How To Keep Zombie Villagers From Despawning in Minecraft
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The quirky world of Minecraft is full of surprises, and one of the most intriguing aspects is the behavior of its mobs, especially the undead. Zombie villagers offer a unique mechanic, allowing players to potentially obtain valuable villagers with specific trades. However, their tendency to despawn can be frustrating. So, how do you keep these shuffling, moaning former villagers from disappearing? The answer is multifaceted, and this article will delve into the various methods you can use to ensure your zombie villagers stick around.
The Short Answer: Preventing Zombie Villager Despawning
The primary ways to prevent a zombie villager from despawning can be summarized as follows:
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Trading: If you trade with a zombie villager, even just once, before its death, it will no longer despawn. This is unique behavior for zombie villagers, as it’s not an effect seen with most other hostile mobs. However, traded-with zombie villagers will still count towards the hostile mob cap.
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Item Pickup: The moment a zombie villager picks up any item (armor, tools, or anything dropped on the ground), it becomes persistent and no longer despawns. However, this persistent entity no longer counts towards the mob cap, making it a popular method for players wanting to store zombie villagers.
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Name Tagging: Applying a name tag to a zombie villager will ensure it never despawns. This is consistent with how name tags affect other mobs in the game, making them a reliable method for permanent mob keeping.
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Boats: Placing a zombie villager in a boat will also prevent it from despawning. This method has the added bonus that mobs in boats no longer count towards the mob cap in Java Edition.
Let’s explore each of these methods in more detail.
Detailed Methods To Keep Zombie Villagers
Trading with a Zombie Villager
Trading with a zombie villager is a simple way to make it persistent, but it comes with a caveat. Unlike other persistent mobs that no longer count toward the mob cap, traded-with zombie villagers still contribute to this cap. This means that if you have a large number of traded zombie villagers in an area, it could potentially hinder the spawning of other hostile mobs in that same area.
To achieve this, simply approach the zombie villager and interact with it as you would a normal villager to initiate the trading window. Make any trade to lock the zombie villager in.
Zombie Villagers Holding Items
Once a zombie villager picks up an item, it becomes a persistent mob and is no longer eligible for despawning, similar to having a named or traded with zombie villager. However, unlike a traded zombie villager, it will no longer contribute toward the mob cap.
To accomplish this, simply drop items at the zombie villager’s feet. Zombies, including zombie villagers, will pick up certain items if they are able to equip or hold them. They will pick up items like swords, shovels, armor, and pumpkins that they can carry or wear. They will also pick up anything they can hold like flowers and tools.
Using Name Tags
Applying a name tag to a zombie villager is a straightforward and reliable method. As with any other named mob in Minecraft, once a name tag has been used, the entity will not despawn under normal circumstances. This is a common method for keeping any specific mob around and has the advantage of not requiring any trades or item pick up.
To use a name tag, you will need to obtain one first. Name tags can be found in dungeons, mineshafts, and other structures as rare loot and sometimes from fishing. Once you have one, simply approach the zombie villager with the tag in your hand and interact with it using the use button. The name tag will then be used, and a name will need to be given to the zombie.
Utilizing Boats
Placing a zombie villager in a boat will also prevent it from despawning. This method is unique because mobs in boats no longer contribute towards the mob cap in Java Edition. This makes it a great way to store zombie villagers if you are planning to convert them, as you can keep them all in a single location without affecting mob spawning.
To put the zombie villager in a boat, simply place a boat down on land then push the zombie villager onto the boat. Once on the boat, it will then be secured.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are 15 frequently asked questions about zombie villagers and despawning to further expand your knowledge:
1. Do naturally spawning zombie villagers despawn?
No, naturally spawned zombie villagers will not despawn. They are considered a persistent type of mob.
2. Will a zombie villager despawn if it’s wearing armor?
Yes, if a zombie villager spawns with naturally generated armor it will still despawn, until it either picks up an item or has traded with the player, similar to any other natural spawning hostile mob.
3. Can you cure a baby zombie villager?
Yes, baby zombie villagers can be cured just like their adult counterparts using a Splash Potion of Weakness and a Golden Apple.
4. How long does it take to cure a zombie villager?
In Java Edition, it typically takes 3-5 minutes for a zombie villager to fully convert back into a regular villager after being fed a Golden Apple. In Bedrock Edition the cure is 1-2 minutes.
5. Can you get a 100% conversion rate of villagers to zombie villagers?
Yes, if a zombie kills a villager on Hard difficulty, the villager will always turn into a zombie villager.
6. What happens if a zombie villager is holding items when cured?
If a zombie villager was holding any item it picked up, that item is dropped when it is cured.
7. Can zombie villagers turn into drowned?
No, zombie villagers in the water will not turn into drowned. They will behave like normal zombies, bobbing and attacking while afloat.
8. If a zombie villager despawns, what happens to the items it was holding?
If a zombie villager with items despawns, all the items it was holding will also despawn. Therefore, it’s recommended to use the methods mentioned to prevent despawning to also keep the items it was holding.
9. What’s the rarest thing a zombie villager can drop?
Like normal zombies, zombie villagers can drop rotten flesh. Rarer drops include iron ingots, carrots, and potatoes. Extremely rarely, they may drop the armor or weapons they spawned with.
10. Why did my villager die instead of turning into a zombie?
If a villager dies from a zombie attack and does not turn into a zombie villager, it’s most likely because the villager took too much damage and died before the zombie villager conversion could complete. This is more likely to happen if the villager has low health. Exception, on hard difficulty a villager is always converted.
11. How many times can you cure the same zombie villager?
You can cure the same zombie villager up to five times which will gradually discount the trades of the resulting villager.
12. Will a zombie villager attack a villager if they aren’t on the same level?
No, if a zombie is one block lower than a villager, it will not be able to reach and attack it.
13. Can I move a zombie villager in a boat to a different area?
Yes, you can absolutely move a zombie villager in a boat to a different area. This is a common method for relocating them for easier curing or storage.
14. Is it worth keeping zombie villagers?
Yes, zombie villagers are incredibly valuable because they can be cured and used to start or expand a villager trading hall. Cured zombie villagers offer significantly discounted trades.
15. Do methods to prevent zombie villager despawning vary between Java and Bedrock Edition?
The core methods mentioned (trading, item pickup, name tags) work in both Java and Bedrock. The difference is with the boat mechanics; mobs in boats do not count towards the mob cap in Java, but in Bedrock Edition they do.
Conclusion
Keeping zombie villagers in Minecraft is an important part of setting up a villager trading system and is relatively straightforward. By understanding the despawning mechanics and employing the methods of trading, giving items, applying name tags or using boats, players can successfully keep and manage their zombie villagers for future use. Armed with this knowledge, you can confidently grow your villager population and take advantage of their favorable trades.