The Next Generation
Hold the Dragon Egg
Overview
The Next Generation is a task advancement in the End tab of Minecraft's advancement system, carrying the in-game description "Hold the Dragon Egg." It branches directly off Free the End, so that earlier advancement is its prerequisite and must be earned first. The End tab covers advancements for the End dimension, from slaying the Ender Dragon to finding End Cities and the Elytra. The Next Generation was added in Minecraft 1.12 and remains part of the current 1.21 advancement set.
It is rated Medium difficulty on this site: requires some preparation or specific resources. Part of normal gameplay progression. It uses the standard task frame, meaning it is a normal step in the tree rather than a goal or challenge milestone. Nothing else in the tree depends on it, so it is a leaf at the tip of its branch.
In tree terms, The Next Generation sits second along its line: the full path from the End root reads The End -> Free the End -> The Next Generation. That means 2 advancements must be completed before this one becomes available, and The Next Generation is one of 9 total advancements in the End tab. It shares its parent with 3 sibling advancements (Remote Getaway, The End... Again..., and You Need a Mint), all of which open from the same point in the tree.
How to Complete The Next Generation
Earning The Next Generation comes down to the following, performed in order:
- After defeating the Ender Dragon, collect the dragon egg from the exit portal.
- It teleports when clicked directly, so place a piston next to it and push it off, or mine the block under it with a torch two blocks below.
Tips & Fastest Route
Tips & Fastest Route- Fastest route: After the dragon dies, push the egg off its pedestal with a piston or mine the block beneath it onto a torch.
- Clicking the egg directly teleports it up to a few blocks away, so never right-click it to collect.
- A piston pointed at the egg pops it into a free-floating item you can grab.
- Make sure Free the End is already ticked off before you start, otherwise The Next Generation will not be tracked even if you perform the steps correctly.
- At Medium difficulty, The Next Generation is a routine step once you have the prerequisites in hand; no special grinding is usually needed beyond the items the steps call for.
Common Mistakes
Common Mistakes- Remember that The Next Generation will not appear as available until Free the End is done, since the game only tracks an advancement once its parent has been unlocked.
Reward & What It Unlocks
Reward & What It UnlocksCompleting The Next Generation grants 10 experience points. The XP drops at your position the moment the advancement fires.
It is a leaf advancement, so nothing further unlocks from it; it stands as a completed tip of its branch.
Details
- Advancement ID
minecraft:end/dragon_egg- Icon Item
- Dragon Egg
- Category
- The End
- Difficulty
- Medium
- XP Reward
- 10 XP
- Version Added
- 1.12
Advancement ID
Category
Version AddedAdvancement Tree
Parent Advancement
Child Advancements
The Next Generation Advancement FAQ
How do you get the The Next Generation advancement in Minecraft?
After the dragon dies, push the egg off its pedestal with a piston or mine the block beneath it onto a torch. In full, after defeating the Ender Dragon, collect the dragon egg from the exit portal. It teleports when clicked directly, so place a piston next to it and push it off, or mine the block under it with a torch two blocks below.
What do you need for The Next Generation?
Before you can work on it you must have completed Free the End. After defeating the Ender Dragon, collect the dragon egg from the exit portal. It teleports when clicked directly, so place a piston next to it and push it off, or mine the block under it with a torch two blocks below.
Which advancement tab is The Next Generation in?
The Next Generation is in the End tab, hanging beneath Free the End. Its in-game advancement ID is minecraft:end/dragon_egg.
Is The Next Generation part of the Free the End branch?
Yes. The Next Generation sits directly below Free the End in the End tree, so you must earn Free the End first. It is a leaf, so nothing further unlocks from it.
How much XP does The Next Generation give and how hard is it?
The Next Generation awards 10 XP and is rated Medium difficulty.