Will a Warden Despawn if You Name It? The Definitive Guide
The Warden, Minecraft’s terrifying new mob found deep within the Deep Dark biome, presents a unique challenge to players. One of the most pressing questions surrounding this formidable foe is: will a Warden despawn if you name it? The short answer is: no, a named Warden will not despawn under normal circumstances. This crucial piece of information can be incredibly valuable for players exploring the deep dark, looking for a way to control these fearsome creatures. Let’s delve deeper into why this is, and explore some related frequently asked questions.
How Naming a Warden Prevents Despawning
The Default Despawning Mechanism
Wardens have a specific despawning mechanic unique to their kind. Unlike most mobs that despawn simply when players get too far away, the Warden burrows back into the ground and despawns after being in a “calm” state for 60 seconds. A “calm” state is when the Warden isn’t detecting any vibrations or sniffing any mobs. This behavior essentially means that if you manage to avoid the Warden for long enough, it will naturally disappear, allowing for a less stressful Deep Dark exploration. However, this despawning can be prevented quite easily by using a name tag.
The Power of the Name Tag
The name tag is a vital item for Minecraft players, often used to preserve specific mobs that the player finds endearing or wishes to keep around. When you apply a name tag to a Warden, it no longer follows the standard despawning rules for these mobs. This is similar to how naming other mobs keeps them from despawning. By giving a name to the Warden, you have essentially “anchored” it to the world, preventing it from burrowing back into the ground and disappearing after its calm down period. This means that once a Warden is named, it will persist in the world indefinitely, unless killed, or the game’s difficulty is changed to peaceful. This is a significant detail to remember when considering your approach to the Deep Dark and dealing with these powerful adversaries.
Exceptions to the Rule
It’s essential to note that even a named Warden is not entirely immune to despawning. If the game difficulty is set to “Peaceful”, all hostile mobs, including named Wardens, will despawn. This is a drastic measure of removing hostile elements and should be avoided if you want to keep your named Warden. Additionally, if a Warden is floating on a liquid, it will immediately despawn without the burrowing animation, whether it’s named or not. This highlights the importance of understanding and utilizing the naming mechanics to your advantage in a survival environment.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Warden Despawning and Mob Naming
1. What Happens if a Warden is Left Calm?
If a Warden doesn’t detect any vibrations or mobs for 60 seconds, it will burrow back into the ground and despawn. This mechanic is designed to give players a way to manage the Warden threat if they can avoid being detected.
2. Do Wardens Despawn if They are Floating in Water?
Yes, a Warden that is floating on any liquid will immediately despawn, even if it is named, and without performing the standard burrowing animation.
3. Can You Use an Unnamed Name Tag?
No, you cannot use an unnamed name tag. You must rename the name tag at an anvil before you can use it. This is a general rule for all name tags in the game.
4. Do Mobs Despawn if They Have a Name Tag?
Yes, named mobs will not despawn, with a few exceptions, including changing difficulty to peaceful. This makes name tags essential for keeping special mobs or making mob farms more efficient.
5. Do Mobs in Boats Despawn?
Mobs riding in boats do not despawn in the Java Edition, which is useful for moving them across long distances. However, hostile mobs will still attack while in a boat. Also, please note that this does not apply to Bedrock Edition.
6. Will a Warden Despawn in Peaceful Mode?
Yes, any hostile mob, including Wardens, will despawn in Peaceful mode. This means that even a named Warden will be removed if the difficulty is set to peaceful.
7. How Far Away Do You Need to be for a Warden to Despawn?
You need to be far enough away from the Warden that it is no longer detecting you or any vibrations for 60 seconds. Typically, being about 70 blocks away should be sufficient for it to begin the despawning sequence, provided it remains undisturbed.
8. How Much XP Does the Warden Drop When Killed?
The Warden drops only 5 XP when killed and a Sculk Catalyst. This makes it an impractical source for XP, unlike many other mobs.
9. Can Two Wardens Spawn at Once?
No, only one Warden can be active at any given time. If another Warden is triggered to spawn, it will not appear until the previous Warden either dies or despawns.
10. How Do You Stop the Warden From Smelling You?
The Warden uses vibrations and smell to locate targets. To avoid detection, minimize creating vibrations and set your anger level to zero, which can be achieved by going undetected for a time.
11. Do Tamed Pets Despawn?
Tamed pets like parrots, cats, and dogs will not despawn. However, untamed animals like wolves and ocelots may still despawn.
12. Do Hostile Mobs Despawn if They Have Armor?
As long as a hostile mob has an item or armor that it picked up, it will not despawn. This is similar to naming them, but a lot more risky and far less precise.
13. Will Named Hostile Mobs Die in the Sunlight?
Yes, named hostile mobs are still vulnerable to sunlight and will burn if exposed to it. This means that you need to make additional efforts to protect them during the day, such as building a shelter.
14. What is the Rarest Thing a Zombie Can Drop?
The rarest items a zombie can drop are armor or weapons that it spawned with. Though rare, this can be a useful way to acquire certain items early in the game.
15. What Items Do Zombie Villagers Pick Up?
Zombie villagers pick up most items they come across, except for jack o’lanterns, mob heads, and pumpkins. They can also equip and use any armor, weapons, or tools that they collect.
Conclusion
In summary, while Wardens can despawn if left undisturbed, naming them with a name tag prevents this. This knowledge can significantly alter how players interact with these formidable creatures, offering more control over the dangerous Deep Dark biome. Remember, a named Warden is a permanent resident of your world (unless the difficulty is switched to Peaceful or the mob is killed), so think carefully before christening one! Understanding these game mechanics will ensure you are well-equipped for any encounter with the Warden and all other mobs in Minecraft.