Return to Sender: How to Kill a Ghast with Its Own Fireball

Return to Sender requires you to kill a Ghast by reflecting its own fireball back at it. This is one of the more skill-based advancements because it demands precise timing and positioning. A reflected fireball must be the killing blow on the Ghast that fired it. This guide covers the deflection mechanics, timing and strategy.

How fireball reflection works

When a Ghast shoots a fireball at you, you can deflect it by hitting it with any melee attack (left-click) or by shooting it with an arrow or other projectile. The deflected fireball changes direction and flies toward where your crosshair is pointing at the moment of the hit. If it hits the Ghast, it deals 1000 damage (instant kill, as Ghasts only have 10 HP).

Timing the hit

Ghast fireballs travel at moderate speed. When a fireball is approaching:

• Wait until the fireball is within 2-3 blocks of you.
• Swing your sword (or punch with an empty hand) at the fireball. Timing matters: too early and you miss, too late and the fireball explodes on you.
• The hitbox of the fireball is generous. You do not need pixel-perfect accuracy, just swing when it is close.

Aiming the reflection

The reflected fireball travels in the direction you are looking when you hit it. This means:

1. Before swinging, point your crosshair at the Ghast.
2. Swing to deflect the fireball.
3. The fireball should fly straight toward the Ghast if your aim was accurate.

The tricky part is that the Ghast moves while the fireball is in flight. After reflecting, the Ghast might drift to the side. At close range (15-25 blocks), the fireball reaches the Ghast quickly enough that movement is not a problem. At long range (40+ blocks), the Ghast has time to dodge accidentally.

Optimal positioning

• Stay at medium range (15-30 blocks). Too close and you have less reaction time. Too far and the Ghast moves out of the reflected fireball's path.
• Stand on flat ground in the Nether. Nether Wastes biomes with large flat areas of netherrack are ideal. Avoid Soul Sand Valley because the Soul Sand slows your movement.
• Face the Ghast head-on. The easiest reflection is when the fireball is coming straight at you. Side-angle reflections are harder to aim.

Step-by-step execution

1. Find a Ghast in an open Nether area.
2. Stand about 20 blocks away from it on flat terrain.
3. Wait for the Ghast to open its mouth and shoot a fireball.
4. Watch the fireball approach. Keep your crosshair on the Ghast.
5. When the fireball is 2-3 blocks away, left-click to swing.
6. The fireball reverses direction. If your crosshair was on the Ghast, it flies back and kills it instantly.
7. The advancement triggers on the kill.

Using a bow as an alternative

You can also shoot the fireball with an arrow to deflect it. This is harder to time because you need to draw the bow and release while the fireball is still approaching. However, it works from longer ranges where melee reflection is impractical. Aim your arrow directly at the incoming fireball.

Common mistakes

• Swinging too early. If you swing before the fireball is in range, you miss and the fireball hits you. Wait for it to get close.
• Not aiming at the Ghast. The deflected fireball goes where you are looking. If your crosshair is on the ground, the fireball goes into the ground.
• Ghast too far away. At extreme range, the reflected fireball can miss because the Ghast drifts. Close the distance to 20-25 blocks.
• Fireball hitting nearby blocks. If there are netherrack pillars or other terrain between you and the Ghast, the reflected fireball might hit the terrain instead. Clear the area or reposition.
• Taking damage from the explosion. Ghast fireballs have a small blast radius. If you deflect too late and are in the blast zone, you take damage. Keep Fire Resistance active.

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