Minecraft Dungeons:Orb of Dominance

"To…The…Beginning… To the end."

- Minecraft Dungeons:Echoing Void opening cutscene

The orb of dominance is a sentient object in Minecraft Dungeons that manipulated the Arch-Illager into believing that it could help him reshape the world into a society that he would be accepted into.

Appearance
Despite being called an orb, the orb of dominance is a 5×5×5 cube that is the size of a mob head in the base game. No pieces of the cube that large were seen in the ruins during the final cinematic atop the obsidian pinnacle. The shard that corrupted the wretched wraith uses a 6x6x6 texture but is roughly 3x3x3 in size. This would make this shard 27/125ths or ≈0,22 the size of the original orb that corrupted Archie. However, no perfectly cubical piece of that large size was seen in the ruins upon its destruction atop the obsidian pinnacle. Coincidentally, there were multiple 2×2×2 and 1×1×1 pixel shards that were perfect cubes.

Spawning

 * Summoning an ambush


 * Cinematic


 * Part of Boss Appearances
 * (Arch-Illager &Heart of Ender)
 * (Jungle Abomination)
 * (Wretched Wraith)
 * (Tempest Golem)
 * (Ancient Guardian)
 * (Imperfect Heart of Ender)
 * (Vengeful Heart of Ender)

Behavior
The orb of dominance is used by the Arch-Illager to summon ambushes, bosses, and minions. He also uses it to enhance mobs and fire purple blasts at heroes.

Personality
Throughout the game and the prequel novel, the orb of dominance appears to be intensely manipulative. This was made apparent in its corruption of Archie in how it warped Archie’s desire of being accepted within a society. The orb’s corruption of Archie also showed that the orb was very intensely methodical in that the orb was very specific in its many suggestions to Archie and it was not in any way at all concerned with the possibility of failing in corrupting Archie. The orb initially showed Archie the kindness that he so desperately desired, such as when it summoned a plate of food when he was hungry and being willing to listen and support Archie when he talks about his personal issues. The orb’s kinder side is also seen when it suggested to Archie that he should use the six redstone golems to clear a path for him rather than doing so on his own. Upon gaining Archie’s trust, the orb then instilled into Archie a need for vengeance against the individuals who had ostracized him from society. It then convinced Archie that in order for him to get his revenge, they needed to build an army. The orb’s corruption gets to the point where the more Archie confides in and discusses with the orb, the more control the orb gains over its suggestions to Archie. This is seen in how it eventually causes Archie to become increasingly paranoid of betrayal. It uses Archie’s dislike and fear of Thord, and his distrust and suspicions of Walda’s attempted manipulations of him to instill in Archie a paranoia of betrayal. This is explicitly shown in how by the end of the novel, the orb had effectively eliminated every individual that could potentially stop its corruption of Archie, such as getting Archie to attack the village a second time to take prisoners, resulting in Archie’s only friend, Yumi, blaming the attack on him since she had no knowledge of the orb’s corruption. This paranoia of betrayal is also implied in the desert temple mission in the game itself with how the story description states that Archie was planning a raid on the desert temple to take the Nameless One’s staff, despite previously making an uneasy alliance with the Nameless One in the prequel novel. It is implied that the paranoia of betrayal that the orb had instilled within Archie led him believing that the only way to prevent the Nameless One from betraying him was to betray their uneasy alliance first. Just like how it only took a few non-genuine acts of kindness from the orb to ensnare Archie, all it took to free him from the orb was being spared by the heroes atop the Obsidian Pinnacle, allowing him to join their society.

Lore
Long before the events of Minecraft Dungeons, the Orb of Dominance emerged from a portal that led to an "endless void between worlds" into the Overworld where it wrecked havoc until it was locked away in a sanctuary prison hidden in the mountains. There it would fester, under the watchful eyes of the Redstone Golems built to guard the sanctuary prison, for millennia until its existence would be all but forgotten.

