Which Trader Villager Should You Zombify for the Best Deals in Minecraft?

Table of Contents

Introduction

Ever find yourself staring at a villager, emeralds clutched in your sweaty digital palm, only to balk at the exorbitant prices being demanded for that one enchanted book you desperately need? You’re not alone. Minecraft’s villager trading system, while potentially lucrative, can often feel like a frustrating exercise in economic manipulation. But fear not, adventurous miner! There’s a well-known trick within the blocky realms of Minecraft that can dramatically slash those prices, turning those impossible deals into irresistible bargains: the art of zombification and subsequent curing.

The secret lies in exploiting a peculiar quirk of villager AI. When a villager is zombified and then successfully cured, they permanently lower their prices, offering significantly better deals than they would have before their undead adventure. This process, while somewhat risky (villagers aren’t exactly fans of being turned into zombies), is a staple strategy for savvy players looking to build efficient trading halls and acquire valuable items without breaking the bank.

But which villager profession should you target for this transformative, if somewhat ethically questionable, process? Not all villagers are created equal. Some offer trades that are inherently more valuable or frequently sought after than others. This article delves into the intricacies of the various trader villager professions, analyzing their trades, the accessibility of their required resources, and ultimately, determining which one is the absolute best villager trader to zombify and cure for maximizing your emerald returns. So, grab your splash potion of weakness and golden apple, because we’re about to embark on a deep dive into the world of villager re-education, Minecraft style.

Understanding the Zombification and Curing Process

Before we begin assessing the individual merits of each villager profession, it’s crucial to understand the mechanics involved in the zombification and curing process. This isn’t simply a matter of shoving a zombie near a villager and hoping for the best; a calculated approach is required to ensure your potential trading partner doesn’t become permanent zombie food.

The first step is to induce zombification. This is achieved by applying the “Weakness” status effect to a villager, followed by using a golden apple on them. The “Weakness” effect is typically applied via a splash potion of weakness. This potion can be brewed using a fermented spider eye (a spider eye combined with sugar and a brown mushroom) added to a water bottle, then gunpowder to create a splash potion.

Once the villager is afflicted with weakness, a golden apple is applied by simply right-clicking on the villager with the apple in hand. This triggers the conversion process. You’ll notice the villager emitting red particles and shaking. The duration of this process varies depending on the game difficulty. On Hard difficulty, the villager has a one hundred percent chance of converting. However, on Normal and Easy difficulties, there is a chance the villager will die when attacked by a zombie. Therefore, it’s generally recommended to perform this process on Hard difficulty or to isolate the villager to prevent zombie attacks during the conversion.

After the villager has transformed into a zombie villager, the next step is the curing process. This is achieved by right-clicking on the zombie villager with a golden apple. Just like before, the villager will emit red particles and begin shaking. The curing process takes several minutes, during which the zombie villager remains vulnerable to sunlight. It is vital to protect the villager from direct sunlight to prevent it from burning and dying.

Upon successful completion of the curing process, the villager will revert to its original profession. The magic, however, is in the price reductions. The newly cured villager will now offer significant discounts on their trades, often making them incredibly lucrative. The amount of the price reduction is somewhat random, but multiple curings can further reduce prices, sometimes leading to absurdly cheap trades.

Analyzing the Different Trader Villager Professions

Now, let’s dissect each of the common trader villager professions, evaluating their trades and potential for profit after zombification and curing.

The Armorer

Armorers are your go-to source for high-quality armor. While finding diamond armor directly in chests is satisfying, armorers offer a consistent supply of iron, chainmail, and eventually diamond armor. The key trades to watch for after zombification are those that involve diamond armor pieces, particularly those with desirable enchantments. A fully enchanted set of diamond armor obtained cheaply through a cured armorer can save you countless hours of grinding for enchantments yourself. The accessibility of resources needed for the trade is relatively good, requiring primarily iron and coal early game, and diamonds later.

