Introduction
Vexes are the bane of many a Minecraft adventurer’s existence. These tiny, winged terrors, summoned by Evokers, can quickly turn a promising expedition into a frantic scramble for survival. Their ability to fly through walls and their relentless aggression make them formidable foes, particularly when they attack in swarms. But fear not, aspiring Minecraft warriors! This guide will arm you with the knowledge and strategies needed to conquer these spectral nuisances and emerge victorious. Learn how to fight vexes and conquer those pesky Woodland Mansions or Raids.
Understanding Your Spectral Enemy: The Vex
Before you rush headlong into battle, it’s crucial to understand your enemy. Vexes are small, ghostly mobs distinguished by their greyish-white coloration and perpetually angry expressions. Each one carries a tiny iron sword, a fitting symbol of their relentless hostility. Their ephemeral appearance hints at their unique ability: they can phase through solid blocks, ignoring walls and other obstacles that would impede most other mobs.
Vexes are not naturally occurring creatures. They are summoned by Evokers, hostile Illagers found primarily during Raids and within Woodland Mansions. When an Evoker casts its Vex summoning spell, a number of these creatures burst forth, eager to attack any nearby players. The most frustrating part about vexes is that they do constant damage after being summoned making your battles a ticking time bomb.
Their behavior is simple: aggressive and relentless. They will relentlessly pursue any player within their range, flitting through walls and corridors to get close enough to strike. They often attack in swarms, overwhelming unprepared players with a flurry of blows. Due to this nature, they will be a great source of ire when fighting them in close quarters.
While their speed and maneuverability are intimidating, Vexes are not particularly tough. They possess only fourteen hit points, making them relatively fragile compared to other hostile mobs. This is good news, as it means that with the right strategy and equipment, you can defeat them quickly and efficiently. Their attacks also vary based on difficulty. On easy mode, their attack deals two damage (one heart), on normal it does three point five damage (one and three quarter hearts) and on hard mode it deals five damage (two and a half hearts).
The key to defeating Vexes lies in exploiting their weaknesses. Their low health makes them vulnerable to quick bursts of damage, and their predictable attack patterns (to some extent) allow you to anticipate and dodge their strikes. Furthermore, they are tied to the Evoker that summoned them, meaning that eliminating the Evoker will stop the flow of new Vexes. Keep in mind that they also die after a set period of time making them susceptible to quick deaths.
Preparation is Paramount: Gearing Up for the Fight
As with any challenging encounter in Minecraft, preparation is essential. Rushing into a Vex-infested area with insufficient gear is a recipe for disaster. To maximize your chances of success, you’ll need the right armor, weapons, and consumables.
Armor
Let’s start with armor. While leather armor might suffice against weaker foes, it simply won’t cut it against the relentless attacks of Vexes. Iron armor is a good starting point, providing a reasonable level of protection without requiring excessive resources. However, diamond armor is significantly better, offering superior damage reduction and durability. Netherite armor, the pinnacle of protection, is the ideal choice for those seeking maximum defense.
Enchanting your armor can further enhance its protective capabilities. Protection enchantments (Protection, Fire Protection, Blast Protection, Projectile Protection) are invaluable, reducing the amount of damage you take from various sources. Thorns can also be useful, reflecting some of the damage back onto attacking Vexes.
Weapons
Next, consider your weapons. A diamond or netherite sword is the preferred choice for melee combat, offering a balance of damage and attack speed. Enchantments like Sharpness or Smite can significantly increase your damage output, allowing you to dispatch Vexes more quickly. Axes can also be effective, dealing high damage per hit, but their slower attack speed can leave you vulnerable to counterattacks.
Don’t underestimate the power of ranged weapons. A bow and arrows can be invaluable for picking off Vexes from a safe distance, especially when dealing with swarms. Enchantments like Power, Punch, and Flame can further enhance your bow’s effectiveness. Tridents, particularly those with the Riptide enchantment, can be surprisingly effective against groups of Vexes, allowing you to quickly close the distance and deliver a powerful blow.
Potions
Finally, don’t forget your potions. Healing potions are essential for quickly restoring lost health, allowing you to stay in the fight longer. Strength potions boost your attack damage, making it easier to dispatch Vexes. Regeneration potions provide a gradual health regeneration effect, helping you recover from minor injuries. Swiftness potions increase your movement speed, allowing you to dodge attacks and reposition yourself more effectively. Resistance potions reduce the amount of damage you take, making you more resilient against Vex attacks.
