Do Villagers Have Babies in Minecraft? A Comprehensive Guide
Yes, villagers in Minecraft absolutely have babies! This is a core mechanic of the game, allowing players to expand their villages and create thriving communities. However, it’s not as simple as just throwing two villagers together and hoping for the best. Several conditions need to be met for successful villager breeding. This article provides a comprehensive overview of how villagers reproduce, along with a collection of frequently asked questions to clear up any confusion you might have.
How Villager Breeding Works
Villager breeding is a fascinating system based on willingness and resource availability. Here’s a breakdown of the key elements:
Willingness
Villagers need to be willing to breed. This willingness is triggered by providing them with food. Each villager requires 12 food points to activate this state. Here’s what food works and its point value:
- Bread: 4 points each
- Carrots: 1 point each
- Potatoes: 1 point each
- Beetroots: 1 point each
Therefore, you need to provide 3 loaves of bread, 12 carrots, 12 potatoes, or 12 beetroots to each villager to get them in the mood for breeding. Once willing, hearts will appear above their heads.
Beds are Crucial
A sufficient number of beds is another critical factor. There must be at least one more bed than the current number of villagers for breeding to occur. For example, if you have two villagers, you’ll need at least three beds. These beds must also have at least 2 empty blocks above the head for them to be considered valid.
Proximity and Space
The villagers need to be in close proximity to each other and the available beds. Ensure they are not trapped or too far from their potential mates and the necessary resources. While villagers do require doors to be considered part of a village, those are not required for the breeding process itself.
The Breeding Process
Once the conditions are met – willing villagers, sufficient beds, and appropriate space – the villagers will begin the breeding process. After successfully breeding, there’s a 5-minute cooldown period before they can breed again. If breeding is unsuccessful for reasons such as overcrowding or lack of beds, they will attempt to breed again after the 5-minute cooldown.
Baby Villager Growth
After a baby villager is born, it remains a child for exactly 20 minutes within the render distance. Once this period passes, the baby villager will grow into an adult.
Frequently Asked Questions About Villager Breeding
Here are some frequently asked questions (FAQs) to help further clarify the nuances of villager breeding:
1. Why aren’t my villagers making babies?
Several factors could be at play. Ensure you have met the requirements of having enough beds (one more than the current number of villagers), and that the villagers are willing with sufficient food. If you’re on Bedrock Edition, there may be a population cap on your village, preventing further breeding. Also, check that their beds are not being destroyed during the breeding process.
2. Do villagers need specific job sites to breed?
No, job sites are not required for villager breeding. Beds and willingness are the primary requirements.
3. Do villagers need to sleep to breed?
Villagers breed depending on the time of the day, and as mentioned, they require beds. However, they do not necessarily need to actively sleep on those beds for breeding to occur.
4. Do villagers stop breeding if I look at them?
No, villagers will not stop breeding if you are observing them. This is a common myth and does not affect their behavior.
5. What food works to make villagers breed?
The most effective foods for triggering villager willingness are: bread, carrots, potatoes, and beetroots.
6. What’s the cooldown between villager breeding attempts?
There is a 5-minute cooldown period between successful breeding attempts, or attempted breeding attempts when conditions aren’t met.
7. How long do baby villagers stay babies?
Baby villagers will remain as babies for 20 minutes if they are within your render distance and will then grow into an adult.
8. Can baby zombie villagers grow up?
No, baby zombie villagers will not grow up. They remain as babies. However, if cured, they will grow to be normal villagers like any other.
9. What makes villagers angry while breeding?
If a villager shows anger particles it means that their breeding attempt has stopped. This often indicates that you don’t have an extra bed for the new baby villager within the village range or that their beds were somehow destroyed or removed during the breeding process.
10. Why are some villagers ‘nitwits’?
In Bedrock Edition, there is a 10% chance that a baby villager will become a nitwit when they grow up. Nitwits are villagers without professions.
11. Can a nitwit villager get a job?
Yes, you can provide a nitwit with a profession by placing a valid job site block near them. The nitwit will then take the job and become a regular villager. It is important to do this quickly, as nitwits slowly lose happiness if unemployed.
12. Do villagers get mad if you hit them?
Yes, villagers will show anger particles if you hit them, take their beds, or wake them up multiple times. This is a warning to other villagers that you may be aggressive.
13. How do villagers claim beds?
A villager will claim a bed if they are within a 48-block sphere of it, it is ‘pathfinding,’ and the bed is not already claimed by another villager.
14. Can villagers get annoyed with you?
Yes, villagers can become annoyed if you interact with them excessively. They will eventually show a small cloud particle over their head if you repeatedly click them and try to speak, suggesting they are overwhelmed by your presence.
15. How does curing a zombie villager multiple times affect their trades?
Curing a zombie villager multiple times results in increased discounts on their trades. Each time they are cured, they offer better prices, down to a minimum of one emerald per trade. Other villagers nearby may also provide some discount as well but will be much less.
Conclusion
Villager breeding in Minecraft, while initially complex, is a very manageable process once you understand the key mechanics. By ensuring villagers are willing, have access to sufficient beds, and are in an appropriate space, you can create thriving villages. Understanding these elements will enable you to expand your Minecraft world and engage with the dynamic villager community. Remember, patience and a keen eye on these details will get you a bustling village full of happy villagers!