World of Warcraft streamer Xaryu ran into one of Minecraft‘s most confusing early lessons during a recent stream, after deciding the best way to reach a stronghold beneath a lake was to remove the lake itself.
In a recent clip, Xaryu stared down a body of water that sat between him and his path to the Ender Dragon. His plan was simple: empty the lake, walk in, fight the boss. Minecraft had other ideas.
The structure Xaryu was hunting was a stronghold, the underground dungeon that holds the End portal. Players activate it with Eyes of Ender, step through, and finally face the Ender Dragon in The End. Strongholds can generate under any terrain, including lakes and oceans, so it’s not unusual for the trail of Eyes of Ender to point straight into the water.
The problem is how Minecraft handles liquids. Lakes are made up of water source blocks, not a single volume of fluid. Scoop one block out with a bucket and the neighboring blocks fill the gap almost instantly. Xaryu reportedly kept at it for several minutes, and the lake kept restoring itself like nothing had happened.
Sponges would have helped
Experienced players know there are far faster ways to deal with this. The most common trick is to swim down, dig into the lakebed, and slap a block over your head to stop water from pouring in. A door placed underwater creates an air pocket. Sand and gravel can be dumped into a flooded area and then mined back out. Sponges absorb water in bulk, and conduits give underwater breathing for bigger projects.
The easiest answer is usually to skip the lake entirely. Dig a staircase from the shore, tunnel sideways under the water, and pop up inside the stronghold. No bucket required.
