Summary
Now that all three mobs have been revealed forMinecraft’s 2023 mob vote, players should make sure that they’ve learned everything they need to know about each potential new mob and what they’ll bring to the game before casting their vote. Though Mojang had initially teased that all three options were going to be “cute” passive mobs, the official announcements have since confirmed this year’s candidates as a crab, an armadillo, and a penguin. But while these mobs are more realistic thanprevious vote winners like the Snifferor Allays, it seems they will each be bringing new features that will shake upMinecraft’s gameplay.
Likeevery otherMinecraftmob, hostile, passive, or otherwise, Mojang has endeavored to give each its own unique details or mechanics so that there’s something new for players to encounter and experiment with. With this in mind, it’s just as important to consider which biome each mob will spawn in, how they might change and influenceMinecraftmoving forward, and why players might want to go out of their way to find them. So whether players take a utilitarian perspective or if their decision is determined by which animal they find cutest, it would still be wise to have all the facts before casting that final vote.
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The New Crab Mob
As the first mob to be announced for 2023’s vote, the crab immediately caused a stir within theMinecraftcommunity with players quickly buildingsurvival bases inspired by the potential new mob. From its distinctive blue and orange color scheme to the giant claws on its tiny body, the crab would be a great addition to both the game and players' aquariums based on just looks alone. But combined with the ability to walk up blocks vertically akin toMinecraft’s spiders, it would be an undeniably unique mob among the rock pool of passive mobs already in the game and could become as beloved as the fan-favorite axolotl.
However, while it doesn’t seem to be a new tameable mob forMinecraft, there are other features the crab brings that will make it worthwhile for players.Spawning in Mangrove Swamps, the new mobwill add some variety to the almost as-new biome encouraging even the most experienced players to explore the Overworld in search of both, especially when crabs will drop a new crab claw item. This particular item, Mojang claims, will allow players to interact with blocks from a distance, a mechanic that could revolutionizeMinecraft’s gameplay depending on how creative players can be once they get their claws on the crab.
The New Armadillo Mob
Thesecond mob that Mojang announcedwas the armadillo, whose reveal was just as attention-grabbing as the crab’s thanks to its cute squeal of surprise when it was bumped by a boat. Being able to curl up when threatened has already made the armadillo a potential outlier among other passive mobs, adding a new layer to mobs defending themselves that isn’t to go on the offense like pufferfish, bees, or wolves. Better yet, the armadillo’s protective capabilities will also bring with it a new item that players can use, not on themselves for a change but on their tamed wolves.
Much likeMinecraft’s own turtles, armadillos will also drop a new type of scutes that players can collect. However, these scutes can be fashioned into armor for players' tamed wolves instead of turtle shells for players to wear. It’s not yet been revealed what this armor might look like or if it can be customized like the player’s own new armor trims, but it could be a welcome addition for those anxious over the thought of their pet dogs being killed out in the Overworld. As anew mob for Savanna biomesoffering an invaluable item, armadillos could become highly sought-after both for the vote and withinMinecraft.
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The New Penguin Mob
The third and final mob revealed by Mojang was the penguin, though based on the mob’s design they aren’t going to be the typical kind of penguin players would have expected. Just as players might be wondering whyMinecraft’s new mob spawns in the Stony Shore biome and not somewhere like the Frozen Ocean, this penguin appears to be inspired by the royal penguin due to its yellow crests. But since polar bears already spawn in various icy biomes and famously come from the opposite pole to penguins, it seems fittingMinecrafthas found a way to honor its real-world inspiration with the third mob’s native biome.
Unlike the other two mobs in the vote, the penguin doesn’t appear to drop any new item for the player to use. Rather, similar toMinecraft’s own dolphin, penguinmobs will supposedly be friendly to playersand provide a speed boost to their boat, meaning if they could also be tamed then penguins might be a useful companion when exploring the ocean. But again, like their real-world counterparts, penguins don’t do well on land which might balance out their utility for players. Despite this, given how underdevelopedMinecraft’s Stony Shores currently are, the penguin mob could make the biome a little more interesting.
With all these details to consider, players have until October 13 to come to a decision when voting officially opens at 5pm UTC. But the vote will only remain active for a few days before eventually closing on October 15 at 5:15pm UTC with the winner announced shortly thereafter during Mojang’s Minecraft Live event. Though the new mob vote has revived discussion around whether Mojang should just add all three mobs regardless to a potentialall-star mob vote of previous losers and runner-ups, players shouldn’t pass on the chance to at least cast their vote for their mob of this choice this year.
Minecraftis available now for Mobile, PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One.
