Skeleton Horse

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For other skeletons, see Skeleton (disambiguation).
"Skeleton Horseman" redirects here. For the powerful mob in Minecraft Dungeons, see MCD:Skeleton Horseman.
Skeleton Horse
Health points

15HP♥ × 7.5

Behavior

Passive

Mob type

Undead, Animal, Monster[BE only]

Hitbox size

In Java Edition:
Adult:
Height: 1.6 blocks
Width: 1.3965 blocks
Baby:
Height: 0.8 blocks
Width: 0.6982 Blocks
In Bedrock Edition:
Adult:
Height: 1.6 blocks
Width: 1.4 blocks
Baby:
Height: 0.8 blocks
Width: 0.7 blocks

Speed

0.2

Spawn

Skeleton traps

Usable items

A skeleton horse is an undead variant of the horse. It sometimes spawns when lightning strikes, causing four horsemen to appear if the trap horse is approached.

Spawning[edit | edit source]

A group of skeleton horsemen spawned by a "skeleton trap" horse.
A skeleton horseman consisting of a skeleton and a skeleton horse.

A “skeleton trap horse” is a defensive skeleton horse spawned from a fraction of lightning generated naturally by a thunderstorm (0.75–1.5% chance on Easy, 1.5–4% on Normal, and 2.25–6.75% on Hard, depending on regional difficulty). In Java Edition, the lightning that spawns a trap horse doesn't strike nearby entities or spawn fires. Lightning strikes caused by a Channeling-enchanted trident and lightning strikes on a lightning rod never spawn a skeleton trap horse. The trap horse despawns after 15 minutes if not triggered (even if it is named).

The skeleton trap horse is triggered when a player comes within 10 blocks of it, resulting in a lightning strike that does not start fires or damage nearby entities. When struck, the skeleton trap horse transforms into a skeleton horseman: a skeleton riding a skeleton horse. It also spawns three additional skeleton horsemen in the vicinity.

The skeleton is equipped with an enchanted iron helmet and an enchanted bow. In Java Edition, both the horse and horseman have damage immunity for 3 seconds after spawning. In Bedrock Edition, both the horse and horseman are always immune to lightning. The skeleton horse cannot spawn in the mushroom fields[1] and in peaceful mode[2], similar to hostile and neutral monsters.

A skeleton trap horse can be spawned in Java Edition using the command /summon skeleton_horse ~ ~ ~ {SkeletonTrap:1}, or in Bedrock Edition using the command /summon skeleton_horse ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ minecraft:set_trap.

Drops[edit | edit source]

On death[edit | edit source]

Item Roll Chance Quantity (Roll Chance)
Default Looting I Looting II Looting III
Invicon Bone.png: Skeleton Horse drops Bone with quantity 0-2Bone100%0–20–30–40–5

If saddled, it drops a saddle.‌[Java Edition only]

Killing a baby skeleton horse yields no items or experience. In Bedrock Edition, killing a trap skeleton horse also yields no items or experience.

Usage[edit | edit source]

See also: Transportation

As with normal horses, skeleton horses can be ridden by a player and are one of fastest means of transportation. When ridden, they can be used to climb hills and jump fences because the skeleton horses can jump up to five block heights, versus the player's maximum of one (without jump boost).

Unlike normal horses, skeleton horses can be ridden in water at any depth without forcing the player to dismount. They sink to the bottom and can be ridden along the ocean or river floor.

Skeleton horses can be pulled or tethered with a lead.

Equipment[edit | edit source]

GUI of a skeleton horse.‌[JE only]
Java Edition

Skeleton horses have the following slot available:

  • SlotSprite Saddle.png: Sprite image for Saddle in Minecraft Saddle Slot: For equipping a saddle.

Saddles can be placed on a tamed skeleton horse by holding it and then using on the skeleton horse, or by accessing its inventory. A skeleton horse’s inventory can be accessed by mounting the skeleton horse and using inventory control, or by sneaking and then using on the skeleton horse.

Baby skeleton horses cannot be equipped.

Bedrock Edition

A skeleton horse does not have an inventory and cannot be equipped with a saddle or armor. Despite this, the default texture file, like those of normal horses, donkeys and mules, includes a chest.

Riding[edit | edit source]

Main article: Riding

In Bedrock Edition, skeleton horses can be controlled by the player without a saddle. In Java Edition, skeleton horses must be equipped with a saddle to be controlled. Like riding other entities, a player can travel into a nether portal or end portal while on a skeleton horse.

The player can control a tamed (and saddled Java Edition) skeleton horse with standard directional controls, jump, and the mouse. The player dismounts using the dismount control.

