Yes, tridents can and sometimes do despawn in trident killers in Minecraft Bedrock Edition, often due to a known bug rather than standard game mechanics. While tridents used in a trident killer are generally considered persistent entities that should not despawn, players have reported instances where they mysteriously vanish, particularly after extended play sessions or reloading a world.
Understanding Trident Behavior in Killers
In Minecraft Bedrock Edition, a trident killer typically relies on a thrown trident remaining a loaded entity within the game world, continuously damaging mobs. Unlike items simply dropped on the ground, which despawn after 5 minutes if no player is nearby, a trident thrown into a solid block (like in a trident killer setup) should, under normal circumstances, persist indefinitely. It functions as a special entity that is not subject to the typical item despawn timer.
Causes of Unexpected Despawn
The despawning of tridents in trident killers is most commonly attributed to a bug within Minecraft Bedrock Edition rather than an intended feature. Reports from players indicate this issue can manifest under specific conditions:
- Extended Play Sessions: Tridents have been observed to despawn after many hours of continuous gameplay (e.g., 8-10 hours), suggesting a potential memory or entity persistence issue over long periods.
- World Reloading: A frequent trigger for this bug is logging off the world and then reloading it later. Upon returning, players may find their tridents have vanished, causing the mob farm to cease functioning. This points to a problem with how the game saves and loads certain entities, particularly those in active, loaded chunks.
- Unloaded Chunks: While trident killers are designed to operate in loaded chunks, issues with how chunks are unloaded and reloaded (e.g., if a player moves far away and then returns) can sometimes lead to entities like tridents not correctly persisting.
Mitigating Trident Loss
While there's no guaranteed fix until a potential game update addresses the underlying bug, players can take several steps to minimize the risk of losing their tridents:
- Regular Checks: Periodically check your trident killer to ensure the trident is still present and functioning.
- Re-Throwing Tridents: If you notice your trident has despawned, simply throw another one into the designated spot. It's advisable to always carry a spare trident when visiting your farms.
- Manual Storage: Before logging off after a very long play session, consider temporarily picking up your trident from the killer and storing it in a chest. Replace it when you log back on. This is a manual workaround for the saving/loading bug.
- Backup Tridents: Always have multiple tridents enchanted with Mending and Loyalty (if you plan to retrieve it manually) to quickly replace any lost ones.
- Farm Design Considerations:
- Ensure your trident killer design is robust and minimizes the chance of the trident accidentally bouncing out or getting stuck in an unintended location.
- Consider designs where the trident is easily accessible for retrieval and re-throwing.
General Item Despawn Times (for context)
It's important to differentiate the bug-related trident despawn from standard item despawn mechanics in Minecraft. The table below illustrates general despawn times for common items:
| Item Type | Despawn Time | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Dropped Items (on ground) | 5 minutes | If no player is within 32 blocks, or after 5 minutes regardless. |
| Player Thrown Tridents | Indefinite | Normally persist until retrieved, or despawned by bugs. |
| Items in Chests/Inventories | Never | Persist indefinitely. |
In conclusion, while a trident in a trident killer should theoretically never despawn, the reality in Minecraft Bedrock Edition is that a recurring bug can cause them to vanish, particularly after long sessions or world reloads. Being aware of this issue and implementing preventative measures can help maintain the efficiency of your mob farms.
