Datapack Codex

Polar Bear

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This article is reproduced from Polar Bear on the Minecraft Wiki. Mirrored from revision 3720146. It is licensed CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 by the Minecraft Wiki contributors — not under the Codex’s CC BY-SA 4.0, and it may not be used commercially. Edits belong upstream, not here.

On this page
Polar Bear
Polar Bear.png: Infobox image for Minecraft entity 'Polar Bear'

Adult

Baby Polar Bear JE7 BE3.png: Infobox image for Minecraft entity 'Polar Bear'

Baby

Invicon Polar Bear Spawn Egg.png: Inventory sprite for Polar Bear Spawn Egg in Minecraft as shown in-game with description: Polar Bear Spawn Egg
{
    "title": "Polar Bear",
    "rows": [
        {
            "field": "30<span class=\"hidden-alt-text\">HP</span><span class=\"nowrap mc-hearts\"><span class=\"iconbar pixel-image nowrap\" title=\"1  heart\">(link to File:Heart (icon).png article, displayed as 9px|link=|alt=❤️)</span> × 15</span>",
            "label": "(link to Health article, displayed as Health points)"
        },
        {
            "field": "Hostile (when baby is nearby)<br>Neutral (adult)<br>Passive (baby)",
            "label": "Behavior"
        },
        {
            "field": "<span class=\"nowrap\"><span class=\"sprite-file\" to File:EntitySprite animal.png article, displayed as 16x16px|link=Animal|alt=|class=pixel-image|)</span>(link to Animal article, displayed as <span class=\"sprite-text\">Animal</span>)</span>",
            "label": "(link to Mob type article, displayed as Mob type)"
        },
        {
            "field": "(values exceeds 1000 characters...)",
            "label": "Attack<br/>strength"
        },
        {
            "field": "'''Adult:'''<br>Height: 1.4 blocks<br>Width: 1.4 blocks<br>\n'''Baby:'''<br>Height: 0.7 blocks<br>Width: 0.7 blocks<br>",
            "label": "(link to Hitbox article, displayed as Hitbox size)"
        },
        {
            "field": "0.25",
            "label": "(link to Attribute#Movement_speed article, displayed as Speed)"
        },
        {
            "field": "60%",
            "label": "(link to Attribute#knockback_resistance article, displayed as Knockback<br/>resistance)"
        },
        {
            "field": "(values exceeds 1000 characters...)",
            "label": "(link to Mob spawning article, displayed as Spawn)"
        },
        {
            "field": "\n*   <span class=\"nowrap\"><span class=\"sprite-file\" to File:ItemSprite lead.png article, displayed as 16x16px|link=Lead|alt=|class=pixel-image|)</span>(link to Lead article, displayed as <span class=\"sprite-text\">Lead</span>)</span>   \n*   <span class=\"nowrap\"><span class=\"sprite-file\" to File:BlockSprite golden-dandelion.png article, displayed as 16x16px|link=Golden Dandelion|alt=|class=pixel-image|)</span>(link to Golden Dandelion article, displayed as <span class=\"sprite-text\">Golden Dandelion</span>)</span>   <small>(baby only)</small>",
            "label": "Usable items"
        }
    ],
    "invimages": [
        "Polar Bear Spawn Egg"
    ],
    "images": [
        "Polar Bear.png",
        "Baby Polar Bear JE7 BE3.png"
    ]
}

Polar bears are large neutral mobs that live in icy biomes. Adult polar bears are protective of their babies, attacking players that get too close or attack any babies near them.

Spawning

Polar bears spawn in snowy plains, ice spikes, frozen and deep frozen ocean biomes, and additionally/sometimes in frozen river, legacy frozen ocean, snowy slopes, jagged peaks, and frozen peaks biomes in Bedrock Edition. They spawn in groups of up to two, above ice. In Java Edition, polar bears don't spawn on ice in snowy plains and ice spikes biomes. If there is a group, the second polar bear is a baby.

