One essential skill to master is how to pick up spawners in Minecraft. Spawners are valuable blocks that allow you to create farms, traps, and other automated systems. However, picking up spawners is not as straightforward as breaking other blocks in the game. In this article, we will provide you with easy steps and tips on how to pick up spawners in Minecraft. So, let’s dive in and learn how to make the most of these valuable resources!
Understanding Spawners in Minecraft
Before we delve into picking up spawners, let’s understand what spawners are and why they are essential in Minecraft. Spawners are special blocks found in dungeons, mineshafts, and other generated structures in the game. They have a cage-like appearance and contain a spinning mob inside. When activated, spawners continuously spawn mobs of a particular type, such as zombies, skeletons, or spiders. Spawners are a great source of experience points and rare drops from mobs, making them highly valuable to players.

The Challenge of Picking Up Spawners
Picking up spawners in Minecraft can be challenging because they cannot be obtained directly through regular mining. Spawners require a different approach, unlike other blocks that can be broken with a pickaxe or other tools. To pick up spawners, you need to use a specific enchanted tool called a “Silk Touch” enchanted pickaxe. This enchanted pickaxe allows you to collect spawners intact and transfer them to your inventory for later use.

Step-by-Step Guide on How to Pick Up Spawners
Here is a step-by-step guide on how to pick up spawners in Minecraft:
Step 1: Enchant a Pickaxe with Silk Touch
To pick up spawners, you need to have a pickaxe with the Silk Touch enchantment. Silk Touch is a rare enchantment that can be applied to pickaxes using an enchantment table, anvil, or grindstone. This comprehensive guide on how to customize your shield provides insights into enchanting and customization in Minecraft, which can also be applied to enchanting a pickaxe. To enchant a pickaxe with Silk Touch, follow these steps:
- Place an enchantment table, anvil, or grindstone in your Minecraft world.
- Gather the necessary resources, such as experience points, enchantment books, and an unenchanted pickaxe.
- Interact with the enchantment table, anvil, or grindstone to open the enchantment interface.
- Place the unenchanted pickaxe in the appropriate slot.
- Select the Silk Touch enchantment from the available options.
- Apply the enchantment to the pickaxe by spending the required experience points or combining it with an enchantment book.
- Retrieve the enchanted pickaxe from the enchantment table, anvil, or grindstone.

Step 2: Find and Activate the Spawner
Once you have an enchanted pickaxe with Silk Touch, the next step is to find a spawner in your Minecraft world. Spawners can be found in dungeons, mineshafts, and other generated structures. Here’s how you can locate and activate a spawner:
- Explore your Minecraft world and look for dungeons or mineshafts. Dungeons are small rooms made of cobblestone with a mob spawner in the center, while mineshafts are long corridors with wooden supports and cobwebs.
- Once you find a spawner, approach it carefully to avoid triggering the mobs.
- Use your enchanted pickaxe with Silk Touch to break the spawner. The spawner will drop as an item in your inventory.
- Pick up the spawner item to add it to your inventory.

Step 3: Transfer the Spawner to Your Desired Location
After picking up the spawner, you can now transfer it to your desired location. This is where you can get creative and use spawners to create farms, traps, or other automated systems in your Minecraft world. For instance, you can incorporate other elements like bamboo, which can be farmed and crafted for various uses in your gameplay. Follow these steps to transfer the spawner:
- Decide on the location where you want to place the spawner. It could be in your base, a specific farm or trap location, or any other desired spot.
- Open your inventory and locate the spawner item that you picked up.
- Select the spawner item and place it in the appropriate slot in your hot bar.
- Exit your inventory and go to the location where you want to place the spawner.
- Right-click or use the corresponding button on your gaming device to activate the spawner and place it in the desired location.

