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For other uses, see Zombie (disambiguation).

Zombies are common undead hostile mobs that deal melee damage and commonly attack in groups.

Spawning[]

Natural generation[]

Zombies may spawn in the Overworld in groups of up to four above solid blocks at a light level of 0, except in mushroom fields and deep dark biomes. All zombies spawned in desert biomes and exposed to the sky have a likelihood of 80%‌[JE only]/70%‌[BE only] to be replaced by husks. Zombies that are not husks or drowned have a 5% chance to spawn as zombie villagers.

Zombie variants have a 5% chance to spawn as babies. The baby zombies also have a chance of spawning as a chicken jockey in Java Edition.

All zombie variants (including babies) require a 2-block tall space to spawn.

Zombies spawn with up to 5% of knockback resistance.

When a zombie spawn egg is used on a zombie, it spawns a baby zombie.

Sieges[]

Information icon
This feature is exclusive to Java Edition. 
Main article: Zombie siege

If a player is near a village at midnight, up to 20 zombies may be spawned in the village in accordance with mob spawning rules. The spawning can even happen in mushroom fields biome if the triggering player is in an adjacent biome. Zombies spawned as a part of a siege are always regular zombies; zombie villagers, husks and drowned never spawn as a part of a siege.

Monster spawners[]

Zombies spawned from a monster spawner are never zombie villagers in Java Edition, although zombie monster spawners in Bedrock Edition are able to produce them. Zombies spawn from monster spawners inside 50% of monster rooms.

Husks[]

When a husk's head is submerged in water for over 30 seconds, the husk starts transforming into a zombie, with a new entity UUID. The husk's equipment remains on the zombie after conversion.‌[JE only] The zombie transforms into a drowned if its head remains submerged.

Variants[]

Baby zombies[]

For the mob in Minecraft Dungeons, see MCD:Baby Zombie.
Chicken Jockey

Baby zombie riding a chicken.

Behavior[]

Baby zombies make up 5% of zombie spawns. They behave similarly to regular zombies, with the following differences:

  • They are much faster than normal zombies, yet they have the same health.
  • The noises they make are higher-pitched than adult zombie sound effects.
  • Baby zombie villagers turn into baby villagers if cured.
  • Worn armor shrinks to fit their body size.
  • They are able to fit through 1×1 block gaps.
  • They give 12 experience points when killed by the player or a tamed wolf instead of 5.
  • Unlike most other baby mobs, they remain babies indefinitely and never become adult zombies.
  • They have a decreased hitbox size.

In Bedrock Edition, 10% of naturally spawned baby zombies can start riding a mob and become a jockey when it tries attacking. The jockey mobs ridden by the baby zombie adapt the speed of its rider. In Bedrock Edition, a baby zombie can ride:

Zombie villagers[]

Main article: Zombie Villager

Zombie villagers have a 5% chance of spawning in place of zombies and may also spawn from a villager killed by a zombie. The chance of a villager turning into a zombie villager when killed by a zombie or zombie variant depends on the difficulty level.

When a group in the normal spawn cycle spawns zombies, there is a 5% chance to instead spawn a group of zombie villagers‌‌[Bedrock Edition only], or a single zombie villager.‌‌[Java Edition only]

If any type of zombie kills a villager, there is a chance for the villager to transform into a zombie villager.

Difficulty Chance
Easy 0%
Normal 50%
Hard 100%

Any villagers that get killed by a zombie have a chance to turn into a zombie villager with armor on normal or hard difficulties.

Zombie villagers can be cured (converted to normal villagers) by first giving them the Weakness effect, which can be applied by:

The weakened zombie villager must then be healed by using a (non-enchanted) golden apple on them.

Husks[]

Main article: Husk

Husks have an 80% chance to spawn in desert biomes in place of zombies. They attack like regular zombies, but inflict hunger for several seconds and do not burn in sunlight.

Drowned[]

Main article: Drowned

Drowned mobs spawn in ocean ruins, rivers, most parts of oceans or when a normal zombie drowns. They are able to swim and breathe underwater as well as walk on land. Most drowned use melee attacks, but some spawn with tridents and throw them when attacking instead.

Zombies that are wearing armor and go underwater continue wearing the armor when converted to a drowned, although tools and weapons are lost.‌[JE only]

Zombies that convert to drowned drop all worn or held equipment with full durability and preserving existing enchantments.‌[BE only]

Geared zombies[]

On Halloween, zombies may spawn wearing a carved pumpkin or jack o'lantern[Java Edition only]. They do not drop this, even when killed with Looting.

