How to Respawn the Ender Dragon in Minecraft

Guide Java Bedrock

Quick answer: Place four end crystals on the edges of the exit portal, one on each side. A sequence of a bit over 30 seconds resets the obsidian pillars and then the dragon respawns at (0, 128, 0). A respawned dragon drops 500 XP instead of the 12,000 of the first kill.

What you need

4 end crystals (each: 7 glass + 1 eye of ender + 1 ghast tear)
Total: 28 glass, 4 eyes of ender, 4 ghast tears

Step by step

Craft 4 end crystals (glass, an eye of ender and a ghast tear each).
Go to the exit portal at the center of the main End island.
Place one end crystal on each of the four sides of the exit portal, on bedrock or on obsidian placed where the bedrock was.
Stay clear: the crystals point at the tops of the pillars, setting off explosions that reset the obsidian pillars, iron bars and end crystals, and destroying any player-placed blocks on top. Then all crystals point at (0, 128, 0) and the dragon spawns there, and the four crystals explode. The sequence lasts exactly 604 ticks.
Do not destroy any of the four crystals: that cancels the summoning. The crystals on the pillars cannot be destroyed during the sequence.
Pick up the dragon egg first: if you start re-summoning without picking it up, the egg disappears.
Rewards: 500 XP per respawned dragon, and an End gateway on each kill until there are 20.

Java vs Bedrock

In Bedrock Edition the crystals can be placed one block outward in all or any of the four directions. The dragon egg appears only the first time the dragon is slain in Java Edition, and the first and second time in Bedrock Edition.

Versions: Respawned dragons have dropped 500 experience since 15w33c.

Frequently asked questions

Do I get another dragon egg from a respawned dragon?

In Java Edition only the first kill drops it. In Bedrock Edition it appears the first and second time. If you re-summon without picking it up, it disappears.

How much XP does a respawned dragon give?

500 XP, compared with 12,000 for the first kill.

How many End gateways can generate?

Each defeat creates one, and no more generate once there are 20.

What cancels the summoning?

Destroying any of the four end crystals around the exit portal.