Thousands of years later, an illager runt named Archie would come across the now crumbling sanctuary, having been banished from his tribe and seeking shelter. Sensing Archie’s troubled thoughts and despair, the orb calls out to him, entrancing him with promises to solve all his problems. At first, Archie tries to resist its beckoning, but soon gives in, releasing the malevolent artifact from its pedestal. Archie wakes up to the orb telling him that they must leave the sanctuary if he wants to fix his problems. Before they leave, Archie is distracted by the sight of the sanctuary’s Redstone Golems, who have fallen to waste like the place they guard. Using its dark power, the orb reactivates the golems, giving them new purpose and presenting them as a gift to Archie. The orb then rips out ore chunks of gold and iron, forging them into a staff for Archie, who places the orb at the top of his staff. The orb then summons food and bedding for Archie after sensing his weakness. When Archie is attacked by husks, who were attracted to the recent activity in the sanctuary ruins, the orb obliterates all of them. Afterwards, the orb rips apart a nearby mountain to clear a path for Archie. Sensing Archie’s want for vengeance against his tormentors, the orb tells him that they will need an army.

After leaving the mountains, Archie, the orb, and the golems make their way to the eastern coast of the Overworld. There, the orb creates a new home for Archie, christening it "Highblock Castle". The orb then takes Archie to a rampart covered mountain, Obsidian Pinnacle, where it shows Archie a vision of the Evoker, Thord, and several illagers attacking the undead in Cacti Canyon, telling Archie he must bear witness.

As Archie watches Thord and the other illagers, the orb mentions that the illagers could serve as their army. Sensing Archie’s hesitation, the orb suggests that he sends the Redstone golems to assist the illagers. As they travel through Cacti Canyon, Archie questions if the illagers would attack them, with the orb saying that all who would oppose Archie will be destroyed. As they continue searching, the orb tells him that they will need a large source of heat to forge new Redstone golems.

Before Archie can rest, the orb tells him that the illagers are nearby. With the orb’s insistence, Archie defeats the undead horde attacking the illagers.

With the illager tribe heading to Highblock Castle, Archie uses the orb to furnish Highblock Halls. Afterwards, Archie heads to the volcano were the orb creates a new Redstone golem from nearby minerals.

With the new Redstone golem mining out the underground volcano cavern, Archie begins to leave, much to the orb’s protests.

With the illagers at Highblock Castle, Archie tries to provide comfort, but they orb tells him it will make him look weak and that Thord would try to usurp him.

The next day, Archie returns to the volcano to begin construction on the Fiery Forge. He uses the orb to create a new Redstone golem in front of the illagers. Archie then returns back to Highblock Castle where the orb creates a throne room for Archie. Thord then remarks that despite the orb, Archie is still weak. The orb tells Archie to kill the Evoker for his lack of loyalty but Archie ignores it.

During Archie’s attack on Squid Coast, the illagers are ambushed by the undead, who abduct Archie. With Archie brought to the Desert Temple, he discovers the Nameless One, the reanimated king of the Overworld who reigned thousands of years ago during the orb’s rampage. The Nameless One reveals that he wants the orb so that the undead will no longer burn in sunlight. Archie agrees to grant them immunity, in exchange for an alliance between the undead and illagers.

Upon returning to Highblock Castle, Archie is greeted by his former matriarch, Walda, who informs him that Thord is overseeing security in Fiery Forge. Archie departs to Obsidian Pinnacle where the orb shows Archie that Thord had commandeered a Redstone golem to steal a shipment of ore.

Archie soon leaves Highblock Castle and finds Thord struggling to move the shipment of ore down the lava lake. Upon spotting Archie, Thord tries attacking the illager runt, but the orb protects Archie. Ultimately loyal to the Orb of Dominance, Thord’s commandeered Redstone golem turns on the Evoker. Thord tries to beg Archie for mercy but the illager runt kills him for his treachery.

To celebrate the death of his tormentor, Archie uses the orb to create something magnificent, the Redstone Monstrosity. Archie then returns to Highblock Castle to question Walda, predicting that she orchestrated the failed heist. Walda changes the subject by proposing that a coronation ceremony be held for Archie.

The ceremony goes without trouble with Archie declaring himself the "Arch-Illager". Afterwards, the Arch-Illager retreats to Obsidian Pinnacle where the orb shows him a vision of a reinforced Squid Coast and the homes of his enemies. The Arch-Illager commands Walda to burn the houses to the ground. Walda, who now knows that the Arch-Illager cannot be usurped and who is completely loyal, complies.

