Where Do You Find Pillager Patrols in Minecraft?

Pillager patrols are a challenging and sometimes frustrating encounter in Minecraft. These roaming groups of hostile illagers can appear seemingly out of nowhere, causing havoc for unprepared players. If you’re wondering where these patrols originate and how to deal with them, you’ve come to the right place. In short, you can find pillager patrols spawning in almost any Overworld biome except mushroom fields and their shores, as well as the Nether and End dimensions. They can spawn relatively close to players but are less likely to do so if the player is inside a village. Specifically, patrols spawn approximately 24-48 blocks away from a player (or even further than 48 blocks if a player is within a village). However, they don’t spawn immediately and require certain conditions to be met.

Understanding Pillager Patrol Spawns

Spawn Conditions

Pillager patrols are not a constant presence. Their spawning mechanics are tied to world age and random chances. Here’s a breakdown:

• World Age: Patrols only start spawning after your world has reached 100 minutes (5 in-game days). This means new players will have some time to prepare before patrols become a regular occurrence.
• Spawn Attempts: After the 100-minute mark, the game attempts to spawn a patrol roughly every 10-11 minutes.
• Success Rate: Each spawn attempt only has a 20% chance of success. This explains why sometimes you see patrols frequently and other times they seem to disappear for long stretches.
• Player Proximity: The game tries to spawn a patrol 24-48 blocks away from the player’s location. If the player is in a village, this distance can be even greater, pushing them further away.
• Biome Restrictions: Patrols will not spawn in mushroom fields, mushroom field shores, the Nether, or the End dimensions. However, they can wander into these biomes after spawning elsewhere.

Why Can’t I See Any Pillager Patrols?

Several factors might be at play if you’re struggling to find pillager patrols:

• Not Enough Time: If your world hasn’t reached 100 minutes (5 in-game days), patrols will not spawn. Check your world age if this is the case.
• Bad Luck: The 20% spawn rate means you might experience periods of inactivity. Patience may be required as each attempt has only a small chance of generating a patrol.
• Village Proximity: If you are near a village, the game will try to spawn patrols at a farther distance away from you. This can push spawns into areas that you’re not typically exploring.
• Peaceful Difficulty: Pillager patrols, like other hostile mobs, do not spawn on Peaceful difficulty.
• Village Spawning Prevention: If a player is within a 5x5x5 sub-chunk cube around a village, the patrols will not spawn.

Pillagers vs. Illagers

It’s worth noting the distinction between pillagers and illagers, as they are closely related but spawn differently:

• Pillagers: Primarily spawn at pillager outposts, and as a part of pillager patrols. They are armed with crossbows and are the focus of the patrol system.
• Illagers: This is a broader category that includes pillagers, vindicators, evokers, and illusioners. These entities often spawn in groups during patrols, raids, and within their respective structures. Illagers are commonly found in patrols and raids.

Dealing with Pillager Patrols

Once a pillager patrol spawns, it will relentlessly pursue any player they encounter. Here are some tips for dealing with them:

• Light Up Your Base: Prevent pillagers from spawning too close by making sure your base is well-lit, especially if you have a large open area. Pillagers spawn in areas with a light level of 8 or lower.
• Stay Aware: Always keep an eye out for these patrols, especially in open biomes. The sound of the pillager horn is an indication of a nearby patrol.
• Tactical Combat: Pillagers attack by shooting crossbow bolts, so learn to quickly knock them back and evade their attacks, then move away from them.
• Cats: Tamed cats are useful for scaring away creepers, but they do not affect pillagers.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Do pillager patrols spawn in all biomes?

No, pillager patrols spawn in almost all Overworld biomes except mushroom fields and mushroom field shores. They also do not spawn in the Nether or End dimensions. However, they can wander into these areas once spawned.

2. How far away do pillager patrols spawn from the player?

Pillager patrols will spawn around 24-48 blocks away from the player. If you are located in a village, the spawn distance is often increased.

3. Do pillager patrols spawn immediately?

No. Pillager patrols only start spawning after your world reaches 100 minutes (5 in-game days). They also spawn with only a 20% success rate after this point, and are attempted every 10-11 minutes.

4. Can pillagers spawn without an outpost?

Yes, pillagers can spawn in pillager patrols without an outpost. However, pillagers also naturally spawn within the pillager outpost spawn area, if light level conditions are met.

5. What triggers a pillager patrol spawn?

Pillager patrols spawn naturally after the world age reaches 100 minutes (5 in-game days). After this point, the game attempts to spawn a patrol every 10–11 minutes with a 20% chance of success.

6. Are pillager patrols rare?

Yes, they are considered rare. They are not as common as other naturally occurring mobs, because they only spawn after a certain time and with a limited chance for success.

7. Can you stop pillagers from spawning?

You can prevent pillagers from spawning within a specific area by lighting it up with torches, lanterns, etc., so it has a light level of 9 or more. Removing grass and other spawnable blocks and adding slabs can also prevent spawn locations.

8. Do pillager outposts attract pillager patrols?

No, pillager outposts do not directly attract pillager patrols. These patrols spawn randomly in the Overworld independent of the pillager outposts.

9. Do ominous banners attract pillagers?

No, an ominous banner will not attract pillagers. However, obtaining the ominous banner involves killing a pillager captain, which may cause a raid in a nearby village.

10. How often do pillager patrols spawn?

The game attempts to spawn pillager patrols every 10–11 minutes with a 20% success rate after the world reaches 100 minutes.

11. What should I do if pillagers come to my house?

The best way to manage pillagers is to light up the area to prevent spawning, stay aware of their presence, be prepared to fight them tactically, and keep cats around to ward off other threats.

12. What is the difference between pillagers and illagers?

Pillagers are a specific type of illager that spawns in patrols and pillager outposts, typically using crossbows. Illagers is the wider category, including pillagers, vindicators, evokers, and illusioners. Illagers can be found in patrol groups, raids, and within their respective structures.

13. Why are pillager patrols not spawning for me?

If you’re close to a village (within a 5x5x5 sub-chunk cube), patrols will not spawn. The spawn location is also a minimum distance away from you, and may be somewhere you’re not looking at. Ensure your world is also more than 5 in-game days old.

14. How far do pillagers roam?

In Java Edition, pillagers pursue enemies for up to 64 blocks away, and 16 blocks in Bedrock Edition.

15. Do pillager outposts mean a village is nearby?

No, pillager outposts and villages generate independently. While they are often found near each other, this is only a coincidence. They spawn in the same biomes, which sometimes results in their close proximity.