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This article is about the block. For the entity, see Minecart with Monster Spawner. For mob farms based around monster spawners, see Tutorials/Monster spawner traps. For the entity in Minecraft Dungeons, see MCD:Mob Spawner. For spawn eggs, see Spawn Egg.

A monster spawner is a cage-like block that can spawn mobs, the type of which being visible within it as a miniature spinning version. It cannot be obtained as an item or moved by a piston, and drops experience orbs when broken.

Obtaining[]

Monster spawners cannot be obtained in Survival, even with Silk Touch.

A monster spawner can be obtained in Creative mode by taking it from Creative inventory, by using the /give command, or by using pick block. It is initially empty and inert, but can be configured to spawn a desired mob by using a spawn egg on the placed block.

A /setblock, /clone or /fill command can also be used to obtain a monster spawner.

Breaking[]

If broken with a pickaxe, a monster spawner drops 15-43 experience. When mined with anything else, it drops nothing.

Block Monster Spawner
Hardness 5
Tool
Breaking time[A]
Default 25
Wooden 3.75
Stone 1.9
Iron 1.25
Diamond 0.95
Netherite 0.85
Golden 0.65
  1. Times are for unenchanted tools as wielded by players with no status effects, measured in seconds. For more information, see Breaking § Speed.

Natural generation[]

Monster spawners can generate naturally in the following places:

Monster Rooms
One in the center of the monster room spawning one of the following mobs with the indicated frequency: zombie (50%), skeleton (25%), or spider (25%).
Mineshafts
Any number of cave spider monster spawners, densely surrounded by cobwebs, scattered throughout.
Woodland Mansions
Optionally one spider monster spawner, densely surrounded by cobwebs, in a rarely generated secret room on the 2nd or 3rd floor. It is sometimes visible through the windows from outside.
Strongholds
One silverfish monster spawner in the end portal room.
Nether Fortresses
One or two blaze monster spawners on fenced platforms with full-block "stairs" leading up to them. Normally two are generated per fortress, but there can be fewer.
Bastion Remnants
One magma cube monster spawner hanging from a chain underneath a bridge in treasure rooms.

Usage[]

The monster spawner spawns mobs in an (at most) 9×3×9 volume (see § Mechanics) around it when the player is within 16 blocks. Suitable spawning locations for the block's mob type are provided in or around the spawning volume. The monster spawner attempts to spawn four mobs around it, then waits from 10 to 39.95 seconds before attempting to spawn more.

In Peaceful difficulty, monster spawners still activate but do not spawn monsters in Bedrock Edition. In Java Edition, zombified piglins, magma cubes, and ghasts do not spawn at all and other hostile mobs disappear immediately after spawning.

Monster spawners are transparent, but they behave like leaves in that they diffuse sky light coming from directly above.

In Bedrock Edition, they have a hitbox slightly smaller than a full block, and therefore, one can walk on the edge of a supporting full block directly below the monster spawner.

Mechanics[]

A monster spawner activates when a player (that's not in Spectator mode) comes within a spherical radius of 16 blocks from the center point of the block; i.e. 15.5 blocks from the monster spawner itself. In Java Edition an active monster spawner attempts to spawn mobs within a 4-block horizontal and 1-block vertical range; that is, in a 9×3×9 volume centered on the monster spawner. In Bedrock Edition, the horizontal spawning range is 4 blocks taxicab distance, creating spawning volume extending 4 blocks in each cardinal horizontal direction from the sides of the monster spawner; its horizontal cross-section is therefore diamond-shaped. Mobs can spawn anywhere in this range that is suitable, with mobs more likely to spawn closer to the monster spawner than farther away.

While mobs are spawned at fractional x and z-coordinates (i.e. not aligned to blocks), they are spawned at an integer y-coordinate. Horizontally, a mob can spawn with its center point anywhere within range, but vertically, mobs spawn with their legs at either the same layer as the monster spawner block, one block above it, or one block below it. (Note that when there are other blocks slightly intersecting the mob's hitbox, they can sometimes glitch further away - often up - but this does not make it a true spawning point.)

The monster spawner attempts to spawn 4 mobs at randomly chosen points within the spawning volume, then waits anywhere from 200 to 799 ticks (10 to 39.95 seconds) before spawning again. As it waits, the mob model inside the block spins faster and faster. Except for the normal solid-block spawning requirement, all the remaining ones must be met (not in a solid block, correct light level, etc.), so the monster spawner often produces fewer than 4 mobs. When it does spawn, it emits a "poof", and more flame particles temporarily appear around it. If the monster spawner fails to spawn any mobs because it did not pick any suitable locations, it repeats this process every tick until it succeeds. It only starts the next wait cycle after successfully spawning at least one mob.

