Knowing how and where mobs spawn is crucial for both safety and for building efficient mob farms. Mobs generally require a certain light level and specific block types to spawn.
Key Mechanics:
- Light Level: Hostile mobs typically spawn at light level 0-7. Passive mobs require light level 9 or higher.
- Block Type: Mobs can spawn on most solid, opaque blocks. They cannot spawn on transparent blocks (glass, leaves), slabs (bottom half), or blocks like rails or carpets.
- Player Distance: Mobs will not spawn within a 24-block radius of the player. They despawn if no player is within 128 blocks.
- Mob Cap: There's a global limit to the number of hostile mobs that can exist in loaded chunks. This can be exploited for mob farms.