How to Permanently Rid Yourself of Pillagers in Minecraft

So, you’re having a bit of a Pillager problem in your Minecraft world, are you? Those crossbow-wielding nuisances are certainly a pain, whether they’re ruining your peaceful village or just generally being unwelcome guests. Don’t fret, there are several strategies you can employ to permanently get rid of them and reclaim your digital dominion. The most effective way to achieve lasting peace is a combination of prevention and strategic elimination.

To permanently get rid of pillagers, you need to address both their spawning and their raid mechanics. First, eliminate existing Pillager Outposts by either completely destroying them or mob-proofing the area around them. This involves removing all spawnable blocks (grass, sand, etc.) within a 71×71 area centered on the outpost and replacing them with non-spawnable blocks like slabs or glass, or by lighting the entire area up with torches to a light level of 8 or higher. Second, to prevent Pillager Patrols, which can spawn anywhere, mob-proof the area around your base and any villages you want to protect. Carpets, slabs, and sufficient lighting are your friends here. Finally, and most importantly, avoid acquiring the Bad Omen effect by not killing Pillager Captains (the ones with banners) unless you are prepared to deal with a raid. If you do accidentally get the Bad Omen effect, drink milk to remove it before approaching a village. Combining these approaches will create a Pillager-free zone, ensuring your builds remain safe from these crossbow wielding menaces.

Understanding the Pillager Threat

Before we dive into the solutions, it’s crucial to understand how Pillagers operate and why they’re showing up in your world. Pillagers primarily spawn in two ways: at Pillager Outposts and as part of Pillager Patrols. Pillager Outposts are structures that continuously spawn Pillagers within a defined radius. Patrols, on the other hand, randomly spawn in the Overworld, particularly near villages or areas with high player activity. Understanding these spawning mechanisms is key to implementing effective prevention strategies. The Games Learning Society provides fascinating insights into game mechanics. Check out GamesLearningSociety.org for more information.

Eliminating Pillager Outposts: A Permanent Solution

Method 1: The Scorched Earth Approach

This is the most straightforward, albeit time-consuming, method. It involves completely destroying the Pillager Outpost and mob-proofing the surrounding area. Here’s how:

1. Destroy the Outpost: Demolish the tower and any surrounding structures to eliminate the primary Pillager spawn point.
2. Mob-Proof the Area: Pillagers can spawn within a 71×71 block area centered on the outpost. To prevent this, you must either:
   • Replace Spawnable Blocks: Replace all grass, sand, dirt, and other spawnable blocks within this area with blocks Pillagers cannot spawn on. Excellent choices include:
     • Slabs: Bottom slabs of any material are ideal.
     • Glass: Being transparent, Pillagers cannot spawn on them.
     • Carpet: Another effective and visually appealing option.
   • Light it Up: Alternatively, illuminate the entire 71×71 area to a light level of 8 or higher. Torches, lanterns, glowstone, and sea lanterns are all effective options.

Method 2: The Peaceful Coexistence (Slab & Light) Strategy

This method focuses on making the outpost uninhabitable for Pillagers without necessarily destroying the structure. It involves a combination of slabbing and lighting:

1. Replace Wooden Floors: Replace all wooden floors within the outpost with bottom slabs. This prevents Pillagers from spawning inside the tower.
2. Illuminate the Interior: Place torches, lanterns, or other light sources strategically throughout the outpost’s interior to raise the light level above 7.
3. Extend the Lighting: Extend the lighting beyond the outpost’s immediate vicinity to cover a wider area, reducing the likelihood of Pillagers spawning nearby.

Preventing Pillager Patrols: Protecting Your Territory

Pillager Patrols can be a nuisance even if you’ve dealt with nearby outposts. These patrols randomly spawn and can stumble upon your base or villages, causing chaos. Here’s how to minimize their appearance:

1. Mob-Proof Your Base Perimeter: Surround your base with a layer of non-spawnable blocks like slabs, glass, or carpet. This creates a “safe zone” where Pillagers cannot spawn.
2. Light Up Your Surroundings: Ensure your base and any nearby villages are well-lit. This reduces the chances of Pillager Patrols spawning in the vicinity.
3. Strategic Use of Fences: While Pillagers can shoot over fences, fences can still provide a barrier and slow them down, giving you time to react.

