Skip to content
Sparkane

Minecraft challenge

Only Strongholds

Stone surrounds you. Explore real strongholds, find supplies in their rooms and dig toward the next complex.

How to start your run
  • Java & Bedrock
  • Private server
  • No extra mods

Underground

A world of stone and strongholds

The Overworld is almost entirely stone with separated, naturally generated strongholds. You start at a checked safe spot, preferably a library and away from lava and spawners. No starter inventory is handed out.

Look for wood in libraries, water in fountains and possible supplies in chests. You must dig your own tunnels between complexes. The Nether and End remain normal; stronghold End portals still need Eyes of Ender.

You do not start in the portal room; find it yourself.

Example round: you find a library and use its wood to make early tools. Then you search corridors for chests and a fountain before exploring the portal room. The loot depends on the stronghold.

Two-storey stronghold library with bookshelves, wooden balcony, torch chandelier and cobwebs.
The stronghold library offers wood and bookshelves for your underground start.

What to expect from your run

Rule complexity
Explore native strongholds and their portal rooms in a stone world.
Experience
Underground navigation and careful resource planning help.
Time commitment
Finding supplies and digging tunnels takes time; your route and goal set the pace.

Plan underground

Tips for Only Strongholds

A stronghold is your starting point, supply source and possible route to the End.

01Use libraries
Bookshelves and wooden planks are valuable when the surrounding world is stone.
02Mark your route
Long corridors and your own tunnels soon look alike. Mark junctions and the way back.
03Prepare for the portal
Seek water and iron for a bucket; portal-room lava may later help you reach the Nether.

Another twist

Combine Only Strongholds

Another rule changes underground exploration.

Only Strongholds + Protect Your Wolf
Keep your companion safe in tight corridors and away from lava and spawners.2 simultaneous challenges · Host needs Pro

The configurator shows which rules you can enable together. Some combinations do not suit every goal.

Only Strongholds FAQ

What awaits you in the stone world.

Do I receive starter items?

No. The starting location is checked for safety, but tools, food and Eyes of Ender are not supplied.

Are all strongholds connected?

No. The complexes are separated in the stone world. You dig your own tunnels between them.

How do I reach the Nether?

Find water in a fountain and collect iron for a bucket. Use the water and portal-room lava to cast an obsidian frame for a Nether portal. Ready-made obsidian is not supplied.

How do I reach the Ender Dragon?

Find a stronghold portal room. Explore its rooms for wood, water and possible chest loot, reach the normal Nether and craft Eyes of Ender. The supplies you find depend on the world.

Your first run

Start your Only Strongholds run

You need Minecraft, but no extra mods or server hosting of your own.

How to join on Java & Bedrock
  1. 1

    Join Sparkane

    Connect to play.sparkane.com. We support 1.21.11 – 26.3 on Java. The “How to join on Java & Bedrock” guide covers both editions.

  2. 2

    Choose your challenge in the lobby

    Choose the ready-made preset for your challenge at the NPC in the lobby. Its goal and rules are already set. To change them or combine challenges, open the optional web configurator.

  3. 3

    Start your server and invite friends

    Create your server from the preset or your custom configuration and wait for your server to be ready. Invite friends with /invite <Name>. Java and Bedrock players can play together.

  4. 4

    Start the timer and play

    Everyone ready? As the host, use /timer start. You can then break blocks and the challenge rules become active. Use /timer pause and /timer resume to take a break and continue your run.