Can the Wandering Trader Sell Cherry Trees? Everything You Need to Know
Yes, wandering traders can indeed sell cherry saplings. This is a key piece of information for players looking to cultivate cherry blossoms in their Minecraft worlds, especially early on or in locations where cherry trees do not naturally generate. This capability makes the wandering trader a valuable, albeit somewhat unreliable, source of this sought-after sapling. The cherry sapling is a desirable item for many players, as it allows them to grow the beautiful cherry trees that were introduced in recent updates. However, it’s important to note that this trade is only available when the world’s experimental settings are turned off. Let’s delve deeper into this and other fascinating aspects of the wandering trader.
Wandering Trader Basics: What They Offer
The wandering trader is a unique mob that spawns randomly and offers a diverse selection of goods for sale in exchange for emeralds. This unique merchant is a welcome sight for players looking for particular items that might be difficult to obtain through normal gameplay. These items vary quite a bit but generally include rare saplings, various types of flowers, coral blocks, and even nautilus shells. They serve as a mobile shop, bringing rare goods to wherever the player is.
The Wandering Trader’s Trade Selection
Beyond cherry saplings, the wandering trader’s inventory can include:
- Rare Saplings: This is a major appeal to players who don’t live near certain biomes. Besides cherry saplings, you can find saplings for other tree types.
- Dyes: Various dyes, which can be used for crafting or decorating.
- Flowers: A range of flowers, allowing you to decorate your spaces more readily.
- Coral Blocks: Often necessary for specific builds, these can be a boon for players far from coral reefs.
- Nautilus Shells: A valuable trade, often seen as the “best” trade due to the difficulty in obtaining these in the early game. These are vital for crafting conduits.
- Cactus: Useful for defense or crafting, especially in biomes where cacti don’t generate.
- Podzol: A unique type of dirt often used in building or terraforming.
- Blue Ice: A key item for players looking to set up fast travel via boat.
- Cocoa Beans: Available for trade in Bedrock Edition.
Wandering Traders and Hostile Mobs
Wandering traders have a unique way of dealing with hostile mobs. When threatened, they will often drink a Potion of Invisibility to make themselves, and sometimes their llamas, vanish. This allows them to avoid most encounters and is their primary means of self-preservation.
Cherry Saplings: Why They Are Important
Cherry saplings are crucial for players who want to cultivate the beautiful cherry trees introduced in more recent Minecraft updates. The cherry blossom biome is a unique and visually appealing area. However, if a player doesn’t live near one or wants to establish a cherry tree farm elsewhere, relying on the wandering trader is the only option for obtaining these in survival mode without using creative mode or commands.
Why This Trade is Significant
The wandering trader’s offering of cherry saplings is significant for several reasons:
- Biomes Variety: It allows players in other biomes to grow cherry trees, adding aesthetic variety to their bases.
- Early Access: Players who want cherry trees right away no longer have to search for a cherry blossom biome, making them available to all players from an early stage in the game.
- Convenience: Instead of spending time searching for the biome, players can encounter wandering traders in their vicinity and trade for the saplings.
Wandering Trader Mechanics
Understanding how the wandering trader operates can help players utilize it effectively.
Spawn Rates and Despawning
The wandering trader has a relatively low initial spawn rate. The first spawn attempt has a 2.5% chance of success. If that fails, another attempt is made after 24,000 ticks (20 minutes) with a 5% chance of success. Subsequent attempts have a 7.5% chance, up to a cap. On average, it takes approximately 14.325 Minecraft days for a wandering trader to spawn.
Once spawned, the wandering trader will despawn after being loaded for 48,000 ticks (40 minutes or 2 full Minecraft days). Opening the trading UI does not count against this despawn timer. Naming the wandering trader or placing them in a boat or minecart will not prevent them from despawning.
Interacting with the Wandering Trader
The wandering trader’s trading interface is similar to a villager, except that their trades are only in exchange for emeralds. Unlike villagers, their trade options do not expand upon trading. A wandering trader may despawn faster if all their trades have been locked.
Llama Behavior
The wandering trader always spawns with two llamas, which also have their own unique mechanics. These llamas are also attached via a lead. If the trader dies the leads will drop. If the llamas are killed, they will also drop leads and any items they may be holding. Killing them is a strategy many players use to quickly acquire two leads, although killing a trader has a negative impact on a players reputation.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the best trade from the wandering trader?
Many players consider the nautilus shell trade for 5 emeralds to be the best. This trade greatly facilitates the creation of conduits, which require a heart of the sea, as nautilus shells can be hard to find early on in the game. However, this is subjective and varies based on a player’s needs.
2. How do I keep a wandering trader from despawning?
To prevent a wandering trader from despawning, use a command like: /summon wandering_trader {DespawnDelay:500}. A wandering trader summoned like this will not despawn. However, using a name tag or placing the wandering trader in a boat/minecart will not stop despawning.
3. Can I breed wandering traders?
No, wandering traders cannot breed. They are a unique type of mob and do not interact with breeding mechanics like villagers.
4. Does killing a wandering trader affect my reputation?
Yes, killing a wandering trader will decrease your reputation with villagers by twice the amount a successful trade raises it. Hitting them doesn’t affect reputation.
5. Can wandering traders sell bamboo?
No, wandering traders do not sell bamboo despite selling most other types of plants.
6. What do I get when I kill a wandering trader?
When you kill a wandering trader, you will receive two leads. Additionally, if the trader’s llamas were holding a milk bucket or potion of invisibility, those items will drop.
7. Can wandering traders sell snow?
No, wandering traders do not sell snow. This can be an issue for players in superflat worlds or skyblock challenges who cannot obtain snow naturally.
8. Do wandering traders sell cocoa beans?
Yes, wandering traders may sell 3 cocoa beans for an emerald in Bedrock Edition. This makes them a source of this valuable item in that edition.
9. How do I keep the wandering trader’s llamas from despawning?
If the player kills a wandering trader and stays away from the trader llamas for a while, the llamas will become tame when ridden by the player. Tamed trader llamas will not despawn.
10. Can wandering traders turn invisible?
Yes, wandering traders will drink a potion of invisibility when they detect a hostile mob or when it is night, becoming invisible.
11. Will a wandering trader despawn if I trade with it?
Yes, a wandering trader will still despawn even after trading with them. Their despawn timer is based on the time they are loaded, not whether the player interacts with their trades.
12. Do wandering traders need a bed?
No, giving a wandering trader a bed will not prevent it from despawning randomly. You need to use other methods, like commands, to keep them from despawning.
13. Can wandering traders be zombified?
No, wandering traders do not turn into zombie villagers when killed by a zombie.
14. Do llamas drop wool?
Yes, llamas do drop wool. White and cream llamas drop white wool, and brown llamas drop brown wool, at a rate of 0-2 or 1-2 wool, instead of the fixed single wool drop from sheep.
15. Can wandering traders open doors?
Yes, wandering traders can open doors in attempts to trade, but cannot open Iron doors. They can also leash their llamas to fence gates and then re-leash them.
Conclusion
The wandering trader, while somewhat unreliable due to its random spawns and despawns, is an essential part of the Minecraft experience. Their ability to trade cherry saplings makes them invaluable for players looking to build cherry tree farms, or just generally beautify their base. Understanding their mechanics, trades, and limitations will greatly enhance your gaming experience.