Minecraft 1.20
Wandering Traders

Wandering Traders in Minecraft 1.20.2 - All You Need to Know

Whether you want to get items during your journey or unlock loot from biomes without visiting them, Wandering Traders are your only option. These dependable mobs, much like villagers, sell and buy a bunch of vital resources. Moreover, with the new update, all of their offerings have become notably more affordable. So, join us to explore all there is to know about Wandering Traders in Minecraft 1.20.2 and how to get the most out of them.

Wandering Traders in Minecraft

Note: Our guide relies upon the latest Minecraft Snapshot 23w31a and preview 1.20.30.20 version. Several features, trades, and mechanics are subject to change in the next major update.

How to Get Wandering Trader to Spawn in Minecraft

The Wandering Traders in Minecraft usually spawn within a 48-block radius of the player. This spawning process takes place within each Minecraft day (or 20 real-world minutes). The first chance of a Wandering Trader spawning is 25%, which then increases to 50% and to 70% in subsequent attempts.

Moreover, the Wandering Trader automatically despawns once 2 in-game days or 40 real-world minutes have passed. But, unfortunately, there is no way to prevent them from despawning. Even using a nametag on them doesn't cancel this mechanic. Plus, if you consume all of their trades then these traders can despawn even sooner.

Increase Wandering Trader Spawn

Since the Wandering Traders spawn at a random spot near you, it can be a little hard to find them. However, you can place a bell in Minecraft to give them an ideal spot for spawning. This method applies to both naturally occurring bells in your world and the ones you craft yourself.

Furthermore, the Wandering Traders drink the Potion of Invisibility at night to avoid hostile mobs. So, it's best to seek them for trading during the day only. This approach also helps you stay safe from all the dangerous mobs that spawn once the sun sets.

What Does the Wandering Trader Sell

The Wandering Traders sell a variety of environmental items in Minecraft. From plants to biome-based objects, you can get a lot of options. The list includes:

  • Plants & Flowers
  • Dyes
  • Saplings (including cherry trees from Cherry Grove)
  • Bucket of Fish (including Pufferfish)
  • Environmental blocks like moss, packed ice, coral, etc.
  • Nautilus Shells
  • Pumpkin
  • Packed Ice
  • Bamboo
  • Red & Brown Mushroom
  • Kelp
  • Glowstone
  • Gunpowder
  • Slime Balls
  • Dripstone

Moreover, with Minecraft 1.20.2 update, you can also buy a few new and rarer items from the traders:

Can You Sell Items to Wandering Trader in Minecraft

Initially, the Wandering Traders only performed the selling parts of trades in the game. But with Minecraft 1.20.2, you can also sell a few items to get emeralds from these mobs. The trades include the following options:

  • Water bottle for 1 emerald
  • Water bucket for 2 emeralds
  • 4 baked potatoes for 1 emerald
  • Milk bucket for 2 emeralds
  • Fermented spider eye for 3 emeralds
  • Hay bale for 1 emerald

Best Wandering Trader Trades

There are dozens of items you can exchange with Wandering Traders, but some trades are truly exceptional. So, let's dive into some of the best items you can sell and buy with these mobs:

  • Dyes: You can get a bunch of dyes as well as flowers, which can be turned into dyes, for a single emerald.
  • Potion of Water Breathing: The Wandering Traders offer four pufferfishes for four emeralds which you can use to make Potion of Water Breathing in Minecraft.
  • TNT: If you want to make TNT in Minecraft, the traders can be an easy source to obtain a bunch of gunpowder.
  • Hay Bale: The Wandering Traders offer a reliable way to get emeralds by exchanging them for hay bale. You just have to find a village in Minecraft and get all the hay you need.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Wandering Trader useful?

While their trades might be as versatile as the villagers, the Wandering Traders are a great way to get items on the go. Thanks to them, you can unlock a bunch of rare items anywhere in your world.

How do you get Wandering Traders in Minecraft?

The Wandering Traders usually spawn within 1-4 days in Minecraft within 48 blocks of the players.

How many trades does Wandering Trader offer?

Each Wandering Trader only offers 6 trades at a time. Moreover, it doesn't offer new trades once the player goes through all of them.

Can Wandering Traders open doors?

All Wandering Traders, much like villagers, can open wooden doors in Minecraft. However, they cannot open iron doors or interact with Redstone-based doors.

Spawn and Trade With Wandering Traders in Minecraft

With that, you are now familiar with one of the most vital mobs in Minecraft, which is still not popular among the players. So, with careful planning, you can use the Wandering Traders to top leaderboards on our best Minecraft server list. But, keep in mind that these mobs only spawn in the overworld. If you venture into the Nether, your survival hinges on Piglin trades in Minecraft. Fortunately, we already have a guide on the same to give you a head start. Having said that, do you think the Wandering Traders in Minecraft 1.20.2 are finally useful? Or do you still plan to avoid them? Share your thoughts on our Discord server and discover what everyone else thinks. 

Udayveer Singh

Udayveer Singh is a contributor to our news feed here at Servers-Minecraft and is passionate about all things Minecraft!