Other Helpful Items
In addition to armor, weapons, and potions, there are a few other items that can prove invaluable in your fight against Vexes. Shields are crucial for blocking incoming attacks, providing a temporary respite from the Vex’s relentless assault. Totems of Undying offer a “second chance,” automatically reviving you if you take fatal damage. Golden Apples and Enchanted Golden Apples provide temporary buffs and healing, giving you an edge in combat. And finally, blocks can be used to create temporary cover, providing a safe haven from which to plan your next move.
Strategies and Tactics for Battling Vexes
With the right gear in hand, it’s time to discuss strategies and tactics for fighting Vexes. The key to success lies in combining preparation with smart combat techniques.
General Combat Tips
First and foremost, remember the importance of distance. Vexes excel at close-quarters combat, so maintaining a safe distance is crucial. Use ranged weapons whenever possible, picking off Vexes from afar. When forced into melee combat, use your shield effectively to block incoming attacks and create openings for your own strikes.
Be mindful of your surroundings. Vexes can fly through walls, so you can’t rely on traditional cover to protect you. Instead, use terrain features to your advantage, creating bottlenecks and choke points where you can funnel Vexes into a more manageable area.
Focus fire on individual Vexes. Don’t try to take on the entire swarm at once. Instead, focus your attacks on one Vex at a time, quickly eliminating them to reduce the overall threat. If there is an evoker, focus him first.
Melee Combat
When engaged in melee combat, time your attacks carefully. Don’t simply spam the attack button. Instead, wait for an opening, strike quickly, and then retreat to avoid counterattacks. Circle-strafing can also be effective, allowing you to dodge Vex attacks while maintaining your offensive pressure.
Ranged Combat
For ranged combat, lead your shots to account for Vex movement. Vexes are fast and agile, so you’ll need to anticipate their movements to land your shots accurately. Use cover strategically, popping out to fire a few arrows and then ducking back behind cover to reload.
Dealing with Evokers
Dealing with Evokers is a crucial aspect of fighting Vexes. Since Evokers are the source of these pesky creatures, eliminating them will stop the flow of new Vexes. Use ranged attacks to stay out of the Evoker’s range, and focus your fire on the Evoker whenever possible.
Specific Scenarios
During Raids, Vexes can pose a significant challenge. Coordinate with your teammates to focus fire on Vexes and protect each other from their attacks. Use shields to block incoming attacks and create safe zones where you can regroup and heal.
Fighting Vexes in a Woodland Mansion can be particularly dangerous, due to the maze-like layout and the abundance of hiding places for Evokers. Proceed with caution, clearing each room carefully and watching out for ambushes. Use ranged weapons to pick off Vexes from a distance, and be prepared for close-quarters combat in tight corridors.
Advanced Tips and Tricks
Once you’ve mastered the basics, you can start exploring advanced tips and tricks for fighting Vexes.
Exploiting Vex Behavior
One key aspect is exploiting Vex behavior. Remember that Vexes take damage constantly after a set amount of time, so you can simply outlast them in some situations.
While not always practical, water and lava can be surprisingly effective against Vexes. Since Vexes can’t swim, they will quickly drown in water. Lava, of course, will inflict significant damage, quickly dispatching even the toughest Vexes.
Using Pets
Wolves can be helpful allies in the fight against Vexes, attacking and distracting the creatures. However, be careful about your wolves’ health, as they can easily be overwhelmed by a swarm of Vexes. Other pets are largely unhelpful due to their size and inability to fight back.
“Cheese” Strategies
Many players have found that there are methods of cheesing vexes by setting up traps and other things that can take advantage of their AI. These are not advisable, as it is exploiting game mechanics.
Farms
Finally, it is also possible to build simple farms that trap the vexes in water streams for easier farming. These are generally easy to make, requiring some water, some blocks, and some hoppers to gather the items.
Conclusion
Defeating Vexes in Minecraft can be a challenging but rewarding experience. By understanding their behavior, preparing the right gear, and employing smart combat strategies, you can overcome these spectral nuisances and emerge victorious. Remember to maintain distance, use cover strategically, focus fire on individual Vexes, and exploit their weaknesses whenever possible. Don’t be discouraged by early setbacks. Practice makes perfect, and with enough experience, you’ll be able to confidently take on any Vex that crosses your path. So go forth, brave adventurer, and conquer the Vexes that threaten your Minecraft world!
