Taming the Terror: How to Make Pillagers Go Away in Minecraft

Pillagers, those crossbow-wielding menaces, can be a real thorn in the side of any Minecraft adventurer. Whether they’re lurking near their outposts, harassing villagers, or unleashing a full-blown raid, knowing how to deal with them effectively is crucial for survival and peaceful gameplay. The short answer? There are several strategies, ranging from preventing their spawns to mitigating the effects of raids. Key methods include building defenses, managing the Bad Omen effect, and strategically altering the environment around pillager outposts.

Understanding the Pillager Problem

Before we dive into solutions, let’s understand what makes pillagers tick. They’re hostile mobs who spawn around pillager outposts and form patrols that wander the Overworld. Killing a patrol leader gives you the Bad Omen effect, which triggers a raid when you enter a village. Raids consist of waves of pillagers and other illagers (like Vindicators and Evokers) attacking the village.

Strategic Solutions: Sending Pillagers Packing

Here’s a breakdown of methods to make pillagers disappear, categorized for clarity:

1. Prevention: Stop Them Before They Start

• Outpost Management: Pillager outposts are the source of many problems. Replacing the grass and sand blocks around an outpost with non-spawnable blocks like cobblestone or slabs significantly reduces pillager spawns. Also ensure the area has a light level above 7 on opaque blocks, since pillagers can only spawn at light levels of 8 or lower on non-grass or non-sand blocks. Remember that regardless of light level, pillagers can spawn on grass or sand blocks, so removing these is crucial.
• Village Defense: A well-defended village is less likely to be raided successfully, and it’s also a deterrent. Build a wall at least two blocks high around the village. Incorporate iron golems for added protection. Lighting up the village prevents other hostile mobs from spawning inside the walls.
• Avoid Proximity: It seems obvious, but avoid building your base near a pillager outpost. They constantly spawn there, so you’ll always be dealing with them.

2. Bad Omen Mitigation: Don’t Trigger a Raid

• Milk, Milk, Milk: The most reliable way to remove the Bad Omen effect is to drink milk. You’ll need a bucket, which you can craft from iron ingots. Milk clears all status effects, including Bad Omen.
• Accept Your Fate (Strategically): If you accidentally get the Bad Omen effect and are near a village you want to protect, consider initiating the raid in a less valuable village (or even a test world) to clear the effect before returning to your main base.

3. Dealing with Active Pillagers: Direct Confrontation

• Lava Flows: While pillagers have decent AI and will try to avoid lava, a strategically placed lava flow can be effective, especially in enclosed areas. This method carries the risk of destroying any dropped items.
• Controlled Combat: Gear up with good armor and weapons and engage the pillagers directly. A bow and arrows allow you to take them out from a distance.
• Despawning: If all else fails, you can simply move far enough away from the pillagers that they despawn. Pillagers that patrol will despawn if the chunk they are located in is unloaded.

4. Raid Management: Surviving the Onslaught

• Prepare Your Defenses: Before starting a raid, ensure your village defenses are in top shape. Reinforce walls, repair any damage, and make sure iron golems are in place.
• Focus Fire: Prioritize taking out the most dangerous illagers first, such as Evokers (who summon vexes and cast area-of-effect spells) and Vindicators (who wield axes).
• Utilize the Bell: Ringing the village bell highlights nearby pillagers, making them easier to spot and target.
• Hero of the Village: Successfully defending a village against a raid grants you the Hero of the Village effect, which gives you discounts on trades with villagers.

Important Considerations

• Persistence: Pillagers are persistent. Even after clearing an outpost or surviving a raid, they can return. Constant vigilance is key.
• Difficulty Level: Pillager behavior can vary slightly depending on the difficulty level.
• Game Version: The mechanics of pillagers and raids can change with updates. Stay informed about the latest changes in your version of Minecraft.
• Playing with Friends: Working together with other players can make dealing with pillagers much easier, especially during raids.

Dealing with pillagers in Minecraft requires a multi-faceted approach. By understanding their behavior, employing preventative measures, and being prepared for direct combat, you can minimize their impact on your game and protect your villages from their raids. Remember to adapt your strategies to your specific circumstances and enjoy the challenge!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. How long does it take for pillagers to go away naturally?

If you trigger a raid and then abandon the village, the pillagers will follow you for a short distance before eventually despawning. Raids can also expire after 40 minutes (48,000 ticks) of real-time if the raid is not completed. However, any illagers that have spawned will remain until killed.

2. Why do pillagers keep coming to my house?

Pillagers will only raid a village. If your house is within a village boundary and you have the Bad Omen effect, a raid can begin there. If not, they may just be wandering patrols that happen to pass by. Try lighting up the area around your house to prevent spawns.

3. What do pillagers hate the most?

Pillagers are hostile toward players, iron golems, wandering traders, and adult villagers.

4. How do I get rid of the Bad Omen effect quickly?

The fastest way is to drink a bucket of milk. It removes all status effects, including Bad Omen.

5. Can I turn a pillager into a villager?

No, you cannot turn a regular Pillager into a Villager. The common confusion is that the player might be thinking about curing a Zombie Villager. Using a Splash Potion of Weakness and a Golden Apple you can cure the zombie version of a villager, turning it back into a normal villager.

6. Do pillagers ever stop spawning near an outpost?

To significantly reduce pillager spawns near an outpost, you need to remove all grass and sand blocks within a large radius (approximately 72x54x72 area centered on the top level of the watchtower) and replace them with non-spawnable blocks like cobblestone slabs. Pillagers can spawn at outposts regardless of light level on grass or sand. Then, increase light levels on other opaque blocks to at least 8.

7. What do pillagers go after during a raid?

Pillagers primarily target villagers and players. They will also attack iron golems and wandering traders if they are present.

8. Will a pillager raid eventually go away on its own?

Yes, raids will expire in 40 minutes (48,000 ticks) of real-time without player intervention, but any spawned illagers will remain. This is often not a practical solution as villagers will likely be killed.

9. Can pillagers open doors and enter my house?

Yes, pillagers can open wooden doors. Use iron doors or other mechanisms to secure your base if pillagers are a threat.

10. Does displaying a pillager banner attract pillagers?

No, displaying a pillager banner does not attract pillagers. The only thing that attracts them is the Bad Omen effect when you enter a village.

11. Does killing a pillager always start a raid?

Killing a regular pillager does not start a raid. Only killing a Pillager Captain (the one with the banner on its back) grants the Bad Omen effect, which can trigger a raid.

12. Can pillagers steal items from my chests?

During a raid, on Normal and Hard difficulty, Pillagers can steal items from chests or any other storage items. This does not happen on the Easy difficulty setting.

13. Where do pillagers hide during the day?

Pillagers don’t actively “hide” during the day. They simply patrol around their outpost or wander the Overworld.

14. How long does the Bad Omen effect last?

The Bad Omen effect can last up to 1 hour and 40 minutes.

15. Does destroying a pillager tower stop them from spawning?

Destroying the pillager tower itself does not stop pillagers from spawning in the area. You need to manage the spawning area by removing grass and sand blocks, placing non-spawnable blocks like cobblestone slabs, and lighting the area.

Minecraft is more than just building blocks, and you can learn more about how games provide engaging educational environments through the Games Learning Society at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/.