Skeletons are ranged, hostile mobs that shoot arrows at the player and any other mob that attacks it. Like zombies, skeletons spawn in dimly lit areas, and will burn when directly in sunlight (when the sun is 15 degrees or greater above the ground) unless they are swimming in water. The skeleton will not burn if not directly in view of the sun, e.g. underneath a tree.
Since their initial introduction into the game, skeletons have received an AI update that has allowed them be about as "intelligent" as zombies, since they were both given similar AI updates. Skeletons can since now seek cover when on fire, and can perform many other "smarter" actions.
Appearance
A skeleton has grey bones, a skull head and has the same face as zombies, but with a different color and a mouth. In their right hand, they hold a bow. The skeleton's head was used on the Wither, only inversed.
Uses
Skeletons are an excellent source of bones (and bone meal) and can also drop arrows. Each skeleton will drop 0 - 2 bones and/or 0 - 2 arrows upon death. Although skeletons will fire arrows into walls and the ground, the player cannot pick up and re-use these arrows. Because of its valuable drops, skeleton dungeons are well sought-out for mob grinding purposes.
Creepers must be killed by a skeleton's arrow in order to drop a music disc.
Skeletons also have a 1/40 chance of dropping a bow only when they are killed by the player. There is a 1/5 chance the bow may be pre-enchanted with Power I, Power II or Punch I, however very rarely with a combination. The bow will not be damaged if dropped by the skeleton.
In the future, skeletons will drop their heads, although rarely. They will be somehow arranged to spawn the Wither boss.
Behavior
When skeletons are nearby, their presence is indicated by the soft rattling sound of their bones. Skeletons will chase any player they see within a 16 block radius. They will climb steps, navigate mazes, and traverse other complex obstacles in order to get close to the player. When they are within 8 blocks of the player, with a clear line of sight, they will stop chasing and start shooting the player with arrows. If the player moves more than 16 blocks away from the skeleton, it will cease pursuit. In the old versions, the skeleton would have started to "bunnyhop" around you while shooting arrows. This was removed in 1.2, because Notch and Jeb thought it was then harder to kill the skeleton. Skeletons will attempt to avoid damage from the player by continuously circling around them while in combat.
If a skeleton's arrow hits another hostile mob, that mob will then attack the skeleton the same way it would attack the player (with the exception of zombies and creepers, which usually manage to continue pursuing the player). So, if a skeleton shoots another skeleton, they will inevitably become locked in a duel until one of them dies or is attacked by a player. As of 12w34a this is the same for the Wither.
Skeletons do not have a melee attack, their only weapon is their bow.
Skeletons will attempt to avoid sunlight by running under shade or into water.[1]
Combat
Cleanly killing a skeleton generally requires the use of a bow and arrows. Melee combat will usually result in the player getting hit by at least one arrow before dispatching the skeleton. However, when using melee methods, it is recommended to circle around the skeleton in a decaying orbit by using the a/d keys and the w key simultaneously. This is a good way to dodge the arrows while getting close enough to attack.
If ranged combat is not an option, it is possible to minimize damage by blocking with a sword. This strategy can be used effectively by blocking just before the skeleton shoots an arrow and rushing forward after the shot. Repeating this process even while the skeleton is in melee range will allow the player to kill the skeleton while taking as little damage as possible from arrows.
Going after skeletons while swimming is not advised, as the water will slow the player's movement down to the point of making them an easy target for the skeleton's arrows.
Skeletons, like zombies and zombie pigmen, can be damaged by splash potions of healing and also are damaged heavily by a sword with the smite enchantment.
Defensive measures
Skeletons are vulnerable to daylight (when not standing in water), lava, fire, falling, suffocation, and contact with cacti. They are also able to climb ladders. Surface skeleton populations can be controlled if the player regularly sleeps in a bed at dusk, since skeletons will spawn in the dark if given the chance to. Players can keep an ear out for the clicking and xylophone-like sounds of nearby skeletons in caves and use certain corners and tight spaces to their advantage.
Construction safeguards
Proper lighting around and inside structures is essential to preventing skeletons (and other hostile mobs) from spawning.
