Why Won’t My Villagers Go To Their Bed? Understanding Minecraft Villager Bed Mechanics
Villagers refusing to hit the hay in Minecraft can be a frustrating experience, especially when it throws a wrench into your meticulously planned village or iron farm. The core reason why villagers might not go to bed stems from a combination of pathfinding issues, bed ownership problems, and sometimes, even player interference. At a fundamental level, a villager needs to be able to successfully “pathfind” to an unclaimed bed that’s within a specific distance. This process can be disrupted by various factors, preventing them from settling in for the night.
The Complexities of Villager Bed Logic
Pathfinding and Obstructions
One of the most common reasons why villagers won’t go to their beds is a pathfinding obstruction. The game requires villagers to be able to physically navigate to the area above the bed. This doesn’t mean they need to actually be able to climb onto the bed itself, but they must be able to stand within a defined space above it. If a solid block is placed directly above a bed, it acts as a barrier, preventing a villager from pathfinding and, therefore, claiming the bed. This can also cause anger particles to emit from the villager’s head and the bed itself. It’s essential to ensure the area above the bed is free of obstructions and that there’s an open path for them to reach it.
Bed Availability and Ownership
Another crucial factor is that each villager needs a unique, unclaimed bed. If there are not enough beds for all villagers, they simply won’t sleep. Ensure you have at least one bed for every villager. Furthermore, each bed can only be claimed by one villager at a time. A villager will only claim a bed if they are within a 48-block sphere of it, so careful placement of beds within this range is crucial. If the bed is already claimed, other villagers will look for an alternative.
Player Actions and Time
Sometimes, player behavior can disrupt the sleep cycle. If you are in a hurry to spawn iron golems and skip the night by constantly clicking the bed, this can prevent villagers from recognizing that it’s night and therefore going to bed. Villagers need time to register it as nighttime before they decide to sleep. It’s essential to give them the necessary time and avoid rushing the process.
Other Factors
There are several less common but still important factors to consider. For example, sometimes, an issue with the Town Hall or Storage structures can impact villager behavior, though this is rare. Additionally, the type of farm you may have created can affect villager behavior. In many iron farm designs, villagers are kept in a small space and it’s essential that their line of sight is not blocked in order for the farm to work correctly.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Villagers and Beds
Here are some frequently asked questions and answers to help you further understand Minecraft villager bed mechanics.
1. How do villagers claim beds in Minecraft?
A villager will claim a bed if they are within a 48-block sphere of an unclaimed bed, and can successfully pathfind to the area above the bed. There must also be no obstructions blocking their path.
2. What happens if a bed is obstructed?
If a solid block obstructs a bed, a villager cannot claim it. This will cause anger particles to appear from both the villager and the bed. In Java Edition, the villagers will not attempt to pathfind and claim this bed.
3. Do villagers need to access the bed to sleep?
No, villagers do not need to physically get onto the bed to sleep, but they do need to be able to pathfind to the space directly above it. This is why unobstructed access to the block above the bed is important.
4. How far away do beds need to be from each other for separate villages?
For two villages to be safely treated as separate entities, they should be greater than the village radius plus 32 blocks apart from each other.
5. How many beds and villagers are needed to spawn an iron golem?
Iron golems spawn in villages with at least 20 beds and 10 villagers. Additionally, 75% of villagers must have worked. Every villager must be linked to a bed, and a player has to have the village in a loaded chunk.
6. What if I break a villager’s bed?
If a bed is destroyed and replaced on the same location, without the villager acknowledging it, the bed is no longer claimed and another villager can claim it. This can lead to multiple villagers attempting to claim the same bed. If a villager dies or forgets its bed, the bed will also become unclaimed.
7. Do villagers need beds to not despawn?
No, villagers don’t need beds to prevent despawning. If your villagers have vanished in singleplayer, this could be due to a bug or zombie attacks. Villagers without beds can cause problems with certain village behaviours.
8. Can nitwit villagers breed?
Yes, Nitwit Villagers can breed with each other and with other villagers.
9. How do I get villagers to breed?
Villagers need 14 food points to breed. Bread delivers 4 points, while potatoes, carrots, and beetroots give 1 point. Provide food to two villagers, leave them in an enclosed space, and return in 20 minutes to potentially see a baby villager. Make sure to provide a bed for any babies.
10. What makes villagers panic?
Villagers typically panic when they are under attack by a hostile mob or see a zombie. This is why iron farms often utilize a zombie to provoke panic and work efficiently.
11. Why won’t my villagers accept a job?
Villagers will not take a job unless they are linked to a bed. Make sure each villager has a bed, but they do not need to physically access this bed to work.
12. Do villagers need doors to breed?
No, villagers do not need doors to breed in versions 1.14 and above. They need beds instead.
13. Does curing a villager lower trade prices?
Yes, curing a zombie villager will offer the player who administered the cure a permanent trading discount. Curing the same villager multiple times will continue to lower prices until they reach one emerald.
14. How long do villagers try to sleep?
A villager is awake between 0 and 11999 game ticks and will try to sleep between 12000 and 23999 game ticks.
15. Why did my iron farm stop working?
If your iron farm stops working, several factors could be at play. Check if golems are spawning outside the designated area, ensure the blocks between the zombie and villagers are correct, and verify the zombie’s position. All of this may have an impact on the villager’s line of sight.
By understanding these mechanics and troubleshooting steps, you can ensure your villagers get the rest they need and that your farms and villages function optimally. Keep an eye on your bed placements, pathing accessibility, and the number of available beds for each villager.