Stronghold layout through the world in Java Edition. Because Bedrock Edition appears to begin stronghold generation at a spiraling staircase, it is rare to find no portal room in the stronghold. There appears to be an infinite amount of strongholds, even formerly capable of generating in the Far Lands.
If it has to, a stronghold could generate perfectly fine above ground, in caves, and in canyons. Unlike most structures they appear to have no fixed set distance, which means that rarely they may overlap. In Bedrock Edition, strongholds generate randomly throughout the world. Canyons do not overwrite strongholds rather, a stronghold can occasionally be found exposed by a canyon. Most parts of the stronghold can be overwritten by caves, ocean monuments, ancient cities, mineshafts, fossils, amethyst geodes, and dungeons but it is rare for the end portal to be replaced, which would force a player to find one of the other strongholds, as a portal can be activated only with all 12 frame blocks present. Strongholds may generate at bedrock level, cutting the bedrock. Strongholds mostly generate underground and prefer to generate in biomes above sea level but generate underwater if necessary. For locating strongholds, see Eye of Ender § Locating strongholds. This article is about the generation mechanics.