What mobs don’t despawn?

What Mobs Don’t Despawn in Minecraft? A Comprehensive Guide

The world of Minecraft is teeming with life, from passive animals to hostile creatures. However, not all these entities remain in the world indefinitely. Many mobs, particularly hostile ones, are subject to despawning, a mechanic that removes them from the game to optimize performance. This process can be frustrating for players who might have grown attached to a particular mob, or for those trying to create specific mob-based farms. Understanding which mobs don’t despawn and why is crucial for any serious Minecraft player.

In essence, mobs that do not despawn are typically those that have been interacted with by the player in specific ways, or are inherently designated as permanent. This includes mobs that have been given names using a name tag, those that are holding or wearing player-picked-up items and armor, or that are riding in boats on Java Edition. Additionally, mobs spawned in the world generation, like many passive animals, do not despawn, though this is not to be confused with the spawn cap and entity limit which is a different, yet similarly related, feature. Furthermore, certain unique mobs, such as the Warden, also have despawn behaviors that can be altered. Let’s delve deeper into this subject.

How to Make Mobs Not Despawn

There are several methods to make mobs not despawn, each suited for different situations. Here’s a breakdown of the most effective techniques:

Naming Mobs With Name Tags

One of the most reliable methods to prevent despawning is to name a mob using a name tag. This is easily accomplished by renaming a name tag on an anvil and then using the renamed tag on the desired mob. Once named, the mob will not despawn under normal circumstances. This method applies to both hostile and passive mobs, making it a versatile way to preserve your favorite creatures or create specific mob displays. Be aware, however, that even named mobs will despawn if the game difficulty is switched to “Peaceful,” or in certain unique circumstances.

Item Holding and Armor Pickup

Another sure way to keep a mob from despawning is to have it hold an item or wear armor that was picked up. Zombies, in particular, are known for this behavior and have a chance to pick up items that are thrown on the ground, especially on Hard difficulty. When a zombie equips picked-up gear, it is marked as persistent and will not despawn. This can be a useful, if slightly more challenging, method to keep a mob in place indefinitely.

Using Boats in Java Edition

In Java Edition, mobs riding in boats are treated as persistent and will not despawn. This is a useful method for transporting mobs or keeping them in a designated area without fear of them vanishing. Do be warned, however, as they will still try to attack and may even succeed at breaking the boat! This behavior is specific to Java Edition and does not apply to Bedrock Edition.

Mobs That Inherently Don’t Despawn

Several mobs do not despawn based on the way they are spawned or their in-game purpose. These include, but are not limited to:

  • Naturally Spawned Passive Mobs: Most passive animals spawned during world generation are permanent and won’t despawn under normal circumstances. This is why you can often find groups of cows or sheep roaming around in your world.
  • Unique Boss Mobs: Boss mobs, such as the Ender Dragon and the Wither, are persistent and do not despawn under any normal conditions.
  • Villagers: Villagers are persistent, and do not despawn. They will stay in their villages unless they are moved by players or zombies.

Understanding Despawn Mechanics

To truly understand which mobs don’t despawn, it’s important to understand the factors that lead to despawning. Hostile mobs have a chance of despawning if they are more than 32 blocks away from the player for longer than 30 seconds. They will also automatically despawn if they are 128 blocks away from all active players. This mechanic is put in place to keep the game performance manageable by clearing entities that are no longer in immediate use.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are 15 frequently asked questions to further clarify the topic of mob despawning:

1. Will passive mobs despawn if trapped?

No, most passive mobs, if spawned in world generation, will not despawn simply by being trapped. However, if they were spawned via spawn eggs, they may be subject to despawning. Be aware of the mob cap and entity limits, however. If the game is trying to despawn a mob to make room for new ones, then being trapped may not save them.

2. Do zombies despawn if they have armor?

Zombies will not despawn if they are wearing armor that they picked up, even if they picked it up on the same game session. This is true whether they got the gear naturally or from you dropping it for them to pick up.

3. Does despawning affect experience drops?

No, picked-up items or armor do not affect the amount of experience a zombie drops when killed. However, naturally spawned armor on mobs will drop increased amounts of experience when killed.

4. Can creepers be stopped from despawning?

Yes, creepers can be stopped from despawning in the same ways as other mobs, such as by naming them with a name tag or giving them a picked up item. If a creeper is currently being rendered by the player’s client, they will also be unable to despawn.

5. How can I keep zombies away from my base?

Lighting is key. Ensure the interior of your base is well lit with torches, glowstone, or other light sources. This prevents them from spawning inside, but it also will be difficult to ensure they do not attempt to get closer. Building high structures is effective, but some mobs such as skeletons can attack from afar.

6. Will a Warden despawn if named?

Yes, a named Warden will not despawn. Normally, a Warden will burrow back into the ground after 60 seconds of being “calm,” unless it has been named. If floating on a liquid, it will despawn immediately.

7. Does mob despawning affect the mob cap?

Yes, in a way. If mobs are despawning, they are freeing up the mob cap for new mobs to spawn in. If you make a lot of mobs persistent and do not despawn, it may become more difficult to find new mobs spawning in the world.

8. Can I use boats to make mobs not despawn in Bedrock Edition?

No, the boat method for preventing despawns is specific to Java Edition. It is not effective in Bedrock Edition.

9. How rare is a zombie with diamond armor?

A zombie spawning with diamond armor is extremely rare, with a probability of around 0.04%. Finding a baby zombie wearing diamond armor is even rarer.

10. Do mobs despawn in spawn chunks?

Theoretically, mobs with armor or holding objects will never despawn within the spawn chunks, as these chunks remain loaded in memory at all times. Otherwise, the same despawn rules apply.

11. What light level prevents hostile mobs from spawning?

A light level of 7 or higher will prevent most hostile mobs from spawning. Torches emit a light level of 14, while other light sources may emit a light level of 15.

12. How do you cure a zombie villager?

To cure a zombie villager, throw a Splash Potion of Weakness at it, then feed it a Golden Apple. This will transform them back into a villager.

13. What do zombies hate the most in Minecraft?

Zombies will prioritize attacking villagers, and there is a chance that a villager will turn into a zombie if killed by a zombie.

14. Do spiders drop more experience than other mobs?

No, spiders drop 5 experience orbs when killed by a player or a tamed wolf, which is not significantly different from many other hostile mobs.

15. Can two Wardens spawn at once?

No, at any given time only one Warden can spawn. Another warden will not spawn until the previous one has died or despawned.

Understanding mob despawn mechanics is important for optimizing farms and creating unique and engaging experiences in Minecraft. By utilizing the methods described above, players can gain more control over the game world and the mobs within it.

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