Deep down, Archie questions if he is doing the right thing but the orb says that they cannot tolerate non-loyalty from any living being as they travel west.

Now at the outskirts of Squid Coast, the Arch-Illager smiles at the sight of smoke rising from the heroes’ houses burning. Once again, Archie questions his actions deep down but the orb reminds him of his past and tells him that this is retribution.

As the Arch-Illager basks in the flames of Squid Coast burning down, what little is left of Archie is snuffed out by the orb. Finally, after thousands of years, the Orb of Dominance shall rule the Overworld.

The next day, the orb has the Arch-Illager lead a small group of illagers to round up any straggling villagers in Squid Coast. Though they are successful, they encounter resistance from the heroes whose houses they burned down.

Later in the evening, the Arch-Illager and the orb have their forces transport the captured villagers through Creeper Woods to serve as labor force. Unfortunately, the heroes followed them from Squid Coast and free the prisoners.

Despite the illager conquests, Pumpkin Pastures still remains free from the orb’s control. In response, the Arch-Illager has Walda lead a massive invasion of the pastures to subjugate the land. Though they are successful, the heroes managed to evacuate the villagers before the illagers arrive, and ultimately, Walda is slain in the town square.

Despite Walda’s death, with the fall of Pumpkin Pastures and the entire world now under his control, the Arch-Illager travels to Soggy Swamp for a personal inspection of the witch coven that supplies his potions. During the inspection, the heroes enact a sudden raid on the coven and destroy all but one of the cauldrons. In retaliation, the Arch-Illager uses the orb to grant sentience to the remaining cauldron to stop the heroes. Nevertheless, the heroes destroy the empowered cauldron and defeat the coven.

With their potion supply gone, the orb suspects that the heroes will target their Redstone supply next, and urges the Arch-Illager to send reinforcements to Redstone Mines. As predicted, the heroes launch an assault on Redstone Mines, defeating the guards and freeing the villager mining force. Deciding that Redstone Mines is lost, the Arch-Illager dispatches a Redstone Golem to slow down the heroes while he flees.

With the mines gone, the orb realizes that the heroes are actually targeting the illager war machine. The Arch-Illager has Fiery Forge put on lockdown. The heroes still manage to breach Fiery Forge and destroy the stabilizing cores, triggering an eruption. With Fiery Forge collapsing, the Arch-Illager has his forces evacuate as much supplies as possible to Highblock Castle. Hoping to trap the heroes in the volcanic eruption, the Arch-Illager reactivates his most prized creation, the Redstone Monstrosity. In the end, the heroes defeat the best and escape Fiery Forge.

Suffering from massive setbacks, the Arch-Illager grows paranoid of the Nameless One taking advantage and betraying him. At the orb’s insistence, the Arch-Illager sends a massive raid party to Cacti Canyon to retrieve the Nameless One’s staff, that can summon the undead. Though the Arch-Illager enters the Desert Temple, the heroes follow after him before the rest of the illagers arrive.

Inside the Desert Temple, the Arch-Illager races against the heroes through a labyrinth to find the Nameless One first. Despite the orb’s superior power, the heroes reach the reanimated king first and destroy his staff. Still, it is not a loss for the Arch-Illager as the heroes unwittingly eliminated a threat to the orb’s reign and control of the undead falls to the Arch-Illager.

With the Nameless One destroyed, the Arch-Illager throws a large feast to celebrate his foe’s demise in Highblock Halls. The orb warns him that the heroes might try to attack during the celebration but the Arch-Illager dismisses the concern as his entire army has gathered in the castle. Surely enough, the heroes do crash the party and make their way to the throne room. Before they can act, the Arch-Illager, who has been watching their progress through the orb, sends out a legion of his best soldiers laying in ambush before retreating to the ramparts.

