure; a ladder runs up the side wall, providing access to the second floor, which is a chamber made of oak planks and that contains a loot chest. Between 0 and 6 large rooms, regardless of variants, can generate per stronghold.	406 Template:BlockLink<ref group="n" name="stonebricks"/> (all) Fountain: 19 Template:BlockLink<ref group="n" name="onlystonebricks"/> 1 Template:BlockLink Pillar: 3 Template:BlockLink<ref group="n" name="onlystonebricks"/> 8 Template:BlockLink 4 Template:BlockLink Store: 51 Template:BlockLink 40 Template:BlockLink 3 Template:BlockLink 1 Template:BlockLink<ref group="n">This chest uses the storeroom chest loot. This loot is found in loot_tables/chests/stronghold_crossing.</ref> 1 Template:BlockLink	<tabber> Empty= File:Stronghold large room (empty).png
Library Template:Cd	Libraries come in 2 variants: Large: a duplex library containing 2 chests. Small: a single-level library containing 1 chest. Libraries generate in their small variant only when there isn't enough space for the large variant; otherwise, they always generate in their large variant. Each air block within 4 blocks above the ground (inclusive) has a 7% chance of being replaced by a cobweb upon generation. Between 0 and 2 libraries can generate per stronghold. Additionally, libraries can never generate within four rooms of the starting staircase.	Large: 895 Template:BlockLink<ref group="n" name="stonebricks"/> 233 Template:BlockLink 166 Template:BlockLink 46 Template:BlockLink 14 Template:BlockLink 7 Template:BlockLink 2 Template:BlockLink<ref group="n" name="librarychest">This chest uses the library chest loot. This loot is found in loot_tables/chests/stronghold_library.</ref> 0-417 Template:BlockLink (Template:Tooltip: 29) Small: 627 Template:BlockLink<ref group="n" name="stonebricks"/> 161 Template:BlockLink 32 Template:BlockLink 8 Template:BlockLink 1 Template:BlockLink<ref group="n" name="librarychest"/> 0-422 Template:BlockLink (Template:Tooltip: 29)	<tabber> Large= File:Stronghold Library.png
Portal room Template:Cd	The End portal room is the only room guaranteed to generate in a stronghold. It never generates within five rooms of the starting staircase, although it is less likely to generate farther away. Unlike all other rooms in the stronghold, it always generates with a complete outer wall, making it the only room that is consistently fully formed after generation. Each portal frame has a 10% chance to generate containing an Minecraft:eye of ender; the average number of portal frames found prefilled is 1.2. The chance of the portal being completely pre-filled is one in a trillion (1:1,000,000,000,000 or 10-12). Its entry door is always grates.	704 Template:BlockLink<ref group="n" name="stonebricks"/> 39 Template:BlockLink 15 Template:BlockLink 8 Template:BlockLink 12 Template:BlockLink 1 Template:BlockLink	File:StrongholdPortalRoom.png

Small doors

Name	Description	Blocks	Image
Opening	Small doors are the separating sub-structures that generate at the entrance of various rooms of strongholds. There are 4 types of door: the empty opening, the grates of iron bars, the wood door and the iron door. The iron door variant is exclusive to Template:JE.<ref name="irondoors">Template:Bug</ref>Template:Until They are generated randomly, with each having an equal chance of appearing, except for the empty opening which is twice as likely to occur. The start piece will always generate an opening, and the portal room will always generate grates. In order to prevent two doors from generating directly adjacent to each other, they are generated only as room entrances. Wood and iron doors always face the direction in which the stronghold generates: a door that is flush with the wall always leads away from the starting staircase, while a door that is indented into the wall leads toward it.	9 Template:BlockLink	File:Blank.png
Grates		7 Template:BlockLink	File:Stronghold door (grates).png
Wood door		7 Template:BlockLink<ref group="n" name="onlystonebricks">Unlike other rooms, this structure only generates with stone bricks. It does not include mossy stone bricks, cracked stone bricks, and infested stone bricks.</ref> 1 Template:BlockLink	File:Stronghold door (wooden).png
Iron door		7 Template:BlockLink<ref group="n" name="onlystonebricks"/> 1 Template:BlockLink 1 Template:BlockLink	File:Stronghold door (iron).png

