Guardian
hostile
Health
Damage
XP Drop
Added InOverview
A Guardian is a hostile mob: it will attack players on sight whenever it is able to reach them.
You will normally come across guardians in the Overworld, where they appear in Ocean Monument.
Its defining trait is simple — shoots laser beams that require charge-up time.
Stat-wise it sits at 30 health (15 hearts), dropping 10 experience on death.
It was first added in 1.8 and has been a fixture of Minecraft ever since.
Also worth noting: Prismarine is used for conduits and sea lanterns.
Knowing how the Guardian behaves is mostly about survival: recognising it early and reacting correctly is what keeps a night-time excursion from ending in a respawn.
Damage by Difficulty
Spawning
In the wild, the Guardian is generated in Ocean Monument.
That single-biome restriction means Ocean Monument is the only place to look; if you are not there, you will not find one, so locating the biome is the real task.
Spawns in and around Ocean Monuments in water.
Like most hostile mobs in the Overworld, it requires darkness (a block light level of 0) to spawn, so lighting an area up with torches stops it from appearing there.
Naturally spawned guardians will despawn over time when no player is nearby; naming one with a name tag or leading it away on a lead keeps it permanent.
For a reliable Guardian farm, set your spawning floor within the biomes above and light everything else nearby so spawns funnel to one spot.
Drops
Here is what you can expect to collect from a Guardian:
Every kill yields 0–2 Prismarine Shards (always, 100% chance).
On top of that, rarer rolls can give 1 Prismarine Crystals (fairly often, 33% chance) and 1 Raw Cod (fairly often, 40% chance).
You also collect 10 experience for every Guardian you defeat.
These are well worth keeping. Laser beam takes 2 seconds to charge.
The Looting enchantment on your sword raises the quantity and, for many of these items, the drop chance of the rarer rolls, so it is well worth using when you grind this mob.
Across many kills the guaranteed items pile up steadily while the chance-based extras trickle in, so consistent farming is the way to build a meaningful stockpile.
| Item | Count | Chance |
|---|---|---|
| Prismarine Shard | 0-2 | 100% |
| Prismarine Crystals | 0-1 | 33% |
| Raw Cod | 0-1 | 40% |
Prismarine Shard
Prismarine Crystals
Raw CodBehavior & Combat
In the field, shoots laser beams that require charge-up time. Deals thorn damage to attackers. Inflicts Mining Fatigue via Elder Guardians nearby.
At 30 health it is noticeably sturdier than a standard enemy; expect to land about 5 diamond-sword hits before it goes down.
On the offensive it deals 4 on Easy, 6 on Normal and 9 on Hard, and you will need to chew through 30 health (15 hearts) to bring one down.
To deal with one efficiently, exploit its weaknesses — it is vulnerable to Impaling enchantment and Axolotls (ally).
A sword enchanted with Impaling shortens the fight considerably against this mob.
Since it can attack from range, closing the distance quickly or breaking line of sight with cover is often safer than trading hits at a distance.
The practical takeaway is to respect its strengths, exploit the weaknesses listed above, and you will rarely lose a fight you choose to take.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Guardian
How much health does a Guardian have?
A Guardian has 30 health points, which is 15 hearts on its health bar.
What does a Guardian drop?
When killed, a Guardian drops 0–2 Prismarine Shards (100% chance), 0–1 Prismarine Crystals (33% chance), and 0–1 Raw Cod (40% chance), along with 10 experience.
Where do Guardians spawn in Minecraft?
Guardians spawn in Ocean Monument. Spawns in and around Ocean Monuments in water.
How do you defeat a Guardian?
To defeat a Guardian, target its weaknesses — it is vulnerable to Impaling enchantment and Axolotls (ally) — while dealing with its 30 health (15 hearts).
How much damage does a Guardian deal?
A Guardian deals 4 damage on Easy, 6 on Normal and 9 on Hard difficulty.
How much XP does a Guardian drop?
A Guardian drops 10 experience points when killed.