How to Summon a Skeleton Trap (4 Horsemen) in Minecraft
This Minecraft tutorial explains how to summon a skeleton trap with screenshots and step-by-step instructions.
A skeleton trap occurs when a horse is struck by lightning during a thunderstorm which causes the Four Horsemen to spawn. A skeleton trap appears as 4 skeletons that are holding enchanted bows, wearing enchanted iron helmets and riding skeleton horses. You can summon a skeleton trap whenever you want using a cheat (game command) in Minecraft.
Let's explore how to do this.
Supported Platforms
The command to summon a skeleton trap is available in the following versions of Minecraft:
Platform | Supported (Version*) |
Java Edition (PC/Mac) | Yes (1.9) |
Pocket Edition (PE) | Yes (1.12.0) |
Xbox 360 | No |
Xbox One | Yes (1.12.0) |
PS3 | No |
PS4 | Yes (1.14.0) |
Wii U | No |
Nintendo Switch | Yes (1.12.0) |
Windows 10 Edition | Yes (1.12.0) |
Education Edition | Yes (1.12.0) |
* The version that it was added or removed, if applicable.
NOTE: Pocket Edition (PE), Xbox One, PS4, Nintendo Switch, and Windows 10 Edition are now called Bedrock Edition. We will continue to show them individually for version history.
Requirements
To run game commands in Minecraft, you have to turn cheats on in your world.
Summon Command
- Java
- PE
- Xbox
- PS
- Nintendo
- Win10
- Edu
Summon Command in Minecraft Java Edition (PC/Mac)
In Minecraft Java Edition (PC/Mac) 1.11, 1.12, 1.13, 1.14, 1.15, 1.16, 1.17, 1.18, 1.19 and 1.20, the syntax to summon a skeleton trap using the /summon command is:
/summon skeleton_horse [pos] {SkeletonTrap:1}
In Minecraft Java Edition (PC/Mac) 1.9 and 1.10, the syntax to summon a skeleton trap is:
/summon EntityHorse [x] [y] [z] {SkeletonTrap:1}
Definitions
- pos or x y z is the x y z coordinate where the skeleton trap should spawn.
- {SkeletonTrap:1} is an optional NBT tag (formerly called data tag) used to specify a skeleton trap for EntityHorse or skeleton_horse.
Summon Command in Minecraft Pocket Edition (PE)
In Minecraft Pocket Edition (PE), the syntax to summon a skeleton trap using the /summon command is:
/summon skeleton_horse [spawnPos] [yRot] [xRot] minecraft:set_trap
Definitions
- spawnPos is the x y z coordinate where the skeleton trap should spawn.
- minecraft:set_trap is the name of a game event that sets a skeleton trap. See spawn events for skeleton.
- xRot is the x-rotation that the skeleton is facing in degrees. Positive values look downward and negative values look upward. 0=facing forward, 90=facing straight down, -90=facing straight up.
- yRot is the y-rotation that the skeleton is facing in degrees. 0=South, 90=West, 180=North, 270=East.
Summon Command in Minecraft Xbox One Edition
In Minecraft Xbox One Edition, the syntax to summon a skeleton trap using the /summon command is:
/summon skeleton_horse [spawnPos] [yRot] [xRot] minecraft:set_trap
Definitions
- spawnPos is the x y z coordinate where the skeleton trap should spawn.
- minecraft:set_trap is the name of a game event that sets a skeleton trap. See spawn events for skeleton.
- xRot is the x-rotation that the skeleton is facing in degrees. Positive values look downward and negative values look upward. 0=facing forward, 90=facing straight down, -90=facing straight up.
- yRot is the y-rotation that the skeleton is facing in degrees. 0=South, 90=West, 180=North, 270=East.
Summon Command in Minecraft PS4 Edition
In Minecraft PS4 Edition, the syntax to summon a skeleton trap using the /summon command is:
/summon skeleton_horse [spawnPos] [yRot] [xRot] minecraft:set_trap
Definitions
- spawnPos is the x y z coordinate where the skeleton trap should spawn.
- minecraft:set_trap is the name of a game event that sets a skeleton trap. See spawn events for skeleton.
- xRot is the x-rotation that the skeleton is facing in degrees. Positive values look downward and negative values look upward. 0=facing forward, 90=facing straight down, -90=facing straight up.
- yRot is the y-rotation that the skeleton is facing in degrees. 0=South, 90=West, 180=North, 270=East.
Summon Command in Minecraft Nintendo Switch Edition
In Minecraft Nintendo Switch Edition, the syntax to summon a skeleton trap using the /summon command is:
/summon skeleton_horse [spawnPos] [yRot] [xRot] minecraft:set_trap
Definitions
- spawnPos is the x y z coordinate where the skeleton trap should spawn.
