The Wither is a formidable, three-headed skeletal boss mob that floats through the air, introduced as the second boss mob in Minecraft after the Ender Dragon. Unlike other hostile mobs, the Wither is a powerful adversary that players can summon to challenge their combat skills.
Characteristics of the Wither
- Hostility: The Wither is hostile towards all mobs except for zombies. It will attack skeletons, zombies, zombie pigmen, wither skeletons, and even other Withers. When provoked by a skeleton or another Wither, it will only be briefly hostile before returning to a neutral state.
- Attack Behavior: The Wither uses “Wither Skulls” as projectiles. On Normal and Hard difficulties, these skulls inflict the “Wither II” status effect, which is similar to poison but more dangerous, potentially killing the player and obscuring the health bar.
- Destructibility: The Wither can destroy most blocks, including obsidian, which is otherwise resistant to explosions.
- Armor and Mobility: When its health drops below half, the Wither gains the “Wither Armor” effect, making it impervious to arrows and potions but vulnerable to melee attacks. While in this state, it cannot fly and will only hover above the ground.
Items Required to Build a Wither Boss
To summon the Wither Boss, you will need the following materials:
Three Wither Skeleton Skulls
Wither Skeleton Skulls are dropped by Wither Skeletons, which spawn in Nether fortresses. These skeletons wield stone swords and have a 2.5% chance to drop a skull upon death.
Four Blocks of Soul Sand
Soul Sand is a dark, sandy block found throughout the Nether. Collect four blocks of soul sand for the summoning process. Did you like the article? Read also about the Luck Enchantment in Minecraft.
How to Build a Wither Boss

- Prepare Your Equipment: Before summoning the Wither, ensure you are well-prepared. The Wither’s attacks can destroy blocks and create explosions, so have Potions of Night Vision to counteract its darkness, along with Golden Apples, Regeneration, Healing, or Strength Potions for survivability. Avoid starting the fight near valuable structures or important areas.
- Arrange the Blocks: Unlike most crafting recipes, creating the Wither does not require a Crafting Table. Place two blocks of soul sand on the ground, stacked one on top of the other, to form the base of the Wither Boss.
- Position the Additional Soul Sand: Place the remaining two blocks of soul sand on each side of the top soul sand block to complete the body structure.
- Add the Wither Skeleton Skulls: Place the two Wither Skeleton Skulls on either side of the top soul sand block. Finally, place the last Wither Skeleton Skull on the middle soul sand block.
- Summon the Wither: As soon as the final skull is placed, the Wither Boss will spawn and begin its attack. Be prepared for a challenging battle as it starts to destroy the surrounding area.
For more detailed information on the Wither Boss and its mechanics, you can visit the Minecraft Wiki.
Now that you know how to build a Wither Boss, prepare for a formidable battle and test your Minecraft combat skills!