Talk:Skeleton/Archive 1

Firing Behavior
For a while now, skeleton's arrows shoot at a speed relative to how close it's target is. However the page doesn't contain the formula. I don't know what the formula is, so I cannot add it. If someone could make a speed/damage calculator or chart, that would be great.

something like:

would work well. Please not that the information in the table is NOT correct, it is an example.

21:52, 5 July 2014 (UTC)

Door Placement
"If skeletons do get close to your home, the player must note that a door is not an adequate safety barrier, unless it was placed from the outside. Skeletons can shoot arrows through doors if placed from the inside and will not desist until daytime, and the player is advised to have some form of preliminary defenses to prevent a skeleton getting so close." I'm sure that this was patched in one of the updates. Nothing can go through doors now. 18:08, 25 December 2011 (UTC)

Shooting through water
"Skeltons can shoot arrows through water with little to no effect on their speed and accuracy"

From my experience this is not true. If a skeleton shoots upwards through 4 blocks of water, the arrow does not make it out the top of the water, but falls back down, often hitting the skeleton. At least this was shortly after the Boo! update. I will check again. 22:40, 21 December 2010 (CST)
 * Just tested, and when a Skeleton shoots upwards through 4 blocks of water, the arrow makes it barely out of the top of the water, maybe up to a block out, before turning and heading down. But I can stay safe by sitting 2 blocks above the top of the water. 22:49, 21 December 2010 (CST)

Bones
Skeletons, without a doubt, drop both bones AND arrows now. Stop changing it to only bones! 07:59, 14 January 2011 (UTC)

Has anyone actually had 3 bones dropped? I only get 1-2.
 * The code only allows 2.

i = rand.nextInt(3); for(int k = 0; k < i; k++) {           dropItem(Item.bone.shiftedIndex, 1); }
 * rand.nextInt(3) generates a number from 0 to 2. 08:31, 22 March 2011 (UTC)

Hey do skeletons drop black bones because one time i killed a skeleton and it droped a black bone but when i picked it up it was white im confused...
 * That sounds like a lighting bug. For example, if you fire arrows into the underside of a block, they might turn black. 08:31, 22 March 2011 (UTC)

So...if the code only allows two bones/arrows, then shouldn't the page say 0-2 instead of 0-3? Or was it changed in another update? 05:28, 23 April 2011 (UTC)CactusTrio
 * It might've been changed in the update, but I've yet to see 3 of anything drop yet. Haven't played 1.5 much though. -~ 05:51, 23 April 2011 (UTC)

has anyone else noticed the bow drop rate is much higher as of 1.4.2?

18:43, 16 November 2012 (UTC)LegendofMewtwo
 * I was just about to say something about this, since the update i got 8 bows from skeletons on a survival world I just created last weekend, most nearly undamaged. I already had one bow in my inventory before updating, but now i have 3 bows in a chest along with 2 in my inventory. I think certain skeletons should drop more arrows or more bones from time to time, but some still drop from 2-0. But of course, hardly anyone important really reads the wiki anymore, especially since the new bug tracker. ( 19:02, 16 November 2012 (UTC)

'Behavior' subsection
Many mobs, hostile and passive, have a section which describes their behavior. This page doesn't have much in the way of that, so maybe someone could write down what they know about skeleton behavior. I will make a small start for this section, but I'm not an expert on skeletons, so feel free to edit/add. 20:43, 19 January 2011 (UTC)

Deflecting Arrows?
I have never been able to do this, and would be gladly be corrected if we get a video, or proof.-

i have seen them drop bows if u hit a arrow back

u can deflect arrows whith a sowrd its about timing

You can deflect it with glass


 * Since you can't spell, use capitalization, or sign your posts, I don't believe you.  00:45, 9 March 2013 (UTC)
 * You cannot deflect arrows back at them. You can, however deflect Ghast fireballs back at them if you punch at it and hit it.  00:42, 9 January 2014 (UTC)

New pic?
Can someone add a new pic of one with its arms out and with a bow?


