In this guide, we’ll walk through how to get to End Cities, how to clear them (and End Ships), and how to return home safely.
Hey, I’m Yuzukaki 👋
You’ve defeated the Ender Dragon. The credits rolled. You “beat” Minecraft… …and now you’re staring at your world thinking, “Uh, what am I supposed to do next?”
Totally get that feeling. It happens a lot.
Nope. Minecraft is far from over.
In this article, we’ll go on an adventure through The End’s outer islands, find and clear End Cities and End Ships, and then get you back home in one piece.
If you follow this, you’ll be able to explore The End without that “I’m going to lose everything in the void…” anxiety, so read along with me to the end, yeah?
This guide is based on in-game testing in Minecraft Java Edition 1.21.x.
This article was published as an English translation of a Japanese blog post.
▶Japanese version of this article
yuzukaki1000.jp
Table of Contents
1. Preparing to Search for an End City
2. Jumping Through the End Gateway Portal
3. How to Reach an End City
4. How to Clear an End City
5. How to Clear an End Ship
6. What to Do After Getting an Elytra
7. How to Get Home from an End City
8. Summary
You’ll learn:
✔ How to get to End Cities
✔ The route all the way to getting your Elytra
✔ How to return safely without losing your loot
1. Preparing to Search for an End City
First, let’s talk about the minimum gear you should bring for your End City adventure.
Must-Have Items
- Ender Pearls ×16–32 – For going through gateways & short-range teleporting
- Blocks (e.g., cobblestone) ×3–4 stacks – To build bridges and platforms between islands
- Shield + Iron to Diamond armor – For fighting Endermen and Shulkers
- Food (e.g., steak) ×1 stack – Your lifeline on a long trip
“Bring These and You’ll Feel Safer” Items
- Torches – For spawn-proofing & marking your path back
- Feather Falling IV boots or Slow Falling potions – To survive Shulker levitation + falls
- Water bucket – Place it on the ground to reduce fall damage
- Bow + arrows – To snipe Shulkers from a distance
- Firework rockets – Once you get an Elytra, you can immediately glide back home 👌
- Carved pumpkin – Wear on your head so Endermen won’t aggro when you look their way
- Empty map & paper & cartography table – To make maps as extra navigation aid
- Ladders – For climbing up End City towers
- Ender Chest – To make sure your valuable loot actually makes it back
2. Jumping Through the End Gateway Portal
Alright, let’s dive into The End’s outer islands together!
After defeating the Ender Dragon, an End Gateway Portal appears on the central End island, arranged in a ring around the exit portal area.
It appears pretty high up.
Use blocks like cobblestone to build a staircase up until your eye level is about the same height as the center of the gateway.
Now hold an Ender Pearl in your hand.
You’re going to throw this Ender Pearl into the single portal block in the center of the structure.
And then…
Whoosh!
Your screen will go dark for a moment,
and then thunk—you’ll land on a strange new platform.
You’ve just been teleported to the outer End islands—the region that starts about 1,000 blocks away from the central island.
In other words, the End Gateway skips the whole “1,000 blocks of void” problem instantly.
👆 When you want to go home later, you’ll use this same kind of End Gateway in the same way.
Make sure you mark your “return portal” clearly—light it up with torches or build a visible marker—so you don’t lose it.
From experience…
I’ve found an End City, explored it, got rare loot… and then realized I had no idea how to get back 👼
Seriously, mark your return portal. Future-you will be very grateful.
End Gateway Safety FAQ (Angle & Safe Platform)
This part trips up a lot of players, so let’s make it super clear.
Q1. From what angle should I throw the Ender Pearl into the End Gateway?
Aim straight at the center of the small portal block.
- Stand close enough that the portal fills most of your crosshair.
- Don’t lob it too high; just throw it directly at the middle.
- If you aim at the bedrock frame instead of the portal, you might land on a weird edge or clip a corner.
Just think, “point the crosshair at the glowing center and throw calmly.”
Q2. How can I make a safe platform around the End Gateway?
Build a small platform around the gateway before you use it seriously.
- Make a 3×3 or 5×5 platform around the gateway at the same height as the portal.
- Add railings or a 2-block-high wall around the outside if you’re nervous about falling.
- Light it up with torches so you can see it easily and don’t walk off by accident.
This way, even if your pearl lands slightly off, you won’t instantly fall into the void.
Q3. What happens if I completely miss and throw the pearl into the void?
Ender Pearls only teleport you when they hit something.
So if your pearl falls into the void and doesn’t hit a block,
you won’t teleport and you won’t instantly die—the pearl just disappears.
