What is the point of mules in Minecraft?

This Minecraft tutorial explains all about mules with screenshots and step-by-step instructions. Let's learn about mules in Minecraft.

Supported Platforms

Mules are available in the following versions of Minecraft:

PlatformSupported (Version*) Java Edition (PC/Mac)Yes (1.6.1) Pocket Edition (PE)Yes (0.15.0) Xbox 360Yes (TU19) Xbox OneYes (CU7) PS3Yes (1.12) PS4Yes (1.12) Wii UYes Nintendo SwitchYes Windows 10 EditionYes (0.15.0) Education EditionYes (1.0)

* The version that it was added or removed, if applicable.
NOTE: Pocket Edition (PE), Xbox One, PS4, Nintendo Switch, and Windows 10 Edition are now called Bedrock Edition. We will continue to show them individually for version history.

Background

A mule is a variant of horse in Minecraft and the offspring of a horse and a donkey. The following is a picture of what a mule looks like in the game:

Hostility LevelPassive MobHealth Points15 health points (up to 30 health points)

x 7.5 (up to x 15)Where to FindDoes not spawn naturally
(must be created through breeding)WeaponNoneAttack MethodWill never attack youDrops 0-2 Leather
1 Saddle (if equipped)
1 Chest (if equipped)Experience Points1-3 experience pointsSpecial SkillsCan be tamed and ridden

A mule can not wear horse armor, but you can put a saddle on a mule and ride it. You can also equip a mule with a chest and store up to 15 stackable items.

Hostility Level (Passive)

A mule is a passive mob. The term mob is short for mobile and is used to refer to all living, moving creatures in the game such as chickens, creepers, and mules. Because a mule is a passive mob, it will never attack you in the game (Creative or Survival mode).

Health Points

In Minecraft, a mule has between 7.5 hearts

and 15 hearts for health, depending on the type of mule. This gives a mule 15 and 30 health points (because 1 heart = 2 health points). To kill a mule, you need to inflict between 15 and 30 points of damage depending on the mule.

Where to Find Mules

Mules do not spawn naturally in the game, but can be created through breeding. If you are having trouble breeding a mule, you can also summon a mule using a cheat or you can use a spawn egg.

Weapon

A mule does not carry a weapon.

Attack Method

You are safe to walk near a mule and it will not attack or cause you any damage. And if you attack a mule, it will just try to run away. It will not attack you back.

Drops

When you kill a mule in Minecraft, it will drop leather.

If the mule was wearing a saddle or chest, these items would also have been dropped when the mule was killed.

Make sure you pick up any dropped items before they disappear. They are useful and should be kept in your inventory to be used later.

Experience Points

As you play the game, you will gain experience. The most common way to gain experience is by killing mobs. When a mob is killed you will see tiny green and yellow balls appear and move towards you.

These orbs represent experience points. When you kill a mule, you will gain 1-3 experience points.

Foods to Feed a Mule

In Minecraft, you can restore a mule's health by feeding it and you can also speed up how fast a baby mule grows by feeding it food.

TIP: A mule will only eat food if its health bar is down or if it is a baby mule that is growing. If you try to feed a mule otherwise, it will not eat the food.

In Minecraft, these are the foods that you can feed a mule:

ItemNameHealth RestoredSpeeds Growth BySugar1 health point
( x 0.5)30 secondsWheat2 health points
( x 1)20 secondsApple3 health points
( x 1.5)1 minuteGolden Carrot4 health points
( x 2)1 minuteGolden Apple10 health points
( x 5)4 minutesEnchanted Golden Apple10 health points
( x 5)4 minutesHay Bale20 health points
( x 10)3 minutes

Note: The chart above shows the amount of health restored for each type of food eaten by a mule. It also displays the amount of time that it speeds up growth if you feed the food to a baby mule.

Spawn Egg for