The revamped Nether in Minecraft is a realm filled not only with countless resources but also with restless mobs that make exploring these areas quite challenging. In addition to ghasts, wither skeletons, and blazes, a new creature has emerged in the Nether—piglins.
Who are these enigmatic monsters, and what role do they play in the Nether? Who thought it was a good idea to introduce yet another entity into these already perilous environments?!
“The reason for adding piglins was to create a more vibrant, cultural, and entertaining atmosphere in the Nether,” explains esteemed developer Minecraft and piglin expert Henrik. “If you’re not careful enough, piglins will likely cause you plenty of trouble.” 
Piglins can be found throughout the world, particularly near bastion remnants, where they gather in large groups. At first glance, they may seem harmless, but that’s far from the truth. Piglins will fiercely defend their territory at any cost, and they won’t hesitate to strike if you cross the line.
“If you open a chest near a piglin, it will assume you’re a thief and attack you, even if the chest belongs to you. This means that you can never truly let your guard down in the Nether. However, many players quickly forget this, and even I, the creator of these creatures, have been distracted and overlooked them.”
Dealing with thieving neighbors who also wield golden swords and crossbows is always challenging, but don’t let their unpredictability and friendly appearance discourage you. While piglins may not be as well-mannered as the inhabitants of the Overworld and won’t appreciate your clever remarks, there is one thing they are willing to go to great lengths for, and that’s gold.
“Players should always carry gold or golden ingots with them,” says Henrik. “However, you must also remember that piglins will become very angry if they catch you mining for gold, as they believe it belongs solely to them.”
In addition to their love for gold, piglins have a tendency to hunt hoglins, battle with wither skeletons, and tremble in fear of soul fire.
“It was incredibly fun to come up with the behavior prototypes for piglins. We would run away from them, toss gold to distract them, watch as hoglins attacked us, only to see piglins turn on them afterward. In those moments, it feels like we are safe, but then something happens, and suddenly the piglins are angry at us again. It all unfolds randomly, and it’s always fascinating to observe what actions these amusing creatures will take next.”
Another interesting feature of piglins is the new trading system that enables players to exchange gold for valuable items, such as crying obsidian or soul speed. This system operates more simply than that of villagers; there’s no trade window involved—just toss a gold ingot to a piglin, and it will provide you with an item.
The developers aimed to establish a trading system with various rewards. However, designing all the details independently proved challenging, so they reached out to the Minecraft Bedrock gaming community. 
“Thousands of responses came in,” recalls Henrik. “The gaming community helped me realize that we have a vast number of like-minded individuals, and that there are thousands upon thousands of co-designers in our endeavor!”
Are you eager to befriend these magnificent beings? If you’re truly looking to establish a partnership with the piglins and ensure your character’s safety, you’ll need gold—lots and lots of it!
Are you eager to befriend these magnificent beings? If you’re truly looking to establish a partnership with the piglins and ensure your character’s safety, you’ll need gold—lots and lots of it!
