Highlights

  • The Warden in Minecraft version 1.19 is a blind and brutal mob, living in the Deep Dark biome with the highest melee damage.
  • Mojang missed an opportunity by keeping the Warden secluded in the Deep Dark, as it was designed to recreate tension for players.
  • Adding the Warden to higher-traffic areas like The End or the Nether as a guardian would provide a new challenge for players.

Minecraft has crafted some of the most iconic mobs in gaming. From skeletons to creepers, Mojang is an expert at making family-friendly scares. In Minecraft version 1.19, The Wild Update, the devs outdid themselves by leaning into horror and creating an unmatched monster: the Warden. The Warden is a blind but brutal mob armed with the highest melee damage in the game. It lives in the Ancient Cities in the Deep Dark biome, and that's where it stays, which seems like a missed opportunity.

The Warden is such an interesting and terrifying creature that sequestering this mob down in the Deep Dark takes away from its significance. The Warden was made to recreate the tension that players experience during that first night of gameplay when zombies and skeletons emerge from their hiding places. As it is now, this experience is only available to players who delve into the Deep Dark biome. Mojang can keep the Warden in the Deep Dark but also bring it to higher-traffic areas of the games to showcase its unique type of terror.

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Minecraft: The Warden and The End

The Warden could be a great addition to The End in Minecraft. Because The End is meant to be the ultimate challenge at the literal end of the game, it only makes sense for the mightiest of mobs to populate the area. As it is now, the only denizens of The End biomes are endermen, shulkers, and, of course, the ender dragon that spawns once players teleport into The End.

The Warden is blind and therefore stalks its prey via sound and smell. Typically, players can barge into The End without worrying about being quiet. As long as players are armed with appropriate weapons, armor, equipment, and patience, they will likely survive. The Warden would present a next-level challenge of surviving The End in stealth mode. The Warden could be included in The End at random, forcing players to be on their toes and/or creating jumpscares that make each playthrough unique.

Originally, all sculk blocks could be triggered to make noise upon touch and, as a result, summon and attract the Warden. Later updates changed this, adding Sculk Sensors that trigger Sculk Shriekers.

Minecraft: The Warden As A Guardian

The Nether has a considerable number of mobs, but as the saying goes, the more, the merrier. As is the case with The End, the mobs of the Nether can be taken care of with brute force. The Warden demands that players rely on stealth and distraction. Adding the Warden as a guardian of important, valuable resources like Minecraft's Netherite would provide an additional challenge, making players think about strategy rather than just swinging their swords.

The same concept could be applied to the Overworld, where players spend the lion's share of their time. The Warden could try to ward players away from areas with valuable resources and items. It could serve as a kind of mini-boss that players have to either defeat or deceive. The Warden is summoned after a sculk shrieker is activated four or more times, meaning that players could entirely avoid the Warden if they are careful enough. This mechanic could make for an edge-of-the-seat horror experience that indeed harkens back to that first night new players endure.

Mojang has discussed creating the Deep Dark as a home for The Warden to sequester this creature away from players uninterested in a horror experience.

While this design choice is considerate of the players who aren't into Minecraft for the heart-racing moments, it seems like a pity to hide this fascinating mob away. The Warden could still be an optional encounter, but there could be more places within the world that present that option. The Warden and the sculk blocks that sense vibrations are too novel to keep in the Deep Dark and the Deep Dark alone.