Updated 23 October 2026. Facts on this page come from minecraft.wiki, minecraft.net and the live Artemis PvP server; sources are listed at the bottom.
How to Cure a Zombie Villager
Give the zombie villager Weakness (a splash potion, lingering potion or arrow of Weakness), then feed it a golden apple. It shakes, gives off red particles, and turns back into a villager after 3 to 5 minutes; the villager then gives you big trade discounts.
Where do you find zombie villagers?
- In most biomes 5% of zombies spawn as zombie villagers; in old growth pine taigas it is 20%.
- A villager killed by a zombie turns into one 0% of the time on Easy, 50% on Normal and 100% on Hard.
- Every igloo basement holds a villager and a zombie villager, and abandoned (zombie) villages are full of them.
- They never come from zombie spawners.
How do you cure a zombie villager step by step?
- Prepare: take off Thorns armour, put away healing potions, keep golden apples next to your Weakness item and hold a shield.
- Trap the zombie villager somewhere with a solid roof, so it does not burn in the morning.
- Hit it with a splash or lingering potion of Weakness or an arrow of Weakness (or stand within 3 blocks of a witch until it throws Weakness). Grey swirls mean it worked.
- Feed it a golden apple. It shakes and gives off red particles.
- Wait 3 to 5 minutes and keep it safe; iron bars and beds nearby speed it up.
Why cure zombie villagers?
A cured villager with a profession gives the player who cured it permanent heavy discounts on Java; Bedrock also gives a large discount. Curing one also earns the Zombie Doctor achievement or advancement. A cured librarian, for example, sells its enchanted books to you for less; see villager trading.
Why didn't my zombie villager cure?
- It may have been cured and then killed or turned again by another zombie villager nearby: cure them apart.
- It burned in the morning: make sure its centre is under the roof.
- A zombie villager that is not converting can despawn; on Java trap it in a boat, on Bedrock let it pick up an item.
- Stay online until it finishes, or the discount may not register for you.
Where do you trade on ArtemisPvP?
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to cure a zombie villager?
3 to 5 minutes after you feed it the golden apple.
What do you need to cure a zombie villager?
A source of Weakness and a golden apple.
Sources
Every fact on this page was checked against these pages; the wording is ours.