Skeleton

A skeleton is a fairly fast-paced enemy that will shoot arrows at the player and any mobs that attack it. Like zombies, skeletons spawn in dimly lit areas, and will burn in daylight (when the sun is 15 degrees or greater above the ground) unless they are swimming in water or are standing in the shade. For example, underneath a tree, outcropping of a mountain or player-built structure. The skeleton has received an AI update in version 1.2 that allows them be about as "smart" as zombies, since they were both given similar AI updates. Skeletons now seek cover when on fire, and can perform many other "smarter" actions.

Appearance

A skeleton has white bones, a skull head and they have the same faces as zombies, but with a different color. In their right hand they hold a bow. In 1.8 the hands are connected to the Bow but it was removed in 1.0.0

Uses

Skeletons are the sole source of bones (and bone meal) and can also drop fully formed arrows. Each skeleton will drop 0 - 2 bones and/or 0 - 2 arrows upon death. Although skeletons will fire arrows into walls and the ground, the player cannot pick up and re-use these arrows. Because of its valuable drops, skeleton dungeons are well sought-out for mob grinding purposes. Creepers must be killed by a skeleton's arrow in order to drop a Music Disc.

Skeletons now have a 1/40 chance of dropping a bow only when it is killed by the player. There is a 1/5 chance the bow may be pre-enchanted with Power 1. The bow will not be damaged if dropped by the skeleton.

Skeleton
Burning
In
The
Day

Behavior

Skeletons will chase any player they see within a 16 block radius. They will climb steps, navigate mazes, and traverse other complex obstacles in order to get close to the player. When they are within 8 blocks of the player, with a clear line of sight, they will stop chasing and start shooting the player with arrows. If the player moves more than 16 blocks away from the skeleton, it will cease pursuit. In the old versions, the skeleton would have started to "bunnyhop" around you while shooting arrows. This was removed in 1.2, because Notch and Jeb thought it was then harder to kill the skeleton.

If a skeleton's arrow hits another hostile mob, that mob will then attack the skeleton the same way it would attack the player (with the exception of zombies and creepers, which usually manage to continue pursuing the player). So, if a skeleton shoots another skeleton, they will inevitably become locked in a duel until one of them dies or is attacked by a player.

Skeletons will attempt to avoid sunlight by running under shade or into water.

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