- minecraft:set_trap is the name of a game event that sets a skeleton trap. See spawn events for skeleton.
- xRot is the x-rotation that the skeleton is facing in degrees. Positive values look downward and negative values look upward. 0=facing forward, 90=facing straight down, -90=facing straight up.
- yRot is the y-rotation that the skeleton is facing in degrees. 0=South, 90=West, 180=North, 270=East.
Summon Command in Minecraft Windows 10 Edition
In Minecraft Windows 10 Edition, the syntax to summon a skeleton trap using the /summon command is:
/summon skeleton_horse [spawnPos] [yRot] [xRot] minecraft:set_trap
Definitions
- spawnPos is the x y z coordinate where the skeleton trap should spawn.
- minecraft:set_trap is the name of a game event that sets a skeleton trap. See spawn events for skeleton.
- xRot is the x-rotation that the skeleton is facing in degrees. Positive values look downward and negative values look upward. 0=facing forward, 90=facing straight down, -90=facing straight up.
- yRot is the y-rotation that the skeleton is facing in degrees. 0=South, 90=West, 180=North, 270=East.
Summon Command in Minecraft Education Edition
In Minecraft Education Edition, the syntax to summon a skeleton trap using the /summon command is:
/summon skeleton_horse [spawnPos] minecraft:set_trap
Examples
- Java
- PE
- Xbox
- PS
- Nintendo
- Win10
- Edu
Example in Java Edition (PC/Mac) 1.11, 1.12, 1.13, 1.14, 1.15, 1.16, 1.17, 1.18, 1.19 and 1.20
To summon a skeleton trap in Minecraft 1.11, 1.12, 1.13, 1.14, 1.15, 1.16, 1.17, 1.18, 1.19 and 1.20:
/summon skeleton_horse ~ ~ ~ {SkeletonTrap:1}
Example in Java Edition (PC/Mac) 1.9 and 1.10
To summon a skeleton trap in Minecraft 1.9 and 1.10:
/summon EntityHorse ~ ~ ~ {SkeletonTrap:1}
Example in Pocket Edition (PE)
To summon a skeleton trap in Minecraft Pocket Edition (PE):
/summon skeleton_horse ~ ~ ~ 0 0 minecraft:set_trap
Example in Xbox One Edition
To summon a skeleton trap in Minecraft Xbox One Edition:
/summon skeleton_horse ~ ~ ~ 0 0 minecraft:set_trap
Example in PS4 Edition
To summon a skeleton trap in Minecraft PS4 Edition:
/summon skeleton_horse ~ ~ ~ 0 0 minecraft:set_trap
Example in Nintendo Switch Edition
To summon a skeleton trap in Minecraft Nintendo Switch Edition:
/summon skeleton_horse ~ ~ ~ 0 0 minecraft:set_trap
Example in Windows 10 Edition
To summon a skeleton trap in Minecraft Windows 10 Edition:
/summon skeleton_horse ~ ~ ~ 0 0 minecraft:set_trap
Example in Education Edition
To summon a skeleton trap in Minecraft Education Edition:
/summon skeleton_horse ~ ~ ~ minecraft:set_trap
How to Enter the Command
1. Open the Chat Window
The easiest way to run a command in Minecraft is within the chat window. The game control to open the chat window depends on the version of Minecraft:
- For Java Edition (PC/Mac), press the T key to open the chat window.
- For Pocket Edition (PE), tap on the chat button at the top of the screen.
- For Xbox One, press the D-Pad (right) on the controller.
- For PS4, press the D-Pad (right) on the controller.
- For Nintendo Switch, press the right arrow button on the controller.
- For Windows 10 Edition, press the T key to open the chat window.
- For Education Edition, press the T key to open the chat window.
2. Type the Command
In this example, we are going to summon a skeleton trap in Minecraft Java Edition (PC/Mac) 1.20 with the following command:
/summon skeleton_horse ~ ~ ~ {SkeletonTrap:1}
Type the command in the chat window. As you are typing, you will see the command appear in the lower left corner of the game window. Press the Enter key to run the command.
Once the cheat has been entered, you will hear thunder and see a flash of lightning strike the ground. The skeleton trap will spawn and appear in your world:
You will see the message "Summoned new Skeleton Horse" appear in the lower left corner of the game window to indicate that the skeleton trap has been summoned. You may need to look behind you to see it.
Congratulations, you have summoned a skeleton trap in Minecraft.
Command Generators
If you need help with /summon commands, you can use these tools to automatically generate commands for you: