Minecraft wiki entry for Defeating_the_ender_dragon, associated text: Pearls can also be used to save yourself from getting kicked of the island or fall damage. Unfortunately, pearls don't fall faster than the player at most velocities, so throw the pearl straight down around 1 second before you would hit the ground. However, ender pearls cause damage to the player and has a slight chance of spawning an endermite, a hostile mob that deals damage to you on contact.