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.
Mob Spawning and Mob Caps in Minecraft
On Java, mobs spawn in chunks with a player within 128 blocks, and most Overworld monsters need a block light level of 0. The Java monster cap is 70, animals 10, bats 15 and fish 20. A mob more than 32 blocks from every player can randomly despawn; very far ones despawn instantly. Named mobs and ones from structures stay. Bedrock uses different distances.
Where can mobs spawn?
On Java, mobs spawn naturally in chunks whose centre has a player within 128 blocks horizontally, and only inside a 128-block sphere around a player; fish only within 64 blocks. On Bedrock they spawn in a shell 24 to 44 blocks from the player at simulation distance 4, and up to about 96 blocks horizontally at 6 and higher. Most Overworld monsters need a block light level of 0 and a sky light of 7 or less on Java (below 7 on Bedrock). In the Nether, monsters can spawn at block light 7 or less; in the End, block light must be 0. See light levels.
What is the mob cap?
| Category | Java mob cap | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Monster | 70 | Zombies, skeletons, creepers, endermen |
| Creature | 10 | Cows, pigs, sheep, chickens |
| Ambient | 15 | Bats |
| Water ambient | 20 | Fish |
| Water creature | 5 | Squid, dolphins |
| Underground water creature | 5 | Glow squid |
| Axolotls | 5 | Axolotls |
Java Edition uses a global cap scaled by the loaded chunks around players, plus a per-player cap for each player's nearby chunks. Groups can briefly push a category over its cap. Persistent mobs, such as named ones, do not count.
When do mobs despawn?
- On Java, a mob with no player within 32 blocks for more than 30 seconds (10 seconds for monsters in bright light) has a 1 in 800 chance each tick to despawn, about 2.47% a second.
- On Java, mobs with no player within 128 blocks (64 for fish) despawn straight away. On Bedrock, mobs at the edge of the simulation distance, more than 128 blocks away, or (at simulation distance 4) more than 44 blocks away despawn at once.
- Mobs spawned with a structure and named mobs stay; see name tags.
How do mob farms use these rules?
Mob farms are built around these rules: monsters need darkness and only spawn near a player (within 128 blocks on Java), so builders give them dark spawning spots in one small area and light up the rest, then wait within range so the area keeps spawning. See mob farms and chunks and ticks.
Do custom mobs spawn on ArtemisPvP?
Frequently asked questions
What is the monster mob cap in Minecraft?
70 on Java Edition.
At what distance do mobs despawn?
On Java, mobs more than 32 blocks from every player can randomly despawn, and beyond 128 blocks they despawn at once.
Sources
Every fact on this page was checked against these pages; the wording is ours.