Other

Name Template:Cd	Description	Blocks	Image
Filler corridor Template:Cd	Filler corridors, also known as dead-end corridors, are a special kind of sub-structure that generates when a normal Minecraft:stronghold room fails to generate, but the exit from where came the generation attempt is close enough to other parts of the stronghold. You can distinguish these from normal corridors by two details: they are composed of only normal Minecraft:stone bricks: no mossy, nor cracked, nor infested. their generation is always complete and cannot be overwritten by caves (like the portal room). This can result in them appearing like they are totally disconnected from the rest of the stronghold, if they are generated in caves. They consist of a vertical one-block wide ring of stone bricks, the same size as a normal corridor. For them to generate, the game checks for, in order: failed generation of rooms from exits; other parts of the stronghold that are 4 blocks or less away horizontaly from the selected exit, and at the same y-level of the exit. When these criteria are met, it generates up to 3 filler corridors sub-structures, stacked horizontaly on the same y-level, starting from the selected exit until it hits the other room's outer wall, in which in most cases makes a dent or an opening. In this way, the filler corridor is usually able to connects up near parts of the strongholds in order to form a denser network of passages. Unlike every other stronghold room, these pieces do not generate doors.	16-48 Template:BlockLink	Template:Layered blueprint

Loot

Storerooms

Storeroom chests are found in the "store" room variant of large rooms.

Data values

ID

Template:El: Template:ID table Template:ID table

Template:El: Template:ID table

Config

Template:El:

<section begin="config" />

• Template:Nbt Structure configuration
  • Template:Nbt: Template:Cd
  • Template:Nbt inherit/structure

<section end="config" />

History

New Nintendo 3DS Edition

• The first image of a stronghold that Minecraft:Jeb posted
  The first image of a stronghold that Minecraft:Jeb posted
• The first image of a stronghold that Minecraft:Notch posted
  The first image of a stronghold that Minecraft:Notch posted
• Stronghold markers in Minecraft:Beta 1.9 Prerelease 3
  Stronghold markers in Minecraft:Beta 1.9 Prerelease 3
• A stronghold generated on Superflat using Customization GUI in 12w40a and 12w40b.
  A stronghold generated on Superflat using Customization GUI in 12w40a and 12w40b.
• The side view of an uncovered stronghold
  The side view of an uncovered stronghold
• Overhead view of an uncovered stronghold
  Overhead view of an uncovered stronghold
• Top view of an uncovered stronghold
  Top view of an uncovered stronghold

Trivia

• There are exactly 233 bookshelves in a large library, yielding 699 Minecraft:books if mined without Minecraft:Silk Touch, which is 10 stacks plus 59 left over.
• Along with some other older structures, strongholds do not generate with Minecraft:air inside them.
• As of Minecraft:Java Edition 1.16, all Minecraft:world seeds that have a pre-activated End portal in the first ring have been found.<ref>Template:Citation</ref>

Gallery

Screenshots

• An iron door in a stronghold
  An iron door in a stronghold
• Many stone bricks in a stronghold
  Many stone bricks in a stronghold
• A stronghold with a fountain
  A stronghold with a fountain
• A stone pillar generated in a large room.
  A stone pillar generated in a large room.
• A small library
  A small library
• A large library
  A large library
• A chest in a stronghold chamber
  A chest in a stronghold chamber
• A floating torch in a pillar room, from a rendering glitch
  A floating torch in a pillar room, from a rendering glitch
• A floating torch in a library
  A floating torch in a library
• The Minecraft:End portal room, with an inactive End portal
  The Minecraft:End portal room, with an inactive End portal
• Finished End portal
  Finished End portal
• A ladder in a stronghold library, which gives a player access to a second floor
  A ladder in a stronghold library, which gives a player access to a second floor
• An End portal with a silverfish spawner
  An End portal with a silverfish spawner
• This portal is already activated upon world generation. (1/10^12 chance)
  This portal is already activated upon world generation. (1/10^12 chance)
• Four Minecraft:silverfish chasing the player in a stronghold
  Four Minecraft:silverfish chasing the player in a stronghold
• Mushrooms growing in a cell made of iron bars
  Mushrooms growing in a cell made of iron bars
• A glitch where the ladders of a stronghold can appear floating
  A glitch where the ladders of a stronghold can appear floating
• The portal room
  The portal room
• A stronghold under a Minecraft:village
  A stronghold under a Minecraft:village
• A cross section of a stronghold generating under a village in Minecraft:Bedrock Edition
  A cross section of a stronghold generating under a village in Minecraft:Bedrock Edition
• A part of a stronghold
  A part of a stronghold

