Armadillo


| Health points |
12HP × 6 |
|---|---|
| Behavior |
Passive |
| Mob type | |
| Hitbox size |
Adult: |
| Speed |
0.14 |
| Spawn | |
| Usable items |
{
"title": "Armadillo",
"rows": [
{
"field": "12<span class=\"hidden-alt-text\">HP</span><span class=\"nowrap mc-hearts\"><span class=\"iconbar pixel-image nowrap\" style=\"--icon-offset:-1px;\" title=\"1 heart\">(link to File:Heart (icon).png article, displayed as 9px|link=|alt=♥)</span> × 6</span>",
"label": "(link to Health article, displayed as Health points)"
},
{
"field": "Passive",
"label": "Behavior"
},
{
"field": "(link to Animal article, displayed as Animal)",
"label": "(link to Mob article, displayed as Mob) type"
},
{
"field": "'''Adult:'''<br>Height: 0.65 blocks<br>Width: 0.7 blocks<br>\n'''Baby:'''<br>Height: 0.39 blocks<br>Width: 0.42 blocks",
"label": "(link to Hitbox article, displayed as Hitbox size)"
},
{
"field": "0.14",
"label": "(link to Attribute#movementSpeed article, displayed as Speed)"
},
{
"field": "(values exceeds 1000 characters...)",
"label": "(link to Mob spawning article, displayed as Spawn)"
},
{
"field": "(values exceeds 1000 characters...)",
"label": "Usable items"
}
],
"invimages": [
"Armadillo Spawn Egg"
],
"images": [
"Armadillo JE2 BE2.png",
"Armadillo Armor JE2 BE2.png"
]
}
An armadillo is a passive mob found in badlands and savannas. It rolls up in response to being hurt or being near undead mobs or players that are sprinting or mounted. While in this state, it takes less damage. It also repels spiders and cave spiders. It is the only source of armadillo scutes, which the armadillo sheds over time, as well as when it is brushed.
Spawning
Armadillos spawn in groups of two to three in savannas, savanna plateaus, and windswept savannas and groups of one to two in badlands, eroded badlands, and wooded badlands in a light level of 9 or 7 and higher.
| Category: Creature | Java Edition | Bedrock Edition | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spawn area | Spawn weight | Spawn Chance | Group size | Spawn weight | Group size |
| 10⁄52 | 19.23% | 2–3 | 10 | 4 | |
| 10⁄52 | 19.23% | 2–3 | 10 | 4 | |
| 10⁄68 | 14.71% | 2–3 | 10 | 4 | |
| 6⁄46 | 13.04% | 1–2 | 6 | 1–2 | |
| 6⁄46 | 13.04% | 1–2 | 6 | 1–2 | |
| 6⁄48 | 12.5% | 1–2 | 6 | 1–2 | |
Drops
Armadillos drop 1 armadillo scute every 5–10 minutes, similar to the rate at which chickens lay eggs.
Upon successful breeding (see below), 1–7XP experience orbs are dropped.
On death
- 1–3XP experience orbs if killed by a player or tamed wolf.
Killing a baby armadillo yields no items nor experience.
Brushing
If a player or dispenser uses a brush on an armadillo, it drops:
An unenchanted brush has enough durability to obtain 4 / 5 armadillo scutes.
Behavior

Spiders and cave spiders flee from armadillos when within 6 blocks of them.
Rolling up
An armadillo can hide in its shell when it is hurt, confronted by undead, or confronted by players who are sprinting or riding anything. When an armadillo is rolled up it does not walk, cannot eat, and is not tempted by food. While rolled up, it takes a reduced amount of damage given by (original damage-1)/2, damage belonging to the type self_destruct is not affected by this in Bedrock Edition. The armadillo occasionally peeks out from its shell to see if a threat is still near. It unrolls if it detects no threats for 3 seconds (60 ticks). It also unrolls immediately if it comes into contact with water or is attached to a lead. An armadillo does not roll up while fleeing, in water, on fire, in the air, or being led.
The distance an armadillo checks for threats is the size of its hitbox inflated by 7 blocks horizontally and 2 blocks vertically.
Breeding
Armadillos follow players holding spider eyes within 10 / 16 blocks. Additionally, baby armadillos follow adults.
