Endermen are the only mob in Minecraft that rearranges your world by picking up and moving blocks. But they can only carry a specific set of blocks. Here is the complete list for Java Edition, plus what does and does not hurt them.
Blocks endermen can pick up
In Java Edition, the blocks an enderman can hold are defined by the minecraft:enderman_holdable block tag. The current list is:
- Grass block, dirt, coarse dirt, rooted dirt, podzol, and mycelium
- Mud and muddy mangrove roots
- Sand and red sand
- Gravel and clay
- Moss block and pale moss block
- Melon, pumpkin, and carved pumpkin
- Cactus and cactus flower
- Red and brown mushrooms
- Crimson and warped fungi, roots, and nylium
- Short flowers such as dandelions and poppies
- TNT
That last one is the fun one: an enderman really can pick up and relocate live TNT.
Blocks endermen cannot pick up
Anything not on the holdable tag stays put. That includes the blocks players ask about most:
- Cobblestone and stone
- Wood, planks, and logs
- Ores and ore blocks
- Crafted and building blocks like bricks, concrete, and wool
So no, an enderman cannot steal your cobblestone walls or wooden house.
How endermen take damage
Endermen are neutral, meaning they ignore you until provoked. A few things hurt or disturb them:
- Water and rain. Contact with water, rain, or a splash water bottle deals 1 point of damage and makes the enderman teleport away. Endermen actively avoid water.
- Projectiles. Endermen teleport away from arrows and other projectiles, which makes them frustrating to fight at range.
- Daylight. In direct sunlight, endermen teleport randomly and often end up hiding in caves.
How to fight an enderman safely
Looking directly at an enderman's head or eyes within range makes it hostile, so wear a carved pumpkin on your head to look at them safely. Fighting under a low ceiling (2 blocks high) stops them from teleporting on top of you, since they need room for their tall body.
Frequently asked questions
Can endermen pick up cobblestone? No. Cobblestone is not on the holdable list, so endermen leave it alone.
Can endermen move TNT? Yes. TNT is one of the blocks they can carry.
Do endermen take damage from water? Yes, 1 point per contact, and they will teleport away from it.
Are endermen hostile? They are neutral. They only attack if you hit them or look directly at their head.
Want to see how well you really know Minecraft's mobs? Take the mob quiz below.