Some zombies spawn wearing armor or holding tools, both of which may be enchanted. In addition, zombies may also spawn with the ability to pick up loot that is on the ground. The chances of each of these events occurring are listed below. Zombie villagers can also spawn naturally with armor, weapons or tools. If a zombie spawns wearing multiple pieces of armor, the armor is never mismatched (i.e. all pieces are made of the same material). Zombies cannot naturally spawn with netherite armor.

Chances of zombies wearing or picking up armor, per difficulty
Easy Normal Hard
Can pick up loot 0% 0%-55%[note 1] 6.875%-55%[note 1]
Armor 0% 0%-15%[note 1] 1.875%-15%[note 1]
Armor enchantment[note 2] 0% 0-50%[note 1] 6.25%-50%[note 1]
Weapon[note 3] 1% 1% 5%
Weapon enchantment[note 2] 0% 0%-25%[note 1] 3.125%-25%[note 1]
  1. a b c d e f g h i Value is based on the regional difficulty.
  2. a b Enchantment is the same as on an enchantment table at level 5–22.[note 1]
  3. 13 chance of an iron sword, 23 chance of an iron shovel

If a zombie does spawn with armor, the chances of specific armor are as follows:

Java Edition:

Chances of different armor pieces, per difficulty
Armor Easy & Normal Hard
Boots 100% 100%
Boots and leggings 75% 90%
Boots, leggings, and chestplate 56.25% 81%
Full set 42.19% 72.9%

Bedrock Edition:

Chances of different armor pieces, per difficulty
Armor Easy & Normal Hard
Helmet 100% 100%
Helmet and chestplate 75% 90%
Helmet, chestplate, and leggings 56.25% 81%
Full set 42.19% 72.9%

The chances of it being of a particular material are:

Chances of different armor types
Armor Type Chance
Leather 37.06%
Gold 48.73%
Chain 12.90%
Iron 1.27%
Diamond 0.04%

Armor worn by zombies is not damaged from most damage sources, which means it cannot "wear out" the way player armor does. Helmets (not blocks like pumpkins) on zombies can eventually wear away and break if the zombie is exposed to daylight or has an anvil or other falling block dropped on its head. Zombies also have a natural armor rating of 2 (🛡), giving 1.6 to 8% damage reduction from most sources. Zombies can also wear mob heads, although they need to be dropped by the player before the zombie can pick one up and put it on.

Drops[]

Common drops[]

A zombie drops up to two rotten flesh after dying. The maximum drop is increased by 1 per level of Looting, for a maximum of 0 to 5 with Looting III. A zombie also drops a zombie head when killed by a charged creeper.

Rare drops[]

Zombies may also drop one of the following when killed by a player or tamed wolf:

This drop has a 2.5% chance of occurring, increasing by 1% per level of looting. Individual items have the following chances of dropping:

  • 5600 (about 0.83%)
  • 7600 (about 1.17%) with Looting I
  • 9600 (1.5%) with Looting II
  • 11600 (about 1.83%) with Looting III

Taken equipment[]

Any picked-up equipment has a 100% chance of dropping and drops without changing the damage that has accumulated on it.

Naturally-spawned equipment[]

Zombies have an 8.5% chance of dropping their naturally-spawned equipment and drop it with a random durability. Each level of Looting increases the chance by 1 percentage point (11.5% with Looting III). These items include:

Experience[]

Any zombie that spawns with equipment gives 1–3 extra experience points per item when killed. Adult zombies drop 5 and baby zombies drop 12 when they are killed by a player or a tamed wolf.

Behavior[]

Attacking the player[]

Zombies hunt the player on sight from 35 blocks away in Java Edition or 16 blocks away in Bedrock Edition, raising their arms up.‌[JE only] The detection range of zombies is reduced to half of their normal range (17.5 blocks) when the player is wearing a zombie head. If a zombie sees a player and a villager together, the zombie prefers to attack the player first. A zombie already hunting a villager continues to do so even if the player is near, until the player attacks it. Zombies periodically make groaning sounds, which can be heard up to 16 blocks away. Zombies attempt to avoid obstacles, including fall damage, fire, lava, magma blocks, and cactus and try to find the shortest path toward the player.[1] Unlike skeletons, zombies do not try to avoid being hit and continue to pursue the player even when being attacked.

Attacking turtles[]

Zombies attack baby turtles and actively seek out and destroy turtle eggs within 24 blocks horizontally and 3 blocks vertically, by jumping on them until they crack and break.

Attacking utility mobs[]

Zombies hunt and attack golem utility mobs within 42 blocks. Iron golems and snow golems attack zombies without provocation, although snow golems deal only knockback to zombies with their snowballs.

Attacking villagers[]

Zombies target and hunt villagers within a 35– to 52.5–block radius (depending on regional difficulty)‌[Java Edition only] or a 16-block radius‌[Bedrock Edition only] and they can always see villagers through walls. If a zombie is attacking a villager and sees the player, it interrupts its attack on the villager to attack the player instead, even if the player has not attacked it‌[JE only]. Once a zombie has targeted a villager, the zombie ignores any other villagers and the player, until its target is dead or the zombie is attacked‌[JE only].

Any zombie variant can transform a villager into a zombie villager. The probability depends on the difficulty:

Attacking wandering traders[]

Zombies target and hunt wandering traders within 35 blocks and can see traders through walls. The zombie focuses solely on the trader unless it's attacked, or if either it or the target is killed or moved out of range, or if the trader is under the invisibility status effect.

A Zombie Breaking Down a Door

A zombie breaking down a wooden oak door. The zombie can break only the top half of the door, not the bottom half.

Burning under daylight[]

When the sun is 15 degrees or more above the ground, zombies burn once exposed to direct sunlight. Burning is suppressed when the zombie is:

  • in a sufficiently shaded area: a sunlight level of 11 or less (a 1 block roof overhang provides sufficient protection even if it would have a sunlight level of 14);
  • in water;
  • wearing head armor (the helmet absorbs the damage from light but may take several day cycles to wear out completely).
  • under the status effect of Fire Resistance.
  • standing in cobwebs.[2]

Transparent and translucent blocks, including glass and ice, do not prevent them from burning.‌[JE only].

If they attack an entity while burning, they may set it on fire, with a (30×regional difficulty)% chance and with a 2×floor (regional difficulty) second duration. If wearing armor enchanted with Thorns while burning, they may set players attacking them on fire with thorns damage alone.

Undead[]

Zombies are undead mobs, harmed by the status effect Healing, healed by the status effect Instant Damage and are unaffected by Regeneration and Poison. The wither does not attack zombies. Zombies are affected by the Smite enchantment.

Picking up items[]

Some zombies are capable of automatically picking up dropped items that they come across. Mob heads and carved pumpkins are automatically worn on their heads. Zombies can equip armor, weapons or tools. If a zombie encounters another similar item, it may drop the previous item in favor of the new one, if:

  • the new item is armor or a sword and the old item was not (for example, zombies prefer swords to pickaxes, and helmets to carved pumpkins),
  • both items are armor/swords and the new item is better damage-wise (reduces higher damage for armor, or inflicts more damage for swords),
  • both items are armor/swords with the same damage reduction/infliction, the new item has NBT tags while the old does not or the new item is more damaged than the old item, or
  • both items are bows and the new item has NBT tags while the old does not.

Items dropped by mobs in exchange for another cannot be picked up by players or mobs for 10 game ticks (0.5 seconds, barring lag), but can be picked up by hoppers.

A zombie holding a picked-up item does not despawn when left alone, similar to being name tagged.

Zombies have a higher chance of being able to pick up items in Hard difficulty.

Picked-up items do not cause the zombie to drop more experience when killed, unlike naturally-spawned gear.

Breaking doors[]

Up to 10% of zombies (depending on regional difficulty) in pursuit of a target bang on closed wooden doors and on Hard (and Hardcore) difficulty can succeed in breaking them down. Otherwise, the door cracks but does not break.

Zombie ways

A zombie choosing to break the door down instead of taking an alternative path.

The zombie also breaks down the door if the door is blocking its way. Zombies can break only the top half of a door, meaning they cannot break a door if the zombie is facing the bottom half of the door.

Reinforcements[]

Information icon
This feature is exclusive to Java Edition. 

On all difficulty levels, damaged zombie mobs (including husks, drowned and even zombified piglins[3]) call all other zombies within a 67×21×67 to 111×21×111 area[n 1] centered on the attacked zombie to target the attacker.

In Hard difficulty, zombies can spawn additional zombies to "help" when damaged. Each zombie has a "likeliness to call reinforcements" statistic ranging from 0–10%, and "leader" zombies (0–5% depending on regional difficulty) get a bonus of 50–75 percentage points to the stat. When the zombie is damaged by an entity or is damaged while targeting an entity, up to 50 attempts are made to randomly choose a spawn location (0 or ±7–40 blocks away in all three axes) that is above a block with a solid top surface, has light level 0, has no players within 7 blocks, and has no colliding entities or blocks at which to spawn the reinforcement. Both the damaged zombie and the new zombie has a 5 percentage point penalty to their "likeliness to call reinforcement" stat, preventing infinite zombies from spawning this way. Zombie reinforcements can spawn even in locations where naturally spawned zombies can't spawn, like mushroom fields, the End, and the Nether[4], although they still cannot spawn on blocks where other items like redstone dust or pressure plates are placed.

