How to Summon a Wither: Creative & Survival Modes

A complete guide on how to start a wither fight in Minecraft

The Wither is a challenging boss that can be spawned or summoned in any Survival or Creative mode game set to a difficulty of Easy or higher. In this article, we’ll teach you the spawn codes to automatically add this creature to your Minecraft Java or Bedrock game. We’ll also cover how to summon a Wither into your game naturally using soul sand and Wither skeleton skulls caught in the Nether.

Things You Should Know

  • Type /summon minecraft:wither if you’re playing Java or /summon wither if you’re playing Bedrock to spawn the Wither automatically.
  • Spawn a Wither organically by stacking 4 blocks of soul sand in a “T” shape and placing 3 Wither skeleton skulls on top.
  • Withers can only be summoned in Creative or Survival games set to Easy, Normal, or Hard. They can’t be summoned in Peaceful games.
Section 1 of 2:

Wither Summoning Codes

PDF download Download Article
  1. Open up the chat bar and type in /summon minecraft:wither to spawn the Wither at your location.
  2. Pull up the chat bar and enter /summon wither to spawn the Wither nearby automatically.
    • Important note: The Wither is a hostile mob and cannot be summoned in any Java or Bedrock worlds set to Peaceful. If you’re having trouble summoning it, double-check your world settings.
    3. Advertisement
Section 2 of 2:

How to Spawn a Wither Naturally

PDF download Download Article
  1. Head to the Nether and find a Nether Fortress, an extensive brick structure where Wither skeletons spawn. Fight and defeat enough Wither skeletons to collect 3 of their heads. [1] Then, collect at least 4 blocks of soul sand from a nether waste region, soul sand valley, nether fortress, or other part of the realm. [2]
    • Nether waste areas are your best bet for finding soul sand—they’re common areas that appear all over the Nether. You may have to dig underground a bit to find some soul sand, though (beneath Y=34, if you have your coordinates pulled up ).
  2. Go back to your Nether portal so you teleport back to your original location.
  3. Place 2 soul sand blocks on top of one another. Then, stick 2 more blocks on the left and right sides of the upper block you’ve already set down. This creates a capital “T” shape.
    • It's important to create the frame before adding the skulls, since the last block you place must be a skull for the Wither to spawn.
  4. Make sure the three wither skeleton skulls are on top of the T-shaped frame. Once you’ve placed the last skull, the Wither will spawn. [3]
    • The Wither takes a few seconds to fully spawn in your world, where it will then create a huge, powerful explosion. Be sure to keep your distance!
  5. Killing the Wither is no easy feat—it has anywhere from 300 to 600 total health (depending on the difficulty you chose) and can do damaging attacks that apply the Wither status effect (which depletes your health like a poison). Once you’ve defeated it, though, you’ll receive a Nether Star, which can be used to craft a beacon . [4]
    • Beacons are helpful tools that can be used to generate helpful status effects.
    6. Advertisement

Community Q&A

Search
Add New Question
  • Question
    Why would you want to spawn a wither boss?
    Community Answer
    Spawning a wither may seem like a foolish idea, but advanced players will make them in order to gather nether stars. These are used to make beacons.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 82 Helpful 388
  • Question
    Will they kill any monster around them?
    Gerbillover
    Community Answer
    Withers will attack any mob except for zombies, skeletons, zombie pigmen, wither skeletons, husks, strays, and other withers.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 38 Helpful 120
  • Question
    Can you spawn a wither in creative mode?
    Community Answer
    Yes, you can spawn withers in creative mode.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 128 Helpful 460
See more answers
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Tips

      • Since the Wither is undead, it is harmed by Potions of Healing, and healed by Potions of Harming. [5]
        Thanks
        Helpful 2 Not Helpful 0
      • The Wither shoots wither skulls to attack the player and any living mobs (excluding undead mobs and phantoms). Its attack style differs between Java and Bedrock editions. [6]
        Thanks
        Helpful 1 Not Helpful 1
      • Snow golems can serve as a good distraction for the Wither, and can also force it backward. [7]
        Thanks
        Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0
      Show More Tips

      Tips from our Readers

      The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.
      • Go in creative mode, then grab bedrock. If Withers can't suck up bedrock, then you can make a little box around you, and then you can get your stuff to be ready. Then break the bedrock cage, turn yourself in survival, and go defeat that Wither!
      • It is easiest to kill the Wither in the End, as that is the only dimension where lava nor hostile mobs spawn naturally.
      • You can make a bunch of iron golems to distract the Wither while you get prepared or fight it.
      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
      Advertisement

      You Might Also Like

      How to
      Download Minecraft
      How to
      Update a Minecraft Server
      How to
      Play Minecraft
      How to
      Install Minecraft Mods
      How to
      Kill the Wither in Minecraft
      How to
      Spawn an Ender Dragon
      How to
      Find Slimes in Minecraft
      The 10 Best Ways to Stop Endermen From Spawning & Attacking
      How to
      Find the Ender Dragon in Minecraft
      How to
      Kill the Ender Dragon in Minecraft
      How to
      Safely Kill an Enderman in Minecraft
      How to
      Safely Kill Creepers in Minecraft
      Advertisement

      References

      1. ↑ https://minecraft.fandom.com/wiki/Nether_Fortress
      2. ↑ https://minecraft.fandom.com/wiki/Soul_Sand?so=search
      3. ↑ https://minecraft.fandom.com/wiki/Wither#Behavior
      4. ↑ https://minecraft.fandom.com/wiki/Wither#Behavior
      5. ↑ https://minecraft.fandom.com/wiki/Wither#Behavior
      6. ↑ https://minecraft.fandom.com/wiki/Wither#Behavior
      7. ↑ https://minecraft.fandom.com/wiki/Tutorials/Defeating_the_wither#Snow_golems
      8. ↑ https://minecraft-archive.fandom.com/wiki/Wither_Storm

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To spawn a Wither in Minecraft, start by traveling to the Nether to gather 3 Wither skeleton skulls and 4 blocks of soul sand. Once you have the required items, exit the Nether and return to the Overworld. Next, prepare Potions of Night Vision, Regeneration, Healing, and Strength to help you in the upcoming battle with the Wither. Then, find a good summoning location, create the T-shaped soul sand frame, and place 1 Wither skeleton skull on each upper block. After placing the final skull, a health bar will appear at the top of the screen as the Wither begins to spawn. For tips on fighting your newly spawned Wither, read on!

      Did this summary help you?
      In other languages
      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 930,454 times.

      Reader Success Stories

      • Jack Hugh

        Oct 11, 2020

        "It helped me because I forgot I was in peaceful mode and I forgot about it. So I went on here and you told me that ..." more
      More reader stories Hide reader stories
      Share your story

      Did this article help you?

      Advertisement