Look, if you're anything like me, you've probably broken three diamond pickaxes trying to find ancient debris before realizing - man, I really need mending. That enchantment's basically Minecraft's golden ticket. But figuring out how to get a mending villager? That's where things get messy. I wasted two entire weekends doing it wrong before cracking the code. Let's skip that frustration.
What You Absolutely Need Before Starting
Don't even think about hunting for that mending trade until you've got these basics covered:
- Emeralds (at least 32, but stockpile 64 to be safe)
- A village (if you don't have one, grab 3 beds and 3 workstations)
- Lecterns (craft with 4 wood slabs + 1 bookshelf)
- Beds (1 per villager)
- A closed space with roof and walls (zombies ruin everything)
Honestly? Bring extra lecterns. I learned the hard way when a creeper blew up my only one mid-process. Had to trek back to my base while the villager glared at me.
The Core Mechanics You Can't Ignore
Trading isn't random. Villagers lock professions at workstation blocks during work hours (Minecraft daytime). Break/replace lecterns to refresh trades until mending appears. But get this - it's faster during morning hours (minecraft-day 0-1000). Found that out after watching villagers like a hawk for 20 real-time minutes.
Step-by-Step: Getting Your Mending Villager
Village Setup & Villager Capture
First, build a 5x5 brick room with beds and workstations. Boat-mobile villagers into it - way easier than rails. Trap at least 3 unemployed villagers. Why three? Because resetting one lecturer while others sleep prevents "work interruption" bugs.
The Lectern Shuffle Technique
- Place lectern near target villager
- Wait for green particles (profession lock)
- Check trades instantly by right-clicking
- NO MENDING? Break lectern before they sleep
- Replace lectern immediately
- Repeat until Level 1 trade shows "Mending Book: 10 emeralds + 1 book"
This grind sucks. My personal record? 47 resets for one mending trade. But average is 10-25 attempts if RNG hates you.
| Time Savers | Common Time Wasters |
|---|---|
| Work during Minecraft dawn (sky light 0-4) | Resetting during villager sleep cycles |
| Using zombie cure discounts first | Letting villagers link to wrong workstations |
| Having multiple backup lecterns | Forgetting to block line-of-sight between villagers |
Pro Tactics They Don't Tell You
Curing Zombie Villagers for Better Prices
Turn a zombie villager first (weakness potion + golden apple). Once cured, their trades get permanent discounts. I got mending for just 1 emerald once! But be warned: zombie conversions can glitch. Lost two villagers to sunlight burns mid-cure. Now I always build roofed curing pens.
| Trade Level | Normal Price | Cured Villager Price |
|---|---|---|
| Mending (Level 1) | 10-12 emeralds + book | 1-3 emeralds + book |
| Better Trades Unlocked | After 2-3 trades | Immediately available |
Keeping Your Mending Villager Safe
Lightning strikes. Zombie sieges. Accidentally punching them. I've lost more mending villagers than I care to admit. Build with these rules:
- Solid roof (slabs prevent mob spawns but block lightning? Nope. Use full blocks.)
- Fence gate airlock - lets you in but keeps villagers contained
- Name tags - stops despawning if chunk unloads
PSA: Iron golems WILL spawn if there are 3+ villagers. Either remove extra villagers or build ceiling under 3 blocks high to prevent golem spawns crushing your setup.
Why Is This So Complicated? (And Fixes When It Breaks)
Common Fail States & Solutions
Sometimes villagers refuse to reset trades. After 15 failed attempts:
- Problem: Villager keeps same profession after lectern break
Fix: Break ALL nearby workstations. Villagers cache job sites within 48 blocks. - Problem: Trades not refreshing
Fix: Temporarily remove beds. Makes villagers "unemployed" again. - Problem: Mending never appears
Fix: Ensure game difficulty isn't Peaceful. Villagers need threat awareness for rare trades.
Mending Alternatives When Villagers Hate You
Can't find how to get a mending villager? Try these:
- Fishing AFK farms (0.8% mending chance per treasure catch)
- End city loot chests (15% chance per chest)
- Pillager outpost cages (3.7% chance in secret chest)
Personally? Fishing feels slower than villager resetting. Found one mending book after 9 real-life hours. Never again.
FAQs: Real Questions from Frustrated Players
Why won't my villager take librarian job?
Either workstations are claimed by others, or you're doing it at night. Villagers only job-hunt during work hours. Wait for sunrise.
Do biome types affect mending chances?
Nope. Desert, plains, taiga villagers all have equal 1.8% chance for mending as first trade. But swamp villagers... still testing that.
Can I move my mending villager after?
Boats or minecarts. Never lead them with workstations - they'll stop to "work" every 10 blocks. Drove me nuts before I switched to rails.
How to get a mending villager without resetting?
Not possible. Natural librarian trades are random. But cured zombie villagers sometimes offer mending immediately.
Final Reality Check
Look, getting a mending villager is grindy. But once you've got one? Suddenly your Netherite gear lasts forever. Worth the hassle? Absolutely. My main advice? Build near your base. Running 2000 blocks because you found "perfect village spot"? Regret. Learned that lesson too.
Just remember: patience + lectern spam = victory. Now go get that enchantment.
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