How to Revive a Zombie Villager: A Comprehensive Guide

The undead roam the lands of Minecraft, and among them lurk the zombie villagers, the unfortunate remnants of once-thriving village life. But fear not, intrepid adventurer! These shambling horrors can be restored to their former selves through a specific, albeit slightly involved, process. This guide will equip you with the knowledge and techniques needed to bring these poor souls back from the brink, unlocking valuable trading opportunities and enriching your Minecraft experience.

The Core Process: Curing a Zombie Villager

The core method for reviving a zombie villager involves two key components: a Splash Potion of Weakness and a Golden Apple. Here’s a step-by-step breakdown:

1. Prepare Your Items: Before engaging with a zombie villager, ensure you have a Splash Potion of Weakness and a Golden Apple on hand. You can craft a Splash Potion of Weakness by brewing a Fermented Spider Eye into a Water Bottle in a brewing stand. Golden Apples are crafted using eight gold ingots surrounding a regular apple at a crafting table.

2. Apply Weakness: Approach the zombie villager and throw the Splash Potion of Weakness. If successful, you’ll see the zombie villager’s skin become slightly discolored and it will be emitting small smoke particles. It is critical you hit the zombie villager with the potion as it will not work if the potion only damages it.

3. Administer the Golden Apple: Once the Weakness effect is active, immediately feed the zombie villager the Golden Apple. Do this by facing the zombie villager and pressing the ‘use’ button (typically the right mouse button). If done correctly, the zombie villager will begin to emit red particles and shake violently. This is a sign that the curing process has begun.

4. Wait: The curing process isn’t instantaneous. It takes approximately 1-2 minutes in the Bedrock edition and 3-5 minutes in the Java edition. During this time, the zombie villager will continue to shake and emit particles. It’s crucial to keep them safe from other zombies or dangers during this process.

5. Complete the Cure: Once the shaking stops and the red particles cease, the zombie villager will transform back into a regular villager.

Optimizing the Curing Process

While the above method works, some factors can speed up the curing process:

• Iron Bars and Beds: Placing iron bars and beds around the zombie villager during the curing process can significantly reduce the waiting time. The exact placement does not appear to matter as long as they are within a reasonable distance from the villager.

Frequently Asked Questions About Zombie Villager Curing

Here are some frequently asked questions to deepen your understanding of the process:

1. What happens if a villager dies to a zombie?

The outcome depends on the game difficulty:

• Easy: The villager dies 100% of the time.
• Normal: The villager has a 50% chance of dying and a 50% chance of turning into a zombie villager.
• Hard: The villager turns into a zombie villager 100% of the time.

2. Can a zombie villager be cured instantly?

While it’s not possible to instantly cure a zombie villager in the traditional sense, players have noticed instances where the transformation is almost instantaneous, usually occurring when curing in a confined space like a boat. However, it generally requires the standard curing time.

3. Why won’t my villager take a job after I cured them?

Villagers require a linked bed to claim a profession. Ensure there is one bed available for each villager you want to assign to a job. The villager does not need to have access to the bed, simply linked to it.

4. Can you cure a zombie villager child?

Yes, baby zombie villagers can be cured using the same method as adult zombie villagers. Baby zombie villagers do not age naturally, but will become a normal child villager when cured.

5. Is curing a zombie villager worth it?

Absolutely! Cured villagers will lower their trade prices after they have been cured, showing gratitude for saving them. This makes trading with them much more advantageous.

6. How many times can you cure a zombie villager to get cheaper prices?

You can cure a villager up to five times to get progressively better discounts on items they sell.

7. What are the odds of getting a zombie villager from a villager killed by a zombie?

The conversion rate depends on difficulty: 0% on Easy, 50% on Normal, and 100% on Hard.

8. Do villagers keep their trades after being zombified and cured?

Yes, in Java Edition, a cured villager will retain all of their previous trades, even if those trades were maxed out before the zombification. This behaviour is not fully confirmed on Bedrock Edition

9. Can you cure a zombie villager without a weakness potion?

No, a Splash Potion of Weakness is a necessary component in the curing process. You will need to brew a potion of weakness first, and then turn it into a splash potion.

10. On what difficulty do villagers get infected by zombies?

Villagers can be infected on any difficulty except Peaceful. The rate of infection depends on the specific difficulty.

11. What are the odds of a zombie villager spawning naturally?

Zombie villagers have a 5% chance to spawn naturally in any biome where regular zombies can spawn.

12. Can a zombie villager become a drowned?

No, only regular zombies can transform into drowned when submerged in water.

13. Why might a zombie not be targeting a villager?

Zombies might fail to attack a villager immediately after curing a zombie villager nearby. Additionally, if the zombie is unable to jump to the same elevation as a villager, it might fail to harm it. To reproduce this issue make sure the zombie is one block below the villager.

14. Why did my villager turn back into a zombie?

If your villager re-zombified, then they were likely killed by a zombie and have been reinfected. You must protect cured villagers from further harm by zombies.

15. Why is my villager wearing green?

Villagers wearing plain green robes are “nitwits”. These villagers do not have a profession or offer any trades, and in Java Edition, they will shake their heads when you try to trade with them.

Conclusion

Reviving a zombie villager is a valuable skill for any Minecraft player. It not only adds to the richness of your village but also grants you access to better trading opportunities. By mastering the process of using a Splash Potion of Weakness followed by a Golden Apple, and optimizing the curing environment, you’ll have no trouble restoring these unfortunate souls. Armed with this knowledge, go forth and bring life back to your Minecraft world, one zombie villager at a time!