Automatic Creeper Farm with Looting III Spear in Minecraft Java Edition

Building a highly efficient Creeper farm allows you to obtain over 12,000 gunpowder per hour, completely solving the need for rockets for Elytra and TNT.

Classic designs use cats to scare Creepers, causing the mobs to fall into a shaft and take fall damage or burn. However, this method does not allow the use of the Looting III enchantment, as the mobs die passively. This guide describes an advanced killing system using a Spear — a new weapon from the 1.21.11 update (Mounts of Mayhem). A specially blocked Zombified Piglin holds an enchanted spear and constantly attacks a Snow Golem, killing all falling Creepers and multiplying the loot.

Preparation and Necessary Materials

To build this farm, prepare the following resources:

• Solid building blocks: about 12–15 stacks of Cobblestone, Deepslate Bricks, or Smooth Stone.

• Slabs: 4–5 stacks of any stone Slabs.

• Trapdoors: 8–10 stacks of wooden Trapdoors for the spawning platforms.

• Glass: 1 stack for the killing chamber and viewing windows.

• Dispensers: 5–8 pieces (depending on the number of farm floors).

• Water Buckets: matching the number of Dispensers.

• Repeaters: 10 pieces to create a flushing timer.

• Redstone Dust: 1 stack.

• Redstone Torches: 16 pieces to transmit the signal upwards.

• Hoppers: 4 pieces to collect gunpowder.

• Chests: 4 pieces for a large storage system.

• Snow: 4 blocks to create two Snow Golems.

• Carved Pumpkin: 2 pieces.

• Name Tag: 1 piece, which you have named on an anvil.

• Spear: 1 piece, on which you have applied the Looting III enchantment using an anvil and a book.

Step 1. Setting up the Collection System and Killing Chamber

Since the farm operates at the maximum spawn rate, build it over a deep ocean or at a high altitude (Y=180 or higher). This will free the mob cap from underground caves. Place double Chests and connect 3 Hoppers to them in a 3×1 shape. Place Trapdoors on top of the Hoppers. They will keep the Creepers in the chamber but allow the Hoppers to collect gunpowder.

Step 2. Preparing and Deploying the Zombified Piglin with an Enchanted Spear

You need one Zombified Piglin to act as the executioner.

The Zombified Piglin must pick up the Spear. There is a trick to this. Since a Piglin turns into a Zombified Piglin shortly after being moved to the Overworld — we will find a Piglin, move it to the Overworld, and after it transforms into a Zombified Piglin, give it the Spear with Looting III.

Find the mob in the Nether and lure it through the portal into the Overworld using a minecart or boat.

Step 3. Installing the Snow Golem and Triggering Continuous Attacks

Opposite the Zombified Piglin, on the other side of the drop shaft, build a Snow Golem. Place two Snow blocks on top of each other and put a Carved Pumpkin on top. Be sure to enclose the Snow Golem with Glass on all sides, leaving one block empty so the Snow Golem can throw snowballs at the Zombified Piglin.

When the Snow Golem spots the Zombified Piglin, it will automatically start throwing snowballs at it. The snowballs will fly across the drop shaft. A snowball hit will provoke the Zombified Piglin, and it will try to hit the Snow Golem back. Since the Zombified Piglin is holding a Spear, which has an increased attack reach of up to 5–6 blocks in version 1.21.11, it will constantly lunge forward. The Glass will prevent the mobs from hurting each other, but the Zombified Piglin will endlessly swing the Spear through the drop shaft space, creating a kill zone for any hostile entities.

Step 4. Constructing the Creeper Flushing System

Step 5. Building the Creeper Spawning Platforms

Around the flushing channels, build 4–5 floors of spawning platforms. Each floor should be a round or square area measuring 11x11 blocks with channels in the middle. The distance between the floor and ceiling of each level must be exactly 2 blocks.

Now implement the mob filtering mechanics without cats. Creepers are 1.75 blocks tall, while Zombies and Skeletons need at least 1.95 blocks of height. Cover the entire ceiling of each floor with wooden Trapdoors. The Trapdoors will reduce the usable space height to 1.81 blocks. This will block the spawning of Skeletons and Zombies, allowing only Creepers and Spiders to spawn. To get rid of Spiders, place carpets on the platforms every 2 blocks in a checkerboard pattern (Spiders need a free 3x3 space to spawn).

You need to build such a floor 5 times.

Above the top floor, build a large roof out of solid blocks that extends 10 blocks beyond the spawning platforms. The roof will protect the farm from daylight and prevent Phantoms from spawning.

Common Mistakes and Troubleshooting

During the operation of the Creeper farm, technical issues may arise. Pay attention to the following points:

• Death of the Snow Golem: Creepers do not attack the Snow Golem, but a random Skeleton might spawn if you forgot to place carpets against Spiders or missed a ceiling block without a Trapdoor. The Skeleton will shoot the Snow Golem with arrows. Always fully protect the Snow Golem's cabin with Glass, leaving a minimal gap.

• Zombified Piglin loses aggro: if you leave the game or move too far away, the aggro cycle might break. To restart the system, approach the Snow Golem and let it throw a snowball at the Zombified Piglin again.

• Zombified Piglin is not hitting Creepers: make sure the Zombified Piglin is holding exactly a Spear. A regular sword has a smaller attack reach and does not hit the Creepers in the center of the drop shaft. Use only a Spear.

• Zombified Piglin despawns: make sure to use a Name Tag. If the mob does not have a name, the game will remove it when the player moves away.

Alternatives and Farm Variations

Besides using a Zombified Piglin with a Spear, there are classic variants of Creeper farms:

1. Cat Farm: uses tamed cats, which the player places in the center of the platforms. Creepers are afraid of cats and run into the drop shaft on their own. This method does not require Redstone Dust or water for flushing, but the output of such a farm is much lower due to the slow movement of the mobs.

2. Active flushing without Looting: uses standard automatic killing of Creepers with a Soul Campfire or Wither Roses at the bottom of the shaft. Such a farm is completely autonomous but yields 3–4 times less gunpowder, as it does not utilize the Looting III enchantment effect.