Minecraft wiki entry for Pillar_jumping, associated text: If the pillar is more than three blocks high and the player has no armor, stepping off it will result in damage. If a player falls off a 4+-block pillar, any water underneath can prevent any fall damage that may be done to the player. Using a shovel to dig your way down is an efficient way to both clean up after yourself and prevent injury. Be careful using diamond shovel with high efficiency enchantment, as it destroys blocks faster than you fall. Digging a pillar is one of the few times when digging directly beneath your own feet is a good plan, because you know that there's nothing dangerous beneath you.