The armadillo is a new and adorable mob in Minecraft, introduced in the 1.20.5 update after winning the community vote during Minecraft Live 2023. Not only does this mob add charm to the wild, but it also offers practical value through armadillo scutes, which are essential for crafting wolf armor.
🦔 Where to Find Armadillos
Armadillos spawn in Savanna and Badlands biomes, including their variants like Eroded Badlands and Windswept Savannas. They usually appear in groups of 2 or 3. If you don’t spot one right away, keep an eye out for scutes on the ground—similar to how chickens leave eggs.
Be cautious when approaching: if you run toward them, they'll curl into a cube out of fear. Instead, crouch or walk slowly to avoid startling them.
🧠 Armadillo Behavior
Armadillos are passive mobs that curl up when threatened by players or undead mobs. While in this state, they take less damage and occasionally peek out to check if the coast is clear—a charming animation unique to this mob.
Interestingly, spiders and cave spiders are afraid of armadillos and will flee from them, making the armadillo not just cute, but also strategically useful.
🕷️ How to Breed Armadillos
While you can’t tame armadillos, you can attach them to a lead and bring them to your base. They love Spider Eyes, which also trigger breeding mode:
- To breed armadillos: Feed two adults a Spider Eye each.
- To raise baby armadillos faster: Feed them additional Spider Eyes.
Spider Eyes, previously used mostly for potions, now have an exciting new use with these mobs.
🪶 How to Get Armadillo Scutes
Armadillos periodically drop scutes naturally, but you can also use a brush on them to collect one instantly. There’s a short cooldown, much like shearing sheep, so be patient or set up an automated system using dispensers loaded with brushes.
🛡️ Crafting Wolf Armor
Once you've collected enough scutes, you can craft wolf armor to protect your loyal canine companions:
Crafting Recipe:
- Place six armadillo scutes in a specific pattern in the crafting grid (similar to a chestplate shape).
Wolf armor offers extra defense for your dogs during adventures, making armadillos incredibly useful to keep around.
🐾 Final Thoughts
The Minecraft armadillo adds charm, utility, and creativity to your world. From adorable animations to life-saving armor for your wolves, this mob has quickly become a fan favorite—and rightly so.
Be sure to check out other vote-winning mobs like the Glow Squid and Allay as you explore more of Minecraft’s ever-expanding universe.