Curing Zombie Villagers: A Minecraft Masterclass
Fast answer first. Then use the tabs or video for more detail.
- Watch the video explanation below for a faster overview.
- Game mechanics may change with updates or patches.
- Use this block to get the short answer without scrolling the whole page.
- Read the FAQ section if the article has one.
- Use the table of contents to jump straight to the detailed section you need.
- Watch the video first, then skim the article for specifics.
So, you’ve stumbled upon a zombie villager in your Minecraft world? Fear not, intrepid adventurer! Turning these groaning undead back into their former, trade-happy selves is not only possible but also incredibly rewarding. Let’s dive into the step-by-step process and then answer some burning questions you might have.
How do you cure a zombie villager? The key lies in exploiting their weakness to, well, weakness! You’ll need two essential items: a Splash Potion of Weakness and a Golden Apple. First, douse the zombie villager with the potion. Then, approach them and “use” the Golden Apple. If done correctly, you’ll see red particles swirling around the zombie villager and they’ll begin to shake. Now, patience is key. It will take a few minutes for the transformation to complete.
The Curing Process: A Detailed Guide
Here’s a breakdown of the zombie villager curing process, ensuring you don’t miss a single detail:
1. Preparation is Key
Before even thinking about tackling a zombie villager, you need to gather your materials.
- Splash Potion of Weakness: This potion is crucial. You can brew it using a Fermented Spider Eye, which requires a Spider Eye, Sugar, and a Brown Mushroom. Brew this in a Brewing Stand with water to create a potion of weakness. Then, add gunpowder to make it a splash potion. Alternatively, sometimes Witches will throw these at you, so you could even trick them into doing the first step for you.
- Golden Apple: These require eight Gold Ingots surrounding an Apple in a crafting table. Mining gold underground is the easiest way to get Gold Ingots, but trading with villagers, pillaging structures, and defeating the Wither are also viable options.
- Containment: You’ll want to keep the zombie villager contained during the curing process. A simple enclosed space will do.
- Optional Enhancements: Iron bars and a bed can speed up the curing process (more on this later).
2. The Initial Application
Now, for the cure itself.
- Splash Potion of Weakness: Aim carefully and throw the potion at the zombie villager. Make sure they are within the splash radius. You’ll know it worked when they get the grey weakness swirlies surrounding them.
- The Golden Apple: With the zombie villager weakened, approach them and interact using your “use” key (usually right mouse button on PC). This will feed them the Golden Apple.
3. Waiting and Protection
This is where patience comes in.
- The Shakes: The zombie villager will begin shaking violently, and red particles will surround them. This indicates the curing process has started.
- Time: In Bedrock Edition, the cure takes around 1-2 minutes. Java Edition takes 3-5 minutes.
- Defense: During this time, the zombie villager is still considered a zombie, and other zombies will be attracted to them. Keep them safe from harm! Be aware, the zombie villager will also behave like a zombie, attempting to attack you.
4. The Big Reveal
Once the time is up, the zombie villager will transform back into a regular villager. Congratulations! You have successfully cured a zombie villager.
5. Claim Your Reward
Curing zombie villagers multiple times will unlock significant discounts on trades.
Zombie Villager FAQs: Your Questions Answered
Here are some frequently asked questions to further enhance your understanding of zombie villager curing.
1. Can a zombie villager be a nitwit?
Yes, zombie villagers can be unemployed, but they cannot be nitwits (zombified nitwit villagers become unemployed zombie villagers). This means that if you cure a zombie villager that was previously a nitwit, they will revert to being a regular unemployed villager.
2. How many times to cure a villager?
You can cure a villager up to five times and get a discount on vanilla. Many SMP servers will cap this at one or two cures, because they don’t want you getting 25 or 100 emeralds knocked off the price of trades.
3. Can witches cure zombie villagers?
The witch has a 25% chance of throwing a splash potion of Weakness if the player is 3 or less blocks away and does not already have the Weakness effect. This is used to weaken the player’s melee attacks on the witch if they attempt to. This Weakness effect can be used to cure zombie villagers, though relying on a witch for this is highly unreliable.
4. How long does a zombie villager take to cure?
Once you have fed the Golden Apple to a zombie villager, it takes around 1-2 minutes in the Bedrock edition and 3-5 minutes in the Java edition for the cure to take full effect.
5. Can curing a zombie villager fail?
While rare, curing zombie villagers can sometimes fail, with a chance to turn them into Illagers. This is often attributed to glitches or corrupted game data, but can also be the result of mod interference.
6. Do iron bars help zombie villagers cure faster?
Yes! It is best to place zombie villagers in a sort of “prison cell” structure with a bed and iron bars while curing it. This is because the iron bars and bed make the villager cure about 4% faster. Zombie villagers take 2–5 minutes to cure under normal circumstances.
7. Can you cure a nitwit?
Yes! Nitwits can be zombified and cured to become normal Villagers!
8. Can you cure a zombie villager child?
Yes! If a baby villager is killed during a siege, it will also become a baby zombie villager. Baby zombie villagers are faster than their grown-up counterparts and will not age. Zombie villagers can be cured and returned to normal villagers if weakened using a splash potion of weakness, and then fed a Golden Apple.
9. Can you cure a zombie villager twice?
Yes! As mentioned earlier, you can cure a villager up to five times and get a discount on vanilla. However, be mindful of server rules if you are playing on a multiplayer server.
10. Do villagers forget you cure them?
Normally, a villager being cured multiple times can offer a heavier trading discount than one being cured once. However, when one save & quit the game while a villager is still being cured, upon returning to the game the villager will forget whether it has been cured before.
11. Is it worth curing villagers?
Absolutely! It may not seem worth it for such a complex process, but curing a Zombie Villager will unlock significant discounts on traded items. The same Villager can be cured multiple times until the buying price on each of its items is one Emerald.
12. Will cured villagers raise prices?
Whenever you trade with villagers, they raise their prices. This occurs even if their prices are affected by curing them or another villager in their area. So even with discounts, be mindful of over-trading.
13. Are villagers scared of zombie heads?
Yes! If you wear a Zombie head, Villagers will be scared of you and run to their homes, and an Iron Golem will Attack you or other Villagers wearing a Zombie head.
14. Can zombie villager babies grow?
If a baby villager is killed during a siege, it will also become a baby zombie villager. Baby zombie villagers are faster than their grown-up counterparts and will not age. Zombie villagers can be cured and returned to normal villagers if weakened using a splash potion of weakness, and then fed a Golden Apple.
15. Why are zombie villagers important?
Curing zombie villagers allows you to populate or repopulate villages, especially useful if you’ve found a deserted village or are starting from scratch. Also, the trade discounts gained from curing a villager can get you the best deals on your favorite trade items.
Contributing to Minecraft Knowledge
The world of Minecraft is ever-evolving, and understanding its nuances is essential for a truly immersive experience. The Games Learning Society, found at GamesLearningSociety.org, fosters collaboration and research within game-based learning. Be sure to visit Games Learning Society to learn more about Minecraft in an educational environment!
With this knowledge in hand, you’re now equipped to cure zombie villagers and revitalize your Minecraft worlds. Happy crafting!