Polar Bear spawns in:
Category: CreatureJava EditionBedrock Edition
Spawn areaSpawn weightSpawn chanceGroup sizeSpawn weightGroup size
Frozen Ocean1⁄1100%1–251–2
Deep Frozen Ocean1⁄1100%1–251–2
Ice Spikes[spawn 1]1⁄119.09%1–211–2
Snowy Plains1⁄119.09%1–211–2
Frozen Peaks———11–2
Jagged Peaks———11–2
Frozen River———11–2
Snowy Slopes———11–2
  1. ↑ Despite attempts to spawn, it cannot spawn here in Java Edition.‌[Java Edition only]

Drops

On death

On Java Edition, one of cod or salmon is selected. On Bedrock Edition, both drops are rolled.[1]

Java Edition:

ItemQuantity / Chance / Average
DefaultLooting ILooting IILooting III
Raw Cod[A]0–250.00%0.750–362.50%1.120–468.75%1.500–570.83%1.88
Cooked Cod[B]0–250.00%0.750–362.50%1.120–468.75%1.500–570.83%1.88
Raw Salmon[A]0–216.67%0.250–320.83%0.380–422.92%0.500–523.61%0.62
Cooked Salmon[B]0–216.67%0.250–320.83%0.380–422.92%0.500–523.61%0.62

ItemQuantity / Chance / Average
DefaultLooting ILooting IILooting III
Raw Cod[A]0–21⁄23⁄40–35⁄89⁄80–411⁄163⁄20–517⁄2415⁄8
Cooked Cod[B]0–21⁄23⁄40–35⁄89⁄80–411⁄163⁄20–517⁄2415⁄8
Raw Salmon[A]0–21⁄61⁄40–35⁄243⁄80–411⁄481⁄20–517⁄725⁄8
Cooked Salmon[B]0–21⁄61⁄40–35⁄243⁄80–411⁄481⁄20–517⁄725⁄8

ItemAmountProbability
DefaultLooting ILooting IILooting III
Raw Cod[A]01⁄2 (50.00%)3⁄8 (37.50%)5⁄16 (31.25%)7⁄24 (29.17%)
11⁄4 (25.00%)1⁄4 (25.00%)3⁄16 (18.75%)1⁄8 (12.50%)
21⁄4 (25.00%)1⁄4 (25.00%)1⁄4 (25.00%)5⁄24 (20.83%)
301⁄8 (12.50%)3⁄16 (18.75%)5⁄24 (20.83%)
4001⁄16 (6.25%)1⁄8 (12.50%)
50001⁄24 (4.17%)
Average3⁄4 (0.75)9⁄8 (1.12)3⁄2 (1.50)15⁄8 (1.88)
Cooked Cod[B]01⁄2 (50.00%)3⁄8 (37.50%)5⁄16 (31.25%)7⁄24 (29.17%)
11⁄4 (25.00%)1⁄4 (25.00%)3⁄16 (18.75%)1⁄8 (12.50%)
21⁄4 (25.00%)1⁄4 (25.00%)1⁄4 (25.00%)5⁄24 (20.83%)
301⁄8 (12.50%)3⁄16 (18.75%)5⁄24 (20.83%)
4001⁄16 (6.25%)1⁄8 (12.50%)
50001⁄24 (4.17%)
Average3⁄4 (0.75)9⁄8 (1.12)3⁄2 (1.50)15⁄8 (1.88)
Raw Salmon[A]05⁄6 (83.33%)19⁄24 (79.17%)37⁄48 (77.08%)55⁄72 (76.39%)
11⁄12 (8.33%)1⁄12 (8.33%)1⁄16 (6.25%)1⁄24 (4.17%)
21⁄12 (8.33%)1⁄12 (8.33%)1⁄12 (8.33%)5⁄72 (6.94%)
301⁄24 (4.17%)1⁄16 (6.25%)5⁄72 (6.94%)
4001⁄48 (2.08%)1⁄24 (4.17%)
50001⁄72 (1.39%)
Average1⁄4 (0.25)3⁄8 (0.38)1⁄2 (0.50)5⁄8 (0.62)
Cooked Salmon[B]05⁄6 (83.33%)19⁄24 (79.17%)37⁄48 (77.08%)55⁄72 (76.39%)
11⁄12 (8.33%)1⁄12 (8.33%)1⁄16 (6.25%)1⁄24 (4.17%)
21⁄12 (8.33%)1⁄12 (8.33%)1⁄12 (8.33%)5⁄72 (6.94%)
301⁄24 (4.17%)1⁄16 (6.25%)5⁄72 (6.94%)
4001⁄48 (2.08%)1⁄24 (4.17%)
50001⁄72 (1.39%)
Average1⁄4 (0.25)3⁄8 (0.38)1⁄2 (0.50)5⁄8 (0.62)

