Ender IO’s Broken Spawners: A Comprehensive Guide

The cornerstone of any automated mob farm in Ender IO is the Powered Spawner. But before you can revel in the experience and loot raining down from your efficiently managed dungeon, you need a Broken Spawner. This article delves into the process of obtaining a Broken Spawner in Ender IO, explores its mechanics, and answers frequently asked questions.

Obtaining a Broken Spawner: The Core Mechanic

The primary method of acquiring a Broken Spawner in Ender IO involves destroying an existing vanilla Minecraft spawner using a specific tool: the Pickaxe of Containment. This pickaxe is crafted within the Ender IO ecosystem and is essential for harvesting spawners.

Here’s a breakdown of the process:

1. Locate a Vanilla Spawner: These are typically found in dungeons, mineshafts, and nether fortresses. Common mob types include zombies, skeletons, spiders, and cave spiders. Blaze spawners are exclusive to Nether Fortresses.

2. Craft a Pickaxe of Containment: The crafting recipe for the Pickaxe of Containment requires resources from Ender IO. Check your in-game recipe book (usually accessed with the ‘R’ key) for the precise crafting ingredients and arrangement. Generally, it involves an iron pickaxe combined with certain Ender IO alloys and components.

3. Mine the Spawner: Equip the Pickaxe of Containment and mine the vanilla spawner. Instead of being destroyed outright, it will drop as a Broken Spawner item.

4. Mob Type Preservation: The Broken Spawner retains the mob type of the original spawner you mined. A Broken Zombie Spawner will become a Broken Zombie Spawner after mining. This is critical for targeting specific mob drops.

5. Utilizing the Broken Spawner: The Broken Spawner is then placed inside the Powered Spawner block, where it serves as the template for mob spawning.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Can I use Silk Touch to get a regular Spawner in Ender IO?

No. Even with a Silk Touch enchanted pickaxe, vanilla Minecraft spawners will not drop as a block in survival mode. You’ll only get experience orbs. The Pickaxe of Containment from Ender IO is specifically designed to yield the Broken Spawner.

2. What happens if I break a Spawner without the Pickaxe of Containment?

If you break a vanilla spawner with a standard pickaxe (even with Silk Touch), it will simply be destroyed, and you will receive experience orbs. You will not obtain a Broken Spawner.

3. How do I craft the Pickaxe of Containment?

The crafting recipe varies depending on the version of Ender IO you’re using. Typically, it involves combining an iron pickaxe with Ender IO alloys (like electrical steel or energetic alloy) and components on an Ender IO crafting table. Consult your in-game recipe browser (usually REI or JEI) for the exact recipe.

4. Can I change the mob type of a Broken Spawner?

Yes, but not directly. In some older versions of Ender IO you could use a soul vial but in most recent versions of Ender IO you can not change the mob type. You need to find a Broken Spawner of the desired type, or modify the game files (which is not recommended for most players).

5. What are the advantages of using a Powered Spawner?

Powered Spawners offer several advantages over vanilla spawners. They can spawn mobs faster, can be configured to require specific conditions (e.g., darkness, certain blocks nearby), and can be powered to increase their efficiency. They also work better for some modded mob types.

6. How does power affect a Powered Spawner?

The amount of RF (Redstone Flux), or FE (Forge Energy), supplied to the Powered Spawner directly impacts its spawning rate and efficiency. Insufficient power will result in slower spawning or even complete shutdown. Make sure to have a reliable power source. Remember Ender IO uses Forge Energy which is cross-compatible with RF.

7. Can I move a Powered Spawner after it’s been placed?

No. Once a Powered Spawner is placed, it cannot be moved in survival mode without breaking it. You will then need to place another Broken Spawner into it to reactivate it.

8. What is the best way to power a Powered Spawner?

Ender IO offers various power generation options, including Stirling Generators, Combustion Generators, and Photovoltaic Cells. The optimal choice depends on resource availability and desired power output. Other mods that supply Forge Energy can work too.

9. Do Creeper Spawners exist in Ender IO?

No, creeper spawners are not naturally generating in Minecraft or Ender IO, so a creeper Broken Spawner can not be naturally found. There’s no such thing as a creeper spawner without hacks.

10. How can I improve the efficiency of my mob farm?

Optimizing your mob farm involves several factors:

• Spawner Placement: Position the spawner in a dark, enclosed space.
• Mob Collection: Use conveyor belts, water streams, or other methods to quickly move spawned mobs to a central collection point.
• Killing Mechanism: Employ crushers, spikes, or drowning chambers to efficiently kill mobs and collect their drops.
• Power Supply: Ensure a consistent and sufficient power supply to the Powered Spawner.

11. Where can I find vanilla Spawners?

Vanilla spawners are naturally found in the following locations:

• Dungeons: Small, cobblestone rooms containing a chest and a spawner.
• Mineshafts: Complex cave systems, often with cave spider spawners.
• Nether Fortresses: Structures in the Nether, containing blaze spawners.

12. What happens if the area around the Spawner is too bright?

If the light level around the spawner is too high (above 7), it will cease to function. Mobs typically only spawn in darkness.

13. What are some good mods to use alongside Ender IO for mob farms?

• Mekanism: For ore processing and power generation.
• Applied Energistics 2 (AE2) or Refined Storage: For item storage and automation.
• Industrial Foregoing: For advanced mob processing and automation.

14. Is Ender IO still being updated?

Yes, Ender IO has been rewritten for newer versions of Minecraft. Check the mod’s official website or CurseForge page for the latest updates and compatibility information.

15. Where can I learn more about Minecraft modding and gaming?

Consider exploring resources like the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org. They provide valuable insights into the educational and social aspects of gaming, which can enhance your understanding and enjoyment of Minecraft and other games. You can learn about various game modding practices there too.