How many strongholds are in 1 Minecraft world?

A stronghold is a structure that occurs naturally underground in the Overworld, and is the only place where a player can find an end portal. Strongholds can be located by using an eye of ender.

Generation[]

The end portal room.

Strongholds mostly generate underground and prefer to generate in biomes above sea level but generate underwater if necessary. Strongholds may generate at bedrock level, cutting the bedrock.

Most parts of the stronghold can be overwritten by caves, ocean monuments, ancient cities, mineshafts, fossils, amethyst geodes, and dungeons; but it is rare for the end portal to be replaced, which would force a player to find one of the other strongholds, as a portal can be activated only with all 12 frame blocks present. Canyons do not overwrite strongholds; rather, a stronghold can occasionally be found exposed by a canyon.

Bedrock Edition[]

In Bedrock Edition, strongholds generate randomly throughout the world. They usually generate under a village. Unlike most structures they appear to have no fixed set distance, which means that rarely they may overlap. A stronghold may generate in the ocean. If it has to, a stronghold could generate perfectly fine above ground, in caves, and in canyons. There appears to be an infinite amount of strongholds, even formerly capable of generating in the Far Lands. Because Bedrock Edition appears to begin stronghold generation at a spiraling staircase, it is rare to find no portal room in the stronghold.

Java Edition[]

Stronghold layout through the world in Java Edition.

In Java Edition, all strongholds are located at random coordinates within rings in all biomes, where each ring is a certain radius from the center of the world (X=0, Z=0). The strongholds are generated at roughly equal angles from the center point of the world (for instance, each stronghold in a ring of 3 is in the region of 120 degrees from the others, measured from the origin). The game does not generate a stronghold partially above-ground, any portion above the sea level is replaced with air, leaving a cutaway. If a stronghold generates in an ocean, which occurs rarely, it typically generates with a floating portal room.

There are eight rings, containing 128 strongholds in total:

1. The first ring has 3 strongholds within 1,280-2,816 blocks of the origin.
2. The second ring has 6 strongholds within 4,352-5,888 blocks of the origin.
3. The third ring has 10 strongholds within 7,424-8,960 blocks of the origin.
4. The fourth ring has 15 strongholds within 10,496-12,032 blocks of the origin.
5. The fifth ring has 21 strongholds within 13,568-15,104 blocks of the origin.
6. The sixth ring has 28 strongholds within 16,640-18,176 blocks of the origin.
7. The seventh ring has 36 strongholds within 19,712-21,248 blocks of the origin.
8. The eighth and outermost ring has 9 strongholds within 22,784-24,320 blocks of the origin.

Structure[]

Strongholds vary in size. They contain several doors and rooms made mostly of stone bricks (45%), mossy stone bricks (30%), cracked stone bricks (20%) and infested stone bricks (5%). Infested cracked stone bricks and infested mossy stone bricks do not generate, unless silverfish enter these blocks.[1] Strongholds are lit by enough torches to provide visibility in most areas, though not enough to suppress mob spawns. Stairs that generate within these structures include stone brick and cobblestone stairs, but not their mossy variants.[2]

In generated chest corridors and storerooms, dispersed chests containing a variety of loot can be found.

Rooms[]

Strongholds feature various types of main rooms. Each room has an entrance, which is either a plain 3×3 opening, a wall with a wooden door, a wall with an iron door (with buttons), or a 3×3 opening with a gate of iron bars along the top and sides. Rooms may have exits to other room pieces or dead-end "exits" into stone. Additional "passages" between rooms may exist if their generation overlaps or if the stronghold intersects a cave, mineshaft, or other structure. Sometimes, doors can be sealed off by stone bricks in 5-way crossings, resulting in "secret doors".[3]

Stronghold generation begins with a spiral staircase room with a 5-way crossing at the bottom, with additional rooms being randomly generated from the exits of previous rooms up to a maximum distance of 50 rooms and 112 blocks horizontally. If a portal room is not generated, the generation is redone.