Killed1
ItemExpected Drops
DefaultLooting ILooting IILooting III
Raw Cod[A]0.751.121.501.88
Cooked Cod[B]0.751.121.501.88
Raw Salmon[A]0.250.380.500.62
Cooked Salmon[B]0.250.380.500.62

  1. ↑ a b Only when not on fire and not killed with a weapon enchanted with Fire Aspect.
  2. ↑ a b Only when on fire or killed with a weapon enchanted with Fire Aspect.

Bedrock Edition:

ItemQuantity / Chance / Average
DefaultLooting ILooting IILooting III
Raw Cod[A]0–266.67%1.000–366.67%1.330–466.67%1.670–566.67%2.00
Cooked Cod[B]0–266.67%1.000–366.67%1.330–466.67%1.670–566.67%2.00
Raw Salmon[A]0–266.67%1.000–366.67%1.330–466.67%1.670–566.67%2.00
Cooked Salmon[B]0–266.67%1.000–366.67%1.330–466.67%1.670–566.67%2.00

ItemQuantity / Chance / Average
DefaultLooting ILooting IILooting III
Raw Cod[A]0–22⁄310–32⁄34⁄30–42⁄35⁄30–52⁄32
Cooked Cod[B]0–22⁄310–32⁄34⁄30–42⁄35⁄30–52⁄32
Raw Salmon[A]0–22⁄310–32⁄34⁄30–42⁄35⁄30–52⁄32
Cooked Salmon[B]0–22⁄310–32⁄34⁄30–42⁄35⁄30–52⁄32

ItemAmountProbability
DefaultLooting ILooting IILooting III
Raw Cod[A]01⁄3 (33.33%)1⁄3 (33.33%)1⁄3 (33.33%)1⁄3 (33.33%)
11⁄3 (33.33%)1⁄6 (16.67%)1⁄12 (8.33%)1⁄18 (5.56%)
21⁄3 (33.33%)1⁄3 (33.33%)1⁄4 (25.00%)1⁄6 (16.67%)
301⁄6 (16.67%)1⁄4 (25.00%)2⁄9 (22.22%)
4001⁄12 (8.33%)1⁄6 (16.67%)
50001⁄18 (5.56%)
Average1 (1.00)4⁄3 (1.33)5⁄3 (1.67)2 (2.00)
Cooked Cod[B]01⁄3 (33.33%)1⁄3 (33.33%)1⁄3 (33.33%)1⁄3 (33.33%)
11⁄3 (33.33%)1⁄6 (16.67%)1⁄12 (8.33%)1⁄18 (5.56%)
21⁄3 (33.33%)1⁄3 (33.33%)1⁄4 (25.00%)1⁄6 (16.67%)
301⁄6 (16.67%)1⁄4 (25.00%)2⁄9 (22.22%)
4001⁄12 (8.33%)1⁄6 (16.67%)
50001⁄18 (5.56%)
Average1 (1.00)4⁄3 (1.33)5⁄3 (1.67)2 (2.00)
Raw Salmon[A]01⁄3 (33.33%)1⁄3 (33.33%)1⁄3 (33.33%)1⁄3 (33.33%)
11⁄3 (33.33%)1⁄6 (16.67%)1⁄12 (8.33%)1⁄18 (5.56%)
21⁄3 (33.33%)1⁄3 (33.33%)1⁄4 (25.00%)1⁄6 (16.67%)
301⁄6 (16.67%)1⁄4 (25.00%)2⁄9 (22.22%)
4001⁄12 (8.33%)1⁄6 (16.67%)
50001⁄18 (5.56%)
Average1 (1.00)4⁄3 (1.33)5⁄3 (1.67)2 (2.00)
Cooked Salmon[B]01⁄3 (33.33%)1⁄3 (33.33%)1⁄3 (33.33%)1⁄3 (33.33%)
11⁄3 (33.33%)1⁄6 (16.67%)1⁄12 (8.33%)1⁄18 (5.56%)
21⁄3 (33.33%)1⁄3 (33.33%)1⁄4 (25.00%)1⁄6 (16.67%)
301⁄6 (16.67%)1⁄4 (25.00%)2⁄9 (22.22%)
4001⁄12 (8.33%)1⁄6 (16.67%)
50001⁄18 (5.56%)
Average1 (1.00)4⁄3 (1.33)5⁄3 (1.67)2 (2.00)

Killed1
ItemExpected Drops
DefaultLooting ILooting IILooting III
Raw Cod[A]1.001.331.672.00
Cooked Cod[B]1.001.331.672.00
Raw Salmon[A]1.001.331.672.00
Cooked Salmon[B]1.001.331.672.00

  1. ↑ a b Only when not on fire.
  2. ↑ a b Only when on fire.
  • 1–3XP from player or tamed wolves kills.

Killing a baby polar bear yields no items or experience.

Behavior

A polar bear attacking.

Polar bears can be passive, neutral, or hostile depending on the situation. Baby polar bears are passive, and adults are neutral; becoming hostile when a player either directly attacks it or when the player comes close to or attacks any baby polar bears near it.

If a baby polar bear is attacked, unless killed in one hit‌[JE only], all adults within a 41×21×41 area become hostile toward the player or mob, regardless of difficulty, although in Peaceful difficulty their attacks do zero damage to players.

In Java Edition, attacking an adult who is within a 16×8×16 area of a cub also provokes other adults within a 21×21×21 area of the attacked adult.

Adult polar bears also attack foxes.

Polar bears attack by rearing on their back legs and mauling down with their front paws. Their swimming speed is equal to the player's, making them difficult to get away from if they are attacking in water.

Polar bears are immune to freezing damage from powder snow.

Unlike most animal mobs, polar bears cannot breed. Baby polar bears can only be found when they naturally spawn. A baby polar bear eventually turns into an adult after 24000 ticks (20 minutes), and their growth cannot be sped up. However, their growth can be stopped by using a golden dandelion on them.

Sounds

Java Edition:

Sounds
SoundClosed captionsSourceDescriptionIdentifierTranslation keyVolumePitchAttenuation
distance
​Polar Bear groansFriendly MobsRandomly from an adult polar bearentity.polar_bear.ambientsubtitles.entity.polar_bear.ambient​1.00.8–1.216
​Baby Polar Bear humsFriendly MobsRandomly from a baby polar bearentity.polar_bear.ambient_baby​[sound 1]​subtitles.entity.polar_bear.ambient_baby​​[sound 1]​1.01.3–1.716
​Polar Bear diesFriendly MobsWhen a polar bear diesentity.polar_bear.deathsubtitles.entity.polar_bear.death​1.00.8–1.2
(Baby: 1.3–1.7)		16
​Polar Bear hurtsFriendly MobsWhen a polar bear is damagedentity.polar_bear.hurtsubtitles.entity.polar_bear.hurt​1.00.8–1.2
(Baby: 1.3–1.7)		16
​FootstepsFriendly MobsWhile a polar bear is walkingentity.polar_bear.stepsubtitles.block.generic.footsteps​0.151.016
​Polar Bear roarsFriendly MobsWhen a polar bear attempts to attack somethingentity.polar_bear.warningsubtitles.entity.polar_bear.warning​1.00.8–1.2
(Baby: 1.3–1.7)[sound 2]		16
  1. ↑ a b MC-310389
  2. ↑ Except a second copy of warning3, which is 0.72-1.08 (Baby: 1.17-1.53)

Bedrock Edition:

Sounds
SoundClosed captionsSourceDescriptionIdentifierTranslation keyVolumePitch
​ ?Friendly MobsRandomly from an adult polar bearmob.polarbear.idle​ ?1.00.8–1.2
​ ?Friendly MobsRandomly from a baby polar bearmob.polarbear_baby.idle​ ?1.01.3–1.7
​ ?Hostile MobsWhen a polar bear diesmob.polarbear.death​ ?1.00.8–1.2 (Baby: 1.3–1.7)
​ ?Hostile MobsWhen a polar bear is damagedmob.polarbear.hurt​ ?0.70.8–1.2 (Baby: 1.3–1.7)
​ ?Friendly MobsWhile a polar bear is walkingmob.polarbear.step​ ?0.71.0
​ ?Hostile MobsWhen a polar bear attempts to attack somethingmob.polarbear.warning​ ?1.21.0

Data values

ID

Java Edition:

NameIdentifierEntity tags Translation key
EntitySprite polar-bear.png: Sprite image for polar-bear in Minecraft Polar Bearpolar_bearfreeze_immune_entity_types
followable_friendly_mobs		 entity.minecraft.polar_bear

Bedrock Edition:

NameIdentifierNumeric ID FamilyTranslation key
EntitySprite polar-bear.png: Sprite image for polar-bear in Minecraft Polar Bearpolar_bear28 mob
polarbear		entity.polar_bear.name

Entity data

Polar bears have entity data associated with them that contains various properties.

Java Edition:

Bedrock Edition:

See Bedrock Edition level format/Entity format.

Achievements

IconAchievementIn-game descriptionActual requirements (if different)Gamerscore earnedTrophy type (PS)
PS4Other
It SpreadsKill a mob next to a catalystKill any mob that drops experience near a sculk catalyst, with the sole exception of the ender dragon. Mobs that drop no experience are ignored for this achievement.10Bronze

Achievements that apply to all mobs:

Advancements

IconAdvancementIn-game descriptionActual requirements (if different)
It SpreadsKill a mob near a Sculk CatalystKill any mob that drops experience near a sculk catalyst, with the sole exception of the ender dragon. Mobs that drop no experience are ignored for this advancement.

Advancements that apply to all mobs:

History

This section is missing information about:
  • Did the texture change late in the PS4 edition?
 
Please expand the section to include this information. Further details may exist on the talk page.

Development

March 7, 2016Jeb hints at a neutral mob with a light gray "base texture" color.
April 8, 2016Jeb tweets a picture of the polar bears.

Java Edition

Java Edition
1.1016w20a Added polar bears.
pre1Adult polar bears now jump in water, if on fire.
pre2Polar bears now have sounds: entity.polar_bear.baby_ambient, entity.polar_bear.ambient, entity.polar_bear.death, entity.polar_bear.hurt, entity.polar_bear.step, and entity.polar_bear.warning.
1.1318w19aPolar bears can now spawn on top of ice.
1.1418w43a The textures of polar bears and baby polar bears have now been changed.
19w07aPolar bears now attack foxes.
19w14aPolar bears are no longer a valid mob for earning the Monster Hunter advancement and are no longer required to complete the Monsters Hunted advancement.
1.1519w39a Due to a bug, the baby polar bear model is currently broken.[2]
19w40a The baby polar bear model has now been fixed.
1.1620w10aFirework damage now provokes polar bears.[3]
1.1721w13aPolar bears are now immune to freezing.
Now drop cooked cod or salmon instead of raw cod or salmon if on fire when killed or killed by a fire source.
1.20.523w51aChanged the baby polar bear ambient subtitle so that it more clearly indicates that a baby polar bear made it, as opposed to an adult.[4]
1.2124w21aAdult polar bears now only panic from cactus, freezing, fire and lightning bolt damage.
1.21.224w33a Due to a bug, the baby polar bear model is currently broken.[5]
24w34a The baby polar bear model has now been fixed.
26.1snap5Added golden dandelions, which can be used to prevent baby polar bears from growing up.
snap6 The model and texture of baby polar bears have been changed.
Baby polar bears no longer attack foxes.