A player controlled skeleton horse automatically runs up any one block high slope. The skeleton horse and rider can safely fit through a space as low as 2.75 blocks high. Lower clearance risks suffocating the rider if the rider's head enters a non-transparent block. The horse itself can enter gaps as low as 1.625 blocks high, but may itself take suffocation damage when clearance is less than 1.75 blocks. Skeleton horses cannot fit through a 1-block-wide gap.

Player controlled skeleton horses have the ability of "jumping charging". When the player rides them, the experience bar on HUD is replaced by jumping charging bar. A controlled skeleton horse can be made to jump and holding the control charges for a higher leap. Skeleton horses are not affected by jump boost beacons or potions.

Unlike normal horses, a skeleton horse does not force the player to dismount when it is under water; rather, it can be ridden underwater without drowning. The player can still drown underwater without the proper potions or enchantments, even when mounted on the skeleton horse. When underwater, its running speed and jump remain the same although it has a slower rate of descent.

Behavior[edit | edit source]

The skeleton horse is an undead mob that is initially defensive when it spawns and triggers a skeleton trap horse if the player gets too close. Once the skeleton rider is defeated, the skeleton horse becomes completely passive. Skeleton horses behave like normal horses, roaming idly and occasionally stopping to rear, swish their tails, or lower their heads as though eating the grass. Unlike sheep, the eating animation does not actually cause any grass to be consumed. Skeleton horses can breathe in water.

Skeleton horses can safely fall 6 blocks before they begin to accumulate fall damage, unlike most mobs, which can only safely fall 3 blocks. Skeleton horses also take half of the normal fall damage (rounded up) that most other mobs take (0.5HP♥ × 0.25 damage per block over the safe distance instead of 1HP♥). If an entity is riding a skeleton horse, they receive the same fall damage as the skeleton horse.

Unlike other passive mobs, skeleton horses slowly regenerate health evident by their health bar while the player rides it. This is the same case for normal horses.

Skeleton horses cannot be bred. However, in Java Edition, skeleton horses can be fed while being ridden by the skeleton. The valid food items are the same as for the normal horse: sugar, wheat, normal/gold/enchanted apples, golden carrots, and hay bales.

Being an undead mob, they are:

Other notes:

  • The skeleton wears an iron helmet, unless it randomly spawned with some other headgear.
  • The skeleton's bow and helmet are enchanted as if on an enchanting table at level 5–22. The exact level depends on regional difficulty; on Easy it is always a level-5 enchantment.
  • The skeleton trap horse and the skeleton horse in a jockey are always adult. In Bedrock Edition, the skeleton trap horse is not an adult nor a baby, though it looks like an adult.
  • The skeleton in a naturally spawned skeleton horseman jockey does not despawn.
  • A trap horse may spawn in areas that a regular horse may not, such as the middle of an ocean.
  • A trap horse can trigger normally in clear weather (and often a player encounters a trap horse after the thunderstorm has cleared).
  • The skeleton drops more experience orbs.
  • The skeleton does not shoot any mob that attacks the skeleton horse.
  • In Bedrock Edition, skeleton horses are killed by the conduit like any regular hostile mob, despite being tamed.[3]

Taming[edit | edit source]

In Bedrock Edition, the skeleton horse is always tamed. In Java Edition, a skeleton trap horse becomes tamed when struck by lightning. The other three skeleton horses are tamed when they are spawned.

In Java Edition, with the use of commands, a skeleton horse can be tamed in the same way as a regular horse, granting the Best Friends Forever advancement:/ride @s mount @e[type=minecraft:skeleton_horse,limit=1]. A tamed skeleton horse can also be summoned using /summon minecraft:skeleton_horse ~ ~ ~ {Tame:1b}.

Statistics[edit | edit source]

See also: Tutorials/Horses

All horses have three "equine stats" that vary from horse to horse: health, maximum movement speed, and jump strength. These stats are created once the horse is born or spawned, and are not affected by food.

Spawned values[edit | edit source]

When spawned in any way except breeding – for instance, using commands, spawning naturally, spawning as part of a skeleton trap, or using spawn eggs – horses are assigned their stats within certain ranges, specific according to their horse type.

Health[edit | edit source]

A skeleton horse's health is always 15. Displayed hearts are health, divided by two, rounded down. A horse with an odd number of health points (15, 17, 19, etc.) does not show the last half-heart. If the horse has lost one health point lower than the inflicted damage and did not regenerate, it has an odd number of health points, otherwise, it has an even number of health points.

Movement speed[edit | edit source]

Skeleton horse's speed is always 0.2; the player's normal walking speed is 0.1. The speed listed does not include any status effect that affects the speed of a horse or a player.

