Skeletons are the hardest standard minecraft mob - even worse than creepers and spiders. How do you defeat them in combat? So far I have been resorting to more underhanded tactics (hitting them around the corner, traps, pits, forcing skeletons to fight other mobs, etc.). How do I face them head-on?
This is what I've resorted too as well but it'd be nice to know if there were any tactics to implement if you only have a sword. I know you can rock back and forth but I still just get hit.
With bow -- shoot back. It's not always the easiest way, but IMO it's the funnest and most honorable.
Without bow -- Lava bucket, strafe-and-stabbydeath, or wall off and avoid, depending on the situation. They're that single, solitary enemy where you really gotta think on your feet. Not difficult so much as genuine. Even creepers you can kill practically just going hit-run-hit. I love going against skellies for that reason alone.
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With a sword I usually circle strafe at a bit of a distance, and close when the terrain is good, getting a quick hit and moving back, repeating. I usually get hit once or twice, but it works.
Of course, in SMP it's hard to kill any mob with a sword.
circle the skeleton like a vulture while getting close and hit as soon as you are in range (this is what i normally do and you can definitely survive multiple skellies at a time if you do it well ).
but i don't think skellies are that bad. the worse ones are zombies. or better yet the spider jockey (got caught by this in smp and it nearly killed 2 of us, we went WTF?!?)
Stand rather close enough, but not to close so you can dodge.
Once they fire an arrow, run in an hit them with your sword.
The reload time should be long enough for you to run away.
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1. Either spot or get sneak attack by one
2. Carfully strafe or move moderately while jumping to the right or left.
3. Wait for the skeleton to shoot.
4. Rush in with an iron or diamond sword (doesn't work well with stone - wood)
5. Smack while strafe close to it or just plain out keep swinging.
6. Grab their bones
7. Cry about how they have bad drops.
8. Get jumped on by a spider.
9. Your ended.
Okay well you don't have to do steps 6-9
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Or use a diamond sword with a bunch of cooked pork chops(love them)and kill them. That's one of the easiest ways or use a bow like sashko said and use a bow, you'll win, if you know how to use it good that is.
Consensus seems to be the best method is to circle them and attack intermittently while dodging arrows.
Sounds good.
The best method with a sword is to circle around them counter-clockwise while closing distance, sort of like sneaking up on a rabbit. This is because the skeletons typically strafe around you counter-clockwise, so instead of matching paces with the skeleton you will be moving in the other direction and therefore dodging his arrows at a higher frequency. You can actually use this method to kill one or even two skeletons on hard with your fist fairly reliably without getting hurt, as long as you manage to line them up.
With arrows, just use your elite aiming skills and stand back
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BETA
"When we release a pure bugfix update, people get VERY upset ("NOTHING CHANGED!").. Adding features gives us much happier users. But I do realize that it's only happier users in the short term." - Notch
This is what I've resorted too as well but it'd be nice to know if there were any tactics to implement if you only have a sword. I know you can rock back and forth but I still just get hit.
Automatic Mob-Proof Door made betta with the Beta (1.3)
Automatic Double Doors + GANGSTA RAP!!!
2. Wait for them to attack
3. Rush in
4. Punch it
5. Back away
6.Repeat
Think I will be on here often? Haha no.
Without bow -- Lava bucket, strafe-and-stabbydeath, or wall off and avoid, depending on the situation. They're that single, solitary enemy where you really gotta think on your feet. Not difficult so much as genuine. Even creepers you can kill practically just going hit-run-hit. I love going against skellies for that reason alone.
Of course, in SMP it's hard to kill any mob with a sword.
but i don't think skellies are that bad. the worse ones are zombies. or better yet the spider jockey (got caught by this in smp and it nearly killed 2 of us, we went WTF?!?)
Alt: Spam arrows at them.
"No," said the sadist.
Best suggestion so far ;D
Once they fire an arrow, run in an hit them with your sword.
The reload time should be long enough for you to run away.
I think they're made of magnets.
1. Either spot or get sneak attack by one
2. Carfully strafe or move moderately while jumping to the right or left.
3. Wait for the skeleton to shoot.
4. Rush in with an iron or diamond sword (doesn't work well with stone - wood)
5. Smack while strafe close to it or just plain out keep swinging.
6. Grab their bones
7. Cry about how they have bad drops.
8. Get jumped on by a spider.
9. Your ended.
Okay well you don't have to do steps 6-9
Or use a diamond sword with a bunch of cooked pork chops(love them)and kill them. That's one of the easiest ways or use a bow like sashko said and use a bow, you'll win, if you know how to use it good that is.
Sounds good.
The best method with a sword is to circle around them counter-clockwise while closing distance, sort of like sneaking up on a rabbit. This is because the skeletons typically strafe around you counter-clockwise, so instead of matching paces with the skeleton you will be moving in the other direction and therefore dodging his arrows at a higher frequency. You can actually use this method to kill one or even two skeletons on hard with your fist fairly reliably without getting hurt, as long as you manage to line them up.
With arrows, just use your elite aiming skills and stand back
"When we release a pure bugfix update, people get VERY upset ("NOTHING CHANGED!").. Adding features gives us much happier users. But I do realize that it's only happier users in the short term." - Notch
I'm asking you, as a friend... Just...put an end to me.