Updated:
The finished command (Java 1.21.5+)
/summon wither_skeleton ~ ~1 ~ {CustomName:"Dark Knight",CustomNameVisible:1b,PersistenceRequired:1b,Tags:["boss"],Health:200f,attributes:[{id:"max_health",base:200},{id:"attack_damage",base:15}],equipment:{mainhand:{id:"netherite_sword",count:1},head:{id:"netherite_helmet",count:1},chest:{id:"netherite_chestplate",count:1}},drop_chances:{mainhand:0f,head:0f,chest:0f}}Older versions write equipment and drop chances differently. Pick your version in the summon command generator instead of editing this by hand.
What each part does
| Part | Meaning |
|---|---|
CustomName | Name shown above the mob |
CustomNameVisible:1b | Show the name from any distance |
PersistenceRequired:1b | The boss does not despawn when players walk away |
Tags:["boss"] | A label to select it later with @e[tag=boss] |
attributes | Max health, attack damage and other stats |
Health:200f | Health when it appears; match it to max health |
equipment | Weapon and armor slots |
drop_chances | Chance to drop each item on death; 0 means never |
Raising Health alone does nothing past the normal limit. Raise max_health as well, or the extra health is cut off.
Show its health on a bossbar
/bossbar add mc:boss "Dark Knight"
/bossbar set mc:boss max 200
/bossbar set mc:boss color red
/bossbar set mc:boss players @aPut this in a repeating, always active command block to keep the bar in sync:
/execute store result bossbar mc:boss value run data get entity @e[tag=boss,limit=1] HealthRemove the bar after the fight with /bossbar remove mc:boss. The bossbar guide covers colors and styles.
Mobs that make good bosses
- Wither skeleton: tall and threatening with a sword.
- Zombie or husk: a husk does not burn in daylight; a zombie needs a helmet.
- Ravager: charges hard, so use a large arena.
- Blaze: attacks from the air for a ranged fight.
Balancing the fight
Start with 100 to 200 health and adjust to your players' gear. Very high attack damage can kill a player in diamond armor in one hit. Resistance or Regeneration effects are another way to tune a boss without huge numbers.
Bedrock Edition
Bedrock /summon has no NBT, so health and equipment cannot be set in the command. You can name the mob (/summon wither_skeleton "Dark Knight" ~ ~1 ~), strengthen it with effects, or change the mob in a behavior pack.
Common questions
- The boss burns in sunlight. Give it a helmet, or use a mob that does not burn, such as a husk.
- Reward players when it dies. In a repeating command block, check
execute unless entity @e[tag=boss]and run the reward in a conditional chain. Use a score or tag so it only happens once. - Can it have 1,000+ health? Max health is capped (1024 on current Java). Combine a high value with Resistance instead.
Check your command
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