Building Blocks: Swamp Hut

But we’re getting ahead of ourselves. Swamp huts can only be found in swamps – and only regular swamps at that. Witches don’t seem to like mangrove swamps very much. You’ll recognise a swamp hut when you see it – it’s a small squat building made up of spruce planks, on log stilts that keep it above the wet terrain.

Inside each one, you’ll find a crafting table, a flower pot, and a cauldron where the witch brews their potions. You’ll also find a witch who probably won’t be too happy to see a home invader, and will likely attack you. Finally, there’ll be the aforementioned cat, who won’t mind your presence at all.

One interesting note is that witch huts don’t usually come with any stairs to access the front door. So to get in, you’ll want to bring ladders, stairs, or something else you can use to climb up. Worst case scenario, just mine some dirt blocks from nearby and build a staircase that way. This is Minecraft, after all.

Witches have been a part of human folklore for thousands of years – in Europe it can be traced back to ancient Rome, which had laws against harmful magic. In the Middle East it goes back even further – with ancient Mesopotamin law in the 2nd millennium BC issuing the death penalty for those found guilty of witchcraft. 

One of the best-known witches is the Slavic folklore character Baba Yaga, who lives deep in the forest in a hut that stands on chicken legs. Other than the legs, the hut resembles those built by Finno-Ugric and Siberian peoples, who probably inspired the legend. Its legs allow it to reposition at any time, so you never see it in the same place twice.

Luckily, Minecraft’s swamp huts stay reliably in the same place, so if you come across one and you’re not feeling equipped to tackle it, then you can always come back later. Don’t expect the witch inhabiting it to be any friendlier the second time around, though!