A player can breed armadillos by using spider eyes on two of them. After breeding, a baby armadillo spawns and 1–7 experience is generated. The parents cannot be bred again for 5 minutes.
Baby armadillos take 24000 ticks (20 minutes) to grow up, but the growth time can be accelerated using spider eyes. Each use takes 10% off the remaining time to grow up.
An armadillo loses its willingness to breed if it rolls up after it is fed but before it reaches its mate. It must be fed another spider eye to become willing to breed again.
Sounds
Java Edition:
Armadillos use the Friendly Creatures sound category for entity-dependent sound events.
| Sounds | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sound | Subtitles | Source | Description | Resource location | Translation key | Volume | Pitch | Attenuation distance |
| Armadillo grunts | Friendly Mobs | Randomly while not scared | entity | subtitles | 1.0 | 0.8-1.2 (Baby: 1.3-1.7) | 16 | |
| Armadillo dies | Friendly Mobs | When an armadillo dies | entity | subtitles | 1.0 | 0.8-1.2 (Baby: 1.3-1.7) | 16 | |
| Armadillo hurts | Friendly Mobs | When an armadillo is damaged while not rolled up | entity | subtitles | 1.0 | 0.8-1.2 (Baby: 1.3-1.7) | 16 | |
| Armadillo shields itself | Friendly Mobs | When an armadillo is damaged while rolled up | entity | subtitles | 1.0 | 0.8-1.2 (Baby: 1.3-1.7) | 16 | |
| Armadillo eats | Friendly Mobs | When an armadillo eats a spider eye | entity | subtitles | 1.0 | 0.8-1.2 (Baby: 1.3-1.7) | 16 | |
| Armadillo eats | Friendly Mobs | When an armadillo enters love mode | entity | subtitles | 1.0 | 0.8-1.2 | 16 | |
| Footsteps | Friendly Mobs | While an armadillo is walking | entity | subtitles | 0.15 | 1.0 | 16 | |
| Armadillo lands | Friendly Mobs | When an armadillo rolls up while on the ground | entity | subtitles | 1.0 | 0.8-1.2 (Baby: 1.3-1.7) | 16 | |
| Armadillo peeks | Friendly Mobs | When an armadillo peeks from its shell while rolled up | entity | subtitles | 1.0 | 1.0 | 16 | |
| Armadillo rolls up | Friendly Mobs | When an armadillo rolls up | entity | subtitles | 1.0 | 0.8-1.2 (Baby: 1.3-1.7) | 16 | |
| Armadillo peeks | Friendly Mobs | When an armadillo starts unrolling | subtitles | subtitles | 1.0 | 1.0 | 16 | |
| Armadillo unrolls | Friendly Mobs | When an armadillo finishes unrolling | entity | subtitles | 1.0 | 0.8-1.2 (Baby: 1.3-1.7) | 16 | |
| Scute is brushed off | Friendly Mobs | When an armadillo is brushed | entity | subtitles | 0.9 | varies | 16 | |
| Armadillo sheds scute | Friendly Mobs | When an armadillo drops a scute | entity | subtitles | 1.0 | varies | 16 | |
| Sounds | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sound | Source | Description | Resource location | Volume | Pitch |
| Friendly Creatures Friendly Mobs | Randomly | mob | 1.0 | 0.8-1.2 (Baby: 1.3-1.7) | |
| Friendly Creatures Friendly Mobs | When an armadillo dies | mob | 1.0 | 0.8-1.2 (Baby: 1.3-1.7) | |
| Friendly Creatures Friendly Mobs | When an armadillo is damaged while not rolled up | mob | 1.0 | 0.8-1.2 (Baby: 1.3-1.7) | |
| Friendly Creatures Friendly Mobs | When an armadillo is damaged while rolled up | mob | 1.0 | 0.8-1.2 (Baby: 1.3-1.7) | |
| Friendly Creatures Friendly Mobs | When an armadillo eats an item | mob | 1.0 | 0.8-1.2 (Baby: 1.3-1.7) | |
| Friendly Creatures Friendly Mobs | While an armadillo is walking | mob | 1.0 | 0.8-1.2 (Baby: 1.3-1.7) | |
| Friendly Creatures Friendly Mobs | When an armadillo rolls up while on the ground | mob | 1.0 | 0.8-1.2 (Baby: 1.3-1.7) | |
| Friendly Creatures Friendly Mobs | When an armadillo peeks from its shell while rolled up | mob | 1.0 | 1.0 | |
| Friendly Creatures Friendly Mobs | When an armadillo rolls | mob | 1.0 | 0.8-1.2 (Baby: 1.3-1.7) | |
| Friendly Creatures Friendly Mobs | When an armadillo starts unrolling | mob | 1.0 | 1.0 | |
| Friendly Creatures Friendly Mobs | When an armadillo finishes unrolling | mob | 1.0 | 0.8-1.2 (Baby: 1.3-1.7) | |
| Friendly Creatures Friendly Mobs | When an armadillo is brushed | mob | 0.9 | 1.0/0.8/0.9 | |
| Friendly Creatures Friendly Mobs | When an armadillo drops a scute | mob | 0.9 | 1.0 | |
Data values
ID
| Name | Identifier | Translation key |
|---|---|---|
armadillo | entity |
| Name | Identifier | Numeric ID | Translation key |
|---|---|---|---|
armadillo | 142 | entity |
Entity data
Armadillos have entity data associated with them that contain various properties.
