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A sniffer is a passive mob that does not spawn naturally, and can only be hatched from sniffer eggs. It sniffs out and digs out seeds for various unique decorative plants out of dirt, grass, and moss blocks.

Spawning

Sniffers spawn by hatching from sniffer eggs found in suspicious sand from warm ocean ruins. Breeding sniffers with torchflower seeds would also result in a sniffer egg being laid as an item.

Drops

When killed, adult sniffers drop 1–3 experience points if killed by a player or a tamed wolf; snifflets drop no experience just like other baby animals.

Upon successful breeding, 1–7 is dropped.

Behavior

Sniffers wander aimlessly, avoiding hazards and obstacles. They occasionally smell their surroundings and track ancient seeds by pressing their nose to the ground. When they find a seed, they sploot[1] and use their noses to dig into the ground until they get torchflower seeds or a pitcher pod. For a sniffer to be able to dig it needs to be doing nothing else, not in water, on the ground, not in a boat or minecart and the block underneath the head needs to be diggable and reachable for the sniffer. The head location is defined as 2.25 blocks in front of the center of the body. The sniffer also stores the last 20 locations it has dug up so it can't dig there anymore. After sniffing out seeds, an eight minute cooldown is activated before it can dig in again.

The following blocks are diggable by the sniffer:

Data packs from Java Edition can change this list by modifying the minecraft:sniffer_diggable_block block tag.

Sniffers cannot dig on mycelium.[2]

Breeding

The player can breed the sniffers using torchflower seeds. When two adult sniffers are bred, they drop a sniffer egg, after which the parents have a 5-minute cooldown before they can breed again.

Healing

Sniffers are healed by 2♥ health points each time they are fed a torchflower seed.

Snifflets

A baby sniffer is called a snifflet[3] and they have a bigger head than the adult. Snifflets take 48000 game ticks to grow up into adult sniffers, which is equal to 40 minutes or two in-game days, twice as long as most other baby mobs in the game.

Unlike most baby mobs, snifflets do not follow their adults.[4]

Sounds

Java Edition:
Sniffers use the Friendly Creatures sound category for entity-dependent sound events.

SoundSubtitlesSourceDescriptionResource locationTranslation keyVolumePitchAttenuation
distance
Sniffer gruntsFriendly CreaturesRandomly while idleentity.sniffer.idlesubtitles.entity.sniffer.idle1.00.8-1.2
(Baby: 1.3-1.7)
16
Sniffer diesFriendly CreaturesWhen a sniffer diesentity.sniffer.deathsubtitles.entity.sniffer.death1.00.8-1.2
(Baby: 1.3-1.7)
16
Sniffer hurtsFriendly CreaturesWhen a sniffer is damagedentity.sniffer.hurtsubtitles.entity.sniffer.hurt1.00.8-1.2
(Baby: 1.3-1.7)
16
Sniffer delightsFriendly CreaturesWhen a sniffer stands up after finding a seedentity.sniffer.happysubtitles.entity.sniffer.happy1.01.016
Sniffer eatsFriendly CreaturesWhen a sniffer is fed torchflower seeds [sound 1]entity.sniffer.eatsubtitles.entity.sniffer.eat1.00.8-1.216
Sniffer scentsFriendly CreaturesRandomly while idleentity.sniffer.scentingsubtitles.entity.sniffer.scenting1.01.0
(Baby: 1.3)
16
Sniffer sniffsFriendly CreaturesWhen a sniffer starts searching for a potential seedentity.sniffer.sniffingsubtitles.entity.sniffer.sniffing1.01.016
Sniffer searchesFriendly CreaturesWhile a sniffer is moving toward a potential seed's positionentity.sniffer.searchingsubtitles.entity.sniffer.searchingvaries [sound 2]1.016
Sniffer digs [sound 3]Friendly CreaturesWhen a sniffer sploots and digsentity.sniffer.diggingsubtitles.entity.sniffer.digging1.01.016
Sniffer stands upFriendly CreaturesWhen a sniffer stops diggingentity.sniffer.digging_stopsubtitles.entity.sniffer.digging_stop1.01.016
Sniffer drops seedFriendly CreaturesWhen a sniffer digs up a seedentity.sniffer.drop_seedsubtitles.entity.sniffer.drop_seed0.8varies [sound 4]16
Sniffer plopsFriendly CreaturesWhen a sniffer lays an eggblock.sniffer_egg.plopsubtitles.block.sniffer_egg.plop1.0varies[sound 5]16
FootstepsFriendly CreaturesWhile a sniffer is walkingentity.sniffer.stepsubtitles.block.generic.footsteps0.151.016
  1. MC-260219 — Sniffer eating sounds aren't played when feeding them the last item of torchflower seeds within a stack
  2. Can be 1.0 or 0.8 for each sound
  3. MC-260213 — "Sniffers' digging sounds display the "Block breaking" subtitle" — resolved as "Works As Intended".
  4. Can be 0.6, 0.7, or 0.8
  5. Can be 0.18-0.42, 0.21-0.49, or 0.24-0.56

Bedrock Edition:

SoundSourceDescriptionResource locationVolumePitch
Friendly CreaturesRandomly while idlemob.sniffer.idle1.00.8-1.2 (Baby: 1.3-1.7)
Friendly CreaturesRandomly when a sniffer diesmob.sniffer.death1.00.8-1.2 (Baby: 1.3-1.7)
Friendly CreaturesWhen a sniffer is damagedmob.sniffer.hurt1.00.8-1.2 (Baby: 1.3-1.7)
Friendly CreaturesWhen a sniffer stands up after finding a seedmob.sniffer.happy1.00.8-1.2 (Baby: 1.3-1.7)
Friendly CreaturesWhen a sniffer is fed torchflower seedsmob.sniffer.eat0.70.8-1.2
Friendly CreaturesRandomly while idlemob.sniffer.sniffsniff1.00.8-1.2 (Baby: 1.3-1.7)
Friendly CreaturesWhen a sniffer starts searching for a potential seedmob.sniffer.long_sniff1.00.8-1.2 (Baby: 1.3-1.7)
Friendly CreaturesWhile a sniffer is moving toward a potential seed's positionmob.sniffer.searchingvaries [sound 1]0.8-1.2 (Baby: 1.3-1.7)
Friendly CreaturesWhen a sniffer sploots and digsmob.sniffer.digging1.00.8-1.2 (Baby: 1.3-1.7)
Friendly CreaturesWhen a sniffer stops diggingmob.sniffer.stand_up1.00.8-1.2 (Baby: 1.3-1.7)
Friendly CreaturesWhen a sniffer digs up a seedmob.sniffer.drop_seed0.8varies [sound 2]
Friendly CreaturesWhen a sniffer lays an eggmob.sniffer.plop1.00.8-1.2
Friendly CreaturesWhile a sniffer is walkingmob.sniffer.step1.00.8-1.2 (Baby: 1.3-1.7)
  1. Can be 1.0 or 0.8 for each sound
  2. Can be 0.48-0.72 (Baby: 0.78-1.02), 0.56-0.84 (Baby: 0.91-1.19), or 0.64-0.96 (Baby: 1.04-1.36)

Data values

ID

Java Edition:

NameIdentifierTranslation key
Sniffersnifferentity.minecraft.sniffer

Bedrock Edition:

NameIdentifierNumeric ID Translation key
Sniffersniffer139entity.sniffer.name

Entity data

Sniffers have entity data associated with them that contain various properties.

Java Edition:

Main article: Entity format
  • Entity data
    • Additional fields for mobs that can breed
    • Tags common to all entities
    • Tags common to all mobs

Bedrock Edition:

See Bedrock Edition level format/Entity format.

Advancements

Icon Advancement In-game description Parent Actual requirements (if different) Resource location
Advancement-fancy-rawIt Spreads
Kill a mob near a Sculk Catalyst Monster HunterKill one of these 70 mobs near a sculk catalyst: Mobs that drop no experience are ignored for this advancement.adventure/kill_mob_near_sculk_catalyst
Advancement-plain-rawThe Parrots and the Bats
Breed two animals together HusbandryBreed a pair of any of these 25 mobs: A mule must be the result of breeding a horse and a donkey for this advancement as they are not breedable together. Other breedable mobs are ignored for this advancement.husbandry/breed_an_animal
Advancement-plain-rawSmells Interesting
Obtain a Sniffer Egg HusbandryHave a sniffer egg in your inventory.
This is a hidden advancement, meaning that it can be viewed by the player only after completing it, regardless of if its child advancement(s), if any, have been completed.
husbandry/obtain_sniffer_egg
Advancement-fancy-rawTwo by Two
Breed all the animals! The Parrots and the BatsBreed a pair of each of these 24 mobs: A trader llama does not count as a llama, and a mule must be the result of breeding a horse and a donkey for this advancement as they are not breedable together. Other breedable mobs can be bred, but are ignored for this advancement.husbandry/bred_all_animals
Advancement-plain-rawLittle Sniffs
Feed a Snifflet Smells InterestingFeed a snifflet torchflower seeds.
This is a hidden advancement, meaning that it can be viewed by the player only after completing it, regardless of if its child advancement(s), if any, have been completed.
husbandry/feed_snifflet
Advancement-plain-rawPlanting the Past
Plant any Sniffer seed Little SniffsThis is a hidden advancement, meaning that it can be viewed by the player only after completing it, regardless of if its child advancement(s), if any, have been completed.husbandry/plant_any_sniffer_seed

History

October 4, 2022 SniffletPixelSniffers are announced as part of the mob vote for Minecraft Live 2022.
October 16, 2022The sniffer wins the mob vote at Minecraft Live 2022.
January 20, 2023A sniffer is first shown in-game by Chiwi on Twitter.
February 13, 2023Sniffer Tweaked the texture of sniffers.
Java Edition
1.20
(Experimental)
23w07aSniffer Sniffer Added sniffers behind the Update 1.20 experimental datapack.
Breeding two sniffers spawns a snifflet immediately.
1.2023w12aSniffers are now available without using the "Update 1.20" experimental datapack.
Breeding two sniffers now causes a sniffer egg to drop as an item.
Snifflets are now spawned when a sniffer egg hatches.
Sniffers can now dig up pitcher pods.
23w13aSnifflet JE2 BE1 Changed the size of the snifflets to match Bedrock Edition.
Sniffers no longer drop moss blocks.
23w14aSniffers can now dig in mud.
Sniffers can now be tempted with torchflower seeds.
Sniffers can emit a sound when laying a sniffer egg.
23w16aSniffers can now enter minecarts.
23w17aThe player now gets the advancement "Little sniffs" when they feed a snifflet using torchflower seeds.
Bedrock Edition
Sniffer
(Experimental)
beta 1.19.70.23Sniffer Snifflet JE2 BE1 Added sniffers behind their own experimental toggle.
Breeding two sniffers spawns a snifflet immediately.
1.20.0beta 1.20.0.20Sniffers are now available without using the "Sniffer" experimental toggle.
Breeding two sniffers now causes a sniffer egg to drop as an item.
Snifflets are now spawned when a sniffer egg hatches.
Sniffers can now dig up pitcher pods.
beta 1.20.0.22Sniffers can now be tempted using torchflower seeds.
Sniffers now create particles when digging.

Issues

Issues relating to "Sniffer" are maintained on the bug tracker. Report issues there.

Trivia

  • The sniffer was originally a doodle Nekofresa made in their kitchen.[5]
    • The sniffer was Nekofresa's first mob ever designed for Minecraft.[6]
  • The plants that sniffers find are based off kniphofia genus of perennial flowering plants, which can be similarly called "torch lilies" as a common name for torchflowers and pitcher pods are loosely based off existing pitcher plants but with an orchid or ornamental vibe.[7]
  • The sniffer's walking animation was inspired by the leg movement that centipedes do.[8]
  • During the prototype phase for the sniffer's digging up of items the developers used beds as a placeholder.[9]
  • Due to the size of the sniffer it was a big challenge for the developers to perfect its pathfinding especially on 1 block edges.
  • A new team made up of new developers were tasked with developing the sniffer, and most of them had never made a mob before.[10]
  • The sniffer's digging animation was inspired by the way corgis spread their legs while lying down.[11]
  • To this day, the developers still don't know what the sniffer's front yellow part is. Whether it's a beak, a nose, or eyes, or whether it's used for breathing or finding seeds is unknown.[12]
  • A baby sniffer is called a snifflet in an article on Minecraft.net[13] and in the achievement "Little Sniffs".
  • Original ideas for what a baby sniffer would be called were Sniffling, Snort and Snifflet.[14]
    • Mojang developer Cory Scheviak personally calls sniffers "snuffleupaguses".
  • The reason why sniffers don’t spawn naturally and are at first only hatched from their preserved eggs is due to the sniffer being extinct prior to the player’s events in Minecraft.

Gallery

Animations

Screenshots

Trails & Tales Event

Cosmetics

Development Images

Concept Art

Official artwork

Textures

Merchandise

References

  1. "Minecraft 1.20: Sniffer Secrets & Cherry Groves" – Minecraft on YouTube, May 14, 2023
  2. MC-260259 — "Sniffers cannot dig nor find seeds on mycelium" — resolved as "Works As Intended".
  3. "Once you’ve unearthed your egg, it’s time to help it hatch! I implore you to pay close attention to this part of the process, because you have not lived until you have seen a snifflet burst out of its shell." – Minecraft.net
  4. MC-260272 — resolved as "Works As Intended".
  5. "Soon™ you will finally be able to meet the sniffer! Less than a year ago, this chonky baby was just a doodle made in my kitchen, they are growing so fast 🥺💖✨"@Nekofresa on X, February 13, 2023
  6. "We all brought it to the game! I only did the concept arts, but then the entire team brought it to life 💖 especially the anims"@Nekofresa on X, February 14, 2023
  7. "Ask Mojang" – Minecraft on YouTube, April 27, 2023
  8. "Minecraft 1.20: Sniffer Secrets & Cherry Groves" – Minecraft on YouTube, May 14, 2023
  9. "Minecraft 1.20: Sniffer Secrets & Cherry Groves" – Minecraft on YouTube, May 14, 2023
  10. "Minecraft 1.20: Sniffer Secrets & Cherry Groves" – Minecraft on YouTube, May 14, 2023
  11. "Minecraft 1.20: Sniffer Secrets & Cherry Groves" – Minecraft on YouTube, May 14, 2023
  12. "Minecraft 1.20: Sniffer Secrets & Cherry Groves" – Minecraft on YouTube, May 14, 2023
  13. "Once you’ve unearthed your egg, it’s time to help it hatch! I implore you to pay close attention to this part of the process, because you have not lived until you have seen a snifflet burst out of its shell." – Minecraft.net
  14. "ASK MOJANG - How the Sniffer got it's name?" – Minecraft on YouTube, August 21, 2023
  15. "To celebrate the Trails & Tales Update, we're giving away a custom art piece based on the newest mobs! But which one to give away: Are you part of the #SnifferSquad or #CamelCrew? 🤔"@Minecraft (Minecraft) on X, May 27, 2023
  16. https://twitter.com/Minecraft/status/1665768603575271425?s=20

External links

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