Look, I remember the first time I needed to make an Eye of the Ender. Total nightmare. I'd spent hours gathering materials only to realize I was missing crucial details about Blaze Powder. My portal just sat there laughing at me. If you're searching how to make Eye of the Ender, chances are you're stuck at that frustrating stage between mid-game and the big End battle. Let's fix that.
Real Talk: Making Eyes of Ender isn't complicated once you know the steps, but boy can it test your patience when Endermen decide to play hide-and-seek.
What Exactly is an Eye of the Ender?
These glowing green items aren't just decorative. You'll need them for two critical things:
- Locating the Stronghold portal (they literally fly toward it)
- Activating the End Portal frames (each slot requires one)
Without them? Forget about fighting the Ender Dragon. You're stranded in the Overworld forever.
Crafting Ingredients Breakdown
Here's the raw truth about what you actually need to make Eye of the Ender:
| Material | How to Get It | My Survival Tips | Approximate Time Required |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blaze Powder | Kill Blazes in Nether Fortresses | Bring snowballs - they deal damage and are cheap | 1-2 hours average |
| Ender Pearl | Kill Endermen at night | Build a 2-block high roof to avoid their gaze | Varies wildly (RNG hates us all) |
Getting Blaze Rods felt easier than the pearls last time I played. Those teleporting Endermen? Yeah, they made me rage-quit twice. Pro tip: Looting III sword cuts grinding time in half.
Blaze Powder: The Nether Challenge
First step in how to make Eye of the Ender is getting Blaze Powder. You gotta:
- Find a Nether Fortress (follow brick patterns)
- Locate Blaze spawners (distinct cage structures)
- Kill 2-3 Blazes (they drop rods)
- Turn rods into powder via crafting grid
My last fortress run cost me two iron swords and a bucket of tears. Bring fire resistance potions if you have them.
Warning: Never go without cobblestone. Ghasts wreck netherrack bridges in seconds. Learned that the hard way when I lost full diamond gear.
Ender Pearls: The Overworld Hunt
Here's the annoying part about how to create Eyes of Ender - pearl farming. Methods ranked by efficiency:
| Method | Success Rate | Risk Level | My Preference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enderman hunting at night | Medium (5% drop rate) | High (creeper interference) | ✅ Best early-game |
| Desert temple traps | Low (random chest loot) | Medium (pressure plates) | Only while exploring |
| Piglin bartering (Nether) | High (4-5% per trade) | Extreme (hoglin packs) | ✅ Great with gold farm |
| Endermite lure | Very High (controlled) | Low (if built right) | Late-game solution |
I'll be honest - I hate pearl farming. The 2am desert hunts? Brutal. But trading with Piglins changed everything. Build a gold farm first - you'll thank me later.
Step-by-Step Crafting Process
Finally! The actual how to make Eye of the Ender part:
- Open your crafting table (3x3 grid)
- Place 1 Blaze Powder in center slot
- Put 1 Ender Pearl directly above or below it
- Grab your glowing green Eye!
No fancy patterns needed. Took me embarrassingly long to realize that during my first playthrough.
How many Eyes do you actually need? Here's the breakdown:
- 12 minimum - Just to activate the portal (if frames are complete)
- 5-8 extra - For locating Stronghold (they break sometimes)
- 30+ for safety - If you're paranoid like me
Practical Uses Beyond Portals
Fun fact: Eyes of Ender aren't single-purpose items. Here's what else they're good for:
Stronghold Detection Mechanics
Throw an Eye (right-click) and follow its flight path. Important notes:
- Moves horizontally only (no vertical indication)
- Has 20% chance to shatter each throw
- Works across dimensions? Nope. Overworld only
I once wasted six Eyes before realizing I was standing directly above the Stronghold. Dig straight down carefully!
End Portal Activation Tactics
Portal frames spawn with 0-12 eyes pre-filled. You'll need to:
- Identify empty frame slots (dark circles)
- Right-click with Eye of Ender to insert
- Repeat until all 12 slots glow
Stand in the center when placing the last one unless you enjoy surprise dimension hops.
Pro Player Tips & Cost-Savers
After wasting 40 hours on one survival world, here's what I wish I knew earlier:
- ⏱️ Efficiency Hack: Craft Eyes near the portal. Pearls stack, powder doesn't. Inventory math matters.
- 💎 Looting III: Doubles pearl drop rates (worth enchanting a backup sword)
- 🌑 Endermite Traps: Build 2-block high platforms with trapdoors - Endermen come to you
- 🔥 Blaze Farming: Place magma blocks under spawners - kills them automatically
Seriously though, make friends with villagers. Librarians selling Looting books? Game-changers.
Frequently Asked Questions (Real Player Concerns)
Can Eyes of Ender be reused?
Nope. Once used in the portal, they're gone forever. Locating throws have that 20% break chance too. Always carry extras.
Why do my Eyes keep breaking?
Normal behavior. Each throw has:
- 80% chance to drop recoverable item
- 20% chance to vanish permanently
No way to prevent it. That's why we craft spares.
What's the fastest way to farm materials?
My personal ranking for how to make Eyes of Ender efficiently:
- Build gold farm → trade with Piglins for pearls
- Create Blaze spawner trap with magma blocks
- Looting III sword for manual Enderman kills
- Raid desert temples (last resort)
Do Eyes work in the Nether?
They don't. Tried it during a failed speedrun attempt. Felt stupid staring at a motionless Eye.
Advanced Tactics for Hardcore Players
When basic guides aren't enough:
Speedrunner's Shortcut
The madlads at MCC use this sequence:
- Enter Nether within 5 minutes
- Loot fortress chests for pre-made Eyes (rare!)
- If not found, get 1 rod → craft 2 powder
- Trade with Piglins using found gold
- Craft Eyes at portal site
Saw someone do this in under 18 minutes. Still blows my mind.
Multiplayer Division of Labor
Who does what in team play:
| Role | Tasks | Recommended Gear |
|---|---|---|
| Nether Runner | Gets Blaze Rods | Fire Res Potions, Bow |
| Pearl Hunter | Collects Ender Pearls | Looting Sword, Building Blocks |
| Craftsman | Makes Eyes & tracks Stronghold | Ender Chest, Crafting Table |
Coordinating this shaved 3 hours off our last run. Communication is key.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
We've all been there:
Problem: Eyes flying in circles
Fix: You're directly above Stronghold. Start digging straight down (place ladders!)
Problem: No End Portal in Stronghold
Fix: Extremely rare. Use /locate command if not against rules, else find another Stronghold
Problem: End Portal missing eyes
Fix: Count empty slots. Some worlds generate with 1-11 eyes pre-filled. Insert remaining Eyes.
Personal Reflections on the Process
Making my first Eye of the Ender felt like unlocking Minecraft's final secret. The glow? Chef's kiss. But man, that pearl grind can burn you out. My advice? Switch between tasks. Hunt Endermen for 30 minutes, then build something fun. No shame in creative breaks.
The worst moment? When I accidentally threw my last Eye into lava. Had to restart the pearl hunt. Now I always carry them in ender chests.
Final thought - mastering how to make Eye of the Ender transforms how you play. Suddenly you're not just surviving, you're progressing. That portal activation? Pure dopamine. Worth every minute slaughtering Blazes.
Look, at the end of the day, understanding how to create Eyes of Ender is your ticket to Minecraft's endgame. Follow these steps, learn from my mistakes, and you'll be staring down that dragon before you know it. Got questions? Hit me on Twitter - I help with pearl emergencies 24/7.