See transportation to compare the speeds of various transportation methods.

Jump strength[edit | edit source]

Jump strength ranges from 0.4–1.0, averaging 0.7.

A jump strength of 0.5 is enough to clear 1 1932 blocks, while 1.0 is enough to clear 5 932 blocks.

The jump strengths required to clear several block heights are:

Jump Strength Blocks
0.967 5.00
0.848 4.00
0.716 3.00
0.565 2.00
0.431 1.25 (player's jump height)

Sounds[edit | edit source]

Skeleton horse sounds are the sounds of the regular horse but lower pitched and slowed with reverb.
Java Edition:
Skeleton horses use the Friendly Creatures sound category for entity-dependent sound events.

[hide]Sounds
SoundSubtitlesSourceDescriptionResource locationTranslation keyVolumePitchAttenuation
distance
​Skeleton Horse criesFriendly CreaturesRandomly while in airentity.skeleton_horse.ambientsubtitles.entity.skeleton_horse.ambient0.80.8-1.2
(Baby: 1.3-1.7)
16
​Skeleton Horse criesFriendly CreaturesRandomly while in waterentity.skeleton_horse.ambient_watersubtitles.entity.skeleton_horse.ambient0.80.8-1.2
(Baby: 1.3-1.7)
16
​Skeleton Horse diesFriendly CreaturesWhen a skeleton horse diesentity.skeleton_horse.deathsubtitles.entity.skeleton_horse.death0.80.8-1.2
(Baby: 1.3-1.7)
16
​Horse gallopsFriendly CreaturesWhile a skeleton horse is gallopingentity.horse.gallopsubtitles.entity.horse.gallopBlock-Dependent[sound 1]Block-Dependent[sound 1]16
​Horse gallopsFriendly CreaturesWhile a skeleton horse is galloping on blocks in waterentity.skeleton_horse.gallop_watersubtitles.entity.horse.gallop0.150.6-1.416
​Skeleton Horse hurtsFriendly CreaturesWhen a skeleton horse is damagedentity.skeleton_horse.hurtsubtitles.entity.skeleton_horse.hurt0.80.8-1.2
(Baby: 1.3-1.7)
16
​Horse jumpsFriendly CreaturesWhen a skeleton horse begins a leapentity.horse.jumpsubtitles.entity.horse.jump0.41.016
​Skeleton Horse jumpsFriendly CreaturesWhen a skeleton horse attempts to begin a leap in waterentity.skeleton_horse.jump_watersubtitles.entity.skeleton_horse.jump_water0.321.016
​Something fellFriendly CreaturesWhen a skeleton horse falls from more than 1 blockentity.horse.landsubtitles.entity.generic.big_fall0.41.016
​Skeleton Horse swimsFriendly CreaturesRandomly while a skeleton horse is moving through waterentity.skeleton_horse.swimsubtitles.entity.skeleton_horse.swim[sound 2]0.6-1.416
​FootstepsFriendly CreaturesWhile a skeleton horse is walkingentity.horse.stepsubtitles.generic.block.footstepsBlock-Dependent[sound 1]Block-Dependent[sound 1]16
None[sound 3]Friendly CreaturesWhile a skeleton horse is walking in waterentity.skeleton_horse.step_waterNone[sound 3]0.180.6-1.416
​Saddle equipsFriendly CreaturesWhen a saddle is equipped to a skeleton horseentity.horse.saddlesubtitles.entity.horse.saddle0.51.016
  1. Jump up to: a b c d See block sound type
  2. The precise equation is as follows:
    velocity=speed.x2×0.2+speed.y2+speed.z2×0.2
    volume=(whichever is smaller) 0.1 or (velocity×10 if being ridden and velocity×8.75 if not)
  3. Jump up to: a b MC-177090

Bedrock Edition:

