Minecraft stronghold finder
Enter your seed to list the strongholds nearest to you, with exact X and Z coordinates, for Java Edition 1.16.5 to 1.21.4.
Structures and search area
Bedrock Edition isn't supported yet
Bedrock places structures and slime chunks differently from Java, so we don't show Java results for a Bedrock world. Bedrock support is coming. Switch to Java to use the map.
Strongholds in numbers
- 1,679blocks from 0, 0 to the nearest stronghold (median)
- 0.1strongholds per 1,000 × 1,000 blocks
- 128strongholds in 8 rings on Java
- 29/30of our listed results confirmed by the game
Measured with our engine on 10 test seeds, Java 1.21.1, in an area of 8,192 × 8,192 blocks around 0, 0 for each seed.
What is a stronghold?
A stronghold is an underground stone-brick maze. It holds the only End portals in the game, so you need one to reach the End and fight the Ender Dragon. 6 things to look for inside:
- An End portal room with 12 End portal frames
- Each frame has a 10% chance to already hold an eye of ender
- A silverfish spawner in the portal room
- 0 to 2 libraries with bookshelves and loot chests
- Altar chests that can hold ender pearls, diamonds and iron gear
- Eye armor trim templates
Watch out: Silverfish come out of the spawner and out of infested blocks. The portal room also has lava.
Where strongholds generate
Strongholds can generate under any Overworld biome. They are mostly underground, and some generate low enough to cut into bedrock. Java Edition has 128 strongholds, placed in 8 rings around X 0, Z 0. The first ring has 3 strongholds, between 1,280 and 2,816 blocks from the centre.
The map can’t tell you a biome for strongholds: they are underground, so the surface biome above them says little about where they are.
How far apart strongholds are
Strongholds don’t follow the region grid that most structures use. They sit in rings around the world centre, so the first ones are always more than a thousand blocks from 0, 0, and every seed has the same number.
| Measure | Closest seed | Median seed | Furthest seed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nearest to 0, 0 (blocks) | 1,429 | 1,679 | 2,431 |
| Number in 8,192 × 8,192 blocks | 5 | 5 | 3 |
Engine results for the 10 test seeds, Java 1.21.1. Placement: rings around 0, 0.
The median is a typical seed. Yours can be much closer or further, which is why the finder lists results for your exact seed.
Tips for finding and exploring strongholds
- Throw an eye of ender and follow it: it flies towards the stronghold’s starting staircase. Use the finder to know which stronghold you’re heading to.
- The 3 closest strongholds are always 1,280 to 2,816 blocks from 0, 0, spread at roughly equal angles, about 120 degrees apart.
- Rarely, caves or other structures break the End portal. A portal only works with all 12 frames, so you would need another stronghold.
How to use the coordinates in game
- Press F3 to see your own X and Z, then head towards the result’s X and Z. Strongholds are underground, so dig down at the coordinates or follow an eye of ender for the last few blocks.
- With cheats on, tap a marker or Copy and run
/tp @s X ~ Z; the~keeps your current height. - The coordinates are the north-west corner of the chunk the stronghold starts in, the same chunk
/locate structure minecraft:strongholdpoints to.
Set “Search near” to your base or the map centre to list strongholds around a different spot. To see strongholds next to every other structure type, use the structure finder.
How accurate the stronghold finder is
We started a real Java 1.21.1 server for 10 test seeds. Our nearest stronghold to 0, 0 matched the game’s /locate on 9 of 10 seeds, and the game confirmed 29 of the 30 strongholds we listed. Usually exact, but can be off by a chunk or two. Other versions haven’t been checked against the game yet.
Bedrock Edition: Java only for now
Bedrock spreads strongholds randomly instead of in rings, at least 160 blocks from the world centre and with no limit on their number, plus 3 extra strongholds that always generate under villages. A Java map would point you to the wrong places, so the finder doesn’t show Bedrock results yet.
Frequently asked questions
How do I find a stronghold in Minecraft?
Enter your world seed above, pick the Java version the world was created in, and the finder lists the nearest strongholds with exact X and Z coordinates. Throw an eye of ender and follow it: it flies towards the stronghold’s starting staircase. Use the finder to know which stronghold you’re heading to.
What Y-level are strongholds at?
Strongholds are underground, so dig down at the coordinates or follow an eye of ender for the last few blocks.
How far away is the nearest stronghold?
On our 10 test seeds the nearest stronghold to 0, 0 was 1,679 blocks away for a typical seed, ranging from 1,429 to 2,431 blocks. Your seed can be closer or further, so check the list for your own world.
Does the stronghold finder work on Bedrock Edition?
Not yet. Bedrock spreads strongholds randomly instead of in rings, at least 160 blocks from the world centre and with no limit on their number, plus 3 extra strongholds that always generate under villages. The finder only shows Java results, so it never points you to the wrong place.
How accurate is the stronghold finder?
We checked it against a real Java 1.21.1 server: the game confirmed 29 of the 30 strongholds we listed, and our nearest result matched /locate on 9 of 10 seeds. Usually exact, but can be off by a chunk or two.
How do I find my Minecraft seed?
In Java Edition, type /seed in chat. It works in single player even with cheats off; on a server you need operator rights. Text seeds work too: paste them as they are.
Related finders
- Trial chambers finderVaults, breezes and heavy cores (1.21+).
- Ancient city finderDeep dark cities at Y -51.
- Woodland mansion finderRare dark forest mansions and totems.
- Ocean monument finderDeep ocean temples with gold and sponges.
- Pillager outpost finderWatchtowers and ominous bottles.
- All findersEvery finder on one page.
Strongholds were added in Java Beta 1.8. Facts from the Minecraft Wiki: Stronghold.