Some text from Minecraft Wiki used under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike License 3.0
Health Points | 20HP (10x ) |
Attack Strength | Easy: 15HP (7.5x ) Normal:Unknown Hard: 21HP (10.5x ) |
Drops | Gunpowder , Music Disc (When killed by a skeleton) |
Spawn | Light level 7 or less, not on transparent blocks |
The Creeper was created by accident by Notch , creator of Minecraft . Meaning to create the first ever passive mob, the pig , the code went wrong. Instead of a pig he got a tall, slim being with the face and torso the shape of a player. With no arms and 4 stubby legs, this creature became known as the Creeper , a mob that when provoked or within distance of player blows up. It has earned Minecraft billions in marketing, and is the most recognizable Minecraft mob and character, including Steve .
A Creeper who has found a player will chase down that player until the distance between them is only a few blocks. It should be noted that Creepers tend to walk to the right of a player. The Creeper makes use of a suicide-bomb attack involving getting within close proximity of the player (usually 2-3 blocks) before exploding. The player's only warning to when they are about to explode is a very distinctive hiss and the swelling and flashing of the Creeper itself, which starts about 1–2 seconds prior to the explosion. It takes three full seconds to detonate. After it explodes, it leaves a large crater in the ground. The size of this crater is solely dependent on what the terrain is made from. Typically a hole in the topsoil is created, however, they can be powerful enough to destroy Stone . When killed by an arrow shot by a Skeleton , it will drop random Music Discs , which can be played in a Jukebox . It doesn't matter who dealt most of the damage, as long as the last blow was the arrow of a Skeleton. This mob can not use doors but can climb ladders, unlike other hostile mobs. If you try moving away when it is hissing, it will cancel it, although this action may not cancel it in Hard Mode.
If struck with lightning , a Creeper will become a charged creeper. Charged Creepers are stronger and have a larger blast radius than normal creepers. They also have an electric aura around them.
Creepers can be somewhat formidable foes when encountered, as their stealth gives them the upper hand. Creepers are slow however, and will also reverse their detonation time if the player leaves their range; this can be used to the player's advantage in melee combat. The player can simply use their Sword and quickly back away before detonation, getting at least two hits in before having to retreat. If this process is repeated, a Creeper can easily be defeated.
The most effective way to eliminate a Creeper is to simply use a bow , as ranged combat will surmount the creeper's slow speed. Although with a regular bow the player would need at least three arrows, this can be minimized with enchantments. Another effective way is to light the ground on fire with a Flint and Steel and lead the Creeper up to it.
See here
A slow motion video of a Creeper exploding