If 6 or more mobs of the monster spawner's type have their hitbox intersecting a 9×9×9 volume centered on the monster spawner block in Java Edition or a 16×10×16 volume centered on the lower northwest corner of the monster spawner block in Bedrock Edition, the monster spawner "poofs" without creating any mobs and then waits for the next cycle. [needs testing in Bedrock Edition] This is checked before each of the four spawn attempts.

Spawner setup

Spawner setup. Blue represents minimum space needed around spawner for spawning room

Spawning requirements[]

The monster spawner performs a relaxed version of the ordinary spawning check: the general solid block requirement is removed, but the volume (hitbox of the mob) is kept along with some other checks according to mob specifics. As a result, for some types of mobs to spawn in the outer planes of the spawning volume, some planes outside the volume may also need to be free of solid blocks to conform with the mobs' height, width, or other rules governing their individual spawn volumes. Examples:

  • Mobs that are two or more blocks tall such as zombies, skeletons, or blazes to spawn in the top y-layer, the layer above that must contain only a transparent block such as air, glass, leaves, etc.
  • In Java Edition, a turtle monster spawner will only spawn turtles on sand blocks less than 4 blocks above sea level (typically at Y=62). In Bedrock Edition no biome/light/height conditions apply for turtles in monster spawners.
  • In Bedrock Edition, some animals require light level 7+, e.g. chicken, sheep, cow, rabbit. Others ignore the light level condition given in the spawning rules json files, e.g. parrot, turtle. This suggests that some of the early animals have hard-coded requirements when used in monster spawners.
Summary of maximum spawn volumes for common monster spawners
Mob type Required Volume (Java) Required Volume (Bedrock)[verify] Vertical
alignment
Pig[note 1] 8.9 × 2.9 × 8.9
Cave Spider 8.7 × 2.5 × 8.7
Silverfish 8.4 × 2.3 × 8.4
Zombie 8.6 × 3.95 × 8.6 8.6 × 3.9 × 8.6
Skeleton 8.6 × 3.99 × 8.6 8.6 × 3.9 × 8.6
Blaze 8.6 × 3.8 × 8.6 8.5 × 3.8 × 8.5
Spider 9.4 × 2.9 × 9.4
Magma Cube 10.04 × 4.04 × 10.04 10.08 × 4.08 × 10.08
  1. Pig monster spawners do not appear naturally in vanilla Minecraft.

For all of the volumes listed in the table, the horizontal plane is centered on the center of the monster spawner block. While the spawning volume for pigs is 8.9×2.9×8.9, the requirement of grass blocks that are necessary for pigs to spawn reduces the actual volume in which they successfully spawn to 8.9×1.0×8.9. Other mobs can spawn in mid-air, ignoring general rules about spawning on solid ground.

The spawn conditions do not include biomes for most mobs. As such, monster spawners can place mobs where they normally wouldn't generate. For example, a mooshroom monster spawner can operate in a plains biome as long as there are mycelium blocks within the spawn area because the mooshroom's spawning code checks only for mycelium. The reason mooshrooms are not actually spawned elsewhere is that the game does not normally try to spawn them in other biomes: only the mushroom field biome has mooshroom on the list of things to spawn.

Disabling[]

BlazeDisableGrid

Disabling a blaze monster spawner with nine blocks. Glowstone can be replaced with other light sources of light level 15.

Disabled blaze spawner

Blaze monster spawner disabled by four jack o'Lanterns. This works only in Bedrock Edition in small rooms.

MagmaSpawnerGrid

With the clever placement of nine solid blocks, a magma cube monster spawner can be completely disabled. Only the cobblestone is needed, glass is just for distance marking.

See also: Light § Mobs

The way a monster spawner can be disabled depends on the entity it tries to spawn.

For a monster spawner that generates mobs that spawn only in dark conditions (light level = 0), a torch placed on any side or top of the monster spawner is sufficient to disable it for the whole 9×3×9 volume.

For a blaze or silverfish monster spawner, a light level of 12 is required to prevent spawning. This can be achieved by:

  • Laying 9 blocks in the pattern shown on the right using blocks having a luminance value of 15
  • Laying a dense 7×7 grid of torches on the monster spawner's Y level
  • In Bedrock Edition, placing a light source of level 15 on four surfaces

A monster spawner is also disabled by filling the spawning volume with solid blocks. This is often used to disable magma cube monster spawners, as magma cubes can spawn in any light level. However, since all magma cubes require the space of a large magma cube in order to spawn, a clever placement of as little as 9 solid blocks a layer above the monster spawner (see right image) can completely disable it.

Custom monster spawners[]

Example monster spawner - Spider

A monster spawner in a monster room that produces spiders.

In Java Edition, using commands, monster spawners can be customized:

  • They can be made to spawn any kind of entity.
  • A single monster spawner can spawn multiple different entities, chosen at random from a list.
  • Properties can be set on the spawned entities.
  • Various range and timing properties of the monster spawner can be changed.

