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Skeleton Skull

Skeleton Skull

A skeleton skull is the head of a skeleton in the form of a block. It can be obtained from ancient cities or by killing a skeleton using a charged…

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Blocks Stackable resources Renewable resources Generated structure blocks Combat Utility blocks Block entities Createable blocks
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Contents (33)
  1. Obtaining
  2. Breaking
  3. Natural generation
  4. Mob loot
  5. Usage
  6. Decoration
  7. Wearing
  8. Dispensers
  9. Crafting ingredient
  10. Enchantments
  11. Note blocks
  12. Piston interactivity
  13. Sounds
  14. Generic
  15. Unique
  16. Data values
  17. ID
  18. Block states
  19. Block data
  20. Achievements
  21. History
  22. Reveal
  23. Java Edition
  24. Bedrock Edition
  25. Legacy Console Edition
  26. New Nintendo 3DS Edition
  27. Data history
  28. Issues
  29. Trivia
  30. Gallery
  31. Renders
  32. Screenshots
  33. References
Skeleton Skull
Skeleton Skull.png: Infobox image for Minecraft block 'Skeleton Skull'
Invicon Skeleton Skull.png: Inventory sprite for Skeleton Skull in Minecraft as shown in-game with description:
Rarity tier
  Uncommon
Renewable Yes
Stackable Yes (64)
Tool Any tool
Blast resistance 1
Hardness 1
Luminous No
Transparent Yes
Waterloggable JE: No
BE: Yes
Flammable No
Catches fire
from lava 		No
Map color
 0 NONE
Note block instrument Skeleton rattle

A skeleton skull is the head of a skeleton in the form of a block. It can be obtained from ancient cities or by killing a skeleton using a charged creeper's explosion.

Obtaining

Breaking

No tool can accelerate the breaking process of skeleton skull.[1]

Block Skeleton Skull
Hardness 1
Breaking time (secs)
Default 1.5 (JE)
1.5 (BE)
Efficiency
00
Legend
  • incorrect tool, drops nothing
  • correct tool, drops nothing or something other than the block itself
  • correct tool, drops the block itself
  • italicized can be instant mined

Skeleton skull drops itself when it's destroyed. When destroyed by an explosion, the skeleton skull always drops as an item.

Natural generation

Skeleton skulls can generate in ancient cities, which sometimes generate in the deep dark.

Mob loot

Skeleton heads are always dropped by a skeleton if it dies due to a charged creeper's explosion. In Bedrock Edition, if multiple mobs are killed by the same charged creeper, all of them drop their heads, however in Java Edition only one mob selected at random drops its head.[2]

Usage

Decoration

A skeleton skull can be oriented in 16 different directions on top of a block, and 4 directions on the sides of blocks, similar to signs. They can be placed on top of, or beside each other by shift clicking.

Wearing

See also:  § Renders

The player can wear skeleton skulls, similarly to pumpkins or helmets. This overlays the second layer of the player's skin.

Disguise

Wearing a skeleton skull reduces the detection range for skeletons. This is similar to (and stacks with) the reductions in detection range from sneaking and from the Invisibility status effect.

In Bedrock Edition, wearing a skeleton skull makes the player invisible to other players on a locator map.

Locator bar

Like all other mob heads, a skeleton skull can be worn by a player to hide their location, as it will prevent other players from finding them using the locator bar.

Dispensers

A dispenser can equip a skeleton skull on a player, mob, or armor stand with an empty helmet slot, within the block the dispenser is facing.