Once they fight their way through the ambush, the heroes chase the Arch-Illager across Obsidian Pinnacle, defeating every soldier he sends at them. Eventually, the Arch-Illager find himself cornered at the tallest tower of the ramparts. Seeing no other option, the Arch-Illager unleashes the full power of the Orb of Dominance upon his enemies. Despite the assistance of the orb, the Arch-Illager is still overpowered by the heroes. Seeing no more use in the Arch-Illager, the Orb of Dominance decides to take matters into its own responsibilities, manifesting as its true self, the Heart of Ender. Even with it unleashing is full power, the Heart of Ender is weakened enough to lose its physical form. Ironically, the Heart of Ender manipulated the Arch-Illager into believing that he needed its power, and when the destabilized entity tried to escape, it was the Arch-Illager who denied it, not wanting to lose the corruptive power he so coveted. The Heart of Ender was shocked when it sensed not weakness, but strength, in the Arch-Illager. No matter how hard it ordered the illager runt to let go off it, the Arch-Illager disobeyed and tightened his grip. Eventually it was too much for the unstabalized Heart of Ender and in a flash of light, the orb shattered.

As the smoke cleared, the ground was littered with countless tiny orb fragments, whose power faded away, the Arch-Illager, and the heroes he fought against. With the Heart of Ender gone, so to was the Arch-Illager. The first thing Archie saw when he woke from the nightmare were four heroes, who were slowly approaching him. At first, Archie expects pain, but only finds…kindness, despite all that he did. With the storm dissipating, Archie and his former enemies celebrate. After all, the Heart of Ender was dead…wasn’t it?

The Orb of Dominance, the Heart of Ender, was the most powerful thing the Overworld ever experienced. Its power was so strong, that it could continue living despite such a fatal wound. What Archie and his new family didn’t see were the tiny fragments slowly pulling themselves back together into five larger shards, spread across the Overworld. After the fall of the illager empire, rumors sprouted up of corruption appearing in the outer regions of the Overworld. All sources pointed to the Heart of Ender, but is was destroyed. Nevertheless, the heroes decided to head off to the outer regions of the Overworld to confront this new corruption.

One day, deep in the heart of Dingy Jungle, a shard of dominance crashed into the clearing. Its power bled out, being absorbed by the landscape. Soon, strange unnatural foliage began to spring up, pulsing with the very evil of a shattered soul. Overtime, the shard began to collect vegetation and debris, until a corruptive beast, the Jungle Abomination, was born from the foreign darkness. Eventually, the heroes arrived to Dingy Jungle, now overgrown with corruption, and fought their way through the overgrowth and undead that blocked their way.

After the fighting, the heroes reached the clearing, which housed the Overgrown Temple where the corruptive roars echoed from. As they trudged on, the heroes fought the overgrowth and undead that crawled about the crumbling maze. They finally reached a shrine, constructed by a civilization that worshipped the sun, at the center of the Overgrown Temple. Suddenly, the Jungle Abomination dropped down from the ceiling and did battle with the intruders. The heroes managed to swiftly cut down the orb-spawn and left the jungle, which can finally heal from the infection.

Across the sea was a lively island that housed a bustling trade center. In the distance was a lonely fortress overlooking the port that housed a certain wraith, notorious amongst its fellow undead for its dislike of the warmth. The wraith came across a strange object, a shard of dominance, one day and realized it could finally rid its home of the warmth with it. Using its newfound powers, this Wretched Wraith conjured a winter and chased the local villagers from its new frozen kingdom. It soon received visitors to Frosted Fjord, the first being remnants of the illager empire who came to venerate its new powers; the second, heroes who wished to destroy it.

Despite the unending blizzard and illager hordes, the heroes reach the Lone Fortress which housed the origin of the winter. Throughout their journey, it became clear that this place used to be one of the Arch-Illager’s outposts, as it could be why the illagers came here. Eventually, the heroes reached an icy chasm with the shard of dominance floating above a crown of frost. Before they could reach the shard, the Wretched Wraith, now frozen with corruption, swooped up to attack. After a long fight, the Wretched Wraith notices that its cold is gone. As it examines its crown, it sees the shard is gone. As if in response, the warmth suddenly shines through the windows, onto the Wretched Wraith. The heroes watch on as the warmth evaporates the Wretched Wraith, and proceed to leave the island to melt as a new spring starts.

