Armadillos are tremendously unique real-world mammals. Their armored shell, tendency to curl up into a ball, and ability to survive in arid, hot climates make them a perfect fit to fill out some of the less lush biomes in Minecraft.
But finding them in-game isn't as simple as wandering into the nearest desert. They have a select number of biomes they spawn in. In this guide, we’ll go over everything you need to know to find an in-game armadillo yourself.
Where Do You Find Armadillos?
These animals are biome-specific. Armadillos will only appear in the following biomes:
- Savannas
- Savanna Plateaus
- Windswept Savannas
- Badlands
- Eroded Badlands
- Wooded Badlands
Like most passive animal mobs, they don't spawn in darkness, so you should explore the area during the day. When you do find an armadillo, odds are you'll find more than one. Depending on the biome, they will spawn in groups of one to four. So if you find one by itself, be sure to look around for any more armadillos nearby.
If you want to take them home with you, they can be led away by holding a spider eye. Like most animal mobs, they can also be pulled along with a lead or pushed into a boat.
How to Get Scutes from Armadillos
The rare, unique item armadillos provide are their scutes. These naturally fall off of their armored shell over time, or can be brushed off using a brush.
To brush an armadillo, craft a brush used in archeology by combining a stick, copper ingot, and feather, then use it on an adult armadillo. It will then drop one armadillo scute. After about ten in-game minutes, they'll be ready for another brushing.
For a more passive scute farm, consider keeping a herd of armadillos overtop of a platform made of hoppers. Since armadillos naturally drop scutes on occasion, the hoppers will catch them and store them away, safe from despawning. This is a great way to build up a steady scute supply while you're adventuring elsewhere.
Armadillo scutes can be used to craft and repair wolf armor – the only long-term way to give your trusted dog companions additional protection.
Minecraft Mods that Add More to Armadillos
Armadillos are adorable, but they don't do much right now. If you want them to be more than an obscure method of crafting armor for dogs, then you’ll definitely benefit from exploring the world of Minecraft mods.
The community has created an endless number of mods for the game that give extra polish and depth to every corner of Minecraft, armadillos included. If that interests you, then we recommend giving these mods a try first.
Traveler's Compass
While not from the same creator, this is based on the classic “Nature's Compass” mod. Instead of pointing at biomes, however, it can direct you to the nearest items, blocks, or mobs. You can even use it to point toward which mobs drop the specific item you need.
This is a must-have tool for anyone grinding out for materials and can save you tons of time aimlessly wandering around in hopes of finding what you need.
Resource Armadillo
Love armadillos and don't care for material grinding all too much? “Resource Armadillo” blends the two ideas together into a sustainable ranching system.
Breed special armadillos together to create variants that drop the rare resources you'd otherwise have to scour the land to find. The genetic component gives you plenty to do, all while building up a healthy supply of free materials along the way.
How to Install Minecraft Mods
You can install the above mods automatically using the CurseForge app or manually by placing the mod files within your game’s mods folder. Both methods allow you to easily add custom features and enhancements into your vanilla Minecraft experience.If you want to learn more, you can read our detailed guide on how to install Minecraft mods.
Common Issues and Quick Fixes
The armadillos curl up in a ball when I approach them
Armadillos are programmed to react with fear to certain things, curling up into a ball for protection. Attacking them or hostile mobs approaching are the most common ways to trigger this behavior. They will also react this way if you dash past them.
To predispose these animals, simply step away, wait for them to unfurl, then walk (don't run!), up to them. They should then react normally.
I can't get scutes from an armadillo
Scutes never drop from killing an armadillo – only over time or while using a brush. Only adult armadillos drop scutes, too, not babies.
If using a brush still doesn't work, this means that the cooldown timer is still active. Grab a bite and wait for five real-time minutes before trying again.
I can't put wolf armor on my wolf
Wolf armor can only be given to a wolf if they are adults, tamed, and not already wearing armor. To remove existing armor, use shears on the wolf. You can then repair or replace the armor accordingly.