 * Fixed it -- 07:32, 17 September 2011 (UTC)

Skeletons arrows, peaceful?
I was fighting a skeleton and was about to die, so i changed it to peaceful. But it shot before i did, and the arrow seemed to stick on to me, not hurting me. maybe a new glitch?

that is most likely

Skeletons being struck by lightning?
Does anyone know if something special happens if a skeleton is struck by lightning?
 * No. Using SPC, I struck pigs, cows, chickens, zombies, creepers, skeletons, and spiders with lightning, and here's what happened:
 * Creeper - Became electrified, and upon exploding made a much larger hole than usual
 * Pig - Became a pig zombie
 * The rest - Took some damage and went on fire but was put out instantly due to the rain. ( 16:07, 23 April 2011 (UTC)

Shooting through glass?
According to, a skeleton on a spider can shoot through glass. This article does not mention whether regular skeletons can do the same. Perhaps this should be part of the article, whether they can or cannot? (I'd also be curious to know why spider jockeys can if skeletons cannot.) - 05:08, 30 April 2011 (UTC)


 * It might have something to do with the spider's ability to see through walls, so regular skeletons' arrows may go through glass, but they won't shoot through glass (on purpose) because they don't see you. Though, I'm just making a guess. 14:04, 1 June 2011 (UTC)
 * (1.75 years) Spider jockeys don't shoot through glass.  00:45, 9 March 2013 (UTC)

Shooting Indoors
I have found something rather cool, that helps with killing skeletons. Normaly, when a skeleton shoots an arrow, it shoots it in an arch. Because of this arch shape it fires it's arrows in, the arrows often hit the ceiling while indoors. I found that if you make your rooms/tunels/corridors 2 blocks high(minimum for players to walk in) then it makes it impossible for skeletons' arrows to hit you. You don't even see the arrows, they are instantly caught in the block above the skeleton. (Havent't tested if the arrows can hit you if you bump into the skeleton though.) 19:07, 24 July 2011 (UTC)

this used to work in older versions when they fired from above their own heads due to a glitch, but since they moved the firing location lower to about the middle of the skeleton where they hold their bows it doesn't really work like that very often anymore. 04:38, 19 April 2013 (UTC)

Worst Mob?
What is everybodys least fave mob i personally dislike the Skeleton i will post the least fave mob after a while 22:57, 11 October 2011 (UTC)

By a longshot the skeleton is the worst mob. I will NEVER understand why or accept that on hard mode they do as much damage as a zombie which only has melee. it's absolutely ridiculous and honestly it's totally ruining the game. i haven't been killed by a zombie or spider since beta 1.5 but these stupid skeletons are totally overpowered now that they can shoot properly. it's absolute retard mode, they need to be nerfed. –Preceding unsigned comment was added by (&#124;) 00:49, 22 December 2011. Please sign your posts with


 * I believe you need a better strategy.
 * You are unable to defeat a skeleton because they attack using a ranged weapon. Other overworld mobs are close range. You need to figure out the best way to defeat them. I usually hide behind cover or build some cover myself and wait till it comes close. I then run out and stab it, then run back behind. I don't believe that they should be nerfed.
 * On the other hand, I believe that the blaze's ranged attack, constant spawning and terrain of world that it lives in offer the best challenge in defeating. -- 02:05, 22 December 2011 (UnTC)


 * I rather agree...it's not creepers that keep me in my base the first couple of nights in hardcore mode, it's skeletons.


 * As for blazes? by the time you meet those, you have iron armor.   06:48, 17 March 2012 (UTC)


 * My first ever hostile mob encounter was with a Skelly, and it is online at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-9tOORacAk I found out in the same game that yes indeed, among the common Overworld mobs, the Skeleton is the most dangerous by far. To have a creeper kill you, you usually have to get pretty dumb (i.e.: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hEjgBp1qSg) and I actually have never been killed by a creeper.  I always keep an "emergency blocking material", usually cobble, on hotbar 4 and if I have nowhere to run, in easy reach of the movement keys, select and place between me and the hostile, and I'll almost always survive, if I have the discipline to use it (I still usually find myself staring at "Game Over Score: &e0" wondering why it never occurred to me in time to do that.  Almost always it is during the occasional lesson the zombies give me that as of Release 1.2.0, "Wooden doors are purely decorative; I know it looks like zhat, but cobble your entrance until you have iron, a fortieth of a shank each time to go through it is a pittance compared to a B&E."  Back when I was really new to Minecraft and had no iron weapons or armor, I preferred ripping a 4m roof off my first cave to facing the Skeleton in battle with my stone sword in Hardcore Heaven.  Youtube for "solar spleefing" to see that. My first Revenant in Doom 3 was comparatively harmless.  09:50, 8 July 2012 (UTC)