Unique generation

• An underground view of the top of a stronghold
  An underground view of the top of a stronghold
• An End portal room generated partially above sea level, noted by the windows
  An End portal room generated partially above sea level, noted by the windows
• A stronghold generating on the surface in Template:El
  A stronghold generating on the surface in Template:El
• An underwater End portal room with no other rooms
  An underwater End portal room with no other rooms
• An underground view of the bottom of a stronghold
  An underground view of the bottom of a stronghold
• Ravine with multiple ores, water and lava falls, and a stronghold bridge over it
  Ravine with multiple ores, water and lava falls, and a stronghold bridge over it
• A desert pyramid, mineshaft, and stronghold generated together
  A desert pyramid, mineshaft, and stronghold generated together
• A zombie Minecraft:monster room overriding a stronghold's generation
  A zombie Minecraft:monster room overriding a stronghold's generation
• A monster room intersecting a stronghold
  A monster room intersecting a stronghold
• A canyon cutting through a stronghold
  A canyon cutting through a stronghold
• A stronghold intersecting with a mineshaft
  A stronghold intersecting with a mineshaft
• A floating library generated in a canyon over a lava lake
  A floating library generated in a canyon over a lava lake
• A stronghold cut by a canyon
  A stronghold cut by a canyon
• A Minecraft:mineshaft generated inside a stronghold library
  A Minecraft:mineshaft generated inside a stronghold library
• A monster room intersecting a stronghold and library room
  A monster room intersecting a stronghold and library room
• A stronghold and a mineshaft intersection
  A stronghold and a mineshaft intersection
• A monster room, stronghold, and a mineshaft in one area
  A monster room, stronghold, and a mineshaft in one area
• A stronghold and a cave system
  A stronghold and a cave system
• A Minecraft:skeleton monster room that generated in a stronghold
  A Minecraft:skeleton monster room that generated in a stronghold
• A monster room generated in a library
  A monster room generated in a library
• An End portal room intersected by a mineshaft
  An End portal room intersected by a mineshaft
• A stronghold library above a cave
  A stronghold library above a cave
• A stronghold exposed underwater
  A stronghold exposed underwater
• A stronghold intersecting the monster spawner corridor in a mineshaft
  A stronghold intersecting the monster spawner corridor in a mineshaft
• A stronghold with only 3 rooms
  A stronghold with only 3 rooms
• A small stronghold
  A small stronghold
• A small stronghold with a small library, a chest corridor, and a portal room
  A small stronghold with a small library, a chest corridor, and a portal room
• An End portal room in a stronghold with 2 possible ways to get in. Check the image for the seed and coordinates.
  An End portal room in a stronghold with 2 possible ways to get in. Check the image for the seed and coordinates.
• A Minecraft:mineshaft along with a stronghold and Minecraft:jungle pyramid generated in one canyon.
  A Minecraft:mineshaft along with a stronghold and Minecraft:jungle pyramid generated in one canyon.
• This Minecraft:minecart with chest is trapped inside of a Minecraft:stone brick, due to a stronghold and a Minecraft:mineshaft that generated partially overlapping.
  This Minecraft:minecart with chest is trapped inside of a Minecraft:stone brick, due to a stronghold and a Minecraft:mineshaft that generated partially overlapping.
• A minecart with chest generated on top of an Minecraft:End portal frame, because there is a Minecraft:mineshaft behind the wall
  A minecart with chest generated on top of an Minecraft:End portal frame, because there is a Minecraft:mineshaft behind the wall
• Two store rooms that are intersecting with a Minecraft:mineshaft.
  Two store rooms that are intersecting with a Minecraft:mineshaft.
• Stronghold library generated in a ravine, making it float
  Stronghold library generated in a ravine, making it float
• An Minecraft:amethyst geode intersecting with a stronghold
  An Minecraft:amethyst geode intersecting with a stronghold
• A portal room at the bottom of an ocean
  A portal room at the bottom of an ocean
• A stronghold room generated at bedrock level
  A stronghold room generated at bedrock level
• A staircase leading to bedrock
  A staircase leading to bedrock
• Stronghold libraries can sometimes be set on Minecraft:fire by naturally-occurring lava.
  Stronghold libraries can sometimes be set on Minecraft:fire by naturally-occurring lava.
• A stronghold generated within a Deep Dark biome.
  A stronghold generated within a Deep Dark biome.

In other media

• Minecraft:Ari and Minecraft:Efe in the stronghold library, from the announcement of Minecraft:Minecraft Live 2023
  Minecraft:Ari and Minecraft:Efe in the stronghold library, from the announcement of Minecraft:Minecraft Live 2023
• The stronghold exhibit in Minecraft:15 Year Journey
  The stronghold exhibit in Minecraft:15 Year Journey
• A stronghold as it appears in Minecraft:Minecraft Dungeons.
  A stronghold as it appears in Minecraft:Minecraft Dungeons.
• A Lego set of a stronghold intersected with a badlands mineshaft
  A Lego set of a stronghold intersected with a badlands mineshaft

Official artwork

• Artwork of the structure
  Artwork of the structure

External links

• Building Blocks: Stronghold – Minecraft.net on July 4, 2024

Notes

<references group="n"/>