Introduction: A Hidden History

At first glance, Minecraft’s villagers and Illagers seem like simple NPCs—trading, farming, or attacking players. But if you dig deeper, you’ll notice something strange:

• Why do Illagers attack villages?
• Why do they live in isolated woodland mansions?
• Why do Evokers have the ability to "transform" villagers into something else?

There’s a dark secret hidden in Minecraft’s lore, one that suggests a lost war between these two groups—a war that shaped the entire world of Minecraft.

Let’s uncover the mystery.

1. Who Are the Villagers?

Villagers are peaceful, intelligent beings that build towns, trade resources, and live in harmony.

• They have unique professions, suggesting an advanced social system.
• They can reproduce, meaning they are actively growing their civilization.
• They have golems to protect them, showing they have a reason to fear attacks.

But if villagers are so advanced, why don’t they fight back against the Illagers?

The answer might be found in what the Illagers used to be.

2. The Rise of the Illagers

Illagers look like villagers, but they are gray-skinned, aggressive, and live in isolated groups.

• They build massive Woodland Mansions, filled with strange experiments.
• They conduct raids on villages, attacking their former kin.
• They have Evokers, spellcasters who can manipulate life itself.

Here’s where things get interesting: Evokers can turn normal villagers into Ravagers.

This means that Illagers understand transformation and mutation. It suggests they might have been experimenting on villagers.

But why?

3. The Theory: A Rebellion and an Exile

Many believe that Illagers were once part of the same civilization as the villagers, but something happened that caused them to be banished.

• The Evokers may have been power-hungry mages who wanted to use magic to dominate the villagers.
• The villagers, fearing their power, may have exiled them into the wilderness.
• The Illagers, now filled with hatred, have spent centuries trying to take revenge.

This explains why they live in hidden mansions, conducting experiments—trying to rebuild their lost power.

This also explains why they raid villages. They’re not just attacking; they’re trying to reclaim what they lost.

4. The Mystery of the Totem of Undying

One of the most powerful items in Minecraft is the Totem of Undying, which is only dropped by Evokers.

This item prevents death, but it’s unclear how it works.

Some believe that the Evokers discovered the secret of immortality but were exiled before they could share it. This could mean:

• The villagers gave up magic, relying instead on iron golems for protection.
• The Illagers kept experimenting, trying to use magic to regain control.

If the villagers once had magic, but lost it, it explains why they are now defenseless against raids.

5. The Unfinished Battle

The war between the villagers and Illagers never truly ended.

• The Illagers continue to attack.
• The villagers continue to hide behind golems.
• And deep in the Woodland Mansions, the Evokers continue their experiments, waiting for the day they can finally take over again.

The question is:

Will you be the one to finish the war?