Wither Skeleton

Wither Skeletons
Type	Hostile
Health	20 (10 x )
Damage Dealt
Drops	0-1 (+Loot Level) Coal, 0-2 (+Loot Level) Bones, 0-1 Wither Skull, 0-1 Stone Sword
First Appearance	Update 0.12.1

Wither Skeletons are Hostile Mobs added in Update 0.12.1. They are the Nether equivalents of Skeletons.

Spawning

Wither Skeletons spawn naturally in Nether Fortresses.

They have a small chance to spawn wearing Armor.

Behavior

Wither Skeletons walk slowly when idle, but when they see the Player, they pursue quickly and attack using a Stone Sword. They have a chance to inflict the Player with the Wither I Status Effect, which is similar to Poison, but can kill the Player.

Combat

Wither Skeletons are best fought using a Bow, as getting close may be lethal to the Player, but using a Diamond Sword is also a considerable option.

Trivia

• When used in the Nether, a Skeleton Spawn Egg has a ⁴/₅ chance to spawn a Wither Skeleton in Creative Mode.
• Wither Skeleton Skulls can be used to spawn the Wither Boss as of Update 0.16.0.
  • Bedrock Exclusive: Wither Skeletons spawn when the Wither is at 50% Health.
• Wither Skeletons have a small chance to drop their Skull without having to be blown up by a Charged Creeper, the only mob to do so.
• Wither Skeletons have a larger hitbox than normal Skeletons, thus making them easier to kill as they can't travel through 2-Block high gaps.
• Wither Skeletons, being from the Nether, do not burn in Sunlight.
• Mobs which can apply status effects on the Player include (listed in order of addition to Minecraft): Cave Spiders, Wither Skeletons, Witchs, Strays, Husks, Withers, Elder Guardians, and Shulkers.
• After Update 0.15.0, Wither Skeletons have a new AI.