The skeleton mob in Minecraft is a hostile undead entity known for its ranged attacks and eerie presence, especially at night or in dimly lit areas. It is characterized by its pale, pixelated bones and glowing eye sockets, wielding a bow with surprising accuracy. Skeletons spawn naturally in the Overworld in light levels of 7 or lower and are particularly dangerous in groups or when encountered unexpectedly in caves, forests, or during exploration. Their behavior is governed by simple AI, allowing them to maintain distance from the player while firing arrows, strafing to avoid retaliation. When exposed to daylight, they catch fire unless sheltered by blocks or equipped with a helmet, giving them a strong thematic association with darkness and decay. Variants include strays, which appear in snowy biomes and inflict slowness with tipped arrows, and wither skeletons in the Nether, which are taller, blackened versions wielding stone swords and capable of inflicting the deadly wither effect. As iconic antagonists in Minecraft’s ecosystem, skeletons bring both atmospheric dread and tactical combat variety to the game’s blocky survival experience.