[hide]Sounds
SoundSourceDescriptionResource locationVolumePitch
Friendly CreaturesRandomlymob.horse.skeleton.idle0.80.8-1.2 (Baby: 1.3-1.7)
Friendly CreaturesUnused sound event[sound 1]mob.horse.armor0.61.0 (Baby: 1.5)
Friendly CreaturesUnused sound event[sound 2]mob.horse.armor1.00.8-1.2 (Baby: 1.3-1.7)
Friendly CreaturesUnused sound eventmob.horse.breath0.71.0 (Baby: 1.5)
Friendly CreaturesWhen a skeleton horse diesmob.horse.skeleton.death0.80.8-1.2 (Baby: 1.3-1.7)
Friendly CreaturesWhile a skeleton horse is galloping while in airmob.horse.gallop0.450.9-1.1
Friendly CreaturesWhen a skeleton horse is damagedmob.horse.skeleton.hit0.80.8-1.2 (Baby: 1.3-1.7)
Friendly CreaturesWhen a skeleton horse begins a leapmob.horse.jump0.41.0
Friendly CreaturesWhen a skeleton horse falls from more than 1 blockmob.horse.land0.41.0 (Baby: 1.5)
Friendly CreaturesWhile a skeleton horse is walkingmob.horse.soft0.450.9-1.1
Friendly CreaturesWhile a skeleton horse is walking on wood[sound 3] or is being riddenmob.horse.wood0.450.9-1.1
Friendly CreaturesUnused sound eventmob.horse.leather0.61.0
  1. This sound event would occur if skeleton horses could have armor equipped.
  2. This sound event would occur if skeleton horses could have a chest equipped.
  3. Except for stems, Nether wood, cherry wood, and bamboo wood due to MCPE-165012

Data values[edit | edit source]

ID[edit | edit source]

Java Edition:

NameIdentifierEntity tags[hide]Translation key
EntitySprite skeleton-horse.png: Sprite image for skeleton-horse in Minecraft Skeleton Horseskeleton_horsecan_breathe_under_water
ignores_poison_and_regen
inverted_healing_and_harm
skeletons
undead
wither_friends
entity.minecraft.skeleton_horse

Bedrock Edition:

NameIdentifierNumeric ID [hide]Translation key
EntitySprite skeleton-horse.png: Sprite image for skeleton-horse in Minecraft Skeleton Horseskeleton_horse26entity.skeleton_horse.name

Entity data[edit | edit source]

Skeleton horses have entity data associated with them that contain various properties.

Java Edition:

Main article: Entity format

Bedrock Edition:

See Bedrock Edition level format/Entity format.

Achievements[edit | edit source]

[hide]
IconAchievementIn-game descriptionActual requirements (if different)Gamerscore earnedTrophy type (PS)
PS4Other
It SpreadsKill a mob next to a catalyst10Bronze
OverkillDeal nine hearts of damage in a single hit.Damage can be dealt to any mob, even those that do not have nine hearts of health overall.30Bronze
Over-OverkillDeal 50 hearts of damage in a single hit using the Mace20Silver

Advancements[edit | edit source]

IconAdvancementIn-game descriptionActual requirements (if different)
A Throwaway JokeThrow a Trident at something.
Note: Throwing away your only weapon is not a good idea.
Hit a mob with a thrown trident.
AdventureAdventure, exploration and combatKill any mob, or be killed by any living entity.
ArbalisticKill five unique mobs with one crossbow shotArmor Stand also counts for this advancement.
This is a hidden advancement, meaning that it can be viewed by the player only after completing it, regardless of if its child advancement(s), if any, have been completed.
Best Friends ForeverTame an animalTame one of these 8 tameable mobs: Skeleton Horse and Zombie Horse can be tamed in the same way as a regular horse to gain this advancement with the ride command.
It SpreadsKill a mob near a Sculk Catalyst Mobs that drop no experience as well as the ender dragon are ignored for this advancement.
Over-OverkillDeal 50 hearts of damage in a single hit using the Mace
Take AimShoot something with an ArrowUsing a bow or a crossbow, shoot a mob with an arrow, tipped arrow, or spectral arrow.

History[edit | edit source]

This section is missing information about: Did saddles always show up on invisible skeleton horses? If not, when did this change? Remember to include any relevant bug reports..
 
