This article is about the mob. For the music track, see Axolotl (song). For the gold axolotl pet in Minecraft Dungeons, see MCD:Golden Axolotl. For the lucy axolotl pet in Minecraft Dungeons, see MCD:Axolotl (Leucistic). For the wild axolotl pet in Minecraft Dungeons, see MCD:Wild Axolotl.

An axolotl is a passive aquatic mob found in lush caves that hunts most other aquatic mobs, and can assist players with aquatic combat and grant them Regeneration. They can also be carried around in a bucket.

Axolotl
Health points

14HP♥ × 7

Behavior

Passive

Mob type

Animal, Aquatic

Attack
strength

2HP♥

Hitbox size

Adult:
Height: 0.42 blocks
Width: 0.75 blocks
Baby:
Height: 0.21 Blocks
Width: 0.375 Blocks

Speed

1

Spawn

Lush Caves

Usable items

Spawning

Axolotls spawn underwater in the lush caves biome and when there is a clay block less than five blocks below the spawning space.

Spawning information per biome

Category: Axolotl‌[JE only] Java Edition Bedrock Edition
Category: Aquatic‌[BE only]
Biome Spawn weight Group size Underground
Spawn weight Group size
1010 4-6 10 4-6

Colors

Axolotls can be one of five colors: pink (leucistic), brown (wild), gold, cyan and blue.

When breeding axolotls, there is a 11200 (0.083%) chance of the offspring having the blue mutation, leaving 11991200 (99.917%) chance of matching one of the parents (including blue parents).

Blue axolotls cannot naturally spawn and can only be obtained through breeding.

Pose Color
Leucistic Wild Gold Cyan Blue
Ground crawling
Ground stationary
Swimming
Water stationary
Animation Color
Leucistic Wild Gold Cyan Blue
Ground crawling

Drops

Axolotls drop nothing when killed besides 1 experience when killed by a player or a tamed wolf.

Behavior

Axolotls are passive toward players, can be attached to leads, and follow players holding a bucket of tropical fish on either the main hand or the off-hand. When a player kills a mob that is in combat with one or more axolotls, axolotls remove Mining Fatigue from the player, and give the player Regeneration I for 100 game ticks (5 seconds) per axolotl in the fight, up to a duration of 2400 game ticks (2 minutes) in Java Edition, and uncapped in Bedrock Edition.

Axolotls attack all aquatic mobs except turtles, dolphins, frogs and other axolotls. They also attack drowned. An axolotl deals 2HP♥ points of damage per attack.

After killing a non-hostile mob, there is a two minute cooldown before another non-hostile mob can be hunted. Axolotls prioritize attacking hostile mobs over non-hostile mobs.

If an axolotl takes damage underwater, it may play dead, dropping to the ground for 200 game ticks (10 seconds) while gaining Regeneration I. Hostile aquatic mobs ignore healing axolotls. There is a 13 chance for an axolotl to play dead to recover 4HP♥♥. In addition, if either a random integer from 0–2 (inclusive) is less than the amount of incoming damage, or the axolotl's health before the damage is dealt is less than 50% of its maximum health, it plays dead.

Axolotls can leave the water and wander about on land. When an axolotl leaves the water, it wanders as far as 8 or 9 blocks beyond the water's edge before returning to the water, as long as there is water at least 2 blocks deep within 16 blocks of the axolotl. If 2-block-deep water is outside this range, the axolotl can wander off randomly on land in search of more deep water, and die after 6000 game ticks (5 minutes) exposure out of water. Axolotls are not attracted to shallow (1 block deep) water. They require water at least 2 blocks deep within 16 blocks to pathfind to the water.[1]

Being hit with a splash water bottle or lingering water bottle will restore 1800 game ticks (90 seconds) of air to the axolotl.

Axolotls can also die out of water as passengers in a boat. Unlike fish and squid, axolotls do not die on land in rain or in a thunderstorm.

Unlike most mobs, axolotls cannot be moved by flowing water. However, they are still affected by bubble columns.

As aquatic mobs, in Java Edition they take extra damage from the Impaling enchantment. Unlike other aquatic mobs, they cause nearby pufferfish to inflate.

Axolotls picked up with a water bucket and re-spawned do not despawn.

A bucket of axolotl can be named in an anvil, the same as any other item. This also sets the name of the axolotl. The name remains with the axolotl if it is picked up by another bucket.

Breeding

Main article: Breeding

Adult axolotls can be led and bred with buckets of tropical fish. After breeding, a baby axolotl spawns and 1–7 experience is generated. The parents cannot be bred again for 5 minutes in Java Edition or 1 minute in Bedrock Edition. The baby axolotl has a 11200 chance to be the rare blue variant; otherwise, it inherits the color of one parent at random. Babies follow adults, and grow to adulthood in 20 minutes. The growth of baby axolotls can be accelerated using buckets of tropical fish; each use reduces the remaining growing time by 10%.

Sounds

Java Edition:
Axolotls use the Friendly Creatures sound category for entity-dependent sound events.

[hide]Sounds
SoundSubtitlesSourceDescriptionResource locationTranslation keyVolumePitchAttenuation
distance
​Axolotl chirpsFriendly CreaturesRandomly when in waterentity.axolotl.idle_watersubtitles.entity.axolotl.idle_water1.00.8-1.2
(Baby: 1.3-1.7)
16
​Axolotl chirpsFriendly CreaturesRandomly when not in waterentity.axolotl.idle_airsubtitles.entity.axolotl.idle_air1.0 [sound 1]0.8-1.2
(Baby: 1.3-1.7) [sound 2]
16
​Axolotl attacksFriendly CreaturesWhen an axolotl attacks somethingentity.axolotl.attacksubtitles.entity.axolotl.attack0.51.016
​Axolotl diesFriendly CreaturesWhen an axolotl diesentity.axolotl.deathsubtitles.entity.axolotl.death1.00.8-1.2
(Baby: 1.3-1.7)
16
​Axolotl hurtsFriendly CreaturesWhen an axolotl is damagedentity.axolotl.hurtsubtitles.entity.axolotl.hurt1.00.8-1.2
(Baby: 1.3-1.7)
16
​Axolotl splashesFriendly CreaturesWhen an axolotl enters waterentity.axolotl.splashsubtitles.entity.axolotl.splash0.0-0.9 [sound 3]0.72-1.6816
​Axolotl swimsFriendly CreaturesWhile an axolotl is moving through waterentity.axolotl.swimsubtitles.entity.axolotl.swim0.0-1.0 [sound 4]0.6-1.416
  1. Except idle_air3, which is 0.8
  2. Except idle_air3, which is 0.96-1.44 (Baby: 1.56-2.04)
  3. 0.9 times the axolotl's momentum, with the horizontal axes' velocity multiplied by 0.2
  4. The axolotl's momentum, with the horizontal axes' velocity multiplied by 0.2

Bedrock Edition:

[hide]Sounds
SoundSourceDescriptionResource locationVolumePitch
Friendly CreaturesRandomly when in watermob.axolotl.idle1.00.8-1.2 (Baby: 1.3-1.7)
Friendly CreaturesRandomly when not in watermob.axolotl.idle_water1.00.8-1.2 (Baby: 1.3-1.7)
Friendly CreaturesWhen an axolotl attacks somethingmob.axolotl.attack1.00.8-1.2 (Baby: 1.3-1.7)
Friendly CreaturesWhen an axolotl diesmob.axolotl.death1.00.8-1.2 (Baby: 1.3-1.7)
Friendly CreaturesWhen an axolotl is damagedmob.axolotl.hurt1.00.8-1.2 (Baby: 1.3-1.7)
Friendly CreaturesWhen an axolotl enters watermob.axolotl.splash0.90.96-1.44 (Baby: 1.56-2.04)
Friendly CreaturesWhile an axolotl is moving through watermob.axolotl.swim1.00.8-1.2 (Baby: 1.3-1.7)

Data values

ID

Java Edition:

NameIdentifierEntity tags[hide]Translation key
EntitySprite axolotl.png: Sprite image for axolotl in Minecraft Axolotlaxolotlaquatic
can_breathe_under_water
sensitive_to_impaling
entity.minecraft.axolotl

Bedrock Edition:

NameIdentifierNumeric ID [hide]Translation key
EntitySprite axolotl.png: Sprite image for axolotl in Minecraft Axolotlaxolotl130entity.axolotl.name

Entity data

Axolotls have entity data associated with them that contain various properties.

Java Edition:

Main article: Entity format

Axolotl Variant[show][edit]

Main article: Axolotl/DV

Bedrock Edition:

Color Data value
0
1
2
3
4
See Bedrock Edition level format/Entity format.

