Minecraft Warden: How to find and escape the Warden in Minecraft 1.19

Want to know more about the Warden in Minecraft 1.19? Minecraft's latest update, The Wild Update, brings plenty of new features, including new biomes and mobs. In one of those biomes, known as the Deep Dark, you may find a new miniboss named the Warden. This monster is a powerful enemy, but it's also one of the main highlights of The Wild Update. Whether you want to force an encounter or just learn how to avoid the Warden, knowing more about this miniboss is crucial if you want to plan an adventure into the Deep Dark's Ancient Cities to find some of Minecraft 1.19s new items.

In this guide, we'll cover everything you need to know about the Warden, including how to find and avoid the Warden in Minecraft 1.19.

What is the Warden in Minecraft 1.19?

The Warden is a new hostile mob introduced in Minecraft 1.19. It is a fearsome predator and seemingly impossible to defeat in a standard Survival world. Since it is able to kill players in just one hit (Netherite armor does give you a small amount of extra protection), the Warden is currently one of the strongest enemies in Minecraft.

When the Warden appears, it will hunt for nearby players using sound and smell. The Warden is blind, so you're safe to stand out in the open. Danger comes when you move or if you stay in the same place for too long. Moving around the Deep Dark will cause vibrations that the Warden can track, while sitting still will allow the Warden to sniff you out. This makes exploring the Deep Dark particularly difficult, but we do have some tips that you can use to avoid and escape the Warden below.

While the Warden might make underground tips more dangerous, Minecraft 1.19 also makes them more lucrative. If you're brave enough to delve underground, you'll find plenty of new items in the Ancient Cities buried deep below the surface, such as Echo Shards which you can use to craft a Recovery Compass. It is worth noting, though, that the Warden does not drop any loot itself. This is not a mob you're meant to defeat, after all.

How to find the Warden in Minecraft 1.19

The Warden is found exclusively in the Deep Dark. As of Minecraft 1.19, it will not ascend to the surface to wreak havoc in the open air. The Deep Dark is found below Y=0, so you will likely find the biome while mining for diamonds.

When you reach the Deep Dark, you may want to grab a torch to light your surroundings. Then, simply start wandering around to summon the Warden. The Deep Dark is covered in something called Sculk, a new block that allows vibrations to travel through the Deep Dark. Those vibrations, caused by movement, opening doors, looting chests, and placing items, will ripple through to Sculk Shriekers, which will then sound an alarm that spawns the Warden.

If you're looking to find the Warden and challenge it to a fight, that's all you'll need to know. Simply dig down until you find the Deep Dark and then sprint around for a few moments until the Warden appears. You’ll know when the Warden is close, as nearby candles and other light sources will start to flash.

How to avoid and escape the Warden in Minecraft 1.19

Okay, so you've challenged the Warden and died. Was it worth the trouble? No, probably not. Now, we'll explain how to avoid the Warden and how to escape the Warden if you're in a particularly sticky situation.

If you want to avoid the Warden while moving around the Deep Dark, make sure to crouch and sneak. Sneaking does not cause vibrations to travel through nearby Sculk, allowing you to move around without setting off Sculk Shriekers. However, you'll still need to stay aware of Sculk Sensors, which are little traps hidden throughout the Deep Dark. If you walk over them, they'll also send out signals which may alert the Warden.

While you're not sneaking, every noise you make will create a vibration that will alert the Warden, drawing it closer. If you want to explore the Deep Dark it's best to go alone, as the Warden will also hear and attack other mobs, including friendly axolotls and foxes.

If the Warden is nearby, you can distract it by throwing something to make noise. For example, if you fire an arrow or throw a snowball, the Warden will investigate the sound and give you a chance to sneak away.

Sneaking in Minecraft does slow you down a lot, but fortunately Minecraft 1.19 brings a new enchantment to remedy that situation. If you manage to survive the Deep Dark and explore the Ancient Cities found within, you may loot an enchanted book that has the Swift Sneak enchantment. Swift Sneak allows you to move much faster while sneaking, so it's going to prove essential for entrepid explorers of the Deep Dark.

If the Warden spots you and you find yourself needing a quick getaway, we recommend sprinting towards the nearest light source. The Warden will burrow underground to hide in well-lit rooms or in sunlight, so you can use this to your advantage to get away. However, you may want to consider chugging a Potion of Swiftness for this sprint, as the Warden can easily outrun the player at default movement speeds.

That's everything you need to know to find and escape the Warden in Minecraft 1.19. If you want to give the Deep Dark a makeover, take a look at our list of the best Minecraft shaders. If you're starting a new survival world and want to get the best start, check out our lists of the best java seeds and best bedrock seeds for Minecraft.