Crafting ingredient

Ingredients Crafting recipe
Skeleton skull +
Gunpowder +
Any Dye
Invicon Gunpowder.png: Inventory sprite for Gunpowder in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Gunpowder with description: GunpowderInvicon Skeleton Skull.png: Inventory sprite for Skeleton Skull in Minecraft as shown in-game with description:Invicon White Dye.png: Inventory sprite for White Dye in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to White Dye with description: White DyeInvicon Light Gray Dye.png: Inventory sprite for Light Gray Dye in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Light Gray Dye with description: Light Gray DyeInvicon Gray Dye.png: Inventory sprite for Gray Dye in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Gray Dye with description: Gray DyeInvicon Black Dye.png: Inventory sprite for Black Dye in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Black Dye with description: Black DyeInvicon Brown Dye.png: Inventory sprite for Brown Dye in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Brown Dye with description: Brown DyeInvicon Red Dye.png: Inventory sprite for Red Dye in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Red Dye with description: Red DyeInvicon Orange Dye.png: Inventory sprite for Orange Dye in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Orange Dye with description: Orange DyeInvicon Yellow Dye.png: Inventory sprite for Yellow Dye in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Yellow Dye with description: Yellow DyeInvicon Lime Dye.png: Inventory sprite for Lime Dye in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Lime Dye with description: Lime DyeInvicon Green Dye.png: Inventory sprite for Green Dye in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Green Dye with description: Green DyeInvicon Cyan Dye.png: Inventory sprite for Cyan Dye in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Cyan Dye with description: Cyan DyeInvicon Light Blue Dye.png: Inventory sprite for Light Blue Dye in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Light Blue Dye with description: Light Blue DyeInvicon Blue Dye.png: Inventory sprite for Blue Dye in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Blue Dye with description: Blue DyeInvicon Purple Dye.png: Inventory sprite for Purple Dye in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Purple Dye with description: Purple DyeInvicon Magenta Dye.png: Inventory sprite for Magenta Dye in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Magenta Dye with description: Magenta DyeInvicon Pink Dye.png: Inventory sprite for Pink Dye in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Pink Dye with description: Pink Dye
Invicon White Firework Star.png: Inventory sprite for White Firework Star in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to White Firework Star with description: Firework Star WhiteInvicon Light Gray Firework Star.png: Inventory sprite for Light Gray Firework Star in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Light Gray Firework Star with description: Firework Star Light GrayInvicon Gray Firework Star.png: Inventory sprite for Gray Firework Star in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Gray Firework Star with description: Firework Star GrayInvicon Black Firework Star.png: Inventory sprite for Black Firework Star in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Black Firework Star with description: Firework Star BlackInvicon Brown Firework Star.png: Inventory sprite for Brown Firework Star in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Brown Firework Star with description: Firework Star BrownInvicon Red Firework Star.png: Inventory sprite for Red Firework Star in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Red Firework Star with description: Firework Star RedInvicon Orange Firework Star.png: Inventory sprite for Orange Firework Star in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Orange Firework Star with description: Firework Star OrangeInvicon Yellow Firework Star.png: Inventory sprite for Yellow Firework Star in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Yellow Firework Star with description: Firework Star YellowInvicon Lime Firework Star.png: Inventory sprite for Lime Firework Star in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Lime Firework Star with description: Firework Star LimeInvicon Green Firework Star.png: Inventory sprite for Green Firework Star in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Green Firework Star with description: Firework Star GreenInvicon Cyan Firework Star.png: Inventory sprite for Cyan Firework Star in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Cyan Firework Star with description: Firework Star CyanInvicon Light Blue Firework Star.png: Inventory sprite for Light Blue Firework Star in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Light Blue Firework Star with description: Firework Star Light BlueInvicon Blue Firework Star.png: Inventory sprite for Blue Firework Star in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Blue Firework Star with description: Firework Star BlueInvicon Purple Firework Star.png: Inventory sprite for Purple Firework Star in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Purple Firework Star with description: Firework Star PurpleInvicon Magenta Firework Star.png: Inventory sprite for Magenta Firework Star in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Magenta Firework Star with description: Firework Star MagentaInvicon Pink Firework Star.png: Inventory sprite for Pink Firework Star in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Pink Firework Star with description: Firework Star Pink

Enchantments

Skeleton skulls can receive the following enchantments, but only through an anvil.

Name Max level Method
Curse of Binding I Anvil
Curse of Vanishing I Anvil

Note blocks

Placing a skeleton skull above a note block causes the note block to play the skeleton's ambient sound when activated.

The block below the note block does not affect the mob sound it creates.

Piston interactivity

Skeleton skulls are destroyed when pushed by a piston and cannot be pulled by a sticky piston.