With the Arch-Illager gone, the illager empire soon crumbled to constant internal conflict. One large remnant of the illager empire retreated to Windswept Peaks where dark storms have been recently brewing around the mountain. Reports soon spread amongst the illagers of a shard of dominance spotted amongst the peak. If that were true, they could use it to regain control over the Overworld. Heroes soon showed up, determined to stop the corruptive storm brewing in the peaks. Seeing the legions of illagers, the heroes knew it was going to be a long climb.

The Gale Sanctum rests upon the summit, a place dedicated to the wonders of the wind. It is said that within its walls is a protector. Now it is crawling with illagers and corruption. Inside its doors, the heroes learn to master the wind and vanquish the squall golems. As they moved more, the winds grew stronger. Suddenly, the wind stopped, they reached the eye of the storm. Before them stood the fallen protector of the sanctum, the Tempest Golem, now howling with corruption. Knowing that the Tempest Golem must be destroyed if the storm was to be stopped, the heroes rushed in to attack. To their surprise, weapons seemed to do nothing against the Tempest Golem, as if a powerful current of wind blew away all damage. They soon spotted resonance crystals, at shut them down. Suddenly, the Tempest Golems front burst open revealing the shard of dominance on its torso. After several barrages against their enemy, the shard of dominance and the Tempest Golem shatter. Outside the storm dissipates to a calm breeze. With all life in the Overworld saved, the heroes depart the island.

Unsettling rumors have come around, tails of strange, unnatural currents around Coral Rise, the local undead becoming extra feisty, and spottings of a massive, glowing fish. If that were true, then a shard of dominance must have fallen into the sea. After a deep dive, the heroes reached the sea floor. Sure enough, the undead seem to be unusually active. Maybe the sudden currents have awake them from their slumber? It didn’t matter, somewhere, down in the crushing depths was a shard of dominance spreading corruption. But something else was out there, as the sea floor darkened, the heroes realized it was a shadow. As they looked up, swimming above them was a giant creature that resembled a guardian. Where there are guardians, there is…a monument!

As long as it could remember, the Ancient Guardian spent its entire life protecting the Abyssal Monument. It was the very first to execute such an honorable duty. It can recall all those centuries, swimming around, watching new guardians and elder guardians joining its ranks in this vital mission. It remembers every square block of the Abyssal Monument, every room, chamber, and the exact areas occupied by coral. The only thing that eludes it was when the undead came along. Very mysterious, sometimes the Ancient Guardian would spend entire days watching them. They don’t bother it, as long as they don’t harm the artifacts, it won’t harm the undead. There was one day, that strange shining shard appeared. The sudden growth spurt and newfound confidence that served well in spreading its territory, but now these creatures ransack its artifacts without a care in the world. It doesn’t matter if it had to destroy part of its home. All that matters is to protect the Abyssal Monument! They fought valiantly, with true warrior’s spirit. As the world darkens, the Ancient Guardian realized that it lost its sight of purpose. The visitors weren’t here to destroy the Abyssal Monument, but have come to save it from its own protector! At least, in the end, it still got to die with honor.

Anger…pain…suffering…Through the Heart of Ender’s fractured, but shared conscience, the fifth shard of dominance felt the destruction of the other four shards. Somehow, it remained hidden from its enemies, maybe for the best. It managed to outlive the other shards of its being, but it was a matter of time before they came for it. The sound…the sound of stone being moved. Yes, they received its message. Light shines in as two endermen move aside bricks that made the ramparts Obsidian Pinnacle. As one enderman grabs the final shard, the time has come. To the beginning…the endermen teleport to the Stronghold. The beginning from which it came, the beginning from which it lived. To the beginning…the shard carrying enderman approaches the end portal. After the two head through the portal, several endersent and endermites emerge from the portal, determined to protect the pathway to their master. To the beginning…the time has come to go to the end.

Finally, after countless millennia, the Heart of Ender is back home. Its imperfected form may not be much, but it will do. It senses its best endersent being slain by those heroes, but the Stronghold is still heavily guarded by the undead. The Heart of Ender scurries around the End Wilds, sprinting past as the surviving members of the illager empire a brought here. It just needs more power so it could destroy all dimensions and be rid of its enemies! To think that it once wanted to rule that world through such a runt…The heroes, they are here. It must hurry its plan should it get revenge.

The End Wilds truly was an otherworldly realm, more so than the Nether. The heroes feel it in their very soul that the final battle draws near. One this day, between the heroes and the Heart of Ender, one of them shall fall. They spot something rising in the horizon. This is it, the Broken Citadel, the original homestead of the Orb of Dominance. The city was already crawling with a welcoming party of enderlings and illagers. With the power of the elytra, the heroes make their way across the Broken Citadel. Suddenly, the Heart of Ender scurries past the heroes, as it enters a large void pool in the center of its shrine. The entirety of the Broken Citadel seems to rumble as something rises from the black depths. Standing before them is the Orb of Dominance’s perfected form, the Vengeful Heart of Ender. One last battle engages between the reborn embodiment of evil and the last hope of the Overworld until…the Vengeful Heart of Ender shakes uncontrollably, firing lasers everywhere, chopping itself to pieces. The monstrous entity falls to pieces, disintegrating, as the heroes look on to see the Vengeful Heart of Ender’s ashes blowing away into the obscurity of the End, to be lost forever…

With news of the Orb of Dominance’s permanent demise, celebrations occur across the Overworld. Though the orb is finally dead, some other evil could rise in its place, as evil always does…but when it does heroes will be ready to fight against it!

Confirmed dominations

 * , dwelling within an became emboldened upon being corrupted by one of the orb's shards.
 * , an outcast Illager who built Highblock Keep, became the Arch-Illager upon being corrupted by the orb's influence.
 * , dwelling within a, became wicked upon being corrupted by one of the orb's shards.
 * , the ancient protector of the, became mighty upon being corrupted by one of the orb's shards.

Confirmed manifestations

 * — The first manifestation of the orb, created atop the as a last resort from preventing the defeat of the Arch-Illager and fall of illager empire.
 * — The second manifestation of the orb, created within the after the remnants of the orb was taken to the End by two Endermen.
 * — The third and final manifestation of the orb, formed within the central area of the by drawing upon power surging from the echoing depths of the void.

Confirmed victims

 * — One of the six enchanted endersent that was enhanced by the orb to guard an Eyes of Ender within.
 * — One of the six enchanted endersent that was enhanced by the orb to guard an Eyes of Ender within the.
 * (boss) — A cauldron shaped golem built by the witches of the that was given sentience by the orb.
 * — Small anemones summoned by wavewhisperers to trap heroes.
 * — Small vines summoned by whisperers to trap heroes.
 * (boss) — A cave spider dwelling in that was enhanced by the orb.
 * (boss) — A Royal Guard dwelling on the that was enhanced by the orb.
 * — A Royal Guard dwelling on the that was enhanced by the orb.
 * (boss) — A rudimentary golem constructed within an from objects in the Jungle for the fractured consciousness of one of the orb's shards.
 * — An inhabitant of the that was corrupted by a shard of the orb.
 * — A Mage dwelling on the that was enhanced by the orb.
 * (boss) — A war machine dwelling atop the that was given function and sentience by the orb.
 * — Anemones that were corrupted by one of the orb's shards making them grow larger and shoot poison projectiles.
 * — Vines that were corrupted by one of the orb's shards making them grow larger and shoot poison projectiles.
 * — Anemones that were corrupted by one of the orb's shards making them grow all over the sea.
 * — Vines that were corrupted by one of the orb's shards making them grow all over the jungle.
 * — One of the six enchanted endersent that was enhanced by the orb to guard an Eyes of Ender within.
 * — One of the six enchanted endersent that was enhanced by the orb to guard an Eyes of Ender within the.
 * — A cube shaped golem that was given function and sentience by the orb through splitting from the Redstone Monstrosity.
 * — A golem that was given function and sentience by the orb.
 * — A golem that was given function and sentience by the orb.
 * (boss) — A war machine dwelling within the that was given function and sentience by the orb.
 * — One of the six enchanted endersent that was enhanced by the orb to guard an Eyes of Ender within.
 * — One of the six enchanted endersent that was enhanced by the orb to guard an Eyes of Ender within.
 * — An inhabitant of the that was corrupted by a shard of the orb.
 * — An inhabitant of the that was corrupted by a shard of the orb.