• End portal room: Contains an end portal and a silverfish spawner. There are two pools of 3 lava sources in the front sides of the room and a bigger lava pool of 9 below the end portal, and 16 windows of 2 iron bars in the room, with the entrance, always being a gate. In most cases, this room cannot be overwritten by other structures generated around it. Only one per stronghold, and it is never within 5 rooms of the starting staircase. Each portal frame has a 10% chance to generate containing an eye; the average number of portal frames found prefilled is 1.2. The chance of the portal being completely pre-filled is one in a trillion (1:1,000,000,000,000 or 10-12).
  • In Java Edition, all seeds for 1.16 that have a pre-activated end portal in the first ring have been found.[4]
  • In Bedrock Edition, it is intended that some strongholds do not generate with end portal rooms.[5]
• Libraries (see below). 0–2 libraries per stronghold, and never within 4 rooms of the starting staircase.
• Large rooms: A room with three exits (four counting the entrance). The center of the room may have various decorations. 0–6 rooms per stronghold.
  • Empty rooms: Has no decoration.
  • Stone Pillar rooms Has a stone brick pillar with torches on it.
  • Fountain rooms: Contain a fountain in the center, which consists of a stone brick ring and pillar with a water source block on top of the pillar.
  • Storerooms: Dual-level rooms, each 2 blocks high, with a cobblestone center structure joining the two. A lone torch is housed within the structure. A ladder runs up the sidewall for access to the second floor, which is a chamber made of oak wood planks containing a chest.
• Five-way crossing: Has up to five exits (six counting the entrance): one across from the entrance down a short stairway made of smooth stone slabs and stone brick blocks, one each to the left and right of the entrance, one on the left side of the upper level reached by a short stairway made of smooth stone slabs and stone brick blocks, and one on the right side of the upper level across a bridge of smooth stone slabs and double smooth stone slabs over the downward stair. A single torch is on the side of the bridge. In Bedrock Edition, it usually has 1–4 entrances sealed.[citation needed] There is always one crossing in every stronghold as part of the starting point, while an extra 0-4 crossings may also generate.
• Empty prison cells: A corridor with one wall partially made of iron bars and with two iron doors (in an "open" position, with no buttons). Beyond each iron door are cells with an iron bar wall between them. An exit is opposite the entrance. 0–5 rooms per stronghold. In Bedrock Edition, no iron doors are generated.
• Spiral staircase: A 3×3 spiral stair made of stone bricks and stone brick slabs, leading down, with an exit at the bottom. Like 5-way crossings, there is always one flight per stronghold as part of the starting point, while an additional 0–5 flights may also generate.
• Straight staircase: A 3 block wide staircase of cobblestone stairs leading downward, with an exit at the bottom of the stairs. There is also an empty alcove under the stairs. 0–5 flights per stronghold.
• Corridor: A bare corridor with up to 3 exits: one straight ahead, and optional exits to the left and right.
• Chest corridor: A corridor with a small altar made of stone brick slabs, with a chest on the altar. An exit is on the opposite side of the entrance. 0–4 corridors per stronghold.
• Corridor turn: A bare corridor with one exit, left or right. May resemble a small room if both the entrance and the next room's entrance have oak doors.
• Dead-end corridor: A bare corridor with no exits, although it is likely to intersect other rooms. This room type never has a door or gate at the entrance.

Libraries[]

A library inside a stronghold.

Libraries occur in two sizes: small single-level libraries and larger duplex libraries. All libraries contain bookshelves, oak planks, and one (single level) or two (duplex) chests, with cobwebs dispersed randomly.

Small libraries usually generate when the second level of the library is blocked by another part of the stronghold. If there are no obstructions, then large libraries usually generate.

Large libraries contain a second level consisting of a surrounding balcony with oak fences as railings, and fences & torches arranged like a chandelier over the center of the room. The two levels are connected by a ladder on the wall furthest from the entrance. No cobwebs generate here.