Sounds

Generic

Skeleton skulls use stone-like sounds, unlike the bone sounds used by bone blocks. Mojang have stated that this is not a valid discrepancy to address.[3]

Java Edition:

BlockSprite stone.png: Sprite image for stone in Minecraft stone sound type
SoundClosed captionsSourceDescriptionIdentifierTranslation keyVolumePitchAttenuation
distance
​Block brokenBlocksOnce the block has brokenblock.stone.breaksubtitles.block.generic.break​1.00.816
​Block placed​[until: JE 26.4]BlocksWhen the block is placedblock.stone.placesubtitles.block.generic.place​1.00.816
​Block breakingBlocksWhile the block is in the process of being brokenblock.stone.hitsubtitles.block.generic.hit​0.250.516
​Something falls on a blockEntity-DependentFalling on the block with fall damageblock.stone.fallsubtitles.block.generic.fall​0.50.7516
​FootstepsEntity-DependentWalking on the blockblock.stone.stepsubtitles.block.generic.footsteps​0.151.016

Bedrock Edition:

BlockSprite stone.png: Sprite image for stone in Minecraft stone sound type
SoundClosed captionsSourceDescriptionIdentifierTranslation keyVolumePitch
​Block brokenBlocksOnce the block has brokendig.stonesubtitles.block.generic.break​1.00.8–1.0
​Block placedBlocksWhen the block is placedplace.stonesubtitles.block.generic.place​1.00.8–1.0
​Block breakingBlocksWhile the block is in the process of being brokenhit.stonesubtitles.block.generic.hit​0.370.5
​FootstepsPlayersFalling on the block with fall damagefall.stonesubtitles.block.generic.footsteps​0.41.0
​FootstepsPlayersWalking on the blockstep.stonesubtitles.block.generic.footsteps​0.31.0
​FootstepsBlocksJumping from the blockjump.stonesubtitles.block.generic.footsteps​0.121.0
​FootstepsBlocksFalling on the block without fall damageland.stonesubtitles.block.generic.footsteps​0.221.0

Unique

Java Edition

Sounds
SoundClosed captionsSourceDescriptionIdentifierTranslation keyVolumePitchAttenuation
distance
​Skeleton rattlesJukebox/Note BlocksWhen a skeleton skull is played using a note blockblock.note_block.imitate.skeletonsubtitles.entity.skeleton.ambient​3.01.016
​Gear equipsPlayersWhen a skeleton skull is equippeditem.armor.equip_genericsubtitles.item.armor.equip​1.01.016

Bedrock Edition:

Sounds
SoundClosed captionsSourceDescriptionIdentifierTranslation keyVolumePitch
​ ?Jukebox/Note BlocksWhen a skeleton skull is played using a note block[sound 1]note.skeleton​ ??0.84 [sound 2]
​ ?PlayersWhen a skeleton skull is equippedarmor.equip_generic​ ?1.01.0
  1. ↑ MCPE-164530
  2. ↑ Actually equal to , which is about 0.8409
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Data values

ID

Java Edition:

NameIdentifierFormItem tags Translation key
BlockSprite skeleton-skull.png: Sprite image for skeleton-skull in Minecraft Skeleton Skullskeleton_skullBlock & Itemskulls block.minecraft.skeleton_skull
BlockSprite skeleton-wall-skull.png: Sprite image for skeleton-wall-skull in Minecraft Skeleton Wall Skullskeleton_wall_skullBlock— block.minecraft.skeleton_wall_skull
NameIdentifier
BlockSprite skeleton-skull.png: Sprite image for skeleton-skull in Minecraft Block entityskull

Bedrock Edition:

NameIdentifierAlias ID Numeric ID FormItem ID[i 1] Translation key
BlockSprite skeleton-skull.png: Sprite image for skeleton-skull in Minecraft Skeleton Skullskeleton_skullskull / 0144Block & Giveable Item[i 2]Identical[i 3] item.skull.skeleton.name
  1. ↑ ID of block's direct item form, which is used in savegame files and addons.
  2. ↑ Available with /give command.
  3. ↑ The block's direct item form has the same ID as the block.
NameSavegame ID
BlockSprite skeleton-skull.png: Sprite image for skeleton-skull in Minecraft Block entitySkull