- [NBT Compound / JSON Object] Entity data
- Additional fields for mobs that can breed see Template:Nbt inherit/breedable/template
- Tags common to all entities see Template:Nbt inherit/entity/template
- Tags common to all mobs see Template:Nbt inherit/mob/template
- [Int] scute_time: The number of ticks until the armadillo drops a scute. A scute is dropped at 0 and this timer gets reset to a new random value between 6000 and 12000.
- [String] state: The name for the armadillo's current posture.
state:"idle"means the armadillo is standing normally and is not rolled up.state:"scared"means the armadillo has rolled up as it feels threatened by a nearby mob or player.state:"unrolling"means the armadillo is playing its unrolling animation, exiting its scared state. Any other string forstatedefaults to the same behavior as "idle".
Achievements
| Icon | Achievement | In-game description | Actual requirements (if different) | Gamerscore earned | Trophy type (PS) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PS4 | Other | ||||||
| It Spreads | Kill a mob next to a catalyst | — | 10 | Bronze | |||
| Overkill | Deal nine hearts of damage in a single hit. | Damage can be dealt to any mob, even those that do not have nine hearts of health overall. | 30 | Bronze | |||
| Over-Overkill | Deal 50 hearts of damage in a single hit using the Mace | Damage can be dealt to any mob, even those that do not have 50 hearts of health overall. | 20 | Silver | |||
Advancements
| Icon | Advancement | In-game description | Actual requirements (if different) |
|---|---|---|---|
![]() | A Throwaway Joke | Throw a Trident at something. Note: Throwing away your only weapon is not a good idea. | Hit a mob with a thrown trident. |
![]() | Adventure | Adventure, exploration and combat | Kill any mob, or be killed by any living entity. |
![]() | Arbalistic | Kill five unique mobs with one crossbow shot | This is a hidden advancement, meaning that it can be viewed by the player only after completing it, regardless of if its child advancement(s), if any, have been completed. |
![]() | Isn't It Scute? | Get Armadillo Scutes from an using a Brush | Use a brush on an armadillo. |
![]() | It Spreads | Kill a mob near a Sculk Catalyst | Kill one of these 73 mobs near a sculk catalyst:
|
![]() | Over-Overkill | Deal 50 hearts of damage in a single hit using the Mace | Damage can be dealt to any mob, even those that do not have 50 hearts of health overall. |
![]() | Take Aim | Shoot something with an Arrow | Using a bow or a crossbow, shoot a mob with an arrow, tipped arrow, or spectral arrow. |
![]() | The Parrots and the Bats | Breed two animals together | Breed a pair of any of these 26 mobs:
|
![]() | Two by Two | Breed all the animals! |
Videos
History
| October 4, 2023 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 15, 2023 | The armadillo wins the Mob Vote at Minecraft Live 2023. | ||||||
| December 24, 2023 | |||||||
| Java Edition | |||||||
| December 13, 2023 | Armadillos are announced to be added in Java Edition on December 18, 2023 in a popup in Bedrock Edition Preview 1.20.60.23. | ||||||
| 1.20.5 | 23w51a | ||||||
| 24w03a | |||||||
| Armadillos can now spawn in badlands, wooded badlands, and eroded badlands. | |||||||
| Spiders and cave spiders now run from armadillos. | |||||||
| 24w04a | Armadillos now also roll up when they detect a mob or player that has attacked it recently. | ||||||
| Rolled up armadillos are now more resistant to attacks. | |||||||