These effects can be negated by killing the zombie in as few hits as possible, by using environmental damage such as cactus or lava, or by avoiding them completely. That is, if the zombified mob drops experience, it has a chance to spawn reinforcements. Additionally, reinforcements do not spawn at all, even on Hard difficulty, if the game rule doMobSpawning is set to false.

Leader zombies are a special type of zombie that spawn with an added 50-75% chance to spawn reinforcements. The chance of a leader zombie spawning increases with clamped regional difficulty, up to a 5% chance of spawning.

Reinforcements zombies spawn regardless of the hostile mob cap. They also spawn on the north-west corner of the designated block, instead of the center of the block like natural mob spawning does.[5] Zombies spawned as reinforcements cannot be zombie villagers, but they can be babies, including chicken jockeys.

Becoming drowned[]

Husk becoming Zombie

A husk that suffocates in water converts to a zombie.

Zombie becoming Drowned

A zombie that suffocates in water converts into a drowned.

If a zombie's head is submerged in water for 30 seconds, it begins converting into a drowned. The zombie shakes, similar to a zombie villager being cured and, after 15 seconds, the zombie becomes drowned. Once this process starts, it cannot be stopped even if the zombie leaves water. This time is not affected by the Respiration enchantment or the Water Breathing status effect.

A newly-converted drowned always has full health even if converted from a damaged zombie.

An item being held or worn by a zombie when it becomes drowned, whether it was picked up or naturally spawned, has a 100% drop rate, which includes any naturally spawned equipment dropping with full durability‌[BE only].

Only normal zombies can become drowned; zombie villagers and zombified piglins cannot be converted.[6] Husks, however, convert into zombies if they drown, and then this zombie converts into a drowned as does a normal zombie.

Any husks that convert into zombies also have full health, even if the drowned husk is damaged.

Sounds[]

Java Edition:
Zombies use the Hostile Creatures sound category for entity-dependent sound events.

SoundSubtitlesSourceDescriptionResource locationTranslation keyVolumePitchAttenuation
distance
Zombie groansHostile CreaturesRandomlyentity.zombie.ambientsubtitles.entity.zombie.ambient1.00.8-1.2
(Baby: 1.3-1.7)
16
Door shakesHostile CreaturesWhile a zombie is breaking a wooden doorentity.zombie.attack_wooden_doorsubtitles.entity.zombie.attack_wooden_door2.00.8-1.216
Block broken [sound 1]NoneUnused sound event[sound 2]entity.zombie.attack_iron_doorsubtitles.block.generic.break[sound 1]NoneNoneNone
Door breaksHostile CreaturesWhen a zombie breaks a wooden doorentity.zombie.break_wooden_doorsubtitles.entity.zombie.break_wooden_door2.00.8-1.216
Zombie converts to drownedHostile CreaturesWhen a zombie converts to a drownedentity.zombie.converted_to_drownedsubtitles.entity.zombie.convert_to_drowned2.00.8-1.216
Zombie diesHostile CreaturesWhen a zombie diesentity.zombie.deathsubtitles.entity.zombie.death1.00.8-1.2
(Baby: 1.3-1.7)
16
Zombie hurtsHostile CreaturesWhen a zombie is damagedentity.zombie.hurtsubtitles.entity.zombie.hurt1.00.8-1.2
(Baby: 1.3-1.7)
16
Turtle Egg stompedHostile CreaturesWhen a zombie is jumping on turtle eggsentity.zombie.destroy_eggsubtitles.entity.zombie.destroy_egg0.50.9-1.116
Zombie infectsHostile CreaturesWhen a zombie infects a villagerentity.zombie.infectsubtitles.entity.zombie.infect2.00.8-1.216
FootstepsHostile CreaturesWhile a zombie is walkingentity.zombie.stepsubtitles.block.generic.footsteps0.151.016

Bedrock Edition:

SoundSourceDescriptionResource locationVolumePitch
Hostile CreaturesRandomlymob.zombie.say1.00.8-1.2 (Baby: 1.3-1.7)
Hostile CreaturesWhile a zombie is breaking a wooden doormob.zombie.wood1.01.0
Hostile CreaturesWhen a zombie breaks a wooden doormob.zombie.woodbreak1.01.0
Hostile CreaturesUnused sound event[sound 1]entity.zombie.converted_to_drowned1.01.0
NoneNoneUnused sound event[sound 1]mob.zombie.converted_to_drowned1.0-2.00.3-1.0
Hostile CreaturesWhen a zombie diesmob.zombie.death1.00.8-1.2 (Baby: 1.3-1.7)
Hostile CreaturesWhen a zombie is damagedmob.zombie.hurt1.00.8-1.2 (Baby: 1.3-1.7)
PlayersWhen a zombie is jumping on turtle eggsfall.egg0.50.9-1.0
Hostile CreaturesWhile a zombie is walkingmob.zombie.step0.451.0 (Baby: 1.5)
  1. a b MCPE-53297

Data values[]

ID[]

Java Edition:

NameIdentifierTranslation key
Zombiezombieentity.minecraft.zombie

Bedrock Edition:

NameIdentifierNumeric ID Translation key
Zombiezombie32entity.zombie.name

Entity data[]

Zombies have entity data associated with them that contain various properties.

Java Edition:

Main article: Entity format
  • Entity data
    • Tags common to all entities
    • Tags common to all mobs
    • Tags common to all zombies

Bedrock Edition:

See Bedrock Edition level format/Entity format.

Achievements[]

Icon Achievement In-game description Actual requirements (if different) Gamerscore earned Trophy type (PS4)
PS4 Other
Monster HunterAttack and destroy a monster.Kill a hostile mob or one of the following neutral mobs: an enderman, a piglin, a zombified piglin, a spider, or a cave spider.15GBronze
Sound the Alarm!Ring the bell with a hostile enemy in the village.20GBronze

Advancements[]

Icon Advancement In-game description Parent Actual requirements (if different) Resource location
Advancement-plain-rawAdventure
Adventure, exploration and combat Kill any entity, or be killed by any entity.adventure/root
Advancement-plain-rawMonster Hunter
Kill any hostile monster AdventureKill one of these 34 mobs: Only the riders of the chicken jockeys and skeleton horsemen are counted in this advancement. Other mobs may be killed, but are ignored for this advancement.adventure/kill_a_mob
Advancement-fancy-rawIt Spreads
Kill a mob near a Sculk Catalyst Monster HunterKill one of these 70 mobs near a sculk catalyst: Mobs that drop no experience are ignored for this advancement.adventure/kill_mob_near_sculk_catalyst
Advancement-fancy-rawMonsters Hunted
Kill one of every hostile monster Monster HunterKill each of these 36 mobs: Other mobs may be killed, but are ignored for this advancement. Only the riders of the chicken jockeys and skeleton horsemen are counted in this advancement.adventure/kill_all_mobs

History[]

