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Withering Heights

Tab: NetherDifficulty: Medium

Quick answer: Summon the Wither

Tree path: Nether › A Terrible Fortress › Spooky Scary Skeleton › Withering Heights (advancements are independent: they can be completed in any order; the tree only guides progression)

Tree parent: Spooky Scary Skeleton

Advancements are exclusive to Java Edition. The Bedrock Edition equivalent is achievements, which have different objectives.

How to get Withering Heights

  1. Collect 4 blocks of Soul Sand or Soul Soil (soul sand valleys in the Nether) and 3 Wither Skeleton Skulls.
  2. Farm the skulls at a Nether fortress: Wither Skeletons drop a skull 2.5% of the time, up to 5.5% with a Looting III sword.
  3. Spawn the Wither in a controlled spot: place the soul sand in a T shape, then the 3 skulls on top. The safest options are far from your base in the open, or trapped under the bedrock ceiling of the Nether roof or the End's exit portal.
  4. The advancement triggers as soon as the Wither finishes its spawn animation: you do not have to kill it for this one.

Tips

If you fight it fairly, use a bow for the first half (it flies) and a Smite V sword for the second half, and carry milk buckets against the Wither effect. The bedrock trap method makes the whole fight risk-free and is the standard way to farm nether stars.

Advancements this unlocks

More guides from this tab (Nether): NetherReturn to SenderThose Were the DaysHidden in the DepthsSubspace BubbleA Terrible Fortress