Block states

See also: Block states

Java Edition:
Floor

Name Default value Allowed values Description
poweredfalse trueThe block receives a redstone signal.
falseThe block receives no redstone signal.
rotation0 0The block is facing south.
1The block is facing south-southwest.
2The block is facing southwest.
3The block is facing west-southwest.
4The block is facing west.
5The block is facing west-northwest.
6The block is facing northwest.
7The block is facing north-northwest.
8The block is facing north.
9The block is facing north-northeast.
10The block is facing northeast.
11The block is facing east-northeast.
12The block is facing east.
13The block is facing east-southeast.
14The block is facing southeast.
15The block is facing south-southeast.

Wall

Name Default value Allowed values Description
poweredfalse trueThe block receives a redstone signal.
falseThe block receives no redstone signal.
facingnortheast
north
south
west		The direction the head is facing.
Opposite from the direction a player is facing when placing it.

Bedrock Edition:

NameMetadata Bits Default value Allowed valuesValues for
Metadata Bits		 Description
facing_direction0x1
0x2
0x4		0 11On the floor (rotation is stored in the tile entity)
22On a wall, facing north
33On a wall, facing south
44On a wall, facing east
55On a wall, facing west
00Same as 5, but unobtainable without commands or editing.

Block data

A skeleton skull has a block entity associated with it that holds additional data about the block.

Java Edition:

See also: Block entity format
  • [NBT Compound / JSON Object] Block entity data
    • Tags common to all block entities see Template:Nbt inherit/blockentity/template
    • [String] custom_name: Optional. The custom name of the head or skull. Represents the minecraft:custom_name component.
    • [String] note_block_sound: Optional. If this block is a player head, this is the sound event produced by the note block that this head is placed on. Does nothing if present on any other head or skull type. Represents the minecraft:note_block_sound component.
    • [String][NBT Compound / JSON Object] profile: Optional. The textures and/or player profile used to render a player head. If specified as a string, it corresponds to [String] name and is always saved as a [NBT Compound / JSON Object] compound. If omitted, a the wide Steve skin is used. Does nothing if present on any other head or skull type. Represents the minecraft:profile component.
      • A player profile and/or textures object see Template:Nbt inherit/profile/template

Bedrock Edition:

See Bedrock Edition level format/Block entity format.

Achievements

IconAchievementIn-game descriptionActual requirements (if different)Gamerscore earnedTrophy type (PS)
PS4Other
CamouflageKill a mob while wearing the same type of mob head.—30Bronze
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History

There is an associated page listing all historical changes related to the appearance and/or sounds associated with this block in further detail than below; see /Asset history.

Reveal

August 28, 2012 Jeb released images of the skeleton head, hinting of more types to come.
PAX 2012 At PAX, Dinnerbone revealed that there would be rare drops of these mobs.[4]

Java Edition

Java Edition
1.4.212w36a Added skeleton skulls, obtainable only from the Creative inventory.
12w37a Changed item textures.
1.4.612w49a Skeleton skulls can now be used to craft a firework star with creeper-face effect.
1.814w29a Heads now display a cracking animation.
14w30a Skeleton skulls in inventories and held by mobs/players now display as blocks.
Skulls worn by mobs and players are now displayed on the armor layer. Previously, the skull replaced the mob/player's head texture; the hat layer appeared over the skull.
Skeleton skulls are now available in survival. The player can obtain them by killing a skeleton with a charged creeper.
14w30b A single charged creeper explosion no longer yields more than one mob head. The mob head that drops is chosen randomly.
1.915w31a Skeleton skulls now appear larger in the inventory.
15w32a Skeleton skulls can now be worn to reduce detection by the corresponding mobs by 50%.
15w33c The disguise that is given by mob heads now reduces detection range to 37.5% of normal.
15w36a The disguise that is given by mob heads now reduces detection range to 50% of normal again.
15w39a Dispensers can now equip skeleton skulls onto players, mobs and armor stands.
15w49a Skeleton skulls no longer turn red when the player or mob takes damage.[5]
1.1317w47a Skeleton skulls now play a sound when placed.
Skeleton skulls can no longer be placed inside entities.[6]
18w21a The rarity of skeleton skulls has been changed from "Common" to "Uncommon".
1.19Deep Dark Experimental Snapshot 1 Skeleton skulls now generate as part of ancient cities.
1.19.4
Experiment
Update 1.20		23w03a Skeleton skulls can now be placed on top of note blocks without sneaking.
1.19.423w05a Skeleton skulls can now be swapped with other pieces of headgear in the head inventory slot by using them.[7]

