Updated 23 October 2026. Facts on this page come from minecraft.wiki, minecraft.net and the live Artemis PvP server; sources are listed at the bottom.
Creepers: How They Work and How to Beat Them
A creeper hisses when it gets within 3 blocks of you and explodes 1.5 seconds later, destroying blocks and dealing heavy damage. Step out of range to cancel it, block the blast with a shield, and keep a cat nearby: creepers run from cats and ocelots.
How does a creeper explode?
When a creeper gets within 3 blocks of a player it stops, hisses, flashes and swells, then explodes after 1.5 seconds (30 ticks). The blast breaks blocks (they drop as items) and badly hurts anyone nearby. It only explodes if it keeps a clear line of sight to you for the whole countdown, and walking out of range cancels it. A fall also counts toward its fuse, so a creeper that jumps down to you explodes soon after landing. Lighting one with flint and steel forces it to explode.
What is a charged creeper?
A creeper struck by lightning, or with lightning hitting within 4 blocks of it, becomes charged. Its explosion is stronger, and mobs it kills drop their heads (zombies, skeletons, piglins and other creepers): one head per explosion on Java, every killed mob's head on Bedrock. It also raises a wither skeleton's skull drop to 100%. Charged creeper farms are built for mob heads; see mob farms.
How do you stop creepers?
- Back off or knock it away: leaving the blast radius stops the countdown.
- Raise a shield facing it; shields block explosions from the front.
- Keep cats or ocelots around: creepers flee from them within 6 blocks.
- Light up your base so creepers cannot spawn in the dark; see light levels.
- Hit it with a bow from range.
What do creepers drop?
Creepers drop 0-2 gunpowder (1 on average, up to 0-5 with Looting III on Java), used for firework rockets. One killed by a skeleton, stray or bogged arrow drops a music disc picked at random from 13, cat, blocks, chirp, far, mall, mellohi, stal, strad, ward, 11 and wait. A creeper farm is the main gunpowder source; see fireworks.
Are there custom creepers on ArtemisPvP?
Frequently asked questions
How close does a creeper need to be to explode?
Within 3 blocks; it explodes 1.5 seconds later.
Why do creepers run away from cats?
Creepers flee from cats and ocelots within 6 blocks.
Sources
Every fact on this page was checked against these pages; the wording is ours.