Achievements

[hide]
IconAchievementIn-game descriptionActual requirements (if different)Gamerscore earnedTrophy type (PS)
PS4Other
It SpreadsKill a mob next to a catalyst10Bronze
OverkillDeal nine hearts of damage in a single hit.Damage can be dealt to any mob, even those that do not have nine hearts of health overall.30Bronze
Over-OverkillDeal 50 hearts of damage in a single hit using the Mace20Silver
The Healing Power of Friendship!Team up with an axolotl and win a fightBe near​[more information needed] to an axolotl when killing a hostile aquatic mob ​[more information needed] while the axolotl is fighting it (not playing dead).30Silver

Advancements

IconAdvancementIn-game descriptionActual requirements (if different)
A Throwaway JokeThrow a Trident at something.
Note: Throwing away your only weapon is not a good idea.
Hit a mob with a thrown trident.
AdventureAdventure, exploration and combatKill any mob, or be killed by any living entity.
ArbalisticKill five unique mobs with one crossbow shotArmor Stand also counts for this advancement.
This is a hidden advancement, meaning that it can be viewed by the player only after completing it, regardless of if its child advancement(s), if any, have been completed.
It SpreadsKill a mob near a Sculk Catalyst Mobs that drop no experience as well as the ender dragon are ignored for this advancement.
Over-OverkillDeal 50 hearts of damage in a single hit using the Mace
Take AimShoot something with an ArrowUsing a bow or a crossbow, shoot a mob with an arrow, tipped arrow, or spectral arrow.
The Cutest PredatorCatch an Axolotl in a BucketUse a water bucket on an axolotl.
The Healing Power of Friendship!Team up with an axolotl and win a fightHave the Regeneration effect applied from assisting an axolotl or it killing a mob.
The Parrots and the BatsBreed two animals together A mule must be the result of breeding a horse and a donkey for this advancement as they are not breedable together. Other breedable mobs are ignored for this advancement.
Two by TwoBreed all the animals! A trader llama does not count as a llama, and a mule must be the result of breeding a horse and a donkey for this advancement as they are not breedable together. Other breedable mobs can be bred, but are ignored for this advancement.

History

October 3, 2020 Axolotls are announced at Minecraft Live 2020.
They are shown to spawn in lush caves biomes.
October 3, 2020 An unreleased[2] green variant was shown at the Minecraft Live 2020 recap, which was not shown on the live event.
[hide]Java Edition
1.1720w51a Added axolotls.
When an axolotl is held with a lead on the ground, it begins walking at an exaggeratedly fast speed.[3]
21w03aAxolotls attack glow squids.
21w13a The texture of the axolotls for four variants except the brown one has been changed.
Axolotls now spawn naturally underwater in caves.
21w18aThe lucy texture have been changed from to to remove the unused open mouth.
21w20aAxolotls now play dead only when in water.
Axolotls can no longer be fed tropical fish.
Pre-release 3Axolotls now spawn only in total darkness and where there's a block with base_stone_overworld tag less than 5 blocks below the spawning space.
1.17.1Pre-release 1Blue axolotls no longer naturally spawn, and can be obtained only through breeding.
1.181.18 Experimental Snapshot 1Axolotls now spawn only in lush caves.
21w37aAxolotls now have their own mob cap, separate from glow squids.
Axolotls now avoid lava.[4]
21w40aAxolotls now spawn only when there is a clay block less than five blocks below the spawning space.
Pre-release 5The brown axolotl texture has been changed from to , to solve the issue of its off-centered back.
1.1922w11aAxolotls can now attack tadpoles.
[hide]Bedrock Edition
1.17.0
Experiment
Caves and Cliffs
beta 1.16.230.52 Added axolotls behind the "Caves and Cliffs" experimental toggle.
beta 1.17.0.50Axolotls now spawn naturally in underground water sources.
Axolotls no longer get a Regeneration effect after killing a mob on their own.
1.17.0beta 1.17.0.52Axolotls now spawn in any biome and up to Y-63 instead of Y-30.
Axolotls are now available without enabling experimental gameplay.
beta 1.17.0.56 The texture of the axolotls for all variants except the brown one has been changed.
Axolotls no longer attack invisible mobs.
1.17.10beta 1.17.10.22Axolotls now spawn only in complete darkness.
1.17.30beta 1.17.20.22Axolotls now spawn only where there is a stone block less than 10 blocks below the spawning space.
1.17.30
Experiment
Caves and Cliffs
beta 1.17.20.22With experimental gameplay enabled, axolotls spawn only in lush caves.
1.18.0beta 1.18.0.20Axolotls now spawn only in lush caves by default without enabling experimental gameplay.
beta 1.18.0.21Axolotls now spawn only when there is a clay block less than five blocks below the spawning space.
beta 1.18.0.24Axolotls more frequently spawn in lush caves.
1.18.10
Experiment
Wild Update
beta 1.18.10.24Axolotls can now attack tadpoles behind the "Wild Update" experimental toggle.

Issues

Issues relating to "Axolotl" are maintained on the bug tracker. Issues should be reported and viewed there.