Tips for Using Spawners Effectively
Here are some tips to help you make the most of your spawners in Minecraft:
- Use spawners strategically to create efficient farms or traps. For example, you can create a mob farm using a skeleton spawner to collect arrows and bones or a zombie spawner to collect rotten flesh and armor drops.
- Utilize other game mechanics and redstone contraptions to automate spawners. You can use redstone circuits, pistons, and other mechanisms to control the activation and deactivation of spawners, allowing you to collect mobs and drops more efficiently.
- Consider the mob type and drops when choosing spawners. Different mobs have different drops and can provide different resources. Choose spawners that align with your gameplay goals and resource needs.
- Be mindful of mob spawning limits. In Minecraft, there are mob spawning limits for each player’s area, so make sure not to exceed those limits when using spawners to avoid diminishing their effectiveness.
- Protect your spawners from damage. Spawners are delicate and can be destroyed by explosions or other means. Place them in a protected area or encase them in blocks to prevent accidental destruction.

Conclusion
Mastering the skill of picking up spawners in Minecraft can greatly enhance your gameplay and open up new possibilities for automated systems and resource collection. Remember to enchant your pickaxe with Silk Touch, locate and activate the spawner, and transfer it to your desired location. Use spawners strategically and consider mob type, drops, and game mechanics to optimize their use. With these tips, you’ll be well on your way to becoming a Minecraft expert.
FAQs
Can I pick up spawners without Silk Touch?
No, you need a pickaxe enchanted with Silk Touch to pick up spawners in Minecraft. Without Silk Touch, mining a spawner will simply destroy it, and it will not drop as an item.
What is Silk Touch in Minecraft?
Silk Touch is an enchantment in Minecraft that allows you to harvest blocks in their original form without converting them into their usual dropped items. It is required to pick up spawners in Minecraft.
How do I get a Silk Touch-enchanted pickaxe in Minecraft?
You can obtain a Silk Touch-enchanted pickaxe in Minecraft by enchanting a diamond, iron, or netherite pickaxe using an enchantment table, anvil, or grindstone. You can also find Silk Touch-enchanted pickaxes in chests in dungeons, mineshafts, temples, or obtained from villagers.
Can I use a Silk Touch-enchanted tool other than a pickaxe to pick up spawners?
No, currently in Minecraft, only pickaxes enchanted with Silk Touch can pick up spawners. Other Silk Touch-enchanted tools or weapons will not work on spawners.
What types of spawners can I pick up in Minecraft?
In Minecraft, you can pick up various types of spawners, including zombie spawners, skeleton spawners, spider spawners, creeper spawners, and more. Each type of spawner will drop as an item with Silk Touch-enchanted pickaxe when mined.
Can I move spawners to a different location after picking them up?
Yes, after picking up a spawner with a Silk Touch-enchanted pickaxe, you can transfer it to a different location by placing it in your inventory and then placing it in the desired spot in your Minecraft world.
What can I do with spawners in Minecraft?
Spawners are a valuable resource in Minecraft that can be used to create farms, traps, or automated systems. They can be used to collect mob drops, create experience farms, or even create custom mob spawners in your Minecraft world.
Are there any limitations or restrictions when using spawners in Minecraft?
Yes, there are some limitations when using spawners in Minecraft. For example, each player has a limit to the number of mobs that can spawn within their area, so using too many spawners in a small area may result in diminished effectiveness. Additionally, spawners can be destroyed by explosions or other means, so it’s important to protect them in a safe location.
How can I optimize the use of spawners in Minecraft?
To optimize the use of spawners in Minecraft, you can consider using other game mechanics such as redstone circuits, pistons, and other mechanisms to automate spawners and improve their efficiency. You can also choose spawners that align with your gameplay goals and resource needs and strategically place them in protected areas to prevent accidental destruction.
Is it possible to obtain spawners without Silk Touch in Minecraft?
No, currently, in Minecraft, spawners can only be obtained by using a pickaxe enchanted with Silk Touch. Without Silk Touch, mining a spawner will destroy it and not drop it as an item.