Best way to kill endermen?

[Detritus]

I'm planning for my first trip into the end (I want to advance and get explosives for my mobtrap, and all kinds of other things), but the bit I'm having trouble with is finding the endermen to kill in order to get there in the first place. So, basically, is there any easy way to find lots of endermen apart from visiting the end, or must I just search for them? Funny thing is, since I started wanting the pearls, I've really struggled to find the men, even though I had no trouble finding them before.
Anyway, any help is much appreciated!

[Thalarctia]

Anyone who has watched our series knows, we have had our trouble with endermen as well. My best advice is to figure out how much damage you're doing to them with your battleaxe, and then switch weapon to something enchanted with looting for the killing blow every time. Our mobtrap regularly gives out an iron sword with looting one or two, which could be used for such a purpose, and it dramatically reduces the number of enderman you actually need to hunt down if each of them drop 2 pearls.

[ion]

for the first hunt i just make a pillar in a plains or desert biome big enough so skeletons don't shoot at me.the use is more of a watchtower. and i just aggro the enderman from there. then i just go down and make the kill

[the_fodder]

I found the nice open areas of a desert work best for me, for added bonus find a natural spring to fight around. That way if you are taking too much damage you can retreat tactically regroup.

[Detritus]

Anyone who has watched our series knows, we have had our trouble with endermen as well. My best advice is to figure out how much damage you're doing to them with your battleaxe, and then switch weapon to something enchanted with looting for the killing blow every time. Our mobtrap regularly gives out an iron sword with looting one or two, which could be used for such a purpose, and it dramatically reduces the number of enderman you actually need to hunt down if each of them drop 2 pearls.

Thanks man, this was actually very useful. Not having my own mobtrap, however, I don't have any looting swords, so I tried for an enchantment on a diamond sword. Unfortunately, no such luck, as I ended up with Knockback II and Smite II, which are still slightly useful. Anyway, I killed one Enderman, but he only dropped the grass block he was holding...
So when endermen have blocks in their hands, do they still drop pearls?

[Sarudak]

They do. I like to build a 2 high space so they can't hurt me and then aggro them from under there.

[Six]

They do. I like to build a 2 high space so they can't hurt me and then aggro them from under there.

Yeah, add this to finding and hanging out in a reasonably flat desert for the night. As you see them pop up, stare at them and let them come to you under the safety of your roof.

[dawnraider]

Skeletons get annoying when you do that, though. So you can't camp out there.

[Detritus]

They do. I like to build a 2 high space so they can't hurt me and then aggro them from under there.

Yeah, add this to finding and hanging out in a reasonably flat desert for the night. As you see them pop up, stare at them and let them come to you under the safety of your roof.

Yeah, I had heard of that, but this sounds like pretty solid advice; Thanks everyone for your help. Hopefully I will be in the end at some time soon.

[jorgebonafe]

I like to set the ground under them on fire.... It takes a while, but they won't attack you if you are careful.

[Detritus]

It appears endermen hate cacti as much as anyone else; if you surround one block with cacti, and put a block above it so they can't tp in, they'll kill themselves against it really well.
Warning, large image.

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