Wither Skeleton
HostileHealth: 20 (10 hearts)JavaBedrock
Quick answer: Nether fortresses, in the fortress's bounding box at light level 0-7.
How to find Wither Skeleton
Nether fortresses, in the fortress's bounding box at light level 0-7.
Spawn conditions: Nether fortresses only, on nether bricks, light level 7 or below (Java), any light in Bedrock bounding boxes.
Drops
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Coal | 0-1 | Up to 4 with Looting III |
| Bone | 0-2 | Up to 5 with Looting III |
| Wither skeleton skull | ~2.5% chance | The prize - needed to summon the Wither; chance rises with Looting |
| Stone sword | Rarely | Occasional equipment drop |
How to kill Wither Skeleton
Their tall 2.4-block height gets stuck under 2-block ceilings - fight them in fortress corridors with slabbed roofs or from behind a 2-block-high gap. Their stone sword inflicts the Wither effect, so milk or a shield helps. Looting III is essential for skull hunting.
Behavior
Sprints at players and slashes with a stone sword, inflicting 10 seconds of the Wither effect (health bar turns black and drains). Immune to fire and lava. Picks fights with piglins that attack it first.
Taming and breeding
Cannot be tamed or bred.