The Armadillo is a passive mob introduced in Minecraft as part of the 1.21 Tricky Trials update. This small, armored creature is found in warm biomes and offers players a new source of crafting materials and interactions. It’s particularly known for its unique defensive behavior and the valuable armadillo scute it drops, which is used to craft wolf armor.
Supported Platforms and Support Version
| Platform | Supported Version |
|---|---|
| Java Edition (PC/Mac) | 1.21 and above |
| Bedrock Edition | 1.21 and above |
| Pocket Edition (PE) | 1.21 and above |
| Xbox | 1.21 and above |
| PlayStation | 1.21 and above |
| Nintendo Switch | 1.21 and above |
| Windows 10 Edition | 1.21 and above |
Note: Armadillos are only found in Warm Biomes; players may need to explore Savannas and Deserts to encounter them.
Background of the Armadillo
| Attribute | Description |
|---|---|
| Hostility Level | Passive |
| Health Points | 16 HP (8 hearts) |
| Where to Find | Savanna and Desert biomes |
| Weapon | None |
| Attack Method | None (does not attack) |
| Drops | 0–1 Armadillo Scute |
| Experience Points | 1–3 XP |
| Special Skills | Rolls into a ball when threatened |
Hostility Level
The Armadillo is a passive mob. It will never attack the player or other mobs and prefers to avoid danger.
Health Points
The Armadillo has 16 health points (equivalent to 8 hearts).
Where to Find Armadillos
Armadillos spawn naturally in Savanna and Desert biomes. They can often be seen wandering slowly and are more active during the day.
Weapon
Armadillos have no weapon and do not engage in combat.
Attack Method
Armadillos do not attack. When threatened (by nearby players, wolves, or hostile mobs), they roll into a ball, making themselves invulnerable to certain forms of damage for a short duration.
Behavior
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Wanders slowly in its environment.
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Rolls into a ball when approached too closely or when sensing nearby danger.
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Once the threat subsides, the Armadillo unrolls and resumes normal behavior.
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Drops Armadillo Scutes passively or when brushed with a brush tool.
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Does not interact aggressively with players or other mobs.
Drops
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0–1 Armadillo Scute
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Primarily obtained by using a brush on the Armadillo.
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No other items are dropped upon death.
Experience Points
Killing an Armadillo or interacting with it yields 1–3 XP.
Special Skills
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Defensive Roll: Rolls into a ball to protect itself.
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Armored Scute Generation: Periodically produces Armadillo Scutes when brushed.
Spawn Eggs
Armadillo Spawn Eggs can be used to instantly spawn an Armadillo in creative mode. The spawn egg is brownish-beige in color and is found under the “Miscellaneous” tab in the creative inventory.
Things to do with the Armadillo
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Collect Armadillo Scutes to craft Wolf Armor.
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Observe its rolling behavior for fun and educational purposes.
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Breed Armadillos using Spider Eyes (planned feature; may vary by update).
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Create Armadillo farms for a renewable source of scutes.
Commands for the Armadillo
Example of summoning an Armadillo with a command:
/summon minecraft:armadillo ~ ~ ~
/summon minecraft:armadillo ~ ~ ~ {Pose:{Roll:true}}
Spawn Events for the Armadillo
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Spawns naturally in Savanna and Desert biomes during world generation.
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Does not spawn in caves, water, or snowy areas.
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Can be spawned using Spawn Eggs or /summon command.
Armadillo Fun Facts
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The Armadillo was voted into the game during the 2023 Mob Vote, beating out the Crab and Penguin.
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Its rolling behavior is fully animated and even changes its hitbox size temporarily.
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The Armadillo Scute is the first dedicated crafting material used for Wolf Armor, adding new depth to pet mechanics.
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When an Armadillo is rolling, it is immune to knockback and certain types of damage.
Advanced Tips for Farming
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Create a fenced farm in a warm biome or near a base.
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Use Spider Eyes (planned) or other breeding items to breed more Armadillos.
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Regularly brush Armadillos to harvest Scutes without harming them.
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Keep hostile mobs and wolves away to prevent them from constantly rolling, which delays scute generation.
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Automate brushing with dispensers and redstone clocks in future versions if supported.
How the Armadillo Interacts with Other Game Mechanics
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Villagers: No interaction.
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Redstone: No direct interaction, but can be used in farms triggered with redstone devices.
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Wolves: Causes the Armadillo to roll into a ball if a wolf is nearby.
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Leads: Can be leashed and led by players.
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Breeding: Planned use of Spider Eyes to breed Armadillos in future updates.
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Brush Tool: Enables scute harvesting, integrating archaeology tools into mob interaction.
