Withering Heights
Summon the Wither
Overview
Withering Heights is a task advancement in the Nether tab of Minecraft's advancement system, carrying the in-game description "Summon the Wither." It branches directly off Spooky Scary Skeleton, so that earlier advancement is its prerequisite and must be earned first. The Nether tab covers advancements for exploring and conquering the Nether dimension, from entering the portal to brewing potions. Withering Heights was added in Minecraft 1.12 and remains part of the current 1.21 advancement set.
It is rated Hard difficulty on this site: requires significant effort, rare resources, or dangerous encounters. It uses the standard task frame, meaning it is a normal step in the tree rather than a goal or challenge milestone. One further advancement, Bring Home the Beacon, is gated behind it.
In tree terms, Withering Heights sits third along its line: the full path from the Nether root reads Nether -> A Terrible Fortress -> Spooky Scary Skeleton -> Withering Heights. That means 3 advancements must be completed before this one becomes available, and Withering Heights is one of 22 total advancements in the Nether tab. No other advancement shares its parent, so it is the only thing that branches from Spooky Scary Skeleton.
How to Complete Withering Heights
Earning Withering Heights comes down to the following, performed in order:
- Place 4 soul sand or soul soil in a T-shape and place 3 Wither Skeleton skulls on top of the soul sand/soil.
- The last skull placed must be on the top center.
- Summon the Wither in a contained area underground for safety.
Tips & Fastest Route
Tips & Fastest Route- Fastest route: Build the soul-sand T and place 3 wither skeleton skulls, putting the final skull on the top centre block.
- Summon it inside a sealed bedrock or obsidian box; the Wither's spawn explosion and attacks shred terrain.
- Soul soil works in place of soul sand for the base.
- Make sure Spooky Scary Skeleton is already ticked off before you start, otherwise Withering Heights will not be tracked even if you perform the steps correctly.
- At Hard difficulty, Withering Heights rewards preparation over speed — line up the items and conditions in the steps first rather than improvising mid-attempt.
Common Mistakes
Common Mistakes- Remember that Withering Heights will not appear as available until Spooky Scary Skeleton is done, since the game only tracks an advancement once its parent has been unlocked.
Reward & What It Unlocks
Reward & What It UnlocksCompleting Withering Heights grants 10 experience points. The XP drops at your position the moment the advancement fires.
Earning it unlocks Bring Home the Beacon, which becomes the next step along this branch of the tree.
Details
- Advancement ID
minecraft:nether/summon_wither- Icon Item
- Nether Star
- Category
- Nether
- Difficulty
- Hard
- XP Reward
- 10 XP
- Version Added
- 1.12
Advancement ID
Category
Version AddedAdvancement Tree
Parent Advancement
Child Advancements (1)
Withering Heights Advancement FAQ
How do you get the Withering Heights advancement in Minecraft?
Build the soul-sand T and place 3 wither skeleton skulls, putting the final skull on the top centre block. In full, place 4 soul sand or soul soil in a T-shape and place 3 Wither Skeleton skulls on top of the soul sand/soil. The last skull placed must be on the top center. Summon the Wither in a contained area underground for safety.
What do you need for Withering Heights?
Before you can work on it you must have completed Spooky Scary Skeleton. Place 4 soul sand or soul soil in a T-shape and place 3 Wither Skeleton skulls on top of the soul sand/soil. The last skull placed must be on the top center.
Which advancement tab is Withering Heights in?
Withering Heights is in the Nether tab, hanging beneath Spooky Scary Skeleton. Its in-game advancement ID is minecraft:nether/summon_wither.
Is Withering Heights part of the Spooky Scary Skeleton branch?
Yes. Withering Heights sits directly below Spooky Scary Skeleton in the Nether tree, so you must earn Spooky Scary Skeleton first. Completing Withering Heights then opens Bring Home the Beacon.
How much XP does Withering Heights give and how hard is it?
Withering Heights awards 10 XP and is rated Hard difficulty.