Pillager
hostileOurs, not the jar's: the biome names next to that structure, 3 drops that its loot table does not roll, how a pillager behaves. Same on Bedrock v1.26.30.5 for health. Checked 2026-08-08, and how
Health
Damage
XP Drop
Added InOverview
In Minecraft, the Pillager is classified as a hostile mob: it will attack players on sight whenever it is able to reach them.
Pillagers make their home in the Overworld, turning up in Pillager Outpost and Villages (during raids).
Its defining trait is simple: ranged attacker using a crossbow.
It carries 24 health points, 12 hearts, and yields 5 experience when it dies.
It was first added in 1.14 and has been a fixture of Minecraft ever since.
A useful detail many players miss: Patrol groups of 2-5 pillagers roam near villages.
Knowing how the Pillager 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 Pillager is generated in Pillager Outpost and Villages (during raids).
Spawns around Pillager Outposts and during raids (wave 1+).
Left alone far from any player, wild pillagers eventually despawn, so use a name tag if you want a specific one to stick around.
Farming pillagers is not a matter of a dark platform: it is the spawn rule above that a farm has to reproduce.
Another mob's spawn rule points back at it: the allay, found in cages in Pillager Outposts and Woodland Mansions and the ravager, sometimes ridden by Pillagers, Vindicators, or Evokers.
Where the Pillager spawns
- Inside a pillager outpost the biome list is replaced: weight 1 there, 100% of the monster list, in groups of 1.
Drops
Killing a Pillager produces the following loot:
Nothing here is guaranteed: a kill can give you 1 Ominous Bottle only in specific situations, 0 to 2 Arrows, 1 Crossbow (occasionally, 8.5% chance), and 1 Ominous Banner, but Ominous Banner drops only from patrol captains.
In terms of experience, each kill is worth 5 XP orbs.
These are well worth keeping. Ominous Banner drops only from patrol captains.
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 | Conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ominous Bottle | 1 | situational | |
| Arrow | 0 to 2 | not every kill | equipment |
| Crossbow | 1 | 8.5% | equipment |
| Ominous Banner | 1 | situational | Ominous Banner drops only from patrol captains, equipment |
Ominous BottlePillager attributes
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Follow range | 32 blocks |
| Experience | 5 |
| Movement speed | 0.35 |
| Health | 24 points |
| Attack damage attribute | 5 |
The Pillager does not stand alone on these numbers: the evoker on the same 24 health.
Pillager: 4 values out of Pillager.createAttributes
Nothing in the biome lists and nothing in the loot tables names the pillager, so the numbers on this page come from one place only: Pillager.createAttributes in the Java 26.2 client jar sets 24 health, 5 attack damage, 0.35 movement speed and 32 blocks follow range.
| Weapon | Attack damage | Full swings |
|---|---|---|
| golden sword, wooden sword | 4 | 6 |
| stone sword | 5 | 5 |
| iron sword | 6 | 4 |
| diamond sword, golden axe, wooden axe | 7 | 4 |
| netherite sword | 8 | 3 |
| diamond axe, iron axe, stone axe | 9 | 3 |
| netherite axe | 10 | 3 |
Coming the other way, a pillager hit is 20% of a player's 20 health, 5 of them a full bar, all out of the pillager's 4 damage on Normal. On Easy the same pillager hit is 15%, on Hard 25%, so 7 hits against 4.
Behavior & Combat
Behaviourally, ranged attacker using a crossbow. Patrol captains carry Ominous Banners. Killing a captain gives Bad Omen, triggering a raid if you enter a village.
It notices a target from 32 blocks, 9th of 76 for follow range, with the zombified piglin its nearest at 35.
It can hit you for 3 on Easy, 4 on Normal and 5 on Hard, while its own 24 health (12 hearts) determines how many blows it takes to kill.
To deal with one efficiently, exploit its weaknesses: it is vulnerable to Shields and Melee rush.
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.
As an illager it takes part in raids: defeating the waves a raid throws at a village earns the Hero of the Village effect, which gives discounts on villager trades.
The practical takeaway is to respect its strengths, exploit the weaknesses listed above, and you will rarely lose a fight you choose to take.
Pillager: common questions
How much health does a Pillager have?
A Pillager has 24 health points, which is 12 hearts on its health bar. It notices a target from 32 blocks, 9th of 76 for follow range, with the zombified piglin its nearest at 35.
What does a Pillager drop?
When killed, a Pillager drops 1 Ominous Bottle in specific situations, 0 to 2 Arrows, 1 Crossbow (8.5% chance), and 1 Ominous Banner in specific situations, along with 5 experience.
Where do Pillagers spawn in Minecraft?
Pillagers spawn in Pillager Outpost and Villages (during raids). Spawns around Pillager Outposts and during raids (wave 1+).
How do you defeat a Pillager?
To defeat a Pillager, target its weaknesses, it is vulnerable to Shields and Melee rush, while dealing with its 24 health (12 hearts).
How much damage does a Pillager deal?
A Pillager deals 3 damage on Easy, 4 on Normal and 5 on Hard difficulty.
How much XP does a Pillager drop?
A Pillager drops 5 experience points when killed.