Armadillos are small, shy mobs that arrived in the Armored Paws drop in 2024. They are worth finding for one reason above all: their scutes are the only way to craft wolf armor, which keeps your tamed dog alive far longer. This guide covers where armadillos spawn, how to find them, how to breed armadillos in Minecraft, how to collect scutes without hurting them, and what to do with those scutes.
Quick answer
- Where: savanna and badlands biomes, on grass, coarse dirt, red sand and terracotta.
- Breed: feed two adult armadillos one spider eye each.
- Scutes: use a brush on an armadillo, or collect the scutes they drop naturally every few minutes.
- Use: 6 armadillo scutes craft wolf armor.
Where do armadillos spawn in Minecraft?
Armadillos spawn naturally in warm, dry biomes:
- Savanna biomes, including savanna plateaus, with their flat grass and acacia trees.
- Badlands biomes (mesa), including wooded and eroded badlands, with red sand and colorful terracotta.
They spawn like other passive animals, on the surface in light, and usually in small groups. They do not despawn, so once you find a group they stay there unless something kills them. If you are struggling to find one, use a map, travel along the edge of a savanna or badlands area, and look for small tan shapes near grass and shrubs. In Creative mode or with cheats you can also locate the biome with /locate biome minecraft:savanna or /locate biome minecraft:badlands. See the /locate command.
How armadillos behave
Armadillos are passive and never attack. They wander slowly and eat nothing from the ground. When they feel threatened they roll up into a ball and stay that way until the danger passes. They roll up when:
- a player nearby is sprinting, or is riding a mob;
- an undead mob such as a zombie or skeleton is close;
- they take damage.
While rolled up they take much less damage and cannot be led or bred. Walk slowly and crouch when you approach them, and they will soon unroll. They are attracted to spider eyes: hold one and armadillos follow you, which is the easiest way to move them into a pen.
How to breed armadillos in Minecraft
- Collect at least two spider eyes. Spiders and cave spiders drop them, and witches sometimes drop them too.
- Find two adult armadillos, or lure two into a fenced pen by holding a spider eye.
- Wait until both are unrolled.
- Feed each armadillo one spider eye. Hearts appear above them.
- A baby armadillo appears between them and you get a little experience.
The parents need about five minutes before they can breed again. A baby takes about 20 minutes to grow into an adult. Feeding a baby spider eyes speeds up its growth. Yes, you can breed armadillos in every edition: Java, Bedrock and all consoles.
Tips for an armadillo farm
- Build the pen in your base, not in the wild, so zombies at night do not keep them rolled up.
- Use a fence or wall at least 1.5 blocks high and light up the area to stop hostile mobs spawning.
- Keep a stack of spider eyes in a chest nearby. A simple spider farm built on a spider spawner gives a steady supply.
- Lead them home with a lead if your base is far away. Armadillos can be leashed while unrolled.
How to get armadillo scutes
Brush them
Use a brush on an armadillo and it drops one scute. Brushing does not hurt the armadillo, but it uses a large chunk of the brush’s durability, so carry a spare. A brush is crafted from a feather, a copper ingot and a stick. See how to make a brush.
Wait for natural drops
Every armadillo drops a scute on its own every five to ten minutes. With a few armadillos in a pen and a hopper under the floor, scutes collect themselves. Baby armadillos do not drop scutes.
Do not kill them
Killing an armadillo does not drop scutes. Breeding and brushing are the only reliable ways, so treat them as a renewable resource.
What armadillo scutes are used for
- Wolf armor: 6 armadillo scutes in the crafting grid, in the shape of the armor, make one wolf armor. Put it on a tamed wolf by using it on the wolf. It absorbs most damage until it breaks.
- Repairing wolf armor: use an armadillo scute on a wolf wearing damaged armor to repair it a bit.
- Dyeing wolf armor: combine wolf armor with any dye to change its color.
Turtle scutes are a different item and are used for the turtle shell helmet. They come from baby turtles growing up. See how to breed turtles.
Armadillo facts
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Behavior | Passive |
| Health | 12 (6 hearts) |
| Spawns in | Savanna and badlands biomes |
| Breeding food | Spider eye |
| Drops | Armadillo scute (brushing or natural) |
| Added in | Armored Paws drop (2024) |
Can you tame an armadillo?
No. Armadillos cannot be tamed, ridden or sat down like a wolf or cat. They can only be bred, leashed and lured with spider eyes. Their job is to supply scutes so that your tamed wolves can wear armor.
Armadillos in Java vs Bedrock
Armadillos work the same way in both editions: they spawn in the same biomes, roll up for the same reasons, breed with spider eyes and drop scutes when brushed or over time. Small differences can appear in exact spawn rates and in how quickly they roll and unroll, but none of them change how you find, breed or farm them. Wolf armor also works identically, including dyeing and repairing it with scutes.
Why wolf armor is worth it
Tamed wolves are fierce fighters, but without armor they die quickly to creepers, skeletons and lava. Wolf armor absorbs almost all damage until its durability runs out, and you can see cracks appear as it wears down. When that happens, use an armadillo scute on the wolf to repair it, or shear the armor off to collect it. With a small armadillo pen at home, you will always have scutes ready, so your dogs can follow you through caves and raids without being lost.
FAQ
What do armadillos eat in Minecraft?
Armadillos are bred and lured with spider eyes. They do not eat anything else.
Where do armadillos spawn?
In savanna and badlands biomes, including savanna plateaus and wooded and eroded badlands.
Can you breed armadillos?
Yes. Feed two adult armadillos a spider eye each and they make a baby.
How do you get armadillo scutes?
Use a brush on an armadillo, or wait for it to drop one on its own every five to ten minutes.
Why does my armadillo keep rolling up?
It feels threatened. Stop sprinting near it, crouch, and keep undead mobs away. It unrolls when the danger is gone.
Checked by the Game Respawned editorial team against the current Java and Bedrock versions. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.