Monster infighting

Monster infighting is a mechanic in Minecraft where certain mobs will retaliate against other mobs if they are hit by them.

Explanation


If a hostile mob is directly attacked by a player or another mob, the damaged mob will stop attacking its current target and attack the mob or player that damaged it. This will likely cause the mob that did the damage to retaliate in turn and the two of them will be locked into a duel until one of them dies. This is extremely useful in combat as it distracts two monsters temporarily, kills one of them, and severely weakens the other.

Once a mob has taken damage from a mob or player, that mob or player is set as the mob's permanent target. This means that even if another mob or player attacks an infighting mob, the infighting mob will not stop trying to attack its permanent target. If a certain mob refuses to infight with another monster, it is likely because the player already attacked it, so the player was set as the mob's permanent target. That mob will not infight with any other mob until the player dies or goes out of tracking range. This mechanic can be useful in Survival multiplayer. One player can attack a mob and run away from it while another player kills it. Because the first player attacked the mob, it will never retaliate against the second player.

Specific mob behavior
Not all mobs have the same infighting behavior. Below is a list of how each mob reacts to being attacked by another.

Some mobs will fight others for reasons other than retaliation.


 * Wolves will attack skeletons, wither skeletons, and sheep unprovoked.
 * Guardians and elder guardians will attack squids.
 * Llamas will attack wolves.
 * Polar bears will attack foxes.
 * Foxes will attack chickens.
 * Trader llamas will attack all mobs that attack their wandering trader.
 * All types of illagers and zombies (with one exception) will attack all types of Villagers.
 * Ocelots and cats will attack chickens.
 * Piglins will occasionally hunt hoglins.
 * Piglins and wither skeletons attack each other.
 * Withers will attack all mobs except undead mobs and Ghasts.
 * Iron golems will attack most hostile mobs except creepers.
 * Snow golems will attack most hostile mobs.
 * Zoglins will attack most mobs except creepers, ghasts and themselves.
 * Vindicators named "Johnny" or have the  tag set to true will attack most mobs except illagers.