Java Edition

  • MC-239905 – Parity issue: Fish do not attempt to avoid axolotls
  • MC-208619 – Axolotls don't spawn with spawners outside of water
  • MC-208626 – Axolotls quickly spin in a circle around the player when they are leashed and underwater
  • MC-208714 – Axolotls don't properly look at the player
  • MC-208821 – Axolotls float above the ground while walking or standing still
  • MC-212535 – The walking animations of axolotls don't change in relation to their movement speed
  • MC-221654 – Bucket of Axolotl doesn't have lore
  • MC-221658 – Axolotl appears pink for a second when releasing different color axolotls from buckets
  • MC-225859 – Axolotl playing dead animation doesn't reset correctly
  • MC-225992 – Axolotls sometimes do not play dead and regenerate when their health is low
  • And 38 other open issues.

Bedrock Edition

  • MCPE-122278 – Axolotls, dolphins, baby turtles, and pregnant frogs on land will not move to 1-block deep water
  • MCPE-130041 – Axolotls can move while regenerating
  • MCPE-130734 – Axolotls and Glow Squids can spawn in the End (and in the Nether)
  • MCPE-130874 – Axolotls in buckets can still have leads attached
  • MCPE-131050 – Axolotls in bedrock when swimming up or down will not point the direction there swimming instead they just swim straight instead of up or down however the axolotl in java does point the direction up or down it’s swimming.
  • MCPE-131842 – Axolotls do not remove effects and can to breed after being caught in a bucket
  • MCPE-132691 – Axolotls do not avoid danger when pathfinding
  • MCPE-133262 – Axolotls can sometimes randomly spin around even without a lead
  • MCPE-135370 – Axolotl feet double up when RTX is turned on
  • MCPE-135632 – The axolotl still moves its tail when killed by drowned, when the axolotl plays dead
  • And 10 other open issues.

Trivia

  • In the release notes Minecraft Launcher there is an encrypted message T⍑ᒷ ᔑ ̇/𝙹ꖎ𝙹ℸ ̣ ꖎᓭ ᔑ∷ᒷ リ𝙹ℸ ̣ ∴⍑ᔑℸ ̣ ℸ ̣ ⍑ᒷ|| ᓭᒷᒷᒲ, which translates to "The Axolotls are not what they seem".
  • Axolotls are small salamanders that are endemic to Mexico, which are critically endangered. Following Mojang Studios' trend of adding endangered species such as polar bears, giant pandas (no longer endangered as of 2022), sea turtles, and endangered species of wild bees, axolotls were added to the game to raise awareness.[5][6]
  • The probability of a blue axolotl spawning is 1 in 1200 because that was the approximate number of axolotls left in the wild in real life at the time.[7]
  • Axolotls can eat only buckets of tropical fish and not tropical fish items because axolotls in real life eat only living fish.[7]
  • Even though they are not in the game, the green variant appears in the Caves & Cliffs Update: Part I – Official Trailer, as well as a recap.[8] When asked on a livestream, Agnes Larsson said she cannot say why the green variant was cut from the game.[9]
  • Both the "play dead" behavior and the regeneration ability of axolotls are based on the abilities of real life axolotls.[7]
  • Because real axolotls don't actually vocalize, the sounds of axolotls were recorded from the incidental "hiccups" and "burps" real axolotls occasionally make when surfacing, as well as heavily edited dog sounds.[10]
  • During Minecraft Live 2021, Lydia Winters created an “aloto,” a hybrid of an axolotl and alligator.[11]

Gallery

Renders

Screenshots

Development images

Concept artwork

Textures

In other media

References

  1. MCPE-122278
  2. MC-208659 — resolved as "Invalid".
  3. MC-208626
  4. MC-208601
  5. "MINECON Live 2019" by Minecraft – youtube.com, September 28, 2019. "...since the bee population is decreasing in the world, which is a big problem, we really felt that we wanted to teach the players..." - Agnes Larsson
  6. "Minecraft Live: Caves & Cliffs - First Look" by Minecraft – youtube.com, October 3, 2020. "And then we also found out that axolotls are endangered in the real world, and we think it's good to add endangered animals to Minecraft to create awareness about that." - Agnes Larsson
  7. Jump up to: a b c "Dev Diaries: Caves & Cliffs Mobs" – Minecraft on YouTube, May 14, 2021
  8. "Caves & Cliffs Update: Part I - Official Trailer" – Minecraft on YouTube, June 8, 2021
  9. "What happened to the Green Axolotl?" by CBSUnstoppable – Twitch.
  10. "The Secrets of Minecraft: Death Sounds, Secret Animals, and Other Delights! @3:22" – Minecraft on YouTube, November 19, 2021
  11. "Minecraft Live 2021: Minecraft Marketplace" – Minecraft on YouTube, October 22, 2021
  12. "Soothing Minecraft Stories" by Sophie Austin – Minecraft.net, December 22, 2023.

External links

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