Growing Up (Or Not): The Curious Case of the Baby Zombie Villager in Minecraft
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So, you want to know how to grow a baby zombie villager in Minecraft, huh? Well, buckle up, because the answer is a bit of a twist. You can’t. That’s right, unlike almost every other baby mob in the game, baby zombie villagers are permanently stuck in their juvenile form. They are forever doomed to remain pint-sized terrors, zipping around at alarming speeds and never quite reaching adulthood. While you can cure them back into regular baby villagers, the zombie version will never naturally age.
This seemingly simple fact opens up a whole can of worms (or should we say, rotten flesh?) when it comes to understanding the intricacies of Minecraft’s mob mechanics. Let’s dive into why this is the case, what you can do with these miniature undead, and answer some of the most frequently asked questions about baby zombie villagers.
Why Baby Zombie Villagers Don’t Grow Up
The reason baby zombie villagers don’t age comes down to the game’s programming. Mojang, the developers of Minecraft, specifically coded them to remain in their baby form indefinitely. This is an intentional design choice, not a bug. While other baby mobs like pigs, cows, and even regular baby villagers have a growth timer, the baby zombie villager simply doesn’t.
Think of it this way: they’re designed to be a persistent, low-level threat. Their speed and small size make them surprisingly dangerous, especially in groups. If they grew up, they would just become regular, slower zombie villagers, losing that unique characteristic.
What Can You Do With a Baby Zombie Villager?
Okay, so you can’t make them grow up. But that doesn’t mean they’re useless! Here’s what you can do:
- Cure them: The most obvious option is to cure the baby zombie villager. This requires a Splash Potion of Weakness and a Golden Apple. Once cured, they’ll revert to a normal baby villager, and that baby villager will grow up after about 20 minutes if within render distance.
- Utilize their speed for mob farms: Their increased speed can be advantageous in certain mob farm designs, especially those that rely on luring mobs to a specific location.
- Exploit their ability to fit through small gaps: Baby zombie villagers can squeeze through 1×1 holes, which normal zombies can’t. This can be used to create traps or specialized holding areas.
- Use them as distractions: Their annoying nature can be used to draw the attention of other mobs, potentially leading them into traps or away from valuable structures.
- Marvel at their rarity (especially if they’re riding something): Speaking of unique situations, the baby zombie villager riding a chicken is an extremely unusual occurrence in the world of Minecraft!
The Curing Process: A Step-by-Step Guide
If you’re determined to get that baby villager to grow up, curing the zombie variant is your only option. Here’s how to do it:
- Isolate the baby zombie villager: Ensure the baby zombie villager is in a safe, enclosed area where it can’t escape or be attacked by other mobs.
- Apply Weakness: Throw a Splash Potion of Weakness at the baby zombie villager. You’ll see a distinctive grey swirling effect.
- Administer the Golden Apple: Interact with the baby zombie villager using a Golden Apple. The grey swirls will turn red, and the villager will begin to shake violently.
- Wait Patiently: This is the crucial part. The curing process takes between 3 to 5 minutes. During this time, the baby zombie villager is vulnerable, so protect it from sunlight (if it’s daytime) and any other potential threats.
- The Transformation: After the waiting period, the baby zombie villager will transform back into a normal baby villager. This villager will grow up after 20 minutes as long as it is within render distance.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some of the most common questions about baby zombie villagers, answered in detail:
Can you breed zombie villagers?
No, zombie villagers cannot breed. Breeding is a mechanic reserved for regular villagers. Zombie villagers are the result of regular villagers being infected by zombies.
What happens if a baby villager is killed by a zombie?
If a baby villager is killed by a zombie, it has a chance of becoming a baby zombie villager. The percentage is the same as an adult villager being turned into a zombie villager.
Do baby zombie villagers burn in sunlight?
Yes, baby zombie villagers do burn in sunlight, just like their adult counterparts. This makes them vulnerable during the day, so be sure to keep them sheltered if you plan to keep them around.
Can baby zombie villagers wear armor?
Yes, baby zombie villagers can wear armor, and the armor will shrink to fit their tiny bodies. This adds to their survivability and makes them even more annoying to deal with.
Can baby zombie villagers pick up items?
Yes, baby zombie villagers can pick up items, including weapons and armor. If cured, they will drop the items.
What happens if you cure a baby zombie villager riding a chicken?
Curing a baby zombie villager chicken jockey does not cause it to dismount. You’ll end up with a regular baby villager permanently riding a chicken. And after it ages into an adult villager it will still be riding the chicken. This bizarre creature will function as a normal villager, but with a feathered mode of transportation.
Are baby zombie villagers faster than regular zombies?
Yes, baby zombie villagers are significantly faster than regular zombies. This is one of their defining characteristics and makes them a considerable threat, especially in large numbers.
How rare is a baby zombie villager?
Baby zombie villagers are relatively rare. They have a small chance of spawning naturally and can also be created when a zombie kills a baby villager. The combined chance is low at 0.25% (or 1 in 400 chance) of all newly spawned zombies.
What is a zombie villager jockey?
A zombie villager jockey is a rare occurrence where a baby zombie villager spawns riding another mob. The most common jockey is a chicken jockey, but they can also ride other mobs like wolves or even adult zombies.
Can a baby zombie villager drown?
Yes, baby zombie villagers can drown if they stay underwater for too long, just like regular zombies. This is important to consider if you’re building any underwater traps or farms.
How long does it take to cure a baby zombie villager?
The curing process for a baby zombie villager takes between 3 to 5 minutes after applying the Splash Potion of Weakness and the Golden Apple.
Do cured zombie villagers retain their professions?
When a zombie villager, baby or otherwise, is cured, it retains its original profession and trading offers. This is a key reason why players choose to cure zombie villagers, as it allows them to obtain villagers with valuable trades.
Will cured baby villagers grow up?
Yes, cured baby villagers will grow up into adult villagers after approximately 20 minutes, provided they are within render distance. This is the only way to get an adult villager from a baby zombie villager.
What are the benefits of curing a zombie villager?
Curing a zombie villager not only restores a villager to your village but also provides access to their original trades, often at discounted prices. It also grants you the “Zombie Doctor” achievement.
Can baby zombie villagers despawn?
Zombie villagers that are in the process of converting do not despawn if the player moves far away from them, but like all monsters, they despawn if the difficulty is changed to Peaceful.
Conclusion: Embrace the Un-Aging Undead
While you can’t grow a baby zombie villager in the traditional sense, understanding their unique characteristics opens up a whole range of possibilities within Minecraft. Whether you’re exploiting their speed, utilizing their small size, or simply aiming to restore them to their former, non-undead glory, these pint-sized terrors offer a fascinating glimpse into the complexities of Minecraft’s mob behavior.
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