Blocks[]

Loot[]

Altars[]

In Java Edition, each stronghold altar chest contains 2–3 item stacks, with the following distribution:

In Bedrock Edition, each stronghold altar chest contains 2–3 item stacks, with the following distribution:

1. ↑ a b The size of stacks (or for unstackable items, number) of this item on any given roll.
2. ↑ a b The weight of this item relative to other items in the pool.
3. ↑ a b The odds of finding any of this item in a single chest.
4. ↑ a b The number of items expected per chest, averaged over a large number of chests.
5. ↑ a b The average number of chests the player should expect to search to find any of this item.
6. ↑ a b Enchantment probabilities are the same as a level-30 enchantment on an enchantment table that was able to apply treasure enchantments (except Soul Speed, and Swift Sneak), and where the chance of multiple enchantments is not reduced.

Storerooms[]

In Java Edition, each stronghold storeroom chest contains 1–4 item stacks, with the following distribution:

In Bedrock Edition, each stronghold storeroom chest contains 1–4 item stacks, with the following distribution:

1. ↑ a b The size of stacks (or for unstackable items, number) of this item on any given roll.
2. ↑ a b The weight of this item relative to other items in the pool.
3. ↑ a b The odds of finding any of this item in a single chest.
4. ↑ a b The number of items expected per chest, averaged over a large number of chests.
5. ↑ a b The average number of chests the player should expect to search to find any of this item.
6. ↑ a b Enchantment probabilities are the same as a level-30 enchantment on an enchantment table that was able to apply treasure enchantments (except Soul Speed, and Swift Sneak), and where the chance of multiple enchantments is not reduced.

Libraries[]

In Java Edition, each stronghold library chest contains 2–10 item stacks, with the following distribution:

In Bedrock Edition, each stronghold library chest contains 2–10 item stacks, with the following distribution:

1. ↑ a b The size of stacks (or for unstackable items, number) of this item on any given roll.
2. ↑ a b The weight of this item relative to other items in the pool.
3. ↑ a b The odds of finding any of this item in a single chest.
4. ↑ a b The number of items expected per chest, averaged over a large number of chests.
5. ↑ a b The average number of chests the player should expect to search to find any of this item.
6. ↑ a b Enchantment probabilities are the same as a level-30 enchantment on an enchantment table that was able to apply treasure enchantments (except Soul Speed, and Swift Sneak), and where the chance of multiple enchantments is not reduced.
7. ↑ Named unknown map, but changed to map 0, the scale level is 1:4, Maps from the same stack are stackable, but maps that are not stacked are unstackable despite looking identical.

Advancements[]

Icon	Advancement	In-game description	Parent	Actual requirements (if different)	Resource location
	Eye Spy	Follow an Ender Eye	We Need to Go Deeper	Enter a stronghold.	story/follow_ender_eye

Video[]

Data values[]

History[]

• 

  The first image of a stronghold that Jeb posted.

• 

  The first image of a stronghold that Notch posted.

• 

Issues[]

Issues relating to "Stronghold" are maintained on the bug tracker. Report issues there.

Trivia[]

• There are exactly 233 bookshelves in a large library, yielding 699 books if mined without Silk Touch, which is 10 stacks plus 59 left over.
• Although strongholds do not generate above ground, they can be exposed through above-ground dungeons or canyons.
• Sometimes, they can also be exposed underwater if they generate in terrain that is close to an ocean, or exposed by an underwater canyon.
• When generating in a buffet world, many rooms lack the outer wall layer, causing the stronghold to appear fragmented, with the exception of the portal room.

Gallery[]

Overview[]

• 

  The side view of an uncovered stronghold.

• 

  Overhead view of an uncovered stronghold.

• 

  Top view of an uncovered stronghold.

• 

  A stronghold generated on Superflat using Customization GUI in 12w40a/b.

• 

  An underground view of the top of a stronghold.

• 

  An end portal room generated partially above sea level, noted by the windows.