Please expand the section to include this information. Further details may exist on the talk page.
[hide]Java Edition
4 April 2013Jeb hinted at adding horses when Minecraft hit 10,000,000 sales.
1.6.113w16a Added skeleton horses.
The addition of skeleton horses, along with other horses, has been assisted by DrZhark (John Olarte), creator of the Mo' Creatures mod, whose horses are a baseline for Minecraft's horse models.[4]
Skeleton horses are not available yet without the use of third party commands.
13w21aAdded new GUI for horses, including skeleton horses; to control saddles, armor and inventories.
13w22aAdded new sound effects for skeleton horses.
1.7.213w36aSkeleton horses are now available without third-party tools, with the introduction of the /summon command.
1.915w38a Added "skeleton trap" horses.
There is a chance (depending on regional difficulty) that a lightning strike spawns a "skeleton trap" skeleton horse.
15w38bSkeleton horses are now undead mobs.
15w43a44bThe drops of skeleton horses have been changed several times. The end result is that skeleton horses now always drop one bone, not affected by Looting.
1.1016w20aAdded spawn eggs for skeleton horses.
pre2The spawn eggs for skeleton horses have been removed.
1.1116w32aThe spawn egg for skeleton horses has been re-added.
Skeleton trap horses' chance to spawn during lightning strikes has been reduced to 15 of what it was.
16w38aSkeleton horses now drop 0–2 of bones or rotten flesh, affected by Looting.
1.1317w45a The models of skeleton horses have been changed.
17w46a The new models for skeleton horses have been slightly tweaked.
18w03a The models of skeleton horses have been updated again and the textures have been slightly altered.
18w19aSkeleton horses now sink in water, due to being an undead mob. Zombie horses, curiously, do not.[5]
The player can now ride skeleton horses when underwater.
pre2The model of skeleton horses has been updated to fix serious Z-fighting, which has changed the model from to .[6]
1.1419w08a The textures of skeleton horses have been changed.
The textures of "skeleton trap" horses have been changed.
1.1620w09aSkeleton horses can now be leashed.[7]
1.19.423w03aThe texture of the skeleton horse has been changed.
[hide]Pocket Edition Alpha
v0.15.0build 1 Added "skeleton trap" horses.
[hide]Pocket Edition
1.0.6alpha 1.0.6.0Skeleton horses Skeleton horses spawned from traps can now be tamed and ridden.
?Skeleton horses no longer need to be tamed and don't require saddles to be controlled.
[hide]Bedrock Edition
1.2.0beta 1.2.0.2Skeleton horses can now be saddled
1.2.6beta 1.2.6.2 The models of skeleton horses have been changed to Java Edition 17w45a's skeleton horse models.
1.5.0beta 1.5.0.0Skeleton horses can now be ridden underwater.
1.8.0beta 1.8.0.8Baby skeleton horses now have a chance of being spawned using a spawn egg.
1.10.0beta 1.10.0.3 The textures of skeleton horses have been changed.
The textures of "skeleton trap" horses have been changed.
[hide]Legacy Console Edition
Xbox 360Xbox OnePS3PS4PS VitaWii USwitch
TU19CU71.121.121.12Patch 11.0.1 Added skeleton horses.
TU46CU361.381.381.38Patch 15 Added "skeleton trap" horses.
Skeleton horses are now undead mobs.[is this the correct version?]
TU54CU441.521.521.52Patch 241.0.4 Skeleton horses are now able to be spawned with a spawn egg found in the creative inventory.
TU57CU491.571.561.56Patch 271.0.7Skeleton horses can now be tamed and leashed.
TU60CU511.641.641.64Patch 301.0.11 The models of skeleton horses have been changed to Java Edition 17w45a's skeleton horse models.
TU69 1.761.761.76Patch 38 Skeleton horses now sink in water, due to being an undead mob.
The player can now ride skeleton horses when underwater.
Skeleton horses no longer need to be tamed and don't need a saddle to be controlled just like on Bedrock Edition.
1.90 The textures of skeleton horses have been changed.
The textures of "skeleton trap" horses have been changed.
[hide]New Nintendo 3DS Edition
0.1.0 Added "skeleton trap" horses.

Data history[edit | edit source]

This section is missing information about: 1.21.5 changed how saddles are handled internally.
 
Please expand the section to include this information. Further details may exist on the talk page.
[hide]Java Edition
1.1116w32aHorses now have separate IDs. The ID for skeleton horses has been changed from the NBT Type equal 4 to the unique ID skeleton_horse.
1.1317w47aNumeric IDs for entities were presumably deprecated in this version.​[more information needed]
1.20.323w40aSkeleton horses are now part of the #can_breathe_under_water, #undead and #skeletons tags.
[hide]Pocket Edition
1.1.0alpha 1.1.0.0The entity ID for skeleton horse has been changed from skeletonhorse to skeleton_horse.

Issues[edit | edit source]

Issues relating to "Skeleton horse" are maintained on the bug tracker. Issues should be reported and viewed there.

Trivia[edit | edit source]

  • Dr. Zhark appears in the credits after the End Poem as the creator of the horses, including skeleton horses.

Gallery[edit | edit source]

Screenshots[edit | edit source]

Textures[edit | edit source]

In other media[edit | edit source]

See also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. MC-99980 — resolved as "Fixed".
  2. MC-230843 — resolved as "Invalid".
  3. MCPE-93596 — resolved as "Incomplete".
  4. "Also big thanks to @DrZhark, the creator of Mo' Creatures, that have assisted us to make it happen!"@jeb_ (Jens Bergensten) on X (formerly Twitter), April 4, 2013
  5. MC-129262
  6. MC-121832
  7. MC-166246 — resolved as "Fixed".

External links[edit | edit source]

Navigation[edit | edit source]