| Type | Wither |
|---|---|
| HP | 65 |
| Attack | 8 |
| Defense | 5 |
| Range | 5 |
| Speed | 2 |
| Size | 2×2 |
| Phase 2 | ≤ 50% HP |
| Dimension | Nether |
The Wither
Basalt Deltas biome boss — the undisputed king of the Nether. A three-headed abomination that rains skulls from above, decays everything it touches, and becomes an unstoppable battering ram at low health.
The Wither is the final Nether boss and the gatekeeper to the End. It combines ranged artillery (skull projectiles), passive ground denial (decay aura), summoned reinforcements (Wither Skeletons), and a devastating charge attack. Phase 2 forces melee combat by granting complete ranged immunity.
Abilities
- Wither Skull Barrage (every 2 turns): Launches 3 Wither Skull entities that travel in a straight line toward the player. Skulls have 3 HP and 5 ATK. They can be destroyed. Max 6 skulls alive at once. Telegraphed with dark gathering particles 1 turn before launch.
- Decay Aura (passive, every turn): All tiles within 2 of the Wither become fire tiles that deal 2 damage per turn. Refreshed each turn automatically.
- Summon Wither Skeletons (every 4 turns): Spawns 2 Wither Skeletons (10 HP / 5 ATK / 1 DEF) on random empty tiles. Max 4 alive at once. Telegraphed with ground crack particles 1 turn before spawn.
- Charge (when player is 3+ tiles away, 3 turn cooldown): Dashes up to 4 tiles in a straight line toward the player, dealing ATK+3 damage to everything in the path. Telegraphed with highlighted path tiles for 1 turn.
Wither Skull Barrage
The signature mechanic. Wither Skulls are actual mob entities on the grid, not instant damage. They spawn adjacent to the Wither and travel in a straight line toward where the player was standing when they were fired. They deal 5 damage and apply Wither on contact, then despawn. Skulls can be destroyed by the player since they only have 3 HP.
Every 2 turns, 3 new skulls launch. The board becomes increasingly chaotic as skulls accumulate from different angles. Destroying them early is critical.
Decay Aura
A passive ability that fires every single turn. All tiles within 2 of the Wither become fire tiles (2 damage per turn). This refreshes every turn, so the fire zone follows the Wither wherever it moves. Standing near the Wither means taking constant chip damage from decayed ground.
Summon Wither Skeletons
Every 4 turns, the Wither summons 2 Wither Skeletons as reinforcements. These have 10 HP, 5 ATK, and 1 DEF. The maximum number of skeletons alive at once is 4. They are telegraphed with ground crack particles 1 turn before spawning.
Charge
When the player is 3 or more tiles away, the Wither can dash up to 4 tiles in a straight line, dealing ATK+3 damage (11 total) to everything in its path. The path is highlighted for 1 full turn before the charge executes, giving you time to move out of the way. Has a 3 turn cooldown.
Phase 2 — "Wither Armor"
Triggers at 50% HP or below (37 HP).
- Transition Explosion: 8 damage to all entities within 3 tiles. Telegraphed with a white flash for 1 full turn before detonation.
- Ranged Immunity: Completely immune to all ranged and projectile attacks. Must be hit in melee.
- Skull Barrage: 5 skulls instead of 3. Max 10 alive.
- Decay Aura: Radius extends from 2 to 3 tiles.
- Summon: 3 Wither Skeletons per summon. Max 6 alive.
- Charge: Now leaves a fire decay trail behind the dash path (3 turn duration).
Strategy
Phase 1 is a ranged artillery fight. Dodge skull projectiles, avoid decayed ground, clear Wither Skeleton adds, and chip away from range. Prioritize destroying skulls before they reach you — they only have 3 HP so most weapons one-shot them.
Phase 2 flips everything. Ranged immunity forces melee engagement, but the expanded 3-tile Decay Aura punishes being close. More and faster skulls make the board chaotic. The Charge now leaves fire trails that cut off retreat paths. The transition Explosion punishes players who were already in melee range.
Bring high melee damage for Phase 2. Fire Resistance potions help with the expanded decay aura. This is the hardest fight in the Nether.