End Cities are the endgame reward of Minecraft: floating towers on the outer End islands that hold shulkers, enchanted diamond gear, and — if you’re lucky — an End Ship carrying the coveted Elytra. This guide covers how to reach them, what loot to expect with real drop rates, and how to survive the shulkers.
How to reach an End City
End Cities only generate on the outer End islands, beyond the central island where you fight the dragon. To get there:
- Defeat the Ender Dragon to spawn the exit portal and the End Gateway.
- Throw an Ender Pearl into the gateway to teleport ~1,000 blocks out to the outer islands.
- Bridge across the void to the nearest cluster of purpur towers — that’s an End City.
Bring blocks for bridging, a water bucket won’t help (water evaporates in the End), and plenty of Ender Pearls.
What’s inside an End City
End Cities are made of purpur blocks and end stone bricks, connected by towers and walkways. The main threats are shulkers — box-like mobs that shoot homing projectiles inflicting Levitation, which can float you off into the void.
Shulker drops
| Drop | Chance |
|---|---|
| Shulker Shell | 50% (Java, up to 2 with Looting III) |
Two shulker shells + a chest craft a Shulker Box — portable storage that keeps its contents when broken. Farming shells is a major reason to raid multiple cities.
End City chest loot
City chests are among the best in the game, frequently containing enchanted diamond gear:
| Item | Approx. chest chance |
|---|---|
| Gold ingots | ~50.6% |
| Diamonds | ~20.4% |
| Enchanted diamond/iron gear | ~12.7% |
| Emeralds, iron ingots | Common |
| Beetroot seeds, saddles, horse armor | Occasional |
Enchanted gear from End Cities often carries strong enchantments — check yours against our enchantment calculator to see if it beats what you’d build yourself.
The End Ship and the Elytra
Some End Cities generate with a floating End Ship nearby — the only source of the Elytra, the wings that let you glide and (with fireworks) fly. Not every city has a ship: the odds are roughly 6.25% per city on Bedrock, and ships are similarly uncommon on Java, so expect to visit many cities.
Inside the End Ship you’ll find:
- Elytra displayed in an item frame at the back — grab it first.
- A Dragon Head block mounted on the bow (a rare decorative trophy).
- Two chests with high-tier loot, often including diamonds and enchanted gear.
- Two brewing stands holding lingering healing potions.
A shulker usually guards the ship — clear it before you reach for the Elytra, or Levitation will pull you off the deck.
Survival tips
- Milk or a bucket of milk isn’t needed — instead, when Levitation hits, mine down to a solid surface fast and place blocks to break your fall.
- Carry slow-falling potions to negate void deaths.
- Shoot shulkers with a bow so you never get hit — they’re stationary.
- Never sprint blindly toward walkways; the void is one misstep away.
Java vs Bedrock
- Bedrock: End Ship chance is about 6.25% per city; shulkers can teleport more aggressively.
- Java: shulker shell drop is 50% and boosted by Looting; Elytra is functionally identical.
FAQ
How many Elytra can I get? One per End Ship. Since ships are rare, most players raid many cities or build a stockpile over time.
Do shulkers respawn? No — once killed they’re gone from that city, so shell farming means visiting new cities.
Can I repair an Elytra? Yes — with Phantom Membranes on an anvil, or use Mending. See our best Elytra enchantments guide.
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