Updated 25 October 2026. Facts on this page come from minecraft.wiki, minecraft.net and the live Artemis PvP server; sources are listed at the bottom.
Guardians and Elder Guardians in Minecraft
Guardians are hostile fish-like mobs that live in ocean monuments and attack with a laser that charges for a few seconds before it hits. Each monument also has 3 elder guardians, which are bigger, stronger and never respawn. Elder guardians give every nearby player Mining Fatigue III so you cannot break the monument easily.
How strong are they?
| Guardian | Elder guardian | |
|---|---|---|
| Health | 30 (15 hearts) | 80 (40 hearts) |
| Laser charge time | 4 seconds | 3 seconds |
| Laser damage (Normal) | 6 plus 2 magic | 8 plus 4 magic |
| Spikes | Hurt you when you hit them | 2 damage, 3 on Hard |
| Respawn | Yes, in the monument | No, 3 per monument |
The laser stops if you leave its range or put a solid block, even glass, between you.
How does the elder guardian's Mining Fatigue work?
On Java, every 60 seconds each elder guardian gives Mining Fatigue III for 5 minutes to every Survival player within 50 blocks, even through walls. A ghostly face appears on screen with a bell-like sound. It cuts attack speed by 30% and mining speed much more. Drink milk to clear it, but it comes back while an elder lives; killing all three ends it.
What do they drop?
- Prismarine shards and crystals, and raw cod; see prismarine.
- Guardians drop 10 experience.
- Elder guardians always drop a wet sponge, and a Tide armor trim template 20% of the time on both editions; see sponges and armor trims.
How do you beat a monument?
Bring Respiration or water breathing potions, Depth Strider and a strong sword. Use doors (Java only) or solid blocks to make air pockets, kill the elder guardians first to end the fatigue, then clear the rest. A conduit helps a lot underwater; see conduits. Where they spawn: ocean monuments.
Does ArtemisPvP have custom guardians?
Frequently asked questions
How many elder guardians are in a monument?
Three, and they never respawn.
Sources
Every fact on this page was checked against these pages; the wording is ours.