Java Edition Classic
June 17, 2009Notch mentions lava zombies or troll infestations that would roam the land and break things.
August 14, 2009Notch teased zombies.
0.24_SURVIVAL_TESTZombie JE1 Added zombies.
Zombies are the second mob to be added to Minecraft.
Zombies can run as fast as the player.
Zombie full set Zombie helmet Zombie chestplate Zombies occasionally appear wearing armor, but this has no protective effect on their health.
Zombies have arm swinging animations when they attack.[7]
Killing a zombie rewards 100 points.
0.25 SURVIVAL TESTZombies are now more dangerous, respawn, despawn, and fight skeletons that shoot them.
Java Edition Indev
0.3120091223-1Zombies and other mobs no longer spawn naturally.
20100202Zombies and other mobs now spawn naturally again. However, they are currently passive.
Zombies' armor has been removed, as well as their arm swinging attack animations.
20100204-2Zombies are now hostile again.
20100213Zombies now catch on fire when exposed to sunlight.
20100218The chances of zombies catching on fire in sunlight have been tweaked.
Zombies now burn only when the sunlight level is greater than 7, and not due to torches at night[verify].
20100219Zombies now drop 0–2 feathers upon death. Before chickens were added in Minecraft, Notch confessed[8] that he made zombies drop feathers because he had no idea what they should have dropped when killed.
Java Edition Beta
1.8Pre-releaseZombies now drop rotten flesh instead of feathers.
Java Edition
1.0.0Beta 1.9 PrereleaseZombie JE2 BE1 All mobs have the bottom texture of the face flipped, resulting in a change in the model.
Beta 1.9 Prerelease 4Zombies can now be harmed by splash potions of healing, and healed by splash potions of harming.
Zombies have now become immune to poison and regeneration.
1.2.112w03aThe zombies' AI has been improved, giving them a much better sense of direction when pursuing the player, allowing them to navigate obstacles, and even small mazes if constructed, to get to the player.
Zombies have been given the ability to 'see' through windows, the first mob able to do so intelligently (not counting spiders, who are able to see through all blocks).
12w04aThe zombies' AI has been improved again to cope with catching fire in sunlight. If a zombie is exposed to sunlight and bursts into flames, it searches for a body of water to douse the flames or at least a shelter to hide from sun, unless in pursuit of a player.
12w06aZombies now hunt and attack villagers, attack doors (breaking them on Hard and Hardcore difficulties).
Zombies now sometimes drop iron ingots, helmets, shovels and swords as a rare drop.
Zombies now sometimes attack villagers in preference to the player, and always chose the shortest way to the target, even if there is a door in the way.
12w07aThe drop rate of rare drops for zombies have been reduced.
Zombies can no longer break iron doors
1.4.2?Baby Zombie Revision 1 Added baby zombies.
Baby zombies cannot spawn naturally and can be spawned only through map editors and NBT editing.
12w32aZombie in leather armor Zombie in golden armor Zombie in chainmail armor Zombie in iron armor Zombie in diamond armor Zombie armor has been added back into the game, and they can now wear any type of armor.
Zombie with iron sword JE1 Zombie with iron shovel JE1 Zombies can now hold an iron sword or iron shovel.
Zombies now have a chance of dropping these items, if they have them.
Iron helmets, swords and shovels have been removed as rare drops from zombies.
Zombies now use their attack animation like they did in Survival Test. This shows only when a zombie is holding a weapon. When a zombie holds a weapon the damage it does is equal to the damage the player would do with the weapon added to the normal damage of the zombie.
Armor worn by zombies now work the same as it does for the player, each piece gives a certain amount of armor points, where each 1 (🛡) gives 4% damage reduction, but the total damage reduction is limited to 80%.
5% of zombies now spawn as zombie villagers.
Villagers now become infected when killed by a zombie.
When a zombie infects a baby villager, it now creates a baby zombie villager, which is faster than a normal zombie and does not age.
12w34aZombies now have two new rare drops – carrots and potatoes.
12w34bZombies can now pick up and equip dropped items.[9][10] If killed, the zombie drops the item it is holding.
Zombies can now survive in sunlight, if they are wearing a helmet or a pumpkin.[11]
