How to Zombify a Villager in Minecraft: A Comprehensive Guide
The process of zombifying a villager in Minecraft is relatively straightforward, but the success rate hinges entirely on the game’s difficulty setting. To put it plainly, you need a zombie to attack a villager. On Hard difficulty, any zombie attack on a villager will 100% result in the villager turning into a zombie villager. On Normal difficulty, there’s a 50% chance of the same outcome. On Easy difficulty, however, villagers will always die when attacked by zombies, never turning into zombie villagers.
The strategy, therefore, largely depends on what you aim to achieve. If your sole goal is to obtain zombie villagers, playing on Hard difficulty guarantees success. If you’re aiming to cure villagers for discounted trades or population growth, the same difficulty is still recommended for efficiency, though the villagers will take more damage and potentially die before zombification.
Understanding the Mechanics
Difficulty and Conversion Rates
As mentioned above, the game’s difficulty setting dictates the conversion rate. The table below summarizes the chances:
| Difficulty | Villager to Zombie Villager Conversion Rate |
|---|---|
| ———— | —————————————— |
| Easy | 0% |
| Normal | 50% |
| Hard | 100% |
The Attack
Any type of zombie, including regular zombies, husks, and even drowned, can zombify a villager through their attacks. Note that the drowning status does not change the conversion chance; a drowned zombie follows the difficulty-based percentages like any other zombie.
Villager Health
Keep in mind that villagers have health and can die during a zombie attack before they have a chance to be converted. This is more likely to happen on Hard difficulty, where zombies inflict significant damage. Thus, a balancing act might be necessary to ensure the villager survives long enough to undergo the zombification process. This might involve weakening the zombie or using splash potions of healing on the villager during the attack.
Bedrock vs. Java Edition
The core mechanics of zombification are consistent across both the Java and Bedrock editions of Minecraft. The percentages for conversion rates and zombie types remain the same. However, some minor differences in zombie behavior or villager AI might exist, influencing how efficiently you can orchestrate the conversion.
Strategies for Zombification
The “Hard Mode Farm”
This is the most efficient method if you simply need zombie villagers. Find a village, set the difficulty to Hard, and let the zombies do their work. The only real strategy here is to ensure a constant supply of villagers, either by breeding them or importing them from other villages via minecart.
The “Curing Station”
If your intention is to cure zombie villagers for trading purposes, a more controlled environment is needed. Here’s a basic setup:
- Secure Enclosure: Build a secure enclosure to trap a villager.
- Zombie Spawner: Find a nearby zombie spawner. If none are available, you can create a dark room to encourage zombie spawns.
- Transportation System: Use minecarts or water streams to transport zombies to the enclosure containing the villager.
- Difficulty Switch: Play on Hard mode for the guaranteed conversion, but be prepared to use healing potions to keep the villager alive. Alternatively, play on Normal difficulty for a 50% chance, but a potentially slower process.
Curing the Zombie Villager
Once the villager is a zombie villager, you’ll need a Potion of Weakness (Splash) and a Golden Apple. Throw the splash potion at the zombie villager and then use the golden apple on it. The villager will start to shake and emit red particles, indicating the curing process has begun. The duration of the curing process is roughly 3-5 minutes, depending on the version. Iron bars and beds nearby can speed up the curing process.
Exploiting Discounts
Curing a villager multiple times leads to significant discounts on their trades. This can be exploited to obtain valuable items, such as enchanted books or diamond tools, at very low costs. You can cure a villager up to five times and get a discount on vanilla.
FAQ: Zombifying Villagers
1. Can baby villagers be zombified?
Yes, baby villagers can also be zombified in the same way as adult villagers. The difficulty-based conversion rates still apply.
2. Do nitwits zombify differently?
No, nitwits zombify like any other villager. The conversion mechanics remain identical. After curing a nitwit they can become normal villagers.
3. Do villagers keep their professions after being zombified and cured?
Yes, in the Java edition, villagers retain their professions and trades after being zombified and cured. If some of those trades have been maxed (with the red X) these trades will still be unavailable after the cycle. This is not guaranteed in Bedrock edition and may vary depending on the version.
4. Will a husk zombify villagers?
Yes, husks, like regular zombies, can zombify villagers according to the difficulty-based conversion rates.
5. Can drowned zombify villagers?
Yes, drowned can also zombify villagers, following the same difficulty-based conversion rates.
6. How far away can a zombie see a villager?
Zombies can detect villagers from a considerable distance. In Java Edition, this range is 35 to 52.5 blocks, depending on the regional difficulty. In Bedrock Edition, the range is shorter, at 16 blocks. They can also see villagers through walls.
7. Do villagers get scared of zombie villagers?
Yes, regular villagers are afraid of zombie villagers. This fear can influence their behavior, causing them to run and hide.
8. What happens on Easy difficulty?
On Easy difficulty, villagers will always die when attacked by zombies. There is no chance of them turning into zombie villagers.
9. Can you zombify and cure a villager multiple times?
Yes, you can zombify and cure a villager repeatedly. Each successful cure grants further discounts on their trades.
10. Does iron speed up villager curing?
Yes, iron bars placed near the curing zombie villager are said to speed up the curing process.
11. Do beds speed up the zombie villager curing process?
Yes, beds also speed up the curing process of zombie villagers.
12. What is the best way to transport villagers?
The most reliable way to transport villagers is using minecarts and rails. Alternatively, you can use boats on water streams.
13. Why did my villager die instead of becoming a zombie villager?
If a villager dies during a zombie attack, it’s likely because the villager’s health was depleted before the zombification process could complete. This is more common on Hard difficulty due to higher zombie damage.
14. Do villagers despawn?
No, villagers are not supposed to despawn. However, glitches can occasionally cause them to disappear, especially if their beds are located on chunk borders.
15. Is a zombie apocalypse possible in Minecraft?
While not explicitly coded as a “zombie apocalypse,” Minecraft can certainly feel that way, especially during sieges or when exploring zombie-infested areas. The dynamics in Minecraft offer a unique learning environment to explore survival strategies and resource management. As noted by the Games Learning Society community, exploring games helps people develop problem-solving skills and innovative thinking. You can learn more about how games can improve your skill set at GamesLearningSociety.org.
Conclusion
Zombifying villagers in Minecraft is a straightforward process governed by the game’s difficulty setting. Whether your aim is to create a steady supply of zombie villagers or exploit curing mechanics for valuable trades, understanding the game’s rules and utilizing effective strategies will lead to success. Remember to balance the need for zombification with the villager’s survival, and you’ll be well on your way to mastering this unique aspect of Minecraft gameplay.