| Added new sounds for when an armadillo is damaged while rolled up. | |||||||
| 24w06a | |||||||
| Rolled up armadillos now only occasionally peek out from their shells, rather than constantly. | |||||||
| Added new sounds for rolling up, unrolling, and peeking. | |||||||
| Bedrock Edition | |||||||
| 1.20.60 | Preview 1.20.60.20 | Added mentions of armadillos to the game files. | |||||
| 1.20.60 Experiment | Preview 1.20.60.23 | ||||||
| 1.20.70 Experiment | Preview 1.20.70.20 | ||||||
| Armadillos can now spawn in badlands, wooded badlands, and eroded badlands. | |||||||
| Spiders and cave spiders now run from armadillos. | |||||||
| Armadillos now have a reduced vertical range when scanning for potential threats. | |||||||
| Armadillos now float better and create more splash particles when in water. | |||||||
| Baby armadillos now catch up to their parents a bit faster. | |||||||
| Armadillos now take less damage when rolled up. | |||||||
| Armadillos now roll up when attacked by a player or a mob, instead of panicking. | |||||||
| Armadillos now keep track of the last player that hit them, and regard them as a threat for 20 seconds. | |||||||
| Preview 1.20.70.21 | Added new sounds for when armadillos are damaged while rolled up. | ||||||
| Armadillos now regard the last player that hit them as a threat for 10 seconds. | |||||||
| Preview 1.20.70.22 | |||||||
| Rolled up armadillos now only occasionally peek out from their shells, rather than constantly. | |||||||
| Increased the amount of time that armadillos stay rolled up after a threat has passed from 3 to 4 seconds. | |||||||
| 1.20.80 | Preview 1.20.80.20 | Armadillos are now available without using the "Armadillo and Wolf Armor" experimental toggle. | |||||
| Preview 1.20.80.22 | Increased the speed of armadillos' walking animation. | ||||||
| 1.21.0 | Preview 1.21.0.21 | Armadillos no longer roll up repeatedly when constantly taking damage from blocks. | |||||
Issues
Issues relating to "Armadillo" are maintained on the bug tracker. Issues should be reported and viewed there.
Trivia
- The first iteration of the armadillo had deliberately basic animations due to feedback that the sniffer's animations were a bit too advanced. However, the developers felt that quality expectations had been raised, so subsequent armadillo animations were made more expressive.[1][2]
- When first added to the game, the armadillo had its eyes on the front of its face. According to Jasper Boerstra this is because he felt that it would be difficult for the player to form a personal connection with the armadillo if the eyes were on the side of the head, since they wouldn't be visible while facing the mob directly.[3] This decision was reverted following feedback.[4]
- The tag on the armadillo plush however uses this initial design despite the plush itself using its final design.
- In earlier development versions, though not entirely realistic, the armadillo's head peeked out when balled up because it was deemed amusing.[5]
- Despite its passive nature, the armadillo has been referred to as a neutral mob on the official minecraft.net website.[6][7]
- The armadillo is the only mob voted in during a mob vote that was released in a minor update (officially the Armored Paws drop as Java Edition 1.20.5 and Bedrock Edition 1.20.80), instead of the next major update.
- The development time for the armadillo was the shortest for any mob vote winner, introduced in a snapshot just two months after winning the vote at Minecraft Live 2023.