12w36aThe zombie and zombie pigmen models and texture layouts have been changed (no visual change, but breaks texture packs).
12w37aOld pumpkin zombie Old Jack o Lantern Zombie Baby Zombie with Carved Pumpkin On Halloween, zombies and baby zombies can now spawn wearing pumpkins or jack o'lanterns.
12w38aZombies have been given new sounds.
1.513w03aZombies are now able to set the player on fire, if they are on fire and they attack the player.
Zombies can now call other zombies from the nearby area (radius dependent on difficulty) to attack the player, making packs of zombies approach shortly after damaging the zombie.
Zombies now cause more damage when their health is lower. The additional damage ranges from 0♥ (at 100% health) to on Easy 3♥♥, on Normal 4♥♥, on Hard 6♥♥♥ (at 0% health) with a linear distribution and values rounded down.
1.6.113w17aWhen damaged, zombies now have a low chance to spawn more zombies.
13w21aZombie damage increasing with decreasing health has been removed.
13w23bZombie AI and mechanics have been changed – this has now made them much more horde-like.
Zombies are now able to detect the player up to 40 blocks.
1.6.2preBaby zombies now spawn among regular zombies, with the same percentage of spawning as zombie villagers.
1.7.213w36aBaby zombies now drop loot and experience.
13w42aZombies now have up to 10% chance to succeed at breaking wooden doors on Hard mode.
1.7.413w49aChicken Jockey Revision 1 Added chicken jockeys – a rare version of the baby zombie.
1.814w11aZombies now run away from creepers that are about to explode.
14w30aZombies now drop their head when killed by a charged creeper.
1.8.1pre1Zombies no longer run away from creepers that are about to explode.
1.915w32aThe detection range of zombies is now halved when the player is wearing a zombie mob head.
15w33cThe detection range for players wearing the zombie mob head has been adjusted, now 37.5% of the normal range.
15w34aZombies now have an attack animation similar to the one they had in Survival Test, even without weapons.
15w36aThe detection range for players wearing the zombie mob head has been changed to 50% of the normal range again.
1.10pre1The chance of a zombie setting its target on fire when burning, and the duration of the effect, now depend on raw regional difficulty.
1.1116w32aEntity ID Zombie is now zombie, zombie_villager and husk for those respective mobs.
Removed the ZombieType, IsVillager tag, added the Profession tag to zombie_villager only, and made ConversionTime apply to zombie_villager only.
1.1318w07aZombies now intentionally stomp on turtle eggs and attack baby turtles.
18w10dBaby zombies now burn in the sun.
18w11aZombies now sink underwater.
Zombie becoming Drowned Zombies now convert into a drowned instead of dying from drowning.
18w21bHusk becoming Zombie Husks now convert into zombies when drowning.
1.1418w43aZombie JE3 BE2 Baby Zombie The textures of zombies and baby zombies have been changed.
19w05aZombies attack the new wandering trader.
1.1519w37aMobs that spawn wearing carved pumpkins or jack o'lanterns on Halloween no longer drop them.
1.1721w13aZombies drop baked potatoes instead of normal potatoes if on fire when killed or killed by a fire source.[12]
1.17.1Pre-release 1Zombies no longer pick up glow ink sacs.
1.18Experimental Snapshot 1Zombies now only spawn at light level 0.
21w39aZombies no longer spawn in dripstone caves.
21w40aZombies now spawn in dripstone caves again.
1.20.223w33aZombies are no longer able to attack through doors and block corners.[13]
Baby zombies are no longer able to reach players riding horses.
Pocket Edition Alpha
v0.2.0Zombie JE2 BE1 Added zombies.
v0.4.0Zombies can now drop feathers.
v0.5.0Zombies now have new animations.
v0.7.3Zombies are now set on fire when exposed to sunlight. Previously, they emit smoke particles and take damage, but are not visually on fire.
v0.8.0build 1Zombies now spawn more frequently.
Zombies now have rare drops of carrots and potatoes.
v0.9.0build 1Zombie AI and mechanics have been changed – this now makes them much smarter.
v0.9.4Zombies now have 2 (🛡) armor points, preventing 8% of damage.
v0.11.0build 1Baby Zombie Revision 1 Chicken Jockey Revision 1 Added baby zombies and chicken jockeys.
Zombies now drop rotten flesh.
v0.12.1build 1Zombie in leather armor Zombie in golden armor Zombie in chainmail armor Zombie in iron armor Zombie in diamond armor Zombies can now spawn wearing armor.
Zombies can now break down doors.
Zombies are now able to detect the player from up to 40 blocks.
v0.14.0build 1