That said, if you walk off the edge yourself, that’s a different story… so still be careful, yeah?
3. How to Reach an End City
From here on, you’ll be island-hopping across the outer End islands to reach an End City.
Let’s go step by step.
Check the Coordinates of Your Warp Point
This is basically mandatory if you don’t want to get lost.
The way you check coordinates is slightly different between Java and Bedrock, but whichever version you’re on,
please write down the coordinates of the place where you arrived (the gateway you’ll use to go home).
Place Torches as Breadcrumbs for the Way Back
Unlike the Overworld or Nether, The End looks almost the same no matter where you go.
If you wander around with no map and no markers, you will almost definitely get lost.
And if you get lost in The End… honestly, coming back is going to be rough.
👆 So as lost-proofing, always place torches as you go to mark your path.
A lot of people skip this and regret it later.
Since The End is pretty dark visually, torches stand out nicely as a path.
Make a Map
People don’t do this as often as they could, but unlike the Nether, you can make maps in The End.
If you fill out a map, you can at least get a rough sense of where you’ve been and how to get back.
※ Think of this as a bonus. Your main tools are still torches and coordinates.
In Java Edition, you can hold the map in your off-hand,
so you can explore while mapping at the same time.
Just note: In The End you can only map The End using a map that was created in The End.
So if you want to do this, bring in an empty map specifically for The End.
※ It’s a separate map from your Overworld map. Maps made in The End can still be displayed in your Overworld base.
Bridging Between Floating Islands
The outer End islands are completely separated by the void.
There are tons of islands with no End City at all,
so to actually reach an End City, you will almost always need to cross between islands.
But between them is… the void.
In Minecraft, there’s basically no reliable way to survive falling into the void… it’s effectively a death sentence 👼
(There are extremely niche tricks, but realistically… yeah, no.)
So, how do you cross?
There are two main methods.
① Throw an Ender Pearl to the Other Side
This method is very risky and honestly not my recommendation, especially for beginners.
If you throw an Ender Pearl just right, you can warp instantly to the other island.
Ender Pearls teleport you to where they land.
If a pearl falls into the void and never hits anything, it won’t teleport you (so you don’t instantly die just from the pearl).
However… if you hit the side of a cliff, then walk forward by reflex and step off the edge into the void,
there’s basically no saving you.
Until you’re very comfortable with bridging (next method),
you can use pearls like this, but because there’s a lot of luck involved in where you end up,
I can’t really recommend this if you want a guaranteed safe crossing.
② Build a Bridge with Blocks
If you want a safe and reliable method, and you’re okay with a bit of careful play,
this is the method I strongly recommend.
Here’s what it looks like:
👆 Using this method, you can build a bridge relatively safely.
- Hold sneak (shift)
- Move to the edge of the island where you can see the other island, then start backing up while looking at the edge
- As soon as your feet are over the void, place blocks under you one by one
- Repeat step 3 until you reach the other side
It’s scary at first, but as long as you’re sneaking, you won’t walk off the edge.
Once you get used to it, you’ll be surprised how quickly you can bridge.
Just take that first scary step—that’s the hardest part.
By the way…
On a 1-block-wide bridge like this, Endermen can spawn and bump you off into the void.
Yes, this absolutely happens. It’s terrifying.
Countermeasure ①
In Java Edition, placing torches along the bridge helps prevent Endermen from spawning there.
Countermeasure ②
Make the bridge 2–3 blocks wide so even if you get nudged, you won’t immediately fall.
Summary of Chapter 3
Here’s a quick recap of how to safely work your way toward an End City:
- ① Anti-lost measures:
Place torches as markers and optionally fill out a map - ② Crossing between islands:
Build a sneaking bridge with blocks
If you keep exploring the outer islands using these methods,
suddenly, something like this will appear in front of you: 👇
If you’ve reached this… congratulations! You’ve found an End City.
Also, for this guide:
only treat End Cities with a ship (End Ship) like in the screenshot as “must-clear” targets.
If there’s no End Ship, then there’s no Elytra, which is the main prize here.
So if your main goal is Elytra, you can just skip those cities.
(They can still have Shulker Shells and enchanted gear, though.)
Choosing which End Cities to clear and which to skip is very important.
From experience…
The first End City I ever found… had no End Ship.
I climbed all the way to the top, realized there was no ship, and just sat there in despair 😅
Always check that there’s an End Ship before you commit to clearing a city.
Next, let’s go over how to actually clear an End City.
4. How to Clear an End City
In this chapter, we’ll talk about how to actually take on an End City.
End City Overview
First, here’s a quick overview so you know what to expect:
| Element | Details |
|---|---|
| Spawn area | In the End’s outer islands (the region that starts about 1,000 blocks from the central island) |
| Structure | Purple towers made of purpur blocks, with branching towers; may include an End Ship |
| Main loot | Shulker Shells, End Rods, diamond armor & tools, Elytra (End Ship only) |
| Enemies | Shulkers (their projectiles cause Levitation and minor damage) |
Getting Inside the End City
Honestly, just getting inside can be a bit of a challenge.
👆 The mob shooting projectiles at you here is the Shulker,
the little guardian of the End City.
If a Shulker projectile hits you, you get Levitation.
And the annoying part is: when Levitation ends, you just drop and take fall damage.
From experience…
At first I thought Levitation was fun—“Whee, I’m flying!”—
and then suddenly the effect wore off and… splat 👼
So yeah, fall protection is mandatory. At least wear full diamond.
To get inside an End City safely, keep these in mind:
① Use Levitation to your advantage and enter from above
This method intentionally uses Shulker Levitation.
You’ll take some fall damage, but you can sometimes land right on the upper floors of the city 👌
It’s a fast but advanced way to enter.
② Swat projectiles away and sprint to the entrance
Shulker projectiles are slow and can be destroyed by hitting them.
So if you hit the projectiles away while sprinting toward the entrance,
you’ll be surprised how often you can make it inside just fine.
If you’re worried about fall damage and aren’t comfortable with Levitation yet,
this “dash in” method is the safest for beginners.
From here on, let’s talk about how to actually climb and clear the tower.
How to Clear an End City – Climbing the Tower
End Cities are basically vertical dungeons where you keep climbing higher and higher.
What I mean is…
👆 Inside, most of the area is a tall shaft with very little solid footing.
From the outside, you could already see those strange tall towers. This is the inside of one of them.
There are basically two main ways to climb.
Let’s look at both.
① Place ladders and climb steadily
This is the sturdy, beginner-friendly method.
You can pillar up with full blocks / slabs and do parkour jumps,
but that requires decent movement skill, so I don’t recommend it as a first approach.
Instead…
👆 Bring ladders and just climb your way up.
Depending on the tower’s interior, you might bump into blocks overhead.
In that case, look up, break the blocks with your pickaxe, and keep going.
Slow and steady wins the race. It might feel tedious, but it’s reliable.
② Intentionally get hit by Shulker projectiles
This is for those who want to reach the top as fast as possible.
👆 The inside of the tower is basically a Shulker nest.
So you’ll be getting hit over and over again.
Just before Levitation wears off, get hit by another projectile.
If you keep the effect going, you’ll reach the top in no time.
But this method has some very real risks:
- If you let Levitation expire high up → long fall → big damage
- You need to manage the projectile damage itself as well
So it’s the fastest, but it’s also somewhat risky.
Still, flying up a tower with Levitation is honestly pretty fun,
so trying it once “just for the experience” isn’t a bad idea.
Summary of Chapter 4
In this chapter we covered how to enter and climb an End City.
- ① How to get inside:
Use Levitation to sneak in from above, or dash through the entrance while swatting projectiles - ② How to climb:
Use ladders for a safe route, or ride Levitation for a fast route
Next up, let’s talk about End Ships, where you’ll find the Elytra.
5. How to Clear an End Ship
Now we’ll cover how to clear End Ships,
which are where you can get the best loot of the whole trip: the Elytra.
Getting onto the End Ship
There are two main ways to board this floating ship:
from the side and from below.
① Extend blocks out from a side tower
This method takes effort to climb the End City tower first,
but it’s relatively safe overall.
Since you’re approaching from the side, there’s less sudden vertical movement.
👉 That means the risk of huge fall damage is lower.
The Shulkers guarding the End Ship will fire at you a lot.
Just stay calm, hit the projectiles, and keep at it.
If you end up getting hit and start Levitation,
you can use that Levitation to land directly on the ship’s deck.
👆 Positioning is a bit tricky,
but if you get it right you can land on the ship in one smooth move.
② Pillar straight up from the ground
This one has a bit more risk,
but lets you skip most of the End City and go straight for the ship.
Because you’re going straight up, any fall can hurt a lot.
On the other hand, you can bypass a big chunk of the city,
which is very tempting if you’re just here for the Elytra.
The same trick applies here: if you get hit by a Shulker and float,
use the Levitation to land directly on the ship.
