How to Prevent Endermen from Picking Up Blocks in Minecraft

This behavior occurs with a small chance every tick and doesn't depend on light levels for the pickup itself. While they only spawn in complete darkness (light level 0), they can teleport into lit areas, making prevention key for bases and farms.

Blocks Endermen Can Pick Up

Endermen target specific "holdable" blocks within a 4x3x4 area around them. Here's the full list (Java and Bedrock Editions, as of recent updates):

Category	Blocks
Dirt Variants	Dirt, Coarse Dirt, Rooted Dirt, Grass Block, Mycelium, Podzol, Moss Block, Mud, Pale Moss Block
Sand Variants	Sand, Red Sand, Gravel
Roots & Fungi	Crimson Roots, Warped Roots, Crimson Fungus, Warped Fungus
Flowers & Mushrooms	All short flowers, Mushrooms
Other	Clay, Cactus, Cactus Flower, Pumpkins, Melon, Nylium (both), Muddy Mangrove Roots, TNT

Step-by-Step Prevention Guide

1. Build with Enderman-Proof Materials

Avoid using pickable blocks for exposed surfaces.

Safe choices: Stone, cobblestone, bricks, wood planks/logs, glass, wool, concrete, terracotta, most ores, and anything not on the list above.
Tip: Cover dirt/grass floors with safe slabs or carpets. Endermen struggle to pick from completely flat surfaces unless using non-full blocks.

2. Light Up Your Area Thoroughly

Endermen spawn only at light level 0 with 3+ blocks of space above.
Place torches, glowstone, lanterns, or sea lanterns every 5-7 blocks to keep light at level 8+ everywhere.
Bonus: Bright light (sky light 15 + block light 12 in Java) may trigger random teleports away from your base.
Use F3 debug screen to check light levels.

3. Design Low-Ceiling Structures

Endermen are 3 blocks tall and need 3 empty non-solid blocks above to spawn or teleport successfully.
Build rooms or bases with 2-block ceilings (e.g., slabs on the bottom of upper blocks).
Pro tip: This also prevents other tall mobs like slimes from entering.

4. Use Water or Environmental Barriers

Endermen take damage from water/rain and teleport away frantically.
Surround your base with a water moat (1-2 blocks deep).
Build underwater or on water-surrounded islands.
Caution: Avoid lava unless you're okay with fire risks.

5. Actively Hunt or Trap Endermen

Stare at their face to aggro them (wear a pumpkin helmet to avoid accidental eye contact).
Use a bow or sword to kill quickly; they drop ender pearls.
Set up ender pearl farms in the End instead of dealing with Overworld griefing.
Iron golems or traps with water flows can help clear areas.

6. Server or Singleplayer Admin Options

Run /gamerule mobGriefing false to disable all block picking/placing by Endermen (and creepers exploding).
For multiplayer, use data packs to limit pickable blocks (e.g., only barriers).
Mods like "Disable Enderman Picking" exist for Fabric/Forge, but stick to vanilla for purity.