illager

An illager is a hostile mob family in the video game Minecraft, composed of variants that resemble villagers but behave aggressively toward players and villagers. The term illager combines “ill” and “villager,” referring to villagers that have turned hostile or are controlled by illager utilitarian behavior.

The illager family currently includes several distinct mobs: pillager, vindicator, evoker, and illusioner. Pillagers are ranged attackers that wield crossbows. Vindicators are melee combatants carrying axes and often attack in groups. Evokers are spellcasters that summon vexes (flying hostile entities) and deadly fangs; they also drop notable items when defeated. Illusioners are another spellcasting variant that can create illusory duplicates; they are rarely found in standard survival and are usually accessed via commands or certain experimental versions.

Spawn and habitats: Pillagers commonly appear in patrols and during raids, units that assault villages. Evokers inhabit woodland mansions in some versions and may be encountered in raids or related encounters. Illagers are most closely associated with raids, a structured, wave-based attack on villages designed to protect NPC villagers from destruction.

Gameplay role: Illagers provide a counterpoint to villagers, driving conflict moments in the game. Their presence affects village dynamics, raid outcomes, and combat strategy, as players must address multiple illager types with varied abilities and tactics.

Drops and loot: The loot from illagers varies by type. Pillagers may drop their crossbows and related gear; evokers can drop totems of undying, and other items reflect their equipment and spells. Illusioners’ rewards are typically tied to command-enabled or experimental access rather than standard survival play.