Monster Spawner

Monster Spawner
A Monster (Mob) Spawner
Type	Block
Luminosity	2
Tool Used	Pickaxe
Renewable	No
Stackable	Yes (64)
First Appearance	Update 0.9.0

Monster Spawners (AKA Mob Spawners) are cage-like Blocks that were added in Update 0.9.0.

Use

Monster Spawners spawn Mobs around them in a certain radius (3 blocks) depending on the mob they are programmed to spawn. A small image of the mob on Fire will rotate inside the cage, and will gradually get bigger, until the mob spawns.

Locating

Mob Spawners are mostly found in Dungeons, Strongholds, Nether Fortresses, Caves, and Abandoned Mineshafts, accompanied by Chests containing various items and are presumed to challenge the players that try to raid the chests.

Disabling

The spawn area is an 8x8x3 box centered on a corner of the cage, and the mob can spawn within this box if there is enough room and the proper lighting. As a result, to disable the spawner the Player needs to make the light level be 8 or higher in the entire spawn box.

This can achieved by placing 1 Torch on top of it, or placing 4 Torches on its sides. Alternatively, if the Player makes a large room, you can use a lot of Redstone Lamps which would then allow the Player to switch the spawner on or off at their discretion.

Alternatively, the Monster Spawners can also be disabled by breaking them.

Trivia

• As of Update 0.9.0, it will spawn Hostile Mobs in Survival Mode in Dungeons, Strongholds, and Mineshafts. Dungeons will have Zombie, Skeleton, or Spider spawners. Strongholds will have Silverfish Spawners. Mineshafts and Mesa Mineshafts will contain Cave Spider Spawners.
• In Creative Mode, it is possible to change the mob spawned by a monster spawner using Spawn Eggs.
• The Player cannot get the Monster Spawner even if he/she is using a Silk Touch Enchanted Pickaxe.
• Dungeon spawners have a higher chance of spawning Zombies (50%) compared to Skeletons and Spiders (25% each).
• Version Exclusive: Monster Spawner is available in the Creative Inventory.
• Torches will not affect Spawners present in the Nether.
• Mobs spinning inside the spawner can wear Armor, but it will not affect the chances of a mob spawning wearing Armor.
• Monster Spawners drop Experience Orbs upon being destroyed.
• Version Exclusive: Monster Spawners emits light, and is the dimmest light available in the game.
• The disabling trick of only 1 torch on top doesn't work if the Player enlarges the room to the maximum spawn area. The northwest corner will then spawn mobs. In this case, the Player needs additional lighting.