How to Beat the Ender Dragon in Minecraft

Guide Java Bedrock

Quick answer: Enter the End through a stronghold portal with a bow, plenty of arrows, slow falling potions and a water bucket. Destroy the 10 End Crystals on the obsidian pillars first (2 are caged in iron bars), then hit the dragon when it perches over the exit fountain. Avoid its breath clouds and collect the experience and the dragon egg when it dies.

What you need

Bow + 2 stacks of arrows (or Infinity)
Diamond/netherite armor, ideally Protection IV
Slow Falling potions + water bucket
Sword (Sharpness/Smite)
Blocks, food, ender pearls
Optional: carved pumpkin, beds

Step by step

Gear up: full diamond or netherite armor (Protection IV ideal), a Power bow with 2+ stacks of arrows (or Infinity), a strong sword, slow falling potions, a water bucket, food, ender pearls and 2-3 stacks of blocks. A carved pumpkin on your head prevents Enderman aggro but limits vision.
Find and activate the End portal in a stronghold (see the stronghold guide), and consider setting your spawn at a bed nearby before jumping in.
On arrival you may spawn in an obsidian room inside the island: dig up and out. Do not look at Endermen.
Destroy the End Crystals on top of the obsidian pillars: shoot them with the bow. Two pillars cage their crystal in iron bars - pillar up with blocks and break the bars, or shoot through the gap at the base.
While circling, dodge the dragon's charges and never stand in the purple breath clouds (bottle them for Dragon's Breath instead).
When the dragon flies to the exit fountain and perches, run in and hit its head with your sword (or detonate beds next to it, speedrun style: beds explode in the End and deal massive damage).
Repeat bow phase and perch phase until it dies: it explodes into 12,000 XP (first kill), opens the exit portal, spawns the dragon egg and activates an End gateway to the outer islands.

Java vs Bedrock

The fight is the same on Java and Bedrock: 10 crystals, the same perch cycle and the same breath attack, and beds explode in the End on both. On Bedrock the dragon's direct hits knock you around harder, so Slow Falling matters even more. Respawning the dragon with 4 End Crystals on the fountain works identically on both.

Versions: The current fight (circling dragon, perches, breath attack) has been in place since 1.9 and is unchanged in current versions. Current as of 26.3.

Frequently asked questions

How do you respawn the Ender Dragon?

Craft 4 End Crystals (7 glass + 1 eye of ender + 1 ghast tear each) and place one on each side of the exit fountain. The dragon respawns and the crystals on the pillars regenerate. Later kills give only 500 XP and no new egg.

Why should I bring beds to the dragon fight?

Beds explode when you try to sleep in the End. Detonating a bed next to the perched dragon's head is the fastest way to kill it, but the blast hurts you too - block partially behind the fountain and wear blast protection.

What do you get for killing the Ender Dragon?

12,000 XP (first kill), the dragon egg (one per world), access to the End gateway portals leading to the outer islands, End cities and Elytra, plus the Free the End advancement.