 * Eh, Skeletons are definitely very strong contenders for most irritating mob (though every mob does have their own special way of pissing people off). My least favorite has to go to the Zombie Pigmen though. I've just had some really horrible experiences with those evil things, including one time that I literally got punted like an American football at least 15 meters into a pool of lava. Oh, how I loathe the Piggymen. 18:05, 10 January 2013 (UTC)
 * I HATE cave spiders. I always try to avoid them.  00:45, 9 March 2013 (UTC)

Blazes are the worst! A skeleton, you can just run around in circles and it will miss. A blaze is more accurate and deadly and just plain creepy! Don't want to encounter one in survival!(especially with one certain friend. He takes all the ore.)-- 06:36, 17 April 2014 (UTC)

MAD TV cameo?
Anyone watch Mad last week? If you did, remember Criminal Minecraft? 17:07, 23 October 2011 (UTC)

Yeah, lol, that was my fav bit even though the design kinda reeked. plus, they forgot the endermen! needless to say, it WAS a good episode! :) 16:44, 6 November 2011 (UTC)

'History' subsection
don't know if i'm posting this right (1st time) but the history subsection kind of repeats itself:

As of Beta 1.6.6, bone meal applied to grass blocks will grow tall grass and flowers. As of Beta 1.8, they now hold full-sized bows and their rate of fire is reduced. Their arrows however...

...As of Beta 1.8, a skeleton's bow is now larger and held more realistically, and they also fire arrows slightly slower. This update also fixed a bug where skeletons would fire their arrows from above their heads.

–Preceding unsigned comment was added by  04:57, 11 January 2012‎ (UTC). Please sign your posts with


 * Then fix it. (And thanks for pointing it out). - 06:41, 16 March 2012 (UTC)

i love the skeelaton it said "i'd say no but i did you see. oh no i forgot i die in the sun!"

"Skeletons have the same face as zombies, but with a different color and different face." lolwut?
In the trivia section it says "Skeletons have the same face as zombies, but with a different color and different face." lolwtf? this makes no scene. its funny tho... 23:06, 24 January 2012 (UTC)
 * Removed; they aren't that similar beyond being square and having two eyes and a mouth. -- 06:58, 25 January 2012 (UTC)

Just 3 xp?
Hi there everyone. As I can see in that info table, skeletons offer only 3 xp after their death, however for other mobs it's at least 5. Isn't that strange, also accounting to the fact Spider Jockey page offers 5 xp for spider and 5 xp for skellie as well?
 * It's 5.  00:45, 9 March 2013 (UTC)

Skeletons Riding Spiders
Edit - Never mind. I found the spider jockey page after long looks. Sorry 13:46, 19 March 2012 (UTC)

Seeing through Glass
Many pages say that mobs can't see through glass, except of course for Spiders and possibly Zombies. It is stated that Skeletons cannot see the player through glass while in its "Idle" state of walking around. However, earlier today, I was in my home, which has a glass roof, and a Skeleton walked on it, and stood directly over me, and turned his head at me. Each time I moved, the Skeleton followed. Now, I swear on my life that this Skeleton could not have previously seen me, as I had not gone outside, and there were no open holes for him to see me. In addition, the Skeleton did not fire an arrow once while following me, and once daytime came, he caught fire and immediately took shelter under a nearby tree. I attempted to recreate this with a Skeleton Dungeon, replacing the walls, floor, and ceiling with Glass blocks. The Skeletons paid no attention to me. On a related note, I did the same with a Zombie dungeon, and the same result occured.

I think this may be attributed to a bug, which may have allowed the Skeleton to create a 'line-of-sight' to me and enter pursuit mode. I don't have any explanation for it, but I thought I should bring it up... 00:06, 23 March 2012 (UTC)


 * My best guess, and I'm hoping to provoke a better answer from those with more experience and inside knowledge (wink wink, nudge nudge) is that it has to do with the lighting. Is it possible you were in dimmer light in the dungeon settings?  Or perhaps brighter light?  Lol, I thought of another possibility, but I don't think it would work (but I can't think of any other way it would find itself on your glass roof at all, since they are not allowed to spawn on glass) Maybe the Skeleton on your roof was a Spider Jockey, its spider saw you through the wall and climbed onto your house, after which the Skeleton, now aware of you, dismounted and the spider wandered off.  09:58, 8 July 2012 (UTC)
 * Are those glass panes? If so, the skeleton could have seen you through the gaps.  The Skeleton Jockey idea doesn't work -- each monster alerts and attacks separately.  In any case, the monster "looking at you" is not actually significant -- monsters will often appear to look at the player, even tracking their movement, even when they're not actually aware of you.  Just the game doing it's bit to make you paranoid....   Actually following your movements is more worrisome, though. -- 01:24, 17 December 2012 (UTC)
 * I AM SURE OF THIS: If it already knows you're there, it can see you through anything. It knew you were there because you were outside at some point.  00:45, 9 March 2013 (UTC)

Melee Combat
"Melee combat will usually result in the player getting hit by at least one arrow before dispatching the skeleton" I disagree, an experienced player with decent weapons can usually kill a skeleton without receiving a hit. The quoted sentence is an opinion can I remove it?

07:56, 9 October 2012 (UTC)
 * I see no need to remove it, as not all players are experienced or have good weapons. Although about 40% of the time i battle a single skeleton with my enchanted iron swords i do not get hit. But nonetheless, not everyone has good tools and/or weapons. 11:20, 9 October 2012 (UTC)

skeletons dont retaliate anymore to each other?
1.4.5, they dont fight to the death anymore after one hits another?

21:18, 16 December 2012 (UTC)

Golden armor Spiders - immune to sunlight?
I was attacked by a skeleton clad in golden armor during daytime and it did not catch fire. Dropped a golden headpiece. Anyone had any similar experiences? –Preceding unsigned comment was added by  01:24, 27 December 2012 (UTC). Please sign your posts with


 * From the article: "A skeleton that is wearing a helmet (regardless of other armor) will not burn in sunlight, similar to s". -- 01:47, 27 December 2012 (UTC)
 * Read the title of the section again. It says spiders. I know he was talking about skeletons though, but it still says SPIDERS.  00:45, 9 March 2013 (UTC)

Melee Skelly
Sometimes I find it boring for skeletons to only spawn with bows. I think they should be able to spawn with swords naturally. I don't want them to stop using bows altogether, I just want them to have more "variation" if you know what I mean. 19:58, 20 April 2013 (UTC)

Skeleton Head Drop
I've witnessed a skeleton that dropped an actual skeleton head item. I don't have anyway of showing it, but I believe it might require using a skeleton to kill another skeleton. 02:26, 22 April 2013 (UTC)


 * I have seen multiple server plugins to make mobs drops their heads in survival mode. ᐸ   16:10, 1 August 2013 (UTC)

Continued from
And why do skeletons: 1. shoot whilst looking away?(extreme skills?) 2. spawn with swords?(I suppose they are training to be Wither?) 13:50, 1 August 2013 (UTC)


 * The angle the skeleton is facing doesn't matter. It always shoots towards the player (or another skeleton, if dueling)
 * As for the swords, this is either a new feature I don't know about, or they picked it up from a zombie that spawned with a sword's death place. ᐸ   16:09, 1 August 2013 (UTC)

False fact
On the first paragraph on the Skeleton page, it says "Skeletons spawn in dimly lit areas, and like Zombie Pigmen and Zombies will burn in sunlight." Zombie Pigmen do not burn in sunlight, but sometimes a flame with flicker on them and fade away. Someone should change that. -- 18:23, 10 August 2013 (UTC)


 * ᐸ  11:34, 11 August 2013 (UTC)

Nether Fortress Spawn
What light level is required to spawn a skeleton in a nether fortress? If any then the page should say any light after nether fortress in spawn. 22:34, 1 December 2013 (UTC)


 * As far as I can tell from the code, they still require a light level below 8 to spawn in Nether Fortresses. -- undefined 23:33, 1 December 2013 (UTC)


 * I'll add that then.  00:57, 2 December 2013 (UTC)

1.8 Rabbit Foot?
I had just killed a skeleton and it dropped a rabbit's foot. I was with a rabbit and I killed a skeleton and for a moment I thought I'd accidentally killed the rabbit, but I turned around to see it was perfectly fine. But now I have a rabbit's foot in my inventory? Has anyone else experienced this? 22:42, 2 September 2014 (UTC)

Skeleton heads obtainable in survival
In the trivia section, the last bullet states "If a skeleton wears a Skeleton Skull, obtained by either the /give command or creative inventory, it will not burn in sunlight, despite looking exactly the same." However, since skeletons can now drop their skulls when killed by a charged creeper, I believe "obtained by either the /give command or creative inventory" is unnecessary now. Should that part be deleted? 00:53, 29 September 2014 (UTC)