Detailed technical information about custom monster spawners can be found below.

In Bedrock Edition, monster spawner customization can not be done in the base game (i.e. without addons/behavior packs).

Note blocks[]

Monster spawner can be placed under note blocks to produce "bass drum" sounds.

Piston interactivity[]

Monster spawners cannot be pushed by pistons. They also cannot be pushed nor pulled by sticky pistons.

Sounds[]

Java Edition:

SoundSubtitlesSourceDescriptionResource locationTranslation keyVolumePitchAttenuation
distance
Block brokenBlocksOnce the block has brokenblock.metal.breaksubtitles.block.generic.break1.01.216
Block placedBlocksWhen the block is placedblock.metal.placesubtitles.block.generic.place1.01.216
Block breakingBlocksWhile the block is in the process of being brokenblock.metal.hitsubtitles.block.generic.hit0.250.7516
None[sound 1]Entity-DependentFalling on the block with fall damageblock.metal.fallNone[sound 1]0.51.2516
FootstepsEntity-DependentWalking on the blockblock.metal.stepsubtitles.block.generic.footsteps0.151.516
  1. a b MC-177082

Bedrock Edition:

SoundSourceDescriptionResource locationVolumePitch
BlocksOnce the block has brokendig.stone1.01.1-1.2
BlocksWhen the block is placeduse.stone1.01.2-1.25
BlocksWhile the block is in the process of being brokenhit.stone0.30.75
PlayersFalling on the block with fall damagefall.stone0.41.0
PlayersWalking on the blockstep.stone0.351.0
PlayersJumping from the blockjump.stone0.121.0
PlayersFalling on the block without fall damageland.stone0.221.0

Data values[]

ID[]

Java Edition:

NameIdentifierFormTranslation key
Monster SpawnerspawnerBlock & Itemblock.minecraft.spawner
NameIdentifier
Block entitymob_spawner

Bedrock Edition:

NameIdentifierNumeric ID FormItem ID[i 1]Translation key
Monster Spawnermob_spawner52Block & Giveable Item[i 2]Identical[i 3]tile.mob_spawner.name
  1. ID of block's direct item form, which is used in savegame files and addons.
  2. Available with /give command.
  3. The block's direct item form has the same id as the block.
NameSavegame ID
Block entityMobSpawner

Block data[]

A monster spawner has a block entity associated with it that holds additional data about the block.

Java Edition:

  • Block entity data
    • Tags common to all block entities
    • Tags common to all spawners

Bedrock Edition:

See Bedrock Edition level format/Block entity format.

Video[]

Note: This video is outdated, as monster spawners has been added to the Creative inventory in Java Edition 1.19.3.

History[]