Baby Zombie Riding Zombie Baby Zombie Riding Zombie Butcher Baby Zombie Riding Pig Baby Zombie Riding Cow Baby Zombie Riding Sheep Baby Zombie Riding Wolf Baby Zombie Riding Ocelot Baby Zombie Riding Horse

Baby Zombie Riding Spider Baby zombies and baby zombie villagers have a 15% chance of becoming a jockey. Before becoming a jockey, upon nearing the player, they check for one of the following to mount prior attacking: adult chickens, adult ocelots, adult wolves, adult zombies, adult zombie villager, adult zombie pigmen, cows, pigs, sheep, cave spiders or spiders.
v0.16.0?Adult zombie pigman are no longer ridden by baby zombie variants.
Bedrock Edition
1.4.0beta 1.2.20.1Baby zombies now burn in daylight.
1.5.0beta 1.5.0.1Zombies now sink underwater.
Zombie becoming Drowned Zombies now convert into a drowned instead of dying from drowning.
Husk becoming Zombie Husks now convert into zombies when drowning.
beta 1.5.0.4Zombies now attack baby turtles and stomp on turtle eggs.
1.8.0beta 1.8.0.8Baby Zombie Riding Tuxedo Cat Baby Zombie Riding Panda Baby zombies can now mount adult stray cats and pandas.
1.10.0beta 1.10.0.3Zombie JE3 BE2 Baby Zombie The textures of zombies and baby zombies have been changed.
Zombies now attack wandering traders.
1.13.0beta 1.13.0.9Adult zombie pigmen can now be ridden again by baby zombie variants.
1.16.0beta 1.16.0.51Zombies now have the ability to pick up items.
1.17.30beta 1.17.30.20Zombies no longer pick up glow ink sacs.
Legacy Console Edition
TU1CU1 1.00 Patch 11.0.1Zombie JE2 BE1 Added zombies.
TU5Zombies now drop rotten flesh, instead of feathers.
TU12The zombies' AI has been improved, which gives them a much better sense of direction when pursuing the player, allowing them to navigate obstacles, and even small mazes if constructed, to get to the player.
Zombies have been given the ability to 'see' through windows.
If a zombie is exposed to sunlight and bursts into flames, it now search for a body of water to douse the flames.
Zombies now hunt and attack villagers and now attack doors (breaking them on Hard difficulty).
Zombies now attack villagers in preference to the player, and always chose the shortest way to the target, even if there is a door in the way.
Zombies now sometimes drop iron ingots, helmets, shovels and swords as rare drops.
TU15 1.05 Zombies' rare loot drops have been changed to be carrots, potatoes or iron ingots.
TU19CU7 1.12 Zombies can now pick up items.
Zombie in leather armor Zombie in golden armor Zombie in chainmail armor Zombie in iron armor Zombie in diamond armor Zombie armor has been added and zombies can now wear any type of armor.
Zombie with iron sword JE1 Zombie with iron shovel JE1 Zombies can now hold an iron sword or iron shovel.
Baby Zombie Revision 1 Added baby zombies.
TU31CU19 1.22 Patch 3Baby zombies now drop experience.
Zombies now drop their skull when killed by a charged creeper.
TU60CU51 1.64 Patch 301.0.11Baby zombies now have a 15% chance of becoming a jockey. Before becoming a jockey, upon nearing the player, they check for one of the following to mount prior attacking: adult chickens, adult ocelots, adult wolves, adult zombies, cows, pigs, sheep, spiders or cave spiders.
TU69 1.76 Patch 38Baby zombies now burn in sunlight.
Zombies now sink in water.
Zombie becoming Drowned Zombies now convert into a drowned instead of dying from drowning.
Husk becoming Zombie Husks now convert into zombies when drowning.
1.83 Baby zombies can now ride adult stray cats and pandas.
1.91 Zombies are now hostile toward wandering traders.
New Nintendo 3DS Edition
0.1.0Zombie JE2 BE1 Baby Zombie Revision 1 Added zombies and baby zombies.
Minecraft Earth
0.2.0Zombie Added zombies.

Issues[]

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

Trivia[]

  • The zombie is a playable DLC character in the crossover fighting game Super Smash Bros. Ultimate as an alternate costume for Steve.
  • Green-colored zombies are also present in Minicraft, a 2D Minecraft-inspired game also created by Markus Persson.
  • Zombies can pick up totems of undying, which automatically activate upon receiving fatal damage. A totem picked up by a zombie, therefore, cannot be retrieved by killing the zombie. It can be retrieved by giving the zombie a sword of any type, because zombies prefer swords over a non-sword items.
  • Zombies have the same clothes as Steve, down to the pixel. Their only difference is the color of their skin.

Notes[]

  1. The inradius is based on the followRange stat: base value is 35, ±5% random spawn bonus, then plus 0–50% random zombie-spawn bonus

Gallery[]

Renders[]

Baby zombies riding entity[]

In armor[]

Holding item[]

Cosmetics[]

In other media[]


Textures[]

See also[]

References[]

  1. https://youtu.be/3aDYJZLmtxQ
  2. "[MC-62182] Webs block sunlight from burning skeletons and zombies - Jira"Mojira, July 16, 2014.
  3. MC-14800 — When zombie villagers, husks, drowned or zombified piglins are damaged, they spawn regular zombie reinforcements
  4. MC-227735 — "Zombie reinforcements can spawn on biomes where regular zombies can't" — resolved as "Works As Intended".
  5. MC-114016 — Reinforcement zombies are not centered on a block
  6. "[MC-127298] Zombie Villagers and Zombie Pigmans don't turn into Drowned - Jira"Mojira, March 14, 2018.
  7. "Minecraft Survival development update" – Nizzotch on YouTube, August 24, 2009
  8. "Lost internets.. The zombies drop feathers because I don't know what they should drop, and chickens weren't around back then!"@notch (Markus Persson) on X, January 2, 2011
  9. a b ""Hey there, I think you dropped this""@jeb_ (Jens Bergensten) on X, August 28, 2012
  10. http://www.reddit.com/r/Minecraft/comments/yrjp8/zombies_can_pick_up_items_from_the_ground_in_the/c5y7uma
  11. "Intended."@Dinnerbone (Nathan Adams) on X, September 6, 2012
  12. MC-199065
  13. MC-2310 — "Wrong attack radius calculation damages/kills entities through blocks and corners" — resolved as "Fixed".
  14. MCPE-156517 – Resolved as Incomplete.
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