Bedrock Edition

Pocket Edition
1.0.0alpha 0.17.0.1 Added polar bears.
Added baby polar bears. Due to a bug, the model is not the same as Java Edition.[6]
1.1.0alpha 1.1.0.0Polar bears no longer hurt players in Peaceful difficulty.
Bedrock Edition
1.4.0beta 1.2.14.2Polar bears can now spawn on top of ice.
1.10.0beta 1.10.0.3 The textures of polar bears and baby polar bears have now been changed.
1.13.0beta 1.13.0.1Adult polar bears now attack foxes.
1.17.0beta 1.16.230.54Polar bears are now immune to freezing.
1.19.80Preview 1.19.80.20Adult polar bears can no longer enter boats and boats with chests.
1.21.20Preview 1.21.10.23Adult polar bears now only panic from cactus, freezing, fire and lightning bolt damage.
26.0Preview 26.0.23Baby polar bears no longer attack players.[7]
26.10Preview 26.10.20Baby polar bears no longer attack players.[note 1]
Preview 26.10.21 The model and texture of baby polar bears have been changed.
Added golden dandelions, which can be used to prevent baby polar bears from growing up.

Legacy Console Edition

Legacy Console Edition
Xbox 360Xbox OnePS3PS4PS VitaWii USwitch
TU43CU331.361.361.36Patch 131.0.1 Added polar bears.
TU69 1.761.761.76Patch 38 Polar bears can now spawn on top of ice.[verify]

New Nintendo 3DS Edition

New Nintendo 3DS Edition
1.7.10 Added polar bears.

Data history

Java Edition
Java Edition
1.1116w32aThe entity ID has now been changed from PolarBear to polar_bear.
1.1317w47aNumeric IDs for entities were presumably deprecated in this version.​[more information needed]
Bedrock Edition
Pocket Edition
1.1.0alpha 1.1.0.0The entity ID has now been changed from polarbear to polar_bear.

Issues

Issues relating to "Polar Bear" are maintained on the bug tracker. Issues should be reported and viewed there.

Trivia

  • Adding polar bears to Minecraft was a request by Jeb's wife. Jeb answered they'd be added "if they ever had a bear of their own". Once their son was born, he was named "Björn" (Swedish for "bear"), and polar bears were added.[8]
  • During the development of the frozen ocean biome, polar bears were removed from spawning, due to being deemed too "sad". They were added back in because it is more accurate to the polar bear's real life status.[9]

Screenshots

  • A polar bear standing on ice.
    A polar bear standing on ice.
  • A polar bear on its hind legs, attacking the player.
    A polar bear on its hind legs, attacking the player.

Mojang screenshots

  • A screenshot of two polar bears standing on ice in a snowy flat world
    Two polar bears standing on ice in a snowy flat world.
  • Development teaser screenshot by Jeb.
    Development teaser screenshot by Jeb.
  • Polar bears featured on 16w20a banner.
    Polar bears featured on 16w20a banner.
  • Image from Rockenroll4life of a "Polar Beary Bush".
    Image from Rockenroll4life of a "Polar Beary Bush".
  • Image promoting the remodeled baby polar bear
    Image promoting the remodeled baby polar bear
  • A baby polar bear and its parent in an ice spikes biome
    A baby polar bear and its parent in an ice spikes biome

Textures

  • Polar bear texture file
    Polar bear texture file
  • Baby polar bear texture file
    Baby polar bear texture file

In other media

Notes

  1. ↑ This bug was fixed twice.

References

  1. ↑ MCPE-221508
  2. ↑ MC-161946
  3. ↑ MC-111498 – Fireworks and water bottles damage don't make neutral mobs angry or hostile – resolved as "Fixed".
  4. ↑ MC-185379
  5. ↑ MC-275221
  6. ↑ MCPE-43578
  7. ↑ MCPE-173833
  8. ↑ "We have a room in our house where all polar bear-related items end up. It’s essentially the library, or a hallway, really, with all our books in it, and there are two chairs so you can sit and read if you want - but we have a polar bear tapestry on the wall, and lots of polar bear plushies. So it feels like a Polar Bear room. Jenny had been nagging me for a long time to add a bear to Minecraft. And so I told her - well, if we ever have a bear of our own, I’ll add a bear in Minecraft. And then it turned true, because our son was born and we called him Björn - which means bear in Swedish! So I had to add a bear in the game. - JENS BERGENSTEN" – Minecraft.net.
  9. ↑ "Polar bears were originally removed from iceberg biomes" by CBSUnstoppable – Twitch.

Sources