Do Villagers Sell Out Forever? Understanding Minecraft Trading Dynamics
The short answer is no, villagers do not sell out forever. While it may seem frustrating when your favorite trades are temporarily unavailable, the trading system in Minecraft is designed to be dynamic and replenishable. Villagers have a limited stock of each item they offer, and once this stock is exhausted, they will lock that trade temporarily. However, with a bit of patience and understanding of the mechanics, you can ensure a steady flow of trades. This article will delve into the intricacies of villager trading, answering common questions and providing a comprehensive guide to making the most of this essential Minecraft feature.
Understanding Villager Stock and Restocking
How Trading Works
Once you trade with a villager, that villager locks in its profession and the trades it offers. Each trade has a limited number of uses before it is exhausted. This means that you can’t just continuously buy the same item repeatedly. Once a trade is maxed out, the villager will not offer it again until it restocks its inventory.
How Villagers Restock
Villagers replenish their stock by interacting with their workstation block. This process typically happens twice per in-game day. The first restock usually occurs during the morning work hours (around 9 or 10 am), and the second happens after the first maximum stock out, during the same Minecraft day. This means you’re more likely to get more trades in during the day!
Limits to Restocking
It’s important to remember that villagers can only restock if they can access their workstation. If a villager is blocked from its workstation or has traded a particular item past the restock limits twice on the same day, they will not restock that particular trade until the next in-game day. Each villager and trade has its own limit. For instance, the number of times you can buy a specific item before the villager runs out will vary by item.
Time-Based Restocking
Villagers will restock when they wake up and can successfully reach their workstation. The specific time for these restocks is determined by random game ticks, meaning players cannot set a restock timer directly. However, you can expect the first restock to occur within the first few hours of the Minecraft day, and you have a good chance at getting the second restock done, as well!
What Happens When Villagers Run Out?
When a villager runs out of a particular item, that trade will be temporarily locked. The villager will display a red cross above the trade slot, indicating that it is unavailable. This is not a permanent condition, and the trade will become available again after the villager has restocked.
Factors Affecting Restocking
Several factors can affect a villager’s ability to restock, such as their access to their workstation. They must be able to pathfind to their workstation effectively. If a villager is trapped in a boat or minecart, or their workstation is blocked, they will not be able to restock their trades. Also, if a villager has maxed out a trade twice already during a single day, you will have to wait for the next game day.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are 15 Frequently Asked Questions to help you gain a deeper understanding of the Minecraft villager trading system.
1. Can villagers permanently run out of stock?
No, villagers cannot permanently run out of stock. They will restock after using their workstation.
2. How often do villagers restock?
Villagers typically restock twice per in-game day. Once in the morning, then once after hitting the maximum trade, both during the same game day!
3. What is a villager’s workstation?
A workstation is the job-specific block that a villager needs to restock. For example, a tool smith needs a smithing table, while a librarian needs a lectern.
4. Will a villager restock if its workstation is blocked?
No, a villager must have direct access to its workstation to restock trades.
5. How many times can I trade before a villager runs out?
Each trade has its own specific limit, but a rule of thumb is that you can trade around 4 times before stock runs out.
6. What happens if a villager is in a boat or minecart?
Villagers trapped in a boat or minecart cannot pathfind to their workstation and thus won’t restock.
7. Do villagers lower prices if I don’t trade with them?
Yes, if an item isn’t traded at all, the price of that trade will gradually go down.
8. Do villagers raise prices if I hit them?
Yes, hitting villagers or an iron golem generates negative gossip, leading to increased prices.
9. Can cured zombie villagers restock?
Yes, a cured villager will restock its trades in Java edition. In Bedrock, the trades might not reset. If you are having issues with this, ensure to cure them before trades happen to make them more consistent.
10. Will villagers move out of my village?
Villagers can move out of a village, but it’s somewhat random. There’s a cooldown period between villager moves, and you need 9+ villagers for this to happen.
11. Which villager has the best trades?
The Librarian is often considered the most valuable due to their trades for enchanted books, particularly Mending.
12. Can a trader become a villager?
Once a villager has traded and became a trader, they cannot revert to being a regular villager again, even if their job site is removed.
13. How do I get villagers to have lower prices?
By curing a zombie villager, that villager offers a permanent discount, and subsequent cures can bring the price down to one emerald.
14. Can nitwits trade?
No, nitwits (green-robed villagers) cannot trade and have no use in trading with the player.
15. What to do if my villager will not restock their trades?
Make sure they have access to their workstation, it is mid day in game, and that they haven’t maxed out two trades on the same day. If all of these are met, it should reset after you give them some time to work.
Conclusion
Villager trading is a core mechanic of Minecraft, providing players with access to valuable items and enchantments. While villagers do run out of stock temporarily, they do not sell out forever. By understanding the mechanics of villager restocking, workstation requirements, and trade limits, players can effectively manage their trading strategies. Remember to provide villagers with proper workstations, avoid trading too many times at once, and give them time to restock. With a little patience and planning, you can make the most of this invaluable feature. Enjoy building and trading your way to victory!