How to Get a Zombie Pig (and Everything You Need to Know!)

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So, you want a zombie pig in your Minecraft world, huh? Well, technically, what you’re after is a Zombie Pigman, now more commonly known as a Zombified Piglin. But fear not, aspiring pig-zombifier, because I’m here to walk you through the process. There are only two ways to create a Zombie Pigman: either by striking a pig with lightning, or waiting for one to spawn from a nether portal.

Method 1: The Lightning Strike

The most direct, albeit less reliable, method is to subject an unsuspecting pig to a bolt of lightning. Here’s how to maximize your chances:

Find a Pig: This is the easy part. Pigs are common in most Overworld biomes.
Create a Trap (Optional): If you’re finding it hard to keep a pig in one spot while waiting for a storm, build a small pen to contain it.
Summon a Storm: Naturally occurring thunderstorms are your best bet, but if you’re impatient (and who isn’t?), you can use the /weather thunder command in a world with cheats enabled.
Attract Lightning: This is the tricky part. Lightning tends to strike the highest point in an area. To increase the chance of your pig being struck, you can use a Lightning Rod placed near it. The Lightning Rod will attract lightning strikes within a certain radius, significantly improving your odds.
Witness the Transformation: When lightning strikes the pig, you’ll see a brief flash, and poof! – a Zombified Piglin will appear in its place (assuming you’re not on Peaceful difficulty, in which case the pig simply disappears).

Method 2: Nether Portal Spawning

This method is far more passive. Zombified Piglins have a chance to spawn within or near Nether Portals in the Overworld.

Build a Nether Portal: Pretty straightforward. 4 obsidian blocks wide and 5 high, creating a rectangular frame. Activate it with flint and steel.
Wait (and Wait…and Wait): This is the frustrating part. You simply need to leave the portal active and wait for Zombified Piglins to spawn near it. The spawn rate is relatively low, so patience is key. Building multiple portals can increase the overall spawn rate, effectively turning the area into a rudimentary gold farm.
Secure the Area: You might attract other hostile mobs while waiting. Clear the area around the portal to prevent unexpected encounters.

Important Considerations:

Difficulty Matters: On Peaceful difficulty, Zombified Piglins cannot spawn. You need to be on Easy, Normal, or Hard for either method to work.
Nether Update: Remember that “Zombie Pigman” is the old name. These creatures were retextured and renamed Zombified Piglins in the Nether Update. The core mechanics remain the same.
Gold Farms: Many players utilize Nether Portals and clever redstone contraptions to create automated gold farms that rely on the constant spawning of Zombified Piglins. You might want to look into building one of these if you need a steady supply of gold. A deeper understanding of game design for a farm like this could be assisted by resources from the Games Learning Society.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Can you lure Zombified Piglins?

Yes, but not in the way you might expect. Zombified Piglins, like their non-zombified Piglin cousins, are attracted to gold. You can’t exactly “lure” them with a block of gold from across the map, but wearing gold armor will make them less likely to attack you and might encourage them to approach. They also drop everything to barter when offered gold.

2. How did my Pig turn into a Zombified Piglin?

Most likely, lightning struck it. As mentioned above, this is a common method for creating Zombified Piglins. However, if you’re near a Nether Portal, there’s a small chance it could have wandered through and been transformed.

3. How do you get a baby Zombified Piglin?

Baby Zombified Piglins can spawn naturally in the Nether, but the chance is only 5%. They typically spawn near groups of adult Zombified Piglins. You can also use a Zombified Piglin Spawn Egg, but even then, there’s only a 5% chance of spawning a baby. Breeding is not possible in the conventional sense.

4. Can you breed a Zombified Piglin?

No. Zombified Piglins cannot be bred. They are undead mobs and do not reproduce. The article you referenced mentioned “Pigman” breeding, which is outdated and refers to the pre-Nether Update mechanics. Only Piglins can be bred, and they require Hoglin meat.

5. What are Piglins scared of?

Piglins are terrified of soul fire, which is a blue variant of regular fire found in soul sand valley biomes. Campfires, lanterns, and torches of this variant also work as repellents. This fear does not extend to Zombified Piglins.

6. Why was the Zombie Pigman removed?

The Zombie Pigman wasn’t entirely removed. It was retextured, remodeled, and renamed to Zombified Piglin during the Nether Update to better align with the new lore and aesthetic of the Nether. Mobs that spawned as Zombie Pigman prior to the Nether Update will remain Zombie Pigmen but now are no longer spawning.

7. Can you turn a Zombified Piglin back into a Pig?

No. You can cure a Zombified Piglin, but curing it turns it back into a regular Piglin, not a pig.

8. Do Zombified Piglins forgive?

Yes! Zombified Piglins, once provoked, will eventually forget past aggression. If you wait long enough or exit and re-enter the Nether, they will no longer attack you until provoked again. However, attacking one will provoke the whole horde around you, so be careful!

9. Can you tame a Zombified Piglin in Minecraft?

No, you cannot tame a Zombified Piglin in vanilla Minecraft. The reference to “tamed zombie pigmen” and the “ancient sword” likely refers to a specific mod, like Tinker’s Construct.

10. What happens if you hit a Zombified Piglin in the Overworld?

Attacking a Zombified Piglin in the Overworld will provoke all nearby Zombified Piglins, even those in the Nether! This can create a chain reaction and quickly overwhelm you.

11. What attracts Piglins in Minecraft?

Piglins are primarily attracted to gold. They will accept any item made of gold, including golden carrots, golden apples, golden gear, and even gold blocks, in exchange for bartered items. This attraction does not directly translate to Zombified Piglins, but wearing gold armor will prevent them from attacking you on sight.

12. Can you cure a Zombified Piglin?

Yes! To cure a Zombified Piglin, throw a splash potion of weakness at it and then use a golden apple. It will shake, and after a few minutes, it will turn back into a regular Piglin.

13. Are Zombified Piglins attracted to turtle eggs?

Generally, undead mobs, including Zombified Piglins, don’t actively seek out turtle eggs. They might notice them if they’re very close, but they don’t prioritize destroying them like other mobs might.

14. Do Zombified Piglins get mad if you mine gold?

No, they don’t care if you mine gold. Only Piglins will become hostile if you open chests or mine gold blocks near them in certain structures.

15. Can Piglins give Netherite?

Yes, Piglins can give you Netherite scraps (which are used to craft Netherite Ingots) through bartering. They love everything made of gold and will trade valuable items, including Netherite and Diamond armor, for gold ingots. Understanding the complex systems that govern this bartering, or the design of the game itself, could be further supported by engaging with resources from the Games Learning Society.

Now you’re armed with the knowledge to obtain your very own Zombified Piglin (or several!). Happy Minecrafting!