Video
Skeleton/video
Achievements
| Icon | Achievement | In-game description | Prerequisites | Actual requirements (if different) | Version restriction | Xbox points earned |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Sniper Duel | Kill a skeleton with an arrow from more than 50 meters | Monster Hunter | "50 meters" is 50 blocks away. | PC | N/A |
History
Skeletons were a hostile mob introduced to the game in Survival Test. They spawned randomly in new Survival maps and followed players when approached, much like zombies. They shot arrows with a purple/magenta colored shaft, appeared to fire arrows at a faster and more random rate, and shot 6 arrows outward a short range in all directions when dying. Arrows fired by skeletons at that time could be picked up and used by players. Skeletons took 5 hits to kill and could appear wearing NPC armor (that gave them no additional protection) and gave 120 points when killed.
In Alpha, skeletons would drop 0 - 2 arrows upon death. As of Alpha 1.2.0 (also known as the Halloween Update), skeletons hold a bow in their right hand.
As of Beta 1.2, skeletons can drop 0 - 2 bones in addition to arrows. These bones can be turned into bone meal, and mixed with other ingredients to make dyes or applied to wheat and saplings to mature the crop instantly. In Beta 1.4, skeleton bones could be used to tame wolves. As of Beta 1.6.6, bone meal applied to grass blocks will grow tall grass and flowers. As of Beta 1.8, a skeleton's bow is now larger and held more realistically (full-sized bows, two-handed, and pulling the arrow back) than in previous versions (in one hand) and they also fire arrows slightly slower. Their arrows however, will be shot with more force. This update also fixed a bug where skeletons would fire their arrows from above their heads. Also as of Beta 1.8, bone meal can also be used on a mushrooms to create Huge Mushrooms.
Since Beta 1.9 pre 5, a splash potion of fire resistance can be used to spare skeletons from burning to death in the sun.
In the 1.2 weekly Pre-release 12w04a, the Skeleton AI was updated so they are smarter, i.e. if a skeleton catches fire in daylight, it will rush to the nearest shadow or body of water for safety. The same path finding AI that was added to the zombies in 1.2 weekly Pre-release 12w03a were added to the skeletons in 1.2 Pre-release 12w04a. Since 12w06a, there is a small chance that skeletons drop a Bow when killed. There is also a small chance that the bow will be enchanted.
As of 1.2, Creepers will ignore a skeleton's arrows and will continue to chase the player since the creeper also received an AI update.
Trivia
- Skeletons' arrows will often miss the player if they stand perfectly still and the skeleton doesn't move.
- Skeletons' legs have the same texture as their arms.
- If alerted to a player's presence, skeletons can (and will) fire arrows backwards (behind them).
- If the player is under a skeleton, it will shoot itself.
- A skeleton in a minecart will burn on contact with sunlight.
- Skeletons may spawn on top of a spider creating a "Spider Jockey."
- In Creative Mode, when a skeleton shoots an arrow at the player, the arrow bounces off and can hit the skeleton or other mobs. If it hits another hostile mob, it causes it to become hostile to the skeleton.
- Skeletons can climb up ladders, but they will not shoot the players while climbing up. They do not use ladders to their advantage, and often simply use it if it is directly in front of them while in pursuit of the player.
- A skeleton can kill itself with its own arrows if the player stays directly above it while flying in Creative Mode.
- A skeleton hit by a splash potion of harming will gain health, however, when it is hit by a splash potion of healing it will lose health. It is also unaffected by potions of regeneration and poison. This is because skeletons are undead.
- Skeletons cannot see the player through glass.
- If a skeleton spawns via a monster spawner on peaceful, it can shoot an arrow at the player before it despawns. The arrow won't do any damage, though.
- If a skeleton is attacked by another mob, then attacked by the player, the skeleton will be focused only on attacking the first mob that attacked it. (Unless the mob dies of course)
- There is an unused Death sound in the game files, however, they use the Hurt sound on death.
- Skeletons will not go in pursuit mode when it is under the shade at any time of day. When it reaches nighttime however, they will start giving chase.
- If you go inside a skeleton, you will will see the bow texture overlap and go inside the skeletons head.
- If a skeleton shoots a Zombie Pigman, only the Zombie Pigman that was shot will attack the skeleton.
- If you stand inside of the skeleton he can't hurt you, but you can hurt him.
- It might be possible in the future to collect and place Skeleton's heads, as shown by a image posted by Jeb on Twitter.
Gallery
A Skeleton in 1.8. You can see it wielding its bow with both hands.
Two skeletons shooting each other in 1.9pre4. The skeleton on the right is a Spider Jockey skeleton riding a spider.