This section is missing information about Did monster spawners have particles circa 1.4.7?. 
Please expand the section to include this information. Further details may exist on the talk page.
Java Edition Infdev
20100625-2Spawner JE1 Added monster spawners.
Monster spawners can be picked up and when placed, spawn pigs.
20100627Monster spawners have been given a unique ID, reducing crashes.
Java Edition Alpha
v1.0.1Monster spawners can't be picked up anymore.
v1.1.0Removed rotating model inside of the monster spawner due to some multiplayer issues with it.
Java Edition Beta
1.2Monster spawners again show a rotating model inside of what they spawn in singleplayer after being missing for several versions.
1.8Pre-releaseAdded cave spider monster spawners to mineshafts.
Java Edition
1.0.0Beta 1.9 PrereleaseSpawner JE2 The texture of monster spawners has been changed to a darker color.
Added blaze spawners to nether fortresses.
Beta 1.9 Prerelease 3Added natural silverfish monster spawners.
Beta 1.9 Prerelease 4Monster spawners now drop when mined using a tool enchanted with the new Silk Touch enchantment.
Beta 1.9 Prerelease 5Squid monster spawners now work only in a narrow elevation range, from 46 to 62.
Monster spawners no longer drop when broken using a tool enchanted with Silk Touch.
Beta 1.9 Prerelease 6Monster spawners now take much less time to destroy; the breaking time is tier dependent.
1.2.112w06aMonster spawners now show the mob they are spawning in multiplayer; previously they would always show a pig.
1.3.112w21aPick block no longer works on monster spawners.
12w22aMonster spawners now drop experience when destroyed.
12w26aMonster spawners now support extra data pertaining to what they spawn.
1.814w18aMonster spawners with numerical metadata variants 1 through 15, which are inaccessible through normal gameplay, now have no model Missing Model JE2 rather than appearing identical to monster spawners.
14w26aBlock metadata has been completely removed from this snapshot onwards with the introduction of block states. As this block never used block metadata at all prior to this version, fifteen unused, inaccessible metadata variants of it have been completely removed from the game:
DV Description
0 Monster Spawner
1-15 Inaccessible "boring" variants of monster spawners
14w26cThe horizontal spawning range of monster spawners is now calculated from the center of the block rather than the northwest corner.
The exclusion zone of monster spawners has been reduced: for a default monster spawner, the 6 mobs must be in a 9×9×9 region rather than 17×9×17 to prevent spawning.
14w28bThe type of mob spawned from a monster spawner can now be changed by using a spawn egg on it.
1.916w02aA monster spawner containing a large mob now scales down the mob to fit inside the monster spawner block.
1.1116w32aThe block entity ID has been changed from MobSpawner to mob_spawner.
16w39aSpider monster spawners now generate in woodland mansions.
1.1317w47a"Monster Spawner" has been renamed to simply "Spawner".
Prior to The Flattening, this block's numeral ID was 52.
pre5The ID of spawners has been changed to spawner.
1.1418w43aSpawner JE3 The texture of spawners has been changed.
1.1620w16aMagma cube spawners now generate in bastion remnants.
1.1721w20aAssigned the "Epic" rarity to spawners, it was "Common".
1.18experimental snapshot 2Zombie, skeleton, spider, and cave spider spawners now require a light level of 12 to prevent spawning.
21w37aThe light level changes in experimental snapshot 2 have been reverted.
1.19.322w43aThe spawner is now available in the Creative inventory.[1]
22w44a"Spawner" has been renamed back to "Monster Spawner".
The monster spawner now has the "Common" rarity again, as prior to 21w20a.
Monster spawners no longer have a pig in them and flame particles by default.
Pick block once again works on monster spawners.[2]
Pocket Edition Alpha
v0.9.0build 1Spawner BE1 Added monster spawners.
build 2Added monster spawners to the Creative inventory.
The type of mob spawned can now be changed using a spawn egg.
build 9Monster spawners now emit light.
v0.12.1build 1Blaze monster spawners now generate in nether fortresses.
Monster spawners now drop experience when mined using a pickaxe.
Pocket Edition
1.1.0alpha 1.1.0.0Spider monster spawners now generate in woodland mansions.
Bedrock Edition
1.10.0beta 1.10.0.3Spawner BE2 The texture of monster spawners has been changed.
1.16.0beta 1.16.0.59Magma cube monster spawners now generate in bastion remnants.
1.17.30beta 1.17.30.21Monster spawners no longer emit light.
Legacy Console Edition
TU1CU1 1.0 Patch 11.0.1Spawner JE1 Added monster spawners.
TU5Spawner JE2 The texture of monster spawners has been changed.
TU31CU19 1.22 Patch 3The type of mob spawned from a monster spawner can now be changed by using a spawn egg.
TU69 1.76 Patch 38Monster spawners are now available in the Creative inventory, and can be obtained with pick block.
1.90 Spawner JE3 The texture of monster spawners has been changed.

Issues[]

Issues relating to "Monster Spawner" are maintained on the bug tracker. Report issues there.

Trivia[]

  • A monster spawner containing zombies can never spawn a zombie villager.[3]
  • In Java Edition, monster spawners containing zombies have a small chance to spawn a chicken jockey.
  • Monster spawners containing zombies or skeletons have a chance for the mob spinning inside to have armor.
  • Monster spawners containing spiders have a small chance to spawn a spider jockey.
  • Monster spawners containing Pillagers have a small chance for the mob spinning inside to be a Raid captain in Java Edition.
  • Monster spawners containing Pillagers can spawn Raid captains.
  • Monster spawners in mushroom fields, the deep dark or the Void biome can function normally, despite those biomes having no hostile mobs spawn naturally.
  • It is possible for a pig monster spawner to generate naturally. If a newer world is loaded in an older version of Minecraft, the monster spawner can lose its metadata, causing it to enter its default state, which is a pig monster spawner. Alternatively, if a buried treasure chest generates next to a monster spawner, it duplicates the monster spawner without duplicating the NBT tag, resulting in a natural pig monster spawner.[4] The chest also gets invalid block (monster spawner) data, making it unopenable.
  • If a monster room monster spawner overwrites a monster room chest during world generation, the monster spawner does not spawn any mobs. It appears as a pig monster spawner, but placing a hopper underneath it reveals the contents of the chest that should have been there.

Gallery[]

Renders[]

Screenshots[]

See also[]

Notes[]

  1. Like leaves, this block diffuses sky light only from directly above.

References[]

  1. MC-132820 — resolved as "Fixed".
  2. MC-50605 — resolved as "Fixed".
  3. MC-106146 — "Zombie spawner doesn't spawn zombie villagers" — resolved as "Works As Intended".
  4. MC-234396

External Links[]

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