The basic process involves hitting them with a Splash Potion of Weakness followed by a Golden Apple, then waiting 3 to 5 minutes. But the mechanic hides some clever twists. Here are five lesser-known facts to elevate your game.
1. Iron Bars and Beds Speed Up the Process
Surround the afflicted zombie villager with iron bars and beds within a 9x9x9 area (up to 14 blocks total). Each qualifying block has a 30% chance every game tick to shave one tick off the curing timer, cutting the average wait time by about 4.2% per block.
2. They Retain Their Trades and Give Permanent Discounts
A cured zombie villager keeps its original profession, XP level, and trade list exactly as before zombification (if it traded with you prior). The player who cures it gets a huge, permanent discount on those trades. Note: Multiple cures no longer stack extra discounts after updates in 1.20.2 (Java) and 1.20.30 (Bedrock).
3. They Get Super Strong While Curing
After feeding the Golden Apple, the zombie villager starts shaking with red particles and gains the Strength effect (level based on difficulty). This ramps up its attack damage, so keep your distance or trap it securely during the wait.
4. Igloos Have Built-In Curing Labs
Some snowy igloos contain a hidden basement with a zombie villager (usually a cleric), a brewing stand stocked for Weakness potions, redstone, a cauldron, and a Golden Apple. It's Mojang's tutorial in the wild!
5. Hard Mode Guarantees Conversions
Switch to Hard difficulty, and zombies always convert villagers into zombie villagers (100% chance) instead of killing them outright. This makes farming high-level traders for your hall reliable.
These facts turn curing from a chore into a strategic powerhouse. Experiment in creative mode, then build automated farms on survival for endless emeralds.
Comments