In the vast and challenging world of Minecraft, being well-equipped is paramount for survival and facing formidable foes. While mining for resources is a core activity, efficiently acquiring robust armor can significantly boost your defensive capabilities. This is where the Armor villager becomes an invaluable asset in your village.
This specialized villager, an expert in metalworking and defense, offers you the ability to trade your raw materials for valuable emeralds and, in return, provides a wide array of protective gear, including even diamond armor. If you have an abundant supply of iron or coal, the Armorer can quickly become one of your most important trading partners. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll delve into everything you need to know about the Armorer villager: how to find or convert one, what their trades are at each level, and how you can optimize their presence to ensure you’re always ready for adventure in Minecraft.
Who is the Armorer Villager and Why Are They Essential for Your Base?
The Armorer villager is a professional villager type in Minecraft who specializes in trading armor and related metallic items. Their role is ideal for players looking for an efficient way to acquire various armor sets, from leather (if no Leatherworker is present, or for specific trades) to chainmail and even diamond armor, without relying solely on crafting or dungeon loot.
Their primary utility lies in their ability to buy large quantities of iron ingots and coal, making them an excellent source of emeralds if you have an iron farm or a coal mine. In exchange, they offer different pieces of armor, including valuable enchanted gear at higher levels, which can save you time and resources on enchanting.
The Blast Furnace: Their Indispensable Job Site Block
For an unemployed villager or one with a different profession to convert into an Armorer villager, they need to access and claim a Blast Furnace block. This is their specific job site block and is essential for the Armorer to refresh their trades and level up.
The Blast Furnace is crafted with 4 iron ingots, 3 smooth stone, and 1 furnace. It’s a specialized furnace that smelts ores, armor, and tools twice as fast as a regular furnace. When you place a Blast Furnace near an unemployed villager, there’s a high probability they will adopt the Armorer profession, provided it’s daytime and the block isn’t already claimed by another villager.
How to make a Villager Armorer
There are two primary ways to obtain an Armorer villager in your Minecraft world:
- Finding Them in a Village: Naturally generated villages in the game can contain villagers with various pre-assigned professions. Look for a villager already interacting with a Blast Furnace or one wearing the Armorer‘s distinctive outfit (a dark gray apron and a visor-like helmet).
- Converting an Unemployed Villager: This is the most controlled method for getting the Armorer you need:
- Step 1: Locate a villager who doesn’t have a profession (their outfit will be basic) or one whose profession you wish to change. Important: A villager who has already traded with you in their current profession will not be able to change jobs, so choose wisely!
- Step 2: Place a Blast Furnace near the villager. Ensure it’s the only accessible job site block for them.
- Step 3: Wait. During Minecraft’s daytime (between 2,000 and 9,000 game ticks), the villager will interact with the Blast Furnace, and their outfit will change to that of an Armorer.
Conversion Process and Locking Trades
Once the villager becomes an Armorer, they will generate a random set of trades. If you haven’t traded with them yet, you can break and replace the Blast Furnace to reset their offers. This is useful if you’re looking for specific enchantments on diamond armor at higher levels. However, once you trade with them at least once, their trades become “locked” permanently.
All Armorer Villager Trades by Level
The Armorer villager has five profession levels, and their trades unlock as you gain experience with them through commerce. Emeralds are the primary currency, and iron ingots or coal are their main input resources.
Here’s a comprehensive images of possible trades (prices and quantities may vary slightly based on player reputation and other in-game factors):
Novice
Buy coal. Sell iron boots, helmets, leg guards, and breastplates.
Apprentice
Buy iron ingots. Sell chain boots, chain leggings, and bells.
Journeyman
Buy lava buckets and diamonds. Sell chainmail helmets, breastplates, and shields.
Expert
Sells enchanted diamond boots and leggings. The enchantments are random.
Master
Sells enchanted diamond helmets and breastplates. Enchantments are random.
Strategies to Optimize Trading with the Armorer
To get the most out of your Armorer villager, the key is a consistent supply of the items they buy and optimizing your prices.
Efficient Sources of Iron and Coal
The most efficient way to obtain large quantities of iron ingots for trading with the Armorer villager is by building an iron farm. These complex but highly rewarding contraptions can generate hundreds or even thousands of iron ingots per hour. For coal, you can establish large-scale coal mines, or even a Wither Skeleton farm in the Nether, as they drop coal. With these automated or semi-automated systems, you’ll have an endless supply to convert into emeralds.
Discount Trades: The Benefits of Curing Zombie Villagers
As with other villagers, the “zombify and cure” strategy works perfectly with the Armorer villager. If you zombify an Armorer (by letting a zombie hit them on normal or hard difficulty) and then cure them (with a Potion of Weakness and a Golden Apple), they will offer massive and permanent discounts on all their trades. This means you can sell your iron ingots for significantly more emeralds or buy those invaluable enchanted diamond armor pieces for just 1 emerald and 1 diamond, making them incredibly cheap!
Advantages of Having an Armorer Villager at Your Base
Incorporating an Armorer villager into your villager trading hall or base provides significant benefits for your combat readiness and resource management:
Access to All Armor Types (Including Diamond)
The Armorer villager provides a renewable source for every tier of armor, from chainmail (otherwise uncraftable) to the highly coveted diamond armor. At Expert and Master levels, you can acquire enchanted diamond armor directly, saving you the experience levels and luck required for enchanting your own. This is crucial for players preparing for battles against bosses, exploring dangerous dimensions, or simply wanting the best protection available.
A Reliable Source of Emeralds
By consistently selling iron ingots and coal to the Armorer, you establish a steady income stream of emeralds. This currency can then be used to trade with other villagers for items like enchanted books from Librarians, valuable crops from Farmers, or rare materials from other specialized villagers, making your base self-sufficient and prosperous.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Armorer Villager (FAQ)
Conclusion: The Armorer, A Cornerstone for Combat Readiness
The Armorer villager is an exceptionally valuable NPC in Minecraft, especially for players who prioritize combat and exploration. Their ability to turn your surplus iron and coal into emeralds, and in turn, provide you with high-tier armor (including coveted enchanted diamond pieces), makes them a cornerstone of any self-sustaining base.
By establishing an Armorer in your village and optimizing your trading strategies—such as setting up efficient iron farms and utilizing the “zombify and cure” method—you’ll ensure a constant supply of top-notch gear. Don’t underestimate the power of this blacksmith; the Armorer villager is a vital link in your journey to conquer the challenges of Minecraft.