Inside the End Ship – Getting Your Elytra
Once you’ve successfully boarded the ship…
The first thing you should do is obvious: get the Elytra.
Head to the entrance into the ship’s interior behind you in the screenshot above.
Follow the red line and arrows.
👆 This is the room where the Elytra is kept.
There’s a Shulker guarding it, so take it out quickly.
Since it’s indoors, Levitation isn’t nearly as scary here.
After you defeat the Shulker, behind it you’ll see…
It’s placed in an item frame.
Punch the frame with your hand and it’ll drop as an item.
Go ahead and equip it right away.
You’ll also find chests with high-level loot on either side.
👆 These are also great rewards. Definitely bring them home.
Ship’s Bow – Getting the Dragon Head
The End Ship has another rare item besides the Elytra.
Step outside again, being careful of Shulkers.
👆 That’s a Dragon Head, a rare item you can basically only get here.
How to Safely Take the Dragon Head
First, build a little platform like in the screenshot:
If you break the head in this state, it’ll drop safely onto the platform.
And just like that, you’ve got yourself a Dragon Head!
You can also wear it.
Take it home and display it somewhere prominent in your base as a trophy.
Summary of Chapter 5
Quick recap of how to handle End Ships:
- ① How to board:
Extend blocks from a side tower or pillar up from below - ② Avoid (or ride) Shulker projectiles, get inside, and grab the Elytra
- ③ Pick up the Dragon Head as a bonus keepsake
Next, let’s talk about what to actually do once you’ve got your Elytra.
6. What to Do After Getting an Elytra
Finally, you’ve got your long-awaited Elytra.
Now you can glide through the sky.
You can just toss an Ender Pearl and go home the old-fashioned way,
but since you came all this way, why not try flying around The End with your Elytra first?
How to Fly with the Elytra
- Jump down from a high place (like the End Ship)
- While falling, press the jump button again to deploy your Elytra (you can adjust your pitch after deploying)
- You’ll start gliding
- Use firework rockets while gliding to accelerate → then you can freely fly around
👆 Follow these steps and you’ll be gliding in no time 👌
Elytra flying is tricky at first,
but once you get used to it it’s incredibly freeing and feels amazing.
7. How to Get Home from an End City
Even if your inventory is bursting with loot,
it doesn’t mean much if you can’t make it back to the Overworld safely.
Follow these steps to secure your return.
① Store valuables in an Ender Chest
Things like:
- Elytra
- Dragon Head
- Enchanted diamond gear
- Shulker Shells
👆 For loot like this, it’s a good idea to stash them in an Ender Chest so they’re safe even if you die.
② Follow your torch trail back the way you came
As we talked about in Chapter 3,
if you placed torches on the way in, you can just follow them back.
👆 Once you safely find your End Gateway Portal, you’re basically home free.
③ Throw an Ender Pearl into the (return) End Gateway Portal
The method is exactly the same as when you came here from the central island (see Chapter 2).
Just like before, your vision will go dark for a moment and you’ll warp.
Using this method, you can return safely from the End City area to the main End island.
As a bonus, going through an End Gateway also unlocks an advancement
(it counts whether you go out or come back 👌).Once you’re back on the main island,
all that’s left is to jump into the End Portal and go home to the Overworld.
If You Get Lost – Fly Back to the Main Island with the Elytra
This method carries the risk of falling into the void,
but it’s a way to physically fly back to the main island if you’ve lost your gateway.
Assuming you’ve brought enough firework rockets,
you can fly across the ~1,000-block void gap between the outer islands and the main End island.
※ This works best if you have a max-size map and a sense of where the main island is.
If you keep flying for a while…
It’s a bit brute-force, but
if you can see the main island, you can definitely get back.
Summary of Chapter 7
Here’s how to get home safely from your End City adventure:
- ① Store valuables in an Ender Chest
- ② Follow your torch trail back to the End Gateway
- ③ Use the same method as before to warp back to the main End island
- ④ Or, in an emergency, fly back with an Elytra
8. Summary
That was a long one—thanks for staying with me to the end.
Once you defeat the Ender Dragon, there’s still a whole bunch of content waiting in The End,
just like what we covered in this guide.
I really recommend finding and clearing an End City and End Ship like we talked about here,
and bringing home all that rare loot.
Once you get an Elytra, the world of Minecraft opens up in a whole new way.
That feeling of flying freely through the sky is like nothing else.
I’d love for you to experience that for yourself too.
Alright, that’s it for this guide.
Thanks so much for reading!
Update History
- 2026/02/01– First published
