Shahrukh Sial is a gaming content writer at Sparked Host. He covers game guides, tips, and updates to help players improve their skills and enjoy a better gaming experience.

Have you ever wondered what it's like to defend a village from a horde of angry hostile mobs and earn the respect of all the villagers? Get ready, because we're about to going into the exciting world of raids and learn how to start a raid in Minecraft.

Starting a raid in Minecraft can seem a little tricky at first, but it's a fun challenge that’s worth it for the sweet rewards. This guide will walk you through everything, from what a raid is to how you can kick one off and, most importantly, win it.

What Even Is A Raid?

A raid is a huge battle where you and your trusty iron golem buddies team up to protect a village. It's a special combat event where waves of bad guys called illagers, like pillagers, vindicators, and evokers, attack a village. Your goal is to defeat all the raid mobs and keep the at least one villager safe.

If you achieve a raid victory, you'll get an awesome reward: the "Hero of the Village" status effect, which gives you cool discounts with all the villagers in that town!

Triggering A Raid In Minecraft

Ready to get this party started? To trigger a raid, you need to get a special Bad Omen status effect first. This is the main way to start a raid in Minecraft. Here's how you do it:

  • Find a Pillager Captain: These guys are the leaders of the pillagers, and you can spot them easily because they have a cool-looking banner on their head. You'll find them either in a small group called a Pillager Patrol or at a larger structure called a Pillager Outpost.

  • Take Them Down: When you defeat a Pillager Captain, you'll gain the Bad Omen effect. It's a dark, eerie status effect that lets you know you're ready for action.

  • Head to a Village: Once you have the Bad Omen effect active, just walk into a village. A village is any area that has at least one villager and a claimed bed (or a claimed job site block in the Java Edition). The moment you enter the village's raid center, the Bad Omen effect disappears and the pillager raid will begin, with a pink boss bar color appearing on your screen to track your progress. This is the raid starts event.

Pro Tip: If you get the Bad Omen effect by mistake and don't want to start a pillager raid, just drink a bucket of milk! That'll get rid of the effect right away. Also, in the Java Edition, if you defeat multiple patrol captains, your Bad Omen can stack, making the pillager raid more difficult but also increasing the chance of getting a great raid drop.

The Dangers of Bad Omen

The Bad Omen effect isn't something to take lightly. While it's necessary to start a raid in Minecraft, having this effect active can be dangerous. When you have Bad Omen, any time you enter a village, a pillager raid will begin. If you're not prepared, this could lead to the villagers dying and a failed pillager raid. It's always a good idea to remove the Bad Omen effect with milk if you're not ready for the battle.

This is especially true if you have a high level of Bad Omen in the Java Edition, as it will increase the number of raid waves and make the fight much tougher, with a higher chance of illagers dropping enchanted weapons and more.

How To Win A Raid in Minecraft

Winning a raid isn't just about swinging your sword; it's about being smart and prepared! Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you get a raid victory:

Preparation Is Key

Before the raid waves spawn, get ready!

  • Secure the Villagers: Ring the village bell to make all the villagers run inside their homes.

  • Gear Up: Make sure you have your best armor and enchanted weapons ready to go. A bow or crossbow is super helpful for attacking from a distance, and a shield is a lifesaver for blocking attacks.

  • Gather Supplies: Bring lots of food to heal up, plenty of arrows for your bow, and some building blocks to create temporary cover or vantage points.

Understanding the Raid Mechanics

Keep an eye on the raid bar at the top of your screen. This raid boss bar shows you how many raid mobs are left in the current raid wave. Each raid wave gets tougher than the last, so be ready for a real challenge. The raid wave begins with the sound of a raid horn, letting you know the raiders are coming.

Strategies for Success

  • Use Ranged Attacks: Stay on rooftops or high ground and use your bow to pick off dangerous enemies like vindicators and witches from a safe distance.

  • Iron Golems Are Your Friends: The villagers' iron golem protectors are a huge help in the fight.

  • Prioritize the Bad Guys: The evokers can summon annoying little flying creatures called vexes, so take them out as soon as you see them. Witches can also throw harmful potions to heal their illager friends, so it's a good idea to take them out quickly as well.

  • Use the Bell: If you're having trouble finding the remaining mobs, ring the village bell! It will highlight nearby raiders, making them easy to spot and giving you the edge in the iron golem fight.

How Many Waves Is A Raid In Minecraft?

The number of raid waves in a raid depends on your game's difficulty setting:

  • Easy: 3 waves

  • Normal: 5 waves

  • Hard: 7 waves

If you have a higher Bad Omen level, you'll get an additional wave spawn for each level above 1, which means you'll spawn additional mobs to fight.

Finding The Last Raider

Sometimes, you'll be on the final wave but can't find that last raider! Don't worry, it happens to the best of us. Here's what you can do:

  • Ring the Bell: The village bell will highlight any remaining raid entity within a 32-block radius.

  • Explore the Area: Raiders can get stuck in caves, under cliffs, or even in a nearby lake. Check every nook and cranny around the village to find all the remaining mobs.

  • Turn Up Your Brightness: Adjusting your brightness and render distance can help you spot that last remaining raid entity in the shadows.

  • Restart the Game: Sometimes, logging out and back in can help reset the raider's position, making them easier to find.

Once you’ve taken down the final raider, the raid bossbar disappears, and the villagers will have a successful village raid celebration! You'll get the Hero of the Village effect, and they'll start offering you sweet deals on trades. Now go out there and be the hero your village needs.

How Raids Spawn in Minecraft Java Edition

In the Java Edition, raids spawn when a player with the Bad Omen effect enters a village. A village is defined as any subchunk with at least one villager and a claimed bed or workstation. The raid starts when the Bad Omen effect disappears upon entering this area. The village's center block determines the raid center, and all raiding illager spawn points are based on this location.

A raid bar will appear, and the first wave spawn will begin. If a player leaves the raid center for too long, the raid expired and the raid boss bar will disappear.

What to Expect in a Pillager Raid

When you trigger a raid, you'll face multiple raid waves of hostile mobs, and each subsequent wave is more difficult than the last. You can expect to fight:

  • Pillagers: The most common raider mobs you'll face. They attack with crossbows.

  • Vindicators: These guys are fast and dangerous, attacking with iron axes.

  • Evokers: They are powerful magic users who can summon vexes and fangs to attack you. Taking them out quickly is a top priority.

  • Witches: Witch spawns are a huge threat because they can throw harmful potions at you and your allies, and even heal other raider mobs.

  • Ravagers: These big, tanky beasts are like the raid's bosses. They can knock you back and destroy crops.

During the final wave, you might face a mix of all these enemies, so be prepared for anything. If you're successful in completing raids, the villagers will celebrate, and you'll get the Hero of the Village effect. This is the ultimate raid victory.