Minecraft:Mob conversion

Villagers converting to witches is an example of mob conversion.

Mob conversion is a game mechanic whereby certain Minecraft:mobs can convert to mobs of a different type, or to a different variant of the same type of mob, under specific circumstances.

List of mob conversions

Mob type conversions

In these instances, a mob converts to different Minecraft:mob, with a different identifier. Template:IN, data is transferred according to Template:Slink.


From	To	Method
Template:EntityLink	Template:EntityLink	Being outside the Minecraft:Nether for too long
Template:EntityLink	Template:EntityLink	Drowning in Minecraft:water
Template:EntityLink	Template:EntityLink	Minecraft:Shearing
Template:EntityLink	Template:EntityLink	Minecraft:Lightning strike
Template:EntityLink		Being outside the Minecraft:Nether for too long
Template:EntityLink		Being outside the Minecraft:Nether for too long
Template:EntityLink	Template:EntityLink	Freezing in Minecraft:powder snow
Template:EntityLink	Template:EntityLink	Aging naturally
Template:EntityLink	Template:EntityLink	Minecraft:Lightning strike
Template:EntityLink	Template:EntityLink	Killed by either Minecraft:zombies, Minecraft:zombie villagers, Minecraft:husks, or Minecraft:drowned, or Minecraft:zombified piglins Template:Only<ref group=note>The chance of conversion is dependent on the Minecraft:difficulty setting.</ref>
Template:EntityLink	Template:EntityLink	Drowning in Minecraft:water
Template:EntityLink	Template:EntityLink	Fed Minecraft:golden apple while afflicted by Minecraft:Weakness

Mob variant conversions

In these instances, a mob converts to a different variant of the same type of mob. Only one top-level data field is modified.


Mob type	Converts to	Method	Notes
Template:EntityLink (32)	An adult	Aging naturally	This cannot be age-locked.
Template:EntityLink	A sheared bogged	Minecraft:Shearing
Template:EntityLink	A more Minecraft:oxidized variant	Minecraft:Oxidation
Template:EntityLink	A less Minecraft:oxidized variant	Scraping with an Minecraft:axe
Template:EntityLink	A charged creeper	Minecraft:Lightning strike
Template:EntityLink	A goat with one fewer horn	Ramming certain blocks (Template:Tag link). See Template:Slink
Template:EntityLink	A more cracked variant	Taking damage
Template:EntityLink	A less cracked variant	Being healed, including being repaired by a player using Minecraft:iron ingots
Template:EntityLink	The other variant (red or brown)	Minecraft:Lightning strike
Template:EntityLink	The sheared variant	Minecraft:Shearing	Although canonically a simple change of equipment, this "conversion" is included here because sheared and unsheared snow golems are considered different variants by the game.<ref group="note">See also Template:Bug</ref>
Template:EntityLink	A different color of sheep	Dyeing or an evoker's conversion spell
	A rainbow sheep, or a fixed-color sheep	Naming the sheep "jeb_", or renaming "jeb_" to something else, respectively
	A sheared sheep	Minecraft:Shearing
	A woolly sheep	Eating grass
Template:EntityLink	A different-colored shulker	Minecraft:Dyeing Template:Only	They can be dyed only in Minecraft:Creative mode.
Template:EntityLink	A different profession of villager	See Template:Slink	Not relevant to Minecraft:zombie villagers, as they cannot change professions without first converting to a villager.
Template:EntityLink	A toast rabbit, or a regular rabbit	Minecraft:Naming the rabbit "Toast", or renaming from "Toast" to something else, respectively

Template:Notelist

Data transfer

Template:Exclusive A mob which converts to another mob retains the following entity data, provided that the new mob is able to make use of said data:<ref group=note>The initial version of this list was provided by Mojang in the Minecraft:24w37a changelog</ref>

AbsorptionAmount
active_effects
Age
angry_at
anger_end_time
Brain.memories.minecraft:angry_at.ttlTemplate:Needs testing
Brain.memories.minecraft:angry_at.valueTemplate:Needs testing
CanBreakDoors
CanPickUpLoot
CustomName
CustomNameVisible
drop_chances
fall_distance
FallFlying
Fire
ForcedAge
HurtByTimestamp
HurtTime
Invulnerable
IsBaby
Leash
LeftHanded
Motion
NoAI
NoGravity
OnGround
Passengers
PersistenceRequired
PortalCooldown
Position
RootVehicle
Rotation
Silent
sleeping_pos
Tags
Team

Notably, the following fields are not retained:

attributes
Brain, except for the sub-fields mentioned aboveTemplate:Needs testing
Gossips
Health<ref group=note>The health of the converted mob is set to the same percentage of max health as the original mob had before conversion.</ref>
Loot tables
UUID
VillagerData
Xp

Additionally, equipment.saddle is not retained when a saddled pig converts to a zombified piglin.<ref>Template:Bug</ref>

Mobs which split into several upon death

A related case to mob conversion is where a mob (specifically a Minecraft:slime or Minecraft:magma cube) splits into several mobs upon death. In terms of entity data, this is treated as a conversion except that the following fields are additionally not transferred: