How to build an automatic hoglin farm in Minecraft?

Learning how to build an automatic hoglin farm in Minecraft is a fantastic way to secure a steady supply of cooked porkchops and leather, making it an essential late-game resource. This guide will walk you through the precise steps to construct an efficient hoglin farm, tailored for both Java and Bedrock editions.

What You’ll Need

Building an automatic hoglin farm requires a variety of materials, some of which are specific to the Nether. Here’s a breakdown of the essential items:

• Building Blocks: Several stacks of a non-flammable solid block (e.g., Netherrack, Blackstone, Cobblestone). These are your primary construction materials for platforms and walls. Netherrack is abundant in the Nether, making it a convenient choice.
• Slabs: Approximately 8-192 slabs, depending on your farm’s design and size. Slabs are crucial for preventing certain mob spawns and for specific funneling mechanics.
• Dirt Blocks: 5-28 dirt blocks. These are used to plant Warped Fungus, which scares Hoglins.
• Warped Fungus: 5-28 Warped Fungus. You can find these growing in Warped Forests or Crimson Forests within the Nether. They are the key to funneling Hoglins.
• Chests: 2-60 chests for storing the collected drops. The exact number depends on how much storage you need for porkchops and leather.
• Hoppers: 9-55 hoppers to transport items from the killing chamber into your storage chests. Hoppers are crafted from iron ingots and a chest.
• Trapdoors: 10-20 trapdoors (any type). These are used to trick Hoglins into thinking there’s a solid block, causing them to fall into the killing chamber. Crafted from six planks of any wood type.
• Lava Bucket: 1 lava bucket for the killing chamber. Lava is an efficient way to kill Hoglins and cook their meat simultaneously.
• Torches: 28-107 torches for spawn-proofing areas and preventing Piglins from spawning on your platforms. Crafted from a stick and coal/charcoal. Soul torches can also be used, crafted with soul soil/sand, a stick, and coal/charcoal.
• Fences: 4 fences (Java Edition specific). Used in some Java designs for more precise funneling. Crafted from sticks and planks.
• Temporary Blocks: 5-16 temporary blocks for scaffolding during construction. Dirt or cobblestone works well.
• Scaffolding/Ladders: Several stacks of scaffolding or ladders for building up to the Nether roof (Java Edition) or creating an AFK spot. Scaffolding is crafted from bamboo and string.
• Ender Pearls/Obsidian/Flint and Steel: For accessing the Nether roof in Java Edition. Ender pearls are dropped by Endermen. Obsidian is mined with a diamond pickaxe. Flint and steel are crafted from flint and an iron ingot.
• Trident (Bedrock specific): If building a trident killer for Bedrock, you’ll need at least one trident. Dropped by Drowned.
• Campfire (Bedrock specific): If using a trident killer, a campfire can be placed below to cook the drops. Crafted from 3 logs/wood, 3 sticks, and 1 coal/charcoal.

Step-by-Step

Building an automatic hoglin farm requires careful planning and execution, especially when dealing with Nether mechanics.

1. Reach the Build Location

The very first and most crucial step is to locate the correct biome and elevation.

• Java Edition: Your farm must be built in a Crimson Forest biome. For optimal efficiency and to prevent unwanted mob spawns below, you should build the farm on the Nether roof (Y=127). To get there, you’ll need to use a combination of methods:
  • Build a tall pillar of temporary blocks to Y=125.
  • Place a bed and surround it with obsidian on all sides (including above) to prevent explosion damage. Attempt to sleep in the bed; it will explode, but you’ll survive and be teleported to the top of the Nether.
  • Alternatively, you can use ender pearls to glitch through the bedrock at Y=127. Build a 2-block high pillar, stand on top, and throw an ender pearl straight up against the bedrock ceiling. This can be tricky and may require several attempts.
  • Once on the roof, clear a sufficiently large area of bedrock (using a method like a Wither to break bedrock, though this is advanced) or find an existing clear spot.
• Bedrock Edition: Hoglins also only spawn in Crimson Forest biomes. Since accessing the Nether roof isn’t typically used for Bedrock farms due to different spawn mechanics, build your farm above a large lava lake within a Crimson Forest biome. This naturally spawn-proofs a large area below your farm.

2. Build Item Collection System

This system will gather all the drops from the Hoglins.

1. Dig a 1×1 hole in the center of your chosen build area. This will be your drop chute.
2. Below this hole, place a double chest.
3. Place hoppers feeding into this double chest. You can place multiple rows of hoppers leading into more chests for expanded storage. Ensure all hoppers are pointing towards a chest or another hopper that eventually leads to a chest.

3. Construct Killing Chamber

The killing chamber is where the Hoglins meet their demise and drop their loot.

1. For Java Edition (Lava Killer):
   • Above your central drop chute, at a height where Hoglins will take fall damage but not die instantly (typically 2-3 blocks above where they land), create a 1×1 opening.
   • Place a lava source block directly above this opening. Hoglins will fall through the lava, take fire damage, and then fall further to die from fall damage or lava damage. Dying in lava ensures cooked porkchops.
   • Ensure the lava is contained so it doesn’t flow onto your spawning platforms. You can use signs or trapdoors on the sides of the 1×1 opening to hold the lava in place without blocking the Hoglins’ path.
2. For Bedrock Edition (Trident Killer with Campfire):
   • Instead of lava, a trident killer is often preferred in Bedrock for its efficiency and ability to apply looting enchantments.
   • Below the drop chute, create a 3×3 chamber.
   • Place a campfire in the center of the floor directly below where Hoglins land. This will cook the porkchops.
   • Around the campfire, place four solid blocks.
   • Place four pistons facing inwards towards the campfire, one on each side.
   • Place four observers, each observing one of the pistons.
   • Place a lever or Redstone torch to activate the pistons.
   • Throw a trident into the space where the Hoglins land, making sure it’s caught by the piston’s movement. When the pistons activate, they will push the trident, dealing continuous damage to any Hoglins in the chamber.
   • Ensure the block below the campfire is Netherrack and set on fire to guarantee cooked porkchops.

4. Create Spawning Platforms

These are the main areas where Hoglins will appear.

1. Starting 3-4 blocks above your killing chamber (to give Hoglins enough space to fall and take damage), begin building your spawning platforms.
2. Build large, flat platforms. Common sizes include 13×13 or 18×18 blocks. You can create multiple layers of these platforms, separated by 3-4 blocks of vertical space, to increase spawn rates.
3. Ensure the edges of your platforms are clear and accessible for Hoglins to walk on.

5. Hoglin Funneling

Hoglins are naturally scared of Warped Fungus, which is key to directing them into your killing chamber.

1. On your spawning platforms, strategically place Warped Fungus. Hoglins will run away from Warped Fungus in a straight line.
2. Design your platforms so that placing Warped Fungus at the outer edges or in specific patterns will consistently push Hoglins towards the central drop chute. For example, you can create rows of Warped Fungus leading to the center.
3. Around the central drop chute, place open trapdoors. Hoglins perceive open trapdoors as solid blocks and will attempt to walk over them, causing them to fall into the chute. This is a highly effective funneling mechanism.

6. Piglin Spawn Prevention

Piglins can spawn in Crimson Forests and interfere with your farm.

1. Light up your spawning platforms with torches. Piglins require a light level of 11 or lower to spawn. By placing torches strategically, you can raise the light level above 11, preventing Piglin spawns.
2. Soul torches can also be used, as Piglins are naturally scared of them and will avoid areas lit by soul torches.

7. AFK Spot

An AFK (Away From Keyboard) spot is crucial for ensuring optimal mob spawning and despawning mechanics.

• Java Edition: Build an AFK platform 128 blocks directly above the output chests (or the lowest spawning platform). This height ensures that mobs outside your farm’s radius despawn, while Hoglins within the farm continue to spawn and are processed.
• Bedrock Edition: Build an AFK spot 30-35 blocks directly above the lowest spawning platform. Bedrock’s despawn sphere is smaller (44 blocks), so this height is optimal for keeping Hoglins within the farm loaded and spawning, while despawning any unwanted mobs further away.

Java vs. Bedrock Differences

While the core concept of an automatic hoglin farm remains the same, there are significant differences between Java and Bedrock editions that impact design and efficiency:

• Nether Roof Access: Java Edition players commonly utilize the Nether roof (Y=127) for building farms. This offers a vast, flat, and naturally spawn-proofed area, leading to higher efficiency. Bedrock Edition does not allow easy access to the Nether roof for farming purposes, so farms are typically built in open spaces within the Nether.
• Spawn Mechanics: Java Edition has a 128-block despawn sphere around the player, and mob spawning occurs from the bottom of the world up. This allows for very large, multi-layered farms on the Nether roof. Bedrock Edition has a smaller despawn sphere of 44 blocks, and its spawning mechanics are less predictable, often favoring smaller, more compact designs.
• Killing Mechanism: Java farms frequently use simple lava and fall damage for killing Hoglins, which automatically cooks the porkchops. Bedrock farms often incorporate trident killers with campfires. Trident killers offer the benefit of applying looting enchantments (if the player holds a looting sword in their off-hand or has a looting enchantment on the trident itself in some setups), and campfires ensure cooked porkchops.
• Rates: Due to the differences in spawn mechanics and the ability to build on the Nether roof, Java Edition farms generally achieve higher items per hour (IPH) rates compared to Bedrock Edition farms.

Tips for Efficiency

• Crimson Forest Only: Reiterate that Hoglins only spawn in Crimson Forest biomes. Building elsewhere will yield no results.
• AFK Height is Key: Ensure your AFK spot is at the correct height for your edition. Incorrect height will drastically reduce or prevent spawns.
• Spawn-Proofing: If not on the Nether roof (Java) or above a lava lake (Bedrock), you must spawn-proof all surrounding caves and areas within 128 blocks (Java) or 44 blocks (Bedrock) of your farm. This prevents other mobs from filling the mob cap and reducing Hoglin spawns.
• Warped Fungus Placement: Experiment with Warped Fungus placement to optimize funneling. Hoglins will always run directly away from it.
• Bedrock 1.21.82 Specific Notes:
  • You might find that buttons or coral fans are not strictly necessary at upper platform ledges to prevent Hoglins from getting stuck.
  • If your trident killer stops working after logging off or unloading chunks, try re-placing the trapdoor on the east or south side of the killing chamber. This can sometimes reset the piston’s interaction with the trident.
  • To prevent Hoglins from “skywalking” (moving between ledges without falling), place a trapdoor next to any slab at head level and open it. This creates a perceived solid block that they will try to walk over, falling instead.
  • To prevent Hoglins from getting stuck in corners of lower platforms, place a solid block at head level and a button at foot level in those corners. This pushes them out of the corner.

FAQ

Q: Why do I need to build the farm in a Crimson Forest?
A: Hoglins are exclusive to the Crimson Forest biome. They will not spawn naturally in any other biome, making the Crimson Forest a mandatory location for your farm.

Q: How do I get cooked porkchops instead of raw pork?
A: For cooked porkchops, Hoglins must die while on fire. In Java, this is achieved by having them fall through lava. In Bedrock, a campfire below the killing chamber (often combined with a trident killer) will cook the drops.

Q: Can I use Nether portals to funnel Hoglins?
A: While Hoglins are scared of Nether portals, they may run through them instead of falling into your trap. Warped Fungus is a much more reliable and controlled method for funneling.

Q: My Hoglin farm isn’t spawning many Hoglins. What could be wrong?
A: The most common issues are building outside a Crimson Forest, an incorrect AFK spot height, or a lack of spawn-proofing in surrounding areas which allows other mobs to fill the mob cap. Ensure your light levels on platforms are high enough to prevent Piglin spawns.

Q: Do Hoglin farms work in the latest Minecraft versions?
A: Yes, automatic hoglin farms generally work in Minecraft versions 1.16 and above, including the latest 1.21 updates, with minor design adjustments sometimes needed for Bedrock Edition.

Building an automatic hoglin farm is a rewarding endeavor that significantly boosts your food and leather supplies. Enjoy your abundant resources!