Gallery
Renders
-
Armadillo -
Rolled up -
An armadillo without its shell (this state cannot be seen in-game)
Animations
-
Walking -
Rolling up -
Peeking -
Unrolling
Development renders
-

-

-

-

-
Idle rolled up (despite the main body having slight differences between JE and BE during this time, the shell already matched) -

-

-
Rolled up shell only (this state could not be seen in-game) -
An armadillo without its shell (this state could not be seen in-game)
Development images
-
The first image shown of the armadillo's second texture iteration. -
Two armadillos and an armored wolf on a hill. -
A standing armadillo. -
A rolled up armadillo. -
Zuri feeding an armadillo a spider eye. -
Four armadillos, an armored wolf, and Noor at the top of a hill. -
Early development model and texture of the armadillo. -
A recreation of the armadillo early development model based on the Discord emote. -
"Here you can see the first design of the armadillo mob (left) and the final mob design (right)"[8] -
"The early design of the armadillo mob"[8] -
"The final design of the armadillo mob"[8]
Concept artwork
-
"Armadillo exploration" concept art featuring different armadillo colors. -
"Armadillo exploration" concept art. -
Armadillo concept art.[9]
Screenshots
-
An armadillo that naturally spawned in a badlands. -
A roll of armadillos.[10] -
An armadillo cowering beside a zombie. -
The switch to vote for the armadillo on the 2023 Mob Vote Event.
Textures
-
Armadillo texture file.
In other media
-
An armadillo running to a breeze with Sunny, Noor and a tamed wolf, on the cover of Trial Chamber Legends. -
Pixel art of an armadillo used in Trial Chamber Legends. -
The eye-madillo, a joke version of an armadillo from the January 26, 2024 episode of Minecraft Monthly.[11] -
A recreation of the latter. -
The rolled up potato armadillo from 24w14potato. -
An armadillo, as it is on the loading screen on the Minecraft Launcher. -
Official artwork of two armadillos. -
Hologram of an armadillo in the Eerie Mojang Office Party. -
Armadillo plush -
Tag of the plush using its initial design. -
A LEGO Minecraft Armadillo.
Mob vote artwork
-
Pixel art of an armadillo standing still. -
The armadillo running. -
The armadillo sniffing and rolling up into a ball. -
Mob vote image. -
Thumbnail of the armadillo announcement article. -
Header of the armadillo announcement article. -
Armadillos wearing party hats. -
Armadillo winning the mob vote. -
"We had a great time seeing everyone enjoy our Mob Vote event last weekend! Welcome to Minecraft, Armadillo friend!"
References
- ↑ "It's likely that we'll be re-doing all the animations. We tried going "back to basics" after feedback on the Sniffer's animations being to "advanced" but I think the expectations for quality has been raised so we'll have to meet those and make them more expressive :)" – @JasperBoerstra (Jasper Boerstra) on X (formerly Twitter), December 17, 2023
- ↑ "Exactly! But we got feedback that they were.. too good for the rest of the animations, so with the Armadillo we tried going a bit more simple again; But I suppose people expect more advanced animations now instead. The expectation has shifted." – @JasperBoerstra (Jasper Boerstra) on X (formerly Twitter), December 17, 2023
- ↑ "The eyes of the Armadillo are in the front because when they are on the side you're looking at an empty forehead, It's difficult to a create a connection with it. Considering this is a mob which you'll interact with, possibly quite often, I felt like this was important." – @JasperBoerstra (Jasper Boerstra) on X (formerly Twitter), December 14, 2023
- ↑ "We've listened to your feedback, here is a new iteration of the Armadillo. In Beta/Snapshots next year!👁️👄👁️." – @Minecraft (Minecraft) on X (formerly Twitter), December 24, 2023
- ↑ "Its head peeks out when its balled up because we thought it would be funny or cute. But apparently people prefer realism?" – @JasperBoerstra (Jasper Boerstra) on X (formerly Twitter), December 14, 2023
- ↑ "Minecraft - Beta & Preview 1.20.60.23" – Minecraft Feedback, December 13, 2023.
- ↑ "Minecraft Preview 1.20.60.23" by Jay Wells – Minecraft.net, December 13, 2023.
- ↑ a b c https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/article/the-future-of-minecrafts-development
- ↑ "All About The Armored Paws Drop" – Minecraft on YouTube, April 22, 2024
- ↑ "Minecraft Java Edition 1.20.5" – Minecraft.net, April 23, 2024.
- ↑ "REVEALING A NEW BLOCK + TRIAL KEY UNLOCKS...??? | MINECRAFT MONTHLY" – Minecraft on YouTube, January 26, 2024
External links
- "Armadillo rolls into testing" by Sophie Austin – Minecraft.net, December 13, 2023.
- "Armadillo" by Duncan Geere – Minecraft.net, October 17, 2024.

