Wither skeleton skulls are one of the rarest drops in Minecraft. You can’t craft them, and they don’t spawn naturally. The only way to get one is to hunt down wither skeletons in the Nether and hope they drop when you kill them.
Where to Find Wither Skeleton Skulls
In Creative Mode
Grab them straight from the inventory. Look in Decoration Blocks for versions 1.8 through 1.19.2, or Functional Blocks for 1.19.3 and newer.
In Survival Mode
1. Hunt in the Nether
Wither skeletons only spawn in the Nether, usually near Nether fortresses. They’re taller and darker than regular skeletons, and they carry stone swords instead of bows. You can’t miss them once you see one.
2. Attack and Kill
They’re tougher than regular skeletons and deal more damage, so wear armor and bring a good weapon. Fight until it dies.
3. Wait for the Drop (and Hope)
Wither skeletons drop coal, bones, or their stone sword pretty often. But a skull? That’s rare. It can take dozens of kills to get one, so don’t give up if the first few don’t drop skulls.
4. Grab It Fast
If you get lucky and a skull drops, pick it up before it disappears. This is valuable loot worth keeping safe.
Item ID and Command Syntax
If you’re using commands, here’s what you need for different versions:
| Minecraft Version | ID / Name | Stack Size |
|---|---|---|
| 1.8 to 1.12 | skull (ID: 397, Damage: 1) | 64 |
| 1.13 to 1.19.3+ | wither_skeleton_skull | 64 |
Give Command
Want to skip the grind in Creative or Creative mode? Use one of these commands:
Java Edition 1.13 and newer:
/give @p wither_skeleton_skull 1
Java Edition 1.8 through 1.12:
/give @p skull 1 1
What You Can Make With Wither Skeleton Skulls
These skulls have real uses beyond just sitting in your inventory:
- Summon the Wither Boss – Build a T-shape with soul sand and place three wither skeleton skulls on top to spawn the Wither. This is one of the hardest bosses in the game.
- Skull Charge Banner Pattern – Put a skull on a banner to add the skull charge design.
- Decoration – Place them on walls or shelves in your base for a spooky vibe.
Other Skulls in Minecraft
Skulls come in different types depending on what mob dropped them:
- Skeleton Skull (dropped by regular skeletons)
- Zombie Head (dropped by zombie heads)
- Creeper Head (dropped by creepers killed by other mobs)
- Player Head (various ways to obtain)
- Dragon Head (found in the End)
- Piglin Head (dropped by piglins)