All Minecrafters know that hostile mobs are a pain to deal with. Every update seems to bring something new to these mobs, such as theVillage & Pillage Updatethat brought a hostile, extremely aggressive look-a-like of the villager to the game.Minecrafthad its fair share of insane updates, making it harder for the player to do everyday tasks such as mining.
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Mojang Studios consistently creates and brainstorms new ideas for their games, allowing them to build anything they could imagine - assuming that players can survive the dangerous game-world!Minecraftmobs have made huge changes in normal gameplay for the average Minecrafter, causing them to change the way they play the game entirely just to survive another night. So without further delay, here are 10Minecraftmobs that changed the game forever.
Updated on July 01, 2025, by Anastasia Maillot:Each update of Minecraft introduces a bunch of new content, including new hostile and passive mobs. While some mobs are added in more for their aesthetic value, other mobs bring in huge value and go as far as changing the game.
With the upcoming 1.19 update introducing the infamous Warden mob, it’s safe to say Mojang is bound to bring in some huge changes to mobs in future versions of the game. However, even some of these past mobs have changed the game drastically from what it used to be.
15Dolphins
Dolphins were introduced in the 1.13 Aquatic update and were a much-needed addition to the bare bonesMinecraftoceans. Some players might still wonder why dolphins might be more important to the game than axolotls for example, and the main reason for that is their utility and how they interact with the world.
Dolphins provide a powerful speed boost for any players swimming in their vicinity and will play with various loose blocks that are floating in the water. Moreover, dolphins can lead players towards treasure chests found in shipwrecks, making them extremely underrated mobs.
14Drowned
With the 1.13 Aquatic update, a new hostile mob was introduced known as the Drowned. These water-based zombie-like creatures would try to attack any player unfortunate enough to swim in the depths of the ocean. They also have their own ruins that they patrol underwater.
Drowned are actually quite important mobs since they have a chance to spawn with the rare trident weapon, which can only be looted off of them. Moreover,players wanting to build a conduitmight want to hunt down some Drowned, since they also have a chance to sometimes hold a nautilus shell in their hand.
13Shulkers
Item management is a huge thing inMinecraft. That’s why the upcoming bundles are something word getting excited about, as the game is constantly trying to update how items can be managed and carried more efficiently. One of the major changes to that came in the form of Shulkers.
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Shulkers as enemies are also quite unique, but it’s what they drop when killed that makes them really revolutionary. The Shulker shells can be crafted into shulker boxes, which allow players to carry entire small chests in their inventory. It was the first big evolution toMinecraft’sinventory and item management that didn’t come in the form of a game-changing mod.
12Striders
Lava has always been known as that one element that shouldn’t be traversed or touched. However,the 1.16 Nether updateput this all into question by giving players Striders, a passive mob found in the Nether that can walk in lava freely.
Striders can be ridden by players like horses, as long as players have a saddle. This is huge for Nether gameplay and exploration since the Nether dimension is full of giant lava lakes that were previously almost impossible to traverse easily without bridging or using an elytra. Striders provide a safe alternative for Nether travel, however.
11Piglins
Before the 1.16 update, trading items only occurred with passive mobs like villagers or the wandering trader. But now,Piglins, a mob that can be both passive and hostile, has changed that rule. Piglins are truly unique due to their dual personality, which can change instantly depending on whether or not the player is wearing gold armor.
Speaking of gold armor, Piglins also gave a real utility to the previously useless gold gear. Now, anyMinecraftplayer worth their salt has to enter the Nether with at least one piece of gold armor. A for the Piglin trades, they have revolutionized item rarity inMinecraftby giving players an alternate way to get access to rare items like ender pearls. Thanks to Piglins, survival in the Nether is actually a possibility.
10Phantom
Phantoms have been a huge problem for Minecrafters ever since their announcement during the MINECON Earth event in 2017. Jeb, one of the game’s developers,announced a contest that year, asking fellow Minecrafters to vote on a new mob that would be implemented in an update later that year. In the end, the Phantom was able to get the most votes out of the two other mobs. The other mobs on the ballot were thrown out, never to be seen again.
The Phantom brought a huge change to an average Minecrafter’s routine. The player couldn’t go without sleep for three days, so if they wanted to go mining they had to watch their backs! Phantoms fly around and swoop down to attack Minecrafters and deal a lot of damage to their prey.
9The Guardian
When dealing with this hostile mob, Minecrafters need to have protective gear to counter against the Guardian’s powerful lazar-beam. They are an aggressive mob that eliminates anything in-sight, including harmless squid. Their aggressiveness comes from their function: protecting the gold blocks hidden inside of their ocean monuments.
If players need some quick gold without having to mine for hours, Guardians are a good source for a quick buck.Know which potionsare needed for a successful loot because if one faces a Guardian empty-handed, they could die in an instant.
8Iron Golem
These mobs may be the most useful inMinecraft,as the Iron Golemserves as a protector of its creator. They are one of the few mobs that can be created along with the Wither. Players may often see Iron Golems in large villages and they will keep a close eye to ensure visitors don’t try anything stupid.
Iron Golems deal a lot of damage to hostile mobs by throwing them into the air; it goes without saying that they’re pretty dangerous. Gamers interested in building an Iron Golem need to have materials such as iron and a pumpkin, and can have as many as they can create!
7Ocelots
Ocelots have become the go-to pet inMinecraftmore so than their opposite, Wolves. Ocelots can be found in thejungle biomebut players have to be smart to catch one. They are extremely quick and can run away from any danger. To tame these lightning-fast creatures players will need to feed them raw cod or salmon, so going on a fishing trip beforehand is a must.
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Another thing about Ocelots is that they are really good house pets and amazing companions who can even scare away Creepers. Cat lovers adore this update!
6Wolves
Wolves can do certain things that Ocelots can’t, such as attacking hostile mobs. Similar to the Ocelot, they can be tamed with bones instead of fish. Wolves are very loyal companions that will stay with the player till the very end… unless they see a Creeper. They will scamper away and leave players to fight that battle alone.
A plus side to wolves is that they will attack every other mob that poses a threat to the player. Wolves make essential house pets and will follow commands, except for anything to do with those explosive blocks.
