An illager is a hostile mob that has features resembling a villager, wandering trader, and witch. Illagers are considered "exiled", "outcast", or "offshoot" villagers because they pursue and attack players, villagers, wandering traders, snow golems,[Bedrock Edition only] and iron golems.
Illager types
Only the pillager, vindicator, and evoker can spawn naturally. The illusioner is exclusive to the Java Edition, and is unused. Vexes can be summoned only by evokers, who can spawn in woodland mansions and raids, and ravagers spawn exclusively in raids.
- Evoker — summons vexes and Evoker Fangs.
- Illusioner[Java Edition only] — casts various spells when fighting.
- Pillager — attacks with a crossbow.
- Ravager — ridden by Pillagers or Evokers, or unridden during raids; considered an illager only in Bedrock Edition and in Legacy Console Edition.
- Vindicator — attacks with an iron axe; can break down doors like zombies, in normal or hard mode.
There are 3 specific criteria for a mob to be considered an illager:
- "Johnny" vindicators do not attack the mob.[Java and Bedrock editions only]
- The mob cannot be damaged by evoker fangs.[Java and Bedrock editions only]
- The mob does not fight back when hit by an arrow shot by a pillager or illusioner.[Java Edition only]
Illagers don't spawn alone. They always spawn naturally in groups such as patrols or raids, or inside their structures.
Illagers sometimes have their own "leader". Any illager has a small chance to become a raid captain, even when summoned by commands, or (in Java Edition when using a spawn egg).
Occurrences
Illagers spawn naturally in patrols and raids.
Vindicators and evokers spawn naturally in woodland mansions, while pillagers spawn in pillager outposts.
Monsters that spawn in raids
- Ravager — not an illager in Java Edition because "Johnny" vindicators attack them without being attacked by the ravager in return.
- Vex — "Johnny" vindicators attack them. They spawn when summoned by an evoker.
- Witch — "Johnny" vindicators attack them, and they also take damage from evoker fangs. If a witch is hit by a pillager or "Johnny" vindicator, the witch does not fight back.[Java Edition only]
Java Edition
Evokers, illusioners and vindicators (but not pillagers, witches, and vexes) can open doors like villagers (during raids), or use a spell, which does not reset their spell cooldown.
All of them can spawn reinforcements when hit, like zombies do. Their reinforcements include other illagers and ravagers.
Bedrock Edition
All illagers and vexes ignore baby villagers.
Non-pillager and ravager illagers attack pillagers who attack them.