Are there more stronghold with end portals or just one? If there are more than one, does that mean that using an eye of ender points the closest stronghold?

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2 Answers

Default Minecraft world generates three "end dungeons" (strongholds), about 1000 blocks from the centre of the world, spread equally. That means that when you're standing at X/Z 0,0 coordinates and looking in the direction of one, the other two will be at 120° to the left and to the right. All of them have a portal to the End. The Eye of Ender, when thrown, points to the closest one.

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From the 1.9 version on, there are no longer just 3 strongholds.

They are now 128 per world, distributed in 8 rings (see the link above for how many generate per each ring). Their distribution is:

  • The First (1st) ring with 3 strongholds ranging from 1408 to 2688 blocks away from origin.
  • The Second (2nd) ring with 6 strongholds ranging from 4480 to 5760 blocks away from origin.
  • The Third (3rd) ring with 10 strongholds ranging from 7552 to 8832 blocks away from origin.
  • The Fourth (4th) ring with 15 strongholds ranging from 10624 to 11904 blocks away from origin.
  • The Fifth (5th) ring with 21 strongholds ranging from 13696 to 14976 blocks away from origin.
  • The Sixth (6th) ring with 28 strongholds ranging from 16768 to 18048 blocks away from origin.
  • The Seventh (7th) ring with 36 strongholds ranging from 19840 to 21120 blocks away from origin.
  • The Eight (8th) ring with 9 strongholds ranging from 22912 to 24192 block away from the origin.
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