Decoding the Wandering Trader: Unveiling the Best Buys in Minecraft
So, you’ve encountered the Wandering Trader in your Minecraft world, a seemingly random nomad appearing with his trusty llamas. He’s got a quirky inventory, some of it surprisingly useful, some… less so. But what’s the best thing to buy from this itinerant merchant? The definitive answer is: Nautilus Shells for 5 Emeralds. This is a phenomenal deal because Nautilus Shells are essential for crafting Conduits, powerful underwater beacons that provide immense benefits like water breathing, night vision, and the ability to mine faster underwater. Finding them via fishing can be incredibly time-consuming, making the Wandering Trader a reliable source.
Why Nautilus Shells Reign Supreme
The Conduit Advantage
Let’s delve deeper into why Nautilus Shells are the prize purchase. Conduits are not just decorative; they are game-changers for underwater exploration and base building. Gathering the necessary eight Nautilus Shells through fishing is a tedious grind. The Wandering Trader bypasses this, offering a consistent, albeit sometimes expensive, alternative.
Emerald Efficiency
While 5 emeralds might seem steep early in the game, the long-term benefits outweigh the cost. Consider the time saved avoiding endless fishing attempts. Moreover, emeralds become easier to acquire as you develop your village and trading networks.
Early to Mid-Game Power Spike
Obtaining a Conduit early to mid-game provides a significant power spike. You can establish underwater bases, explore ocean monuments with ease, and build efficient kelp farms. The time you save on resource gathering translates into faster overall progress in your world.
Other Notable Trades
While Nautilus Shells take the top spot, other trades are worth considering depending on your current needs and biome.
Rare Saplings
If you’re living in a biome that lacks certain tree types, the Wandering Trader becomes a forest in a box. He can sell saplings like jungle, acacia, and dark oak, allowing you to create diverse forestry anywhere. Keep an eye out for cherry saplings too as well.
Decorative Flora
For builders and terraformers, the Wandering Trader offers access to rare flowers, podzol, and even blue ice. These items can drastically enhance the aesthetic appeal of your creations, providing unique textures and colors not readily available in all biomes.
The Trade-Offs: Evaluating the Downsides
Of course, the Wandering Trader isn’t without his drawbacks. His prices can be inflated compared to villager trades, and his selection is entirely random. Plus, he despawns after a while, so you need to act quickly.
Inventory Volatility
One day he might have a stock of Nautilus Shells, the next day he could be peddling useless dyes. This inherent randomness means you can’t rely on him for specific resources consistently.
Emerald Cost
While the Conduit advantage is substantial, the 5-emerald price tag can be a hurdle early on, especially if your village trading network is underdeveloped.
Despawning Woes
The Wandering Trader disappears after a certain time, even if you’ve named him with a name tag. This adds a sense of urgency to your purchasing decisions. However, summoning a wandering trader with “/summon wandering_trader”, the DespawnDelay will be 0, which prevents the wandering trader from despawning. Also, trading with the Wandering Trader will make him despawn faster than if you haven’t traded with him.
Maximizing Your Wandering Trader Encounters
To make the most of your Wandering Trader interactions, keep these strategies in mind:
Early Preparation
Establish a reliable source of emeralds early in the game. A small crop farm paired with a librarian villager can provide a steady income.
Quick Assessment
When the Wandering Trader arrives, quickly scan his inventory. Prioritize Nautilus Shells and rare saplings.
Risk-Reward Analysis
Evaluate whether the emerald cost justifies the purchase, considering the time and effort required to obtain the resources through other means.
Wandering Trader FAQs: Your Burning Questions Answered
1. Can wandering traders sell cactus?
Yes, Wandering Traders can sell a cactus for three emeralds.
2. Can wandering traders open doors in Minecraft?
Wandering Traders will open doors in attempts to trade with someone new, but they cannot open Iron doors like most mobs. They can also leash their llamas to fence gates so they can trade.
3. Can a wandering trader become a zombie?
Wandering traders avoid zombies and their variants, all illager variants, and vexes, staying at least 8 blocks away. Unlike other villagers, a wandering trader killed by zombies does not become a zombie villager.
4. Can wandering traders sell cherry trees?
In a world with experimental settings off, wandering traders can still trade you cherry saplings.
5. Do wandering traders trade slime?
Wandering traders sometimes offer to sell a slimeball for 4 emeralds.
6. Does killing a wandering trader affect reputation?
Killing them would decrease it by twice the amount a successful trade raises it (hitting them does nothing to prevent accidental change).
7. Can there be two wandering traders?
At any time, there can be only one wandering trader naturally spawned in the world. After 24000 ticks (20 real-life minutes, or 1 Minecraft day) have passed since the world is created, the game attempts to spawn a wandering trader.
8. How do you steal from wandering trader?
Place a boat on the ground or in the water, and push the llamas into it. The lead pops out, and the player can continue to even take the llamas. The downside is that they may despawn!
9. Will a wandering trader Despawn if you trade with it?
After the time expires, the wandering trader will despawn. They will despawn even if they are named with a name tag or put in a vehicle such as a minecart or a boat. A wandering trader will despawn sooner if all trades have been locked. The trader may later respawn with new trades.
10. Does killing a wandering trader affect iron golem?
Attacking a wandering trader near a village with an iron golem will not anger the golem, despite the trader itself being a villager-like mob.
11. Can the wandering trader sell bamboo?
Although wandering traders sell most plants, none of them sell bamboo.
12. How do I make sure my wandering trader doesn’t Despawn?
Rename a name tag in an anvil. Summon a wandering trader with DespawnDelay set to 500. Use the name tag on the wandering trader. However, this won’t make them stay forever, it will only postpone the despawning.
13. Can wandering traders sleep?
They wander around the village all day and then sleep inside the houses during the night.
14. Can a wandering trader become a witch?
Wandering traders will not turn into witches when struck by lightning, unlike normal villagers.
15. How do you refresh wandering trader trades?
You can reset Wandering Trader’s trades by giving him invisibility potion.
Conclusion: The Value of the Wandering Trader
The Wandering Trader is a valuable, albeit inconsistent, addition to Minecraft. While his inventory is unpredictable, the potential to acquire Nautilus Shells for a reasonable price makes him a worthy encounter. By understanding his trade mechanics, prioritizing key items, and managing your emeralds effectively, you can leverage the Wandering Trader to significantly enhance your Minecraft experience. Remember, knowledge is power, and in Minecraft, that power can be found in the most unexpected places. To further enhance your game knowledge, be sure to check out resources provided by organizations like the Games Learning Society at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/.