Avoiding the Bad Omen Effect: The Key to Peaceful Village Life

The Bad Omen effect is the root cause of Pillager Raids. You acquire this effect by killing a Pillager Captain (the one with the banner) outside of a raid. To prevent raids, avoid killing these captains near villages unless you’re prepared for a fight.

1. Identify Pillager Captains: Pillager Captains are easily identifiable by the banner they carry on their back.
2. Avoid Unnecessary Conflict: If you encounter a Pillager Captain, consider avoiding them altogether.
3. Drink Milk: If you accidentally acquire the Bad Omen effect, immediately drink milk. Milk removes all status effects, including Bad Omen, preventing a raid from triggering when you enter a village.

Dealing with Existing Raids: Fighting Back or Letting it End

Sometimes, despite your best efforts, a raid might already be in progress. You have two options:

1. Fight and Win: Prepare for a challenging battle. Equip yourself with strong weapons and armor, and coordinate with villagers to defend against the raiders. Victory rewards you with valuable loot and the Hero of the Village effect.
2. Let the Raid Expire: If you’re unable to defeat the raiders, you can wait for the raid to expire. Raids automatically end after 48,000 ticks (40 minutes in real time) if no villagers die or beds are destroyed during that time. However, any surviving Illagers will remain until killed.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Pillagers

1. What blocks can Pillagers NOT spawn on?

Pillagers cannot spawn on transparent blocks like glass, bottom slabs, carpet, leaves, or any block that emits a light level of 14 or greater.

2. Do torches stop Pillagers from spawning?

Yes, torches are effective at preventing Pillager spawns. By raising the light level to 8 or higher, you can prevent Pillagers from spawning in the illuminated area.

3. Will destroying a Pillager Outpost stop spawning?

Destroying the outpost itself is not enough. You must also mob-proof the surrounding area (a 71×71 block area centered on the outpost) to completely prevent Pillager spawns.

4. How do you stop Pillager Patrols from spawning near my base?

Mob-proof the area around your base with non-spawnable blocks like slabs, glass, or carpet, and ensure the area is well-lit.

5. Why do Pillagers keep coming to my house?

Pillagers spawn because you interact with villages or live near one. A village is defined as at least one villager and a bell. You might also be repeatedly gaining the Bad Omen effect and triggering raids.

6. How long does it take for a Pillager Raid to go away on its own?

A raid will expire after 48,000 ticks (40 minutes in real time) if no villagers die or beds are destroyed.

7. Do fences stop Pillagers?

Fences don’t completely stop Pillagers, as they can shoot over them. However, fences can provide a barrier and slow them down.

8. Can Pillagers raid my house?

Pillagers can only raid your house if you have a villager nearby and you have the Bad Omen effect.

9. How do I get rid of Pillagers without triggering a raid?

Avoid killing Pillager Captains near villages. If you accidentally acquire the Bad Omen effect, drink milk before entering a village.

10. Do Pillager Raids go away if I leave the area?

No, the raid will continue even if you leave the area. It will either end with the villagers being defeated, the raiders being defeated, or after 40 minutes if no progress is made.

11. What happens if I kill all the Pillagers in a raid?

If you kill all the Pillagers in a raid, you win! You’ll receive the Hero of the Village effect, which grants you discounts at villager trades.

12. Can Pillagers steal items from chests?

During a raid on Normal difficulty or higher, Pillagers may attempt to loot chests, barrels, and shulker boxes, but only as a potential game mechanic.

13. Can you befriend Pillagers?

No, Pillagers cannot be befriended. They are inherently hostile towards players, villagers, and Iron Golems.

14. What do Pillagers hate?

Pillagers are hostile towards players, villagers, wandering traders, and Iron Golems.

15. Can you turn a Pillager into a Villager?

No, you cannot directly turn a Pillager into a Villager in the base game.