The Cleric

Clerics are perhaps the most underrated of all villager professions. They deal in various items related to potions and brewing, but their most valuable trade is undoubtedly ender pearls for emeralds. Ender pearls are crucial for reaching the End dimension and defeating the Ender Dragon, and farming them can be a tedious and dangerous endeavor. A cured cleric offering ender pearls at a reduced price provides a convenient and safe alternative. They also offer rotten flesh for emeralds, which can be a decent trade early game and a way to offload that inventory clogger. The accessibility is excellent as the Cleric trades in readily available items like rotten flesh, glowstone dust, and redstone.

The Fletcher

Fletchers specialize in bows and arrows. Their initial trades may not seem particularly exciting, but they offer a consistent supply of arrows. The key trade to aim for is the enchanted bow. A fletcher offering a bow with Power, Infinity, or other desirable enchantments at a significantly reduced price is a boon for any archer. The resources needed are readily accessible, primarily sticks, flint, and feathers.

The Librarian

Without a doubt, the Librarian is frequently considered the best villager to target for zombification and curing. They trade books for emeralds and, more importantly, enchanted books for emeralds. The availability of Mending, Efficiency, Fortune, and other highly sought-after enchantments makes librarians incredibly valuable. While acquiring specific enchanted books can initially be challenging, the price reduction after curing makes the process significantly more bearable. Furthermore, paper is readily obtainable from sugar cane farms. This allows players to establish sustainable emerald income and a ready supply of essential enchantments. Finding name tags from them at a cheap price is also an excellent perk.

The Toolsmith

Toolsmiths are your primary source for tools, predictably. They trade iron, diamond, and eventually enchanted diamond tools. While diamond tools are readily obtainable, the enchantment process is often a gamble. A cured toolsmith offering diamond tools with Efficiency, Fortune, or other essential enchantments at a reduced price can save you a significant amount of time and experience levels. Tools such as diamond axes and diamond pickaxes are vital for progression. The resources for tools are easy to find, similar to that of the armorer.

The Weaponsmith

Weaponsmiths provide a range of weapons, from stone swords to diamond swords. Just like toolsmiths, they eventually trade diamond swords, axes, and even enchanted diamond weapons. Securing a diamond sword with Sharpness, Smite, or other damage-enhancing enchantments from a cured weaponsmith offers a significant advantage in combat. While finding diamond weapons is relatively easy, the enchanting process is where things become difficult. The resources for weapons are easy to acquire, much like the armorer and toolsmith.

Comparison and Ranking

Based on this comparison, let’s rank them:

Librarian
Cleric
Toolsmith
Weaponsmith
Armorer
Fletcher

The Top Choice and Why

The *absolute best* villager profession to zombify and cure is undoubtedly the **Librarian**. This is primarily due to the sheer value of their enchanted book trades. Access to Mending, Fortune, Efficiency, and other essential enchantments at drastically reduced prices provides an unparalleled advantage for players. Enchanted books are vital for optimizing tools, weapons, and armor, and acquiring them efficiently through cured librarians significantly accelerates progression. Furthermore, the accessibility of paper makes establishing a sustainable emerald income relatively straightforward. While the initial grind to find desirable enchanted books can be somewhat time-consuming, the long-term benefits far outweigh the initial investment. The fact that name tags can also be purchased cheaply only solidifies the Librarian as the optimal choice.

Considerations and Alternatives

While librarians offer the greatest overall advantage, the “best” choice ultimately depends on individual player needs. If your primary focus is on combat, a cured Weaponsmith offering Sharpness diamond swords may be a higher priority. Similarly, if you’re solely focused on building an impenetrable fortress, focusing on Armorer for discounted diamond armor might be more beneficial.

It’s also worth noting that the “Hero of the Village” effect, granted after successfully defending a village from a raid, also provides significant discounts on villager trades. This effect can stack with the discounts gained from zombification and curing, leading to even more absurdly low prices.

Conclusion

In conclusion, while various villager professions offer unique benefits, the Librarian stands out as the most rewarding villager to zombify and cure in Minecraft. The value of enchanted books, combined with the relative accessibility of paper, makes them an invaluable asset for any player looking to optimize their gear and progress efficiently. While individual needs may vary, the long-term benefits of a cured librarian are undeniable. So, embark on your zombie-curing adventure, and prepare to reap the rewards of ridiculously cheap enchantments and a thriving trading hall! Happy trading, and may your books always be Mending!