• 

  An underwater end portal room with no other rooms.

• 

  An underground view of the bottom of a stronghold.

• 

  An iron door in stronghold.

• 

  Many stone bricks in stronghold with an iron door on it.

• 

  Ravine with multiple ores, water and lava falls, and stronghold bridge over it.

• 

  Desert pyramid, mineshaft and stronghold generated together.

Rooms[]

• 

  A stronghold with a fountain.

• 

  A stone pillar generated in a large room.

• 

  A large library.

• 

  A small library.

• 

  A chest in a stronghold chamber.

• 

  A floating torch in a pillar room, from a rendering glitch.

• 

  A floating torch in a library.

• 

  Finished end portal.

• 

  A ladder in stronghold library, which gives a player acces to a second floor.

Odd generation[]

• 

  A zombie dungeon. Though not technically part of the stronghold, dungeons can generate in strongholds.

• 

  A dungeon intersecting a stronghold.

• 

  Canyon cutting through a stronghold.

• 

  A stronghold intersecting with a mineshaft.

• 

  A floating library generated in a canyon over a lava lake.

• 

  Another stronghold cut by a canyon.

• 

  A mineshaft generated inside a stronghold library.

• 

  A stronghold and a mineshaft intersection.

• 

  A dungeon, stronghold and a mineshaft in one area.

• 

  A stronghold and a cave system. This causes the doors to float.

• 

  A dungeon generated in a library.

• 

  An end portal room intersected by a mineshaft.

• 

  A stronghold library above a cave.

• 

  A stronghold exposed underwater.

• 

  A stronghold intersecting the spawner corridor in a mineshaft.

• 

  Stronghold with only 3 rooms.

• 

  Another small stronghold.

• 

  A small stronghold with a small library, a chest corridor and a portal room.

• 

  End portal room in stronghold with 2 possible ways to get in. Check the image for seed and coordinates.

• 

  This chest minecart is trapped inside a mossy stone block, due to a stronghold and a mineshaft that generated partially overlapping.

• 

  Two store rooms that intersecting with mineshaft.

• 

  Stronghold library generated in ravine, making it float.

• 

  An Amethyst Geode intersecting with a Stronghold.

• 

  This portal is already activated upon world generation.

• 

  A portal room at the bottom of an ocean.

Other[]

• 

  Four silverfish chasing the player in a stronghold.

• 

  Mushrooms growing in a cell made of iron bars.

• 

  A chest containing three items: an apple, iron pickaxe, and iron boots.

• 

  A staircase leading to bedrock.

• 

  A glitch where the ladders of a stronghold can appear floating.

• 

  Stronghold libraries can sometimes be set on fire by naturally-occurring lava.

• 

  Chest loot in a library containing books and paper.

External links[]

• Eye of Ender throw plotting tool
• Another Stronghold Locator
• A stronghold and village finder for 1.7
• Python implementation to find strongholds
• (Yet another, but working) Minecraft stronghold locator
• Still another stronghold finder
• Wikipedia article on Stronghold

References[]

1. ↑ MC-140209
2. ↑ MC-140117 – resolved as "Works as Intended"
3. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vztJNmUdyBY&t=37s
4. ↑ https://github.com/hube12/SSGOutput/releases/tag/1.1
5. ↑ MCPE-19426
6. ↑ "Ah LOL! I forgot to remove the debug pillars from the strongholds. Oh well, it's not severe enough for another update" – @jeb_ (Jens Bergensten) on Twitter, October 6, 2011
7. ↑ MC-214814 – "Strongholds generate floating and without walls, floors, or ceilings when inside caves" – resolved as "Fixed"
8. ↑ MC-216191 Resolved as "Works As Intended"
9. ↑ MC-216881 – Strongholds spawn shattered again
10. ↑ MC-236618 – Strongholds don't generate in 21w37a

Is there only 1 end portal?

Are there more than 1 strongholds in Minecraft?