Bedrock Edition

Pocket Edition Alpha
v0.12.1build 1 Added skeleton skulls.
The skeleton skull uses the Java texture prior to 14w30a.
v0.14.0build 1 Skeleton skulls can now be worn as armor.
Bedrock Edition
1.2.0beta 1.2.0.2 Skeleton skulls can now be used to craft firework stars.
beta 1.2.0.11 Skeleton skulls in inventories and when held by mobs/players now display as blocks.
1.10.0beta 1.10.0.3 The textures of skeleton skulls have been changed.
1.19.60
Experiment
Next Major Update		Preview 1.19.60.25 Heads can now be placed on top of note blocks without sneaking.
1.21.30Preview 1.21.30.21 The rarity of skeleton skulls has been changed from "Common" to "Uncommon" to match Java Edition.

Legacy Console Edition

Legacy Console Edition
Xbox 360Xbox OnePS3PS4PS VitaWii USwitch
TU12CU11.001.001.00Patch 11.0.1 Added skeleton skulls to the Creative inventory.
TU19CU71.121.121.12 Skeleton skulls can now be used to craft a firework star with creeper-face effect.
TU31CU191.221.221.22Patch 3 Skeleton skulls in inventories and held by mobs/players now display as blocks.
Skeleton skulls are now available in Survival. The player can obtain them by killing a skeleton with a charged creeper.
TU34CU221.251.251.25Patch 4 Skeleton skulls can now be swapped with other pieces of headgear in the head inventory slot by using them.
TU49CU391.421.421.42Patch 18 Skeleton skulls are now held the same way as on Java Edition in first person.

New Nintendo 3DS Edition

New Nintendo 3DS Edition
0.1.0 Added skeleton skulls.

Data history

Bedrock Edition
1.21.40Preview 1.21.40.20 The separate and direct item forms of the skull block ID have been merged and its data values have been split up into their own IDs.

Issues

Issues relating to "Skeleton Skull" are maintained on the bug tracker. Issues should be reported and viewed there.

Trivia

  • Skeleton skulls do not have their own textures and take their textures from other objects.
  • When breaking a skeleton skull, the particle effect of breaking it is the same as soul sand.
  • In Bedrock Edition, the skull variant for the item is stored under the damage component, normally used for items with durability.

Renders

  • Alex wearing a skeleton skull
    Alex wearing a skeleton skull
  • Ari wearing a skeleton skull
    Ari wearing a skeleton skull
  • Efe wearing a skeleton skull
    Efe wearing a skeleton skull
  • Kai wearing a skeleton skull
    Kai wearing a skeleton skull
  • Makena wearing a skeleton skull
    Makena wearing a skeleton skull
  • Noor wearing a skeleton skull
    Noor wearing a skeleton skull
  • Steve wearing a skeleton skull
    Steve wearing a skeleton skull
  • Sunny wearing a skeleton skull
    Sunny wearing a skeleton skull
  • Zuri wearing a skeleton skull
    Zuri wearing a skeleton skull

Screenshots

  • Kai wearing a skull, near a skull, near a skeleton, in an ancient city
    Kai wearing a skull, near a skull, near a skeleton, in an ancient city

References

  1. ↑ MC-192905 – Heads & Skulls have no assigned tool
  2. ↑ MC-63534 – resolved as "Works As Intended".
  3. ↑ MC-171885
  4. ↑ http://www.twitch.tv/pax2/b/330745811 (at 3:59:00)
  5. ↑ MC-85756
  6. ↑ MC-2208
  7. ↑ MC-216270 – resolved as "Fixed".
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