Deep inside the blocky Overworld, the Mob Vote once felt like a yearly town hall meeting that nobody could ignore. Players would gather, argue, and cheer while three hopeful mobs waited in the wings like nervous auditioning actors. Some winners became beloved helpers, while others turned into nighttime nuisances that still make players groan. By 2026, Mojang has largely moved away from the old Mob Vote format, but the creatures who won still roam the world with their own little legends. Here is a complete look back at every community Mob Vote winner, ranked from most infamous to most celebrated.
| Rank | Winner | Year | Finalist |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | Phantom | 2017 | The Great Hunger |
| 4 | Glow Squid | 2020 | Iceologer |
| 3 | Allay | 2021 | Copper Golem |
| 2 | Sniffer | 2022 | Rascal |
| 1 | Armadillo | 2023 | Crab |
5️⃣ Phantoms: An Insomniac’s Worst Nightmare
Mobs That Didn’t Make the Cut
-
The Barnacle
-
The Great Hunger
-
The Wildfire
After three rounds of voting in 2017, the Phantom swooped in for a narrow victory. It beat the gluttonous and magical Great Hunger by only about four percent, which still sounds like a painful near-miss for anyone who wanted a mob built around enchanted items. The Phantom itself is essentially a flying alarm clock with teeth, punishing players who forget to sleep. For anyone deep in a cave or far from home, that wheezing silhouette overhead is the game’s way of saying, “go to bed, silly.”
Thankfully, staying awake has a bright side. Defeating a Phantom can drop a Phantom Membrane, which is used for two things: repairing Elytra at an anvil and brewing Slow Falling Potions. It might not be flashy, but it keeps high-flying explorers in the air.
4️⃣ Glow Squids: A Captivating Example Of Bioluminescence
Mobs That Didn’t Make the Cut
-
Moobloom
-
Iceologer
In 2020, the Glow Squid shimmered past the Iceologer with nearly 53 percent of the final vote. Let’s be real: on paper, it sounded like a regular squid wearing a glittering party outfit. But that was kind of the point. It proved that Minecraft players can love a mob for pure ambience, not just for hardcore utility.
The Glow Squid brightens gloomy ocean depths like a tiny neon celebrity. Its Glow Ink Sacs can also make sign text pop in dark builds. It may not fight, farm, or carry your loot, but it absolutely understands the assignment when it comes to atmosphere.
3️⃣ Allays: Little Fairy Helpers
Mobs That Didn’t Make the Cut
-
Glare
-
Copper Golem
In 2021, the Allay won with just over 54 percent of the votes, becoming the sweetest personal assistant in the Overworld. The little blue fairy seems to lack object permanence, wandering around like it just forgot why it entered the room. But give it an item and everything changes. It suddenly locks in, collecting matching items and floating them back like a determined intern.
Allays respond to note blocks too, which makes them useful for sorting systems and automated builds. The Copper Golem would have been a charming little gearhead, but the Allay’s functionality stole the show. Talk about a glow-up for adorable usefulness.
2️⃣ Sniffers: They Aren’t Extinct After All
Mobs That Didn’t Make the Cut
-
The Rascal
-
The Tuff Golem
In 2022, more than three million votes were cast in a single day, and the Sniffer won with about 55 percent. This ancient gardener felt like a living fossil that refused to accept extinction. Players don’t just stumble upon a Sniffer; they have to excavate its eggs from suspicious sand in ocean ruins and bring it back into existence.
Once grown, the Sniffer wanders around with its big nose pressed to the earth, hunting for Ancient Seeds. Those seeds can grow into Pitcher Pods or Torchflowers, which help tame parrots, speed up baby Sniffers and chickens, and support bees. It is a slow-moving mob with a big payoff for anyone who loves plants and gentle exploration.
1️⃣ Armadillos: They’re More Than Just An Armored Possum
Mobs That Didn’t Make the Cut
-
Crab
-
Penguin
The 2023 Mob Vote was much tighter, but the Armadillo still curled into first place. Found in warm savanna biomes, this little armored ball shuffles around like a shy knight who just wants to enjoy the sunshine. It may look like an armored possum, but it brought a genuinely useful gift: Scutes. These stackable brown plates are used to craft wolf armor, giving pups a little extra protection on dangerous adventures.
The Crab had builders dreaming of extra block placement distance, and the Penguin had its own cold-weather charm. Still, the Armadillo’s combination of cuteness and utility carried the day. It remains the newest Mob Vote winner, and as of 2026, it still represents the last time players got to choose a mob through that familiar annual showdown.