Telescope versus terror: who wins? In Minecraft

Hi everyone! It’s me again, your restless beta explorer. You know I love testing odd ideas that pop into my head in the middle of the night. And one wouldn’t let me go: what if the new creepy mob, the Screecher, can be controlled with... a telescope? Honestly, my first thought was: “That’s nonsense.” But I wouldn’t be me if I didn’t check.

Getting ready for a date in the Pale Garden

The plan was simple and insane at once. I went to the familiar Pale Garden, waited for night, and got ready. In the hotbar — not a sword, not a pickaxe, but a telescope. My heart was racing, and in my head: “He’ll appear, and I’ll just... look at him through the eyepiece?” It sounded like a bad plan, but curiosity won.

And there it was, that sound. A nasty, soul-chilling creak. A dark figure emerged from the fog. Instead of panicking, I quickly aimed the scope at it.

A second that changed everything

It was something else! The moment I caught the Screecher in the eyepiece, it froze. Just stood there like a statue. I held my breath. It didn’t move. It felt like a survival stare-down. As soon as I lowered the scope, it twitched and kept moving toward me. My theory was confirmed!

I kept experimenting. Turns out the Screecher generally stops when you look at it and attacks when you turn away. But the telescope takes this control to a new level. It lets you keep it “frozen” from a safe distance, giving far more room to maneuver. Without the scope, you have to get almost point-blank, which is insanely risky.

How to repeat the trick: quick guide

• Find the Pale Garden and wait for night.
• Craft a telescope — it’s your main tool.
• As soon as you hear the creak and see the mob, don’t approach! Aim the scope at it immediately.
• Keep it in sight. It won’t move while you look through the eyepiece.

Pros and cons of the “sniper” method

Pros:

• Safety. You can control the mob from far away, avoiding direct contact.
• Time to think. Gives you precious seconds to assess, find the “screecher’s heart,” or plan an escape.
• Precision. Easier to keep one Screecher in focus, even if there are several.

Cons:

• Tunnel vision. While looking through the scope, you’re exposed to other mobs. The Creeper behind you won’t wait.
• Only control. The method doesn’t kill the Screecher; it only stops it temporarily.
• Needs skill. Requires quick reflexes to “catch” the mob in the eyepiece, especially if it’s already close.

My take: it’s brilliant!

I’m thrilled with this find. The telescope turns from a simple observation tool into a tactical advantage. This mechanic rewards observation and creativity over brute force. To me, that’s the true spirit of Minecraft.

Now it’s your turn! Grab your telescopes and go hunting. Did you manage to pull off the trick? Share your thoughts and stories in the comments—let’s discuss together