A Skeleton in 12w32a in golden armor.
- Skeleton leather.png
A Skeleton in 12w34b with leather armor.
See also
References
12w34a{{Extension DPL}}<ul><li>[[Clay Ball|Clay Ball]]<br/>{{Item
| image = Clay Ball.png
| stackable = Yes (64)
| renewable = Yes
}}
{{about|the item|the block|Clay|other uses|Clay (disambiguation)}}
A '''clay ball''' is the item obtained from [[clay]] used for [[crafting]] or making [[brick]]s.
== Obtaining ==
=== Block loot ===
Clay balls are obtained when a [[clay]] block is broken with a non-[[Silk Touch]] tool. Each block yields four clay balls regardless of [[Fortune]].
=== Chest loot ===
{{LootChestItem|clay-ball}}
=== Villager gifts ===
If a [[player]] has the [[Hero of the Village]] status effect, a Mason [[villager]] might throw that player a [[clay block]] as a gift. {{Only|java}} This can be placed and [[breaking|broken]] to harvest clay balls.
== Usage ==
Clay balls can be [[crafting|crafted]] back together to form [[clay]] blocks or baked in a [[furnace]] to create [[brick]]s.
=== Crafting ingredient ===
{{crafting usage}}
=== Smelting ingredient ===
{{Smelting
|showname=1
|Clay Ball
|Brick
|0.3
}}
=== Trading ===
Novice-level [[Villager|mason villagers]] buy 10 clay balls for 1 [[emerald]] as part of their [[trades]].
== Data values ==
=== ID ===
{{edition|java}}:
{{ID table
|edition=java
|showforms=y
|generatetranslationkeys=y
|displayname=Clay Ball
|spritetype=item
|nameid=clay_ball
|form=item
|foot=1}}
{{edition|bedrock}}:
{{ID table
|edition=bedrock
|shownumericids=y
|showforms=y
|notshowbeitemforms=y
|generatetranslationkeys=y
|displayname=Clay
|spritetype=item
|nameid=clay_ball
|id=384
|form=item
|foot=1}}
== History ==
{{History|java alpha}}
{{History||v1.0.11|[[File:Clay Ball JE1 BE1.png|32px]] Added clay.}}
{{History|java}}
{{History||1.13|snap=17w47a|Prior to [[1.13/Flattening|''The Flattening'']], this [[item]]'s numeral ID was 337.}}
{{History||1.14|snap=18w43a|[[File:Clay Ball JE2 BE2.png|32px]] The texture of clay has been changed.}}
{{History|||snap=18w49a|Clay can now be found in [[chest]]s in [[village]] mason houses.}}
{{History|||snap=18w50a|Clay can now be found in [[chest]]s in [[desert]] [[village]] houses.}}
{{History|||snap=19w11a|Clay is now [[trading|bought]] by [[villager]]s of the new mason profession.}}
{{History||1.16|snap=20w06a|"Clay" has been renamed to "Clay Ball."}}
{{History|pocket alpha}}
{{History||v0.2.0|[[File:Clay Ball JE1 BE1.png|32px]] Added clay. It is currently unobtainable and serves no purpose.}}
{{History||v0.3.2|4 clay items are now dropped from clay blocks when broken.
|Clay can now be crafted into clay blocks.
|Clay can now be smelted into bricks.}}
{{History|bedrock}}
{{History||1.10.0|snap=beta 1.10.0.3|[[File:Clay Ball JE2 BE2.png|32px]] The texture of clay has been changed.|10–13 clay can now be [[trading|sold]] to stone mason [[villager]]s for an [[emerald]].}}
{{History||1.11.0|snap=beta 1.11.0.1|Clay can now be found in [[village]] mason [[chest]]s and [[desert]] village house chests.}}
{{History|||snap=beta 1.11.0.4|[[Trading]] has been changed, stone mason villagers now [[trading|buy]] 10 clay for an emerald<!-- previously 10-13 -->.}}
{{History||1.19.0|snap=beta 1.19.0.24|Clay ball now [[renewable]] by placing [[mud]] above a block which has [[pointed dripstone]] underneath.}}
{{History|console}}
{{History||xbox=TU1|xbone=CU1|ps=1.0|wiiu=Patch 1|[[File:Clay Ball JE1 BE1.png|32px]] Added clay.}}
{{History||xbox=none|xbone=none|ps=1.90|wiiu=none|switch=none|[[File:Clay Ball JE2 BE2.png|32px]] The texture of clay has been changed.}}
{{History|3ds}}
{{History||0.1.0|[[File:Clay Ball JE1 BE1.png|32px]] Added clay.}}
{{History|foot}}
== Issues ==
{{issue list}}
== Gallery ==
<gallery>
File:ClayInNumerousForms.png
</gallery>
== Notes ==
{{fnlist}}
{{Items}}
[[cs:Jíl]]
[[de:Tonklumpen]]
[[es:Bola de arcilla]]
[[fr:Motte d'argile]]
[[hu:Agyag (Tárgy)]]
[[it:Zolla di argilla]]
[[ja:粘土玉]]
[[ko:점토 덩이]]
[[nl:Klei (voorwerp)]]
[[pl:Glina]]
[[pt:Bola de argila]]
[[ru:Глина]]
[[uk:Глиняна кулька]]
[[zh:黏土球]]</li><li>[[Feather|Feather]]<br/>{{about|a item|a enchantent|Feather Falling}}
{{Item
| image = Feather.png
| stackable = Yes (64)
| renewable = Yes
}}
'''Feathers''' are items dropped by [[chicken]]s and [[parrot]]s, as well as tamed [[cats]] as morning gifts.
== Obtaining ==
=== Mob loot ===
Adult [[chicken]]s drop 0–2 feathers upon death. The maximum is increased by 1 per level of [[Looting]], for a maximum of 0–5 with Looting III.
[[Parrot]]s drop 1–2 feathers upon death. The maximum is increased by 1 per level of Looting, for a maximum of 1–5 with Looting III.
A [[fox]] sometimes spawns holding a feather, which always drops upon death. Alternatively, the player can drop a [[food]] item, causing the fox to drop the feather in favor of the food.
=== Natural generation ===
{{LootChestItem|feather}}
=== Cat gifts ===
{{main|Cat#Gifts}}
Tamed [[cat]]s have a 70% chance of giving the [[player]] a "morning gift", and the gift has a 16.13% chance to be a feather.
== Usage ==
=== Helmet ===
<div style='float:right'></div>
While a feather cannot be equipped in the head slot in [[Survival]] mode, equipping it using commands causes it to appear completely upright unlike other items.
[[File:Steve wearing Feather.png|75px]]
[[File:Alex wearing Feather.png|75px]]
=== Crafting ingredient ===
{{crafting usage}}
=== Trading ===
Expert-level fletcher [[villager]]s buy 24 feathers for an [[emerald]] as part of their trade.
== Data values ==
=== ID ===
{{edition|java}}:
{{ID table
|edition=java
|showforms=y
|generatetranslationkeys=y
|displayname=Feather
|spritetype=item
|nameid=feather
|form=item
|foot=1}}
{{edition|bedrock}}:
{{ID table
|edition=bedrock
|shownumericids=y
|showforms=y
|notshowbeitemforms=y
|generatetranslationkeys=y
|displayname=Feather
|spritetype=item
|nameid=feather
|id=327
|form=item
|foot=1}}
== History ==
{{History|java indev}}
{{History||0.31|snap=20100130|[[File:Feather JE1.png|32px]] Added feathers.|Feathers can be used to [[craft]] [[arrow]]s.
|Feathers are [[drop]]ped by every [[mob]] in quantities of 0 to 2.}}
{{History||20100206|[[File:Feather JE2 BE1.png|32px]] The feather's texture has been changed; it is now not as straight anymore.}}
{{History||20100219|[[Zombie]]s are now the only [[mob]] that can drop feathers. This was a placeholder as [[Notch]] has stated he currently doesn't know what else they should drop.<ref>{{tweet|notch|21723172931895296}}</ref>}}
{{History|java alpha}}
{{History||v1.0.14|[[Chicken]]s now [[drop]] 0–2 feathers upon death.}}
{{History|java beta}}
{{History||1.8|snap=Pre-release|[[Zombie]]s now drop [[rotten flesh]], instead of feathers.
|[[Chicken]]s are now the only source of feathers.}}
{{History|java}}
{{History||1.3.1|snap=12w17a|Feathers are now used to craft [[book and quill]]s.}}
{{History||1.4.6|snap=12w49a|Feathers are now used to craft a [[firework star]] with a burst effect.}}
{{History||1.12|snap=17w13a|[[Parrot]]s now [[drop]] feathers.}}
{{History||1.13|snap=17w47a|Prior to ''[[The Flattening]]'', this [[item]]'s numeral ID was 288.}}
{{History|||snap=18w11a|Feathers now generate in [[shipwreck]] [[chest]]s.}}
{{History||1.14|snap=18w43a|[[File:Feather JE3 BE2.png|32px]] The texture of feathers has been changed.}}
{{History|||snap=18w44a|[[Cat]]s now offer feathers as [[Cat#Gifts|gift]]s.}}
{{History|||snap=18w48a|Feathers can now be found in chests in plains [[village]] houses.}}
{{History|||snap=18w50a|Feathers can now be found in chests in fletcher houses.}}
{{History|||snap=19w07a|Added [[fox]]es, which sometimes spawn with feather in their mouths.}}
{{History|||snap=19w11a|Fletcher [[villager]]s now [[trading|buy]] feathers.}}
{{History||1.20<br>(Experimental)|link=1.19.4|snap=1.19.4 Pre-release 1|Feathers can now be used to craft [[brush]]es.}}
{{History|pocket alpha}}
{{History||v0.2.0|[[File:Feather JE2 BE1.png|32px]] Added feathers. They are currently unobtainable and serve no purpose.}}
{{History||v0.3.3|Chickens now drop 0–2 feathers upon death.|Feathers can now be used to [[craft]] [[arrow]]s.}}
{{History||v0.5.0|Feathers can now be obtained after activating the [[nether reactor]].}}
{{History||v0.11.0|snap=build 1|[[Zombie]]s now drop [[rotten flesh]], instead of feathers.}}
{{History||v0.12.1|snap=build 1|Feathers are no longer available from the [[nether reactor]].}}
{{History|bedrock}}
{{History||1.2.0|snap=beta 1.2.0.2|Feathers can now be used to craft [[book and quill]]s.|Added [[parrot]]s, which [[drop]] feathers.|Feathers can now be used as an ingredient to craft a [[firework star]].}}
{{History||1.4.0|snap=beta 1.2.14.2|Feathers can now be found in [[shipwreck]] [[chest]]s.}}
{{History||1.8.0|snap=beta 1.8.0.8|Feathers can now be given as a gift to the [[player]] by tamed [[cat]]s.}}
{{History||1.10.0|snap=beta 1.10.0.3|[[File:Feather JE3 BE2.png|32px]] The texture of feathers has been changed.|Feathers can now be found in the new [[plains]] [[village]] house.}}
{{History||1.11.0|snap=beta 1.11.0.1|Feathers can now be found in village fletcher [[chest]]s.}}
{{History|||snap=beta 1.11.0.4|Feathers can now be [[trading|sold]] to fletcher [[villager]]s.}}
{{History||1.13.0|snap=beta 1.13.0.1|Added [[fox]]es, which can [[drops|drop]] feathers.}}
{{History||1.20.0<br>(Experimental)|link=Bedrock Edition 1.19.80|snap=beta 1.19.80.20|Feathers can now be used to craft [[brush]]es.}}
{{History|console}}
{{History||xbox=TU1|xbone=CU1|ps=1.0|wiiu=Patch 1|[[File:Feather JE2 BE1.png|32px]] Added feathers.}}
{{History|Ps4}}
{{History||1.90|[[File:Feather JE3 BE2.png|32px]] The texture of feathers has been changed.}}
{{History|New Nintendo 3DS Edition}}
{{History||0.1.0|[[File:Feather JE2 BE1.png|32px]] Added feathers.}}
{{History|foot}}
== Issues ==
{{issue list}}
== References ==
{{reflist}}
== External Links ==
*[https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/article/taking-inventory--feather Taking Inventory: Feather] – Minecraft.net on March 3, 2019
{{Items}}
[[Category:Renewable resources]]
[[cs:Pírko]]
[[de:Feder]]
[[es:Pluma]]
[[fr:Plume]]
[[hu:Toll]]
[[it:Piuma]]
[[ja:羽根]]
[[ko:깃털]]
[[nl:Veer]]
[[pl:Pióro]]
[[pt:Pena]]
[[ru:Перо]]
[[uk:Перо]]
[[zh:羽毛]]</li></ul> | Skeleton AI implemented into the wither. | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|