How to Ride a Wandering Trader Llama in Minecraft: A Comprehensive Guide
So, you’ve spotted a Wandering Trader lumbering about with his trusty llamas and you’re thinking, “Can I ride one of those bad boys?” The short answer is yes, you can mount a Wandering Trader’s llama in Minecraft, but it’s not quite as straightforward as hopping on a horse. While you can mount and ride llamas, you cannot control their movement directly with a saddle like you would a horse or donkey. This guide will explain the nuances of llama riding, taming, and customization, turning you into a llama-riding expert in no time!
Understanding Llama Mechanics
Before we dive into the specifics of riding a Wandering Trader’s llama, it’s important to understand how llamas function in Minecraft. Llamas are neutral mobs that spawn in savannas, savanna plateaus, windswept hills, and forests. Wandering Traders always bring two of these furry pack animals along. Here’s a breakdown:
- Taming: Llamas are tamed by repeatedly attempting to ride them. Eventually, they’ll stop bucking you off and hearts will appear, signifying they are tamed.
- Control: Unlike horses, llamas cannot be controlled with a saddle. You can only lead them with a lead.
- Inventory: Once tamed, llamas can be equipped with a chest to carry items. The strength of the llama determines how many inventory slots it has.
- Decoration: Llamas can be decorated with carpets, adding a visual flair to your ride! Each carpet color provides a unique design on the llama’s blanket.
Acquiring and Taming a Wandering Trader’s Llama
The first step in riding a Wandering Trader’s llama is, well, acquiring one. Here’s how:
- Locate a Wandering Trader: These traveling merchants spawn randomly near players in the Overworld. They are easily identifiable by their blue robes and the two llamas they bring along.
- Separate the Llama: The Wandering Trader’s llamas are leashed to him. You’ll need to break the leads. The easiest way to do this is often to push the llama into a boat. This will automatically break the lead, freeing the llama. Alternatively, you could use shears or attack the lead. Note that attacking the llama may cause it to spit at you.
- Taming the Llama: Once the llama is free, approach it and repeatedly right-click (Java Edition), press the “Mount” button (Pocket Edition), or press the LT button (Xbox) to attempt to ride it. The llama will initially buck you off. Keep trying until hearts appear above its head, indicating it is tamed.
Riding Your Llama
Now that you have a tamed llama, you can ride it! However, remember that riding a llama is different from riding a horse:
- Mounting: To mount the llama, use the same controls as taming: right-click (Java Edition), press the “Mount” button (Pocket Edition), or press the LT button (Xbox).
- Control: You cannot control the llama’s movement directly. It will wander around on its own. To guide it, you’ll need to use a lead. Attach the lead to the llama, and it will follow you wherever you go.
- Decoration: Add some flair to your llama by equipping it with a carpet. Open the llama’s inventory (by right-clicking while near it) and place the carpet in the designated slot. Each carpet color has a unique pattern.
Ethical Considerations
While acquiring the Wandering Trader’s llamas can be tempting, remember that killing the Wandering Trader has consequences. Although it won’t affect your village reputation in the same way harming a villager would, it is still a hostile act. Consider the trade-offs before deciding to eliminate the trader. Plus, think of the poor guy! He’s just trying to make a living, even if his deals aren’t always the best. You could always build a trading hall and breed villagers for better trades in the long run, or contribute to studies about the effectiveness of game-based learning by researching the Games Learning Society and their findings at GamesLearningSociety.org.
FAQs: Llama Riding and Wandering Traders
Here are some frequently asked questions to help you become a llama-riding pro in Minecraft:
1. Can I control a llama with a saddle?
No, you cannot control a llama with a saddle. Llamas can only be guided with a lead.
2. How do I get a lead for the llama?
Leads can be obtained by:
- Killing a Wandering Trader or their llamas (they drop two leads).
- Finding them in chests in dungeons, mineshafts, or woodland mansions.
- Trading with villagers.
3. What happens if my tamed llama dies?
If a tamed llama dies, a death message will be displayed to its owner.
4. Do tamed trader llamas despawn?
No, tamed trader llamas will not despawn. Once you tame them, they’re yours to keep.
5. How do I put a chest on a llama?
To equip a llama with a chest, simply right-click on the llama while holding a chest. The chest will be placed on the llama, allowing it to carry items.
6. How many inventory slots does a llama have?
The number of inventory slots a llama has depends on its strength. This strength is randomly determined when the llama is spawned. A llama can have between 3 and 15 inventory slots.
7. Can I breed llamas?
Yes, you can breed llamas. To breed llamas, feed two tamed llamas hay bales. They will then produce a baby llama.
8. Can baby llamas be ridden?
No, baby llamas cannot be ridden until they grow into adults.
9. Can I change the carpet on a trader llama?
Yes, you can change the carpet on a trader llama. However, when you remove the carpet, it will always revert to the original design.
10. What is the purpose of the Wandering Trader?
The Wandering Trader offers players rare and exotic items in exchange for emeralds. He can be a useful source for items that are difficult to find in your local area.
11. How rare is the Wandering Trader?
The Wandering Trader spawns randomly, with the first spawn attempt having a 2.5% chance of success. The chance increases to 5% and eventually caps at 7.5% if previous attempts fail.
12. Does killing the Wandering Trader affect my reputation?
Killing the Wandering Trader does not directly affect your village reputation in the same way harming a villager does. However, it’s still considered a hostile act.
13. Can I trap a Wandering Trader permanently?
Trapping a Wandering Trader will not prevent it from despawning. Even if named or placed in a boat/minecart, they despawn after a certain amount of time.
14. What is the difference between a regular llama and a trader llama?
The main difference is that trader llamas are always leashed to the Wandering Trader and have a specific carpet design. Otherwise, they function the same as regular llamas.
15. What happens to the Wandering Trader if I take his llamas?
The Wandering Trader will simply despawn after a while if you take his llamas. He’s quite reliant on his furry friends! He might be lonely and would be better off if he could learn new ways of connecting with others. The Games Learning Society might have some ideas on what kind of learning environment would best suit his needs.
Conclusion
Riding a Wandering Trader’s llama in Minecraft is a fun and quirky experience. While you can’t control them directly, leading them around and decorating them with carpets adds a unique element to your gameplay. Remember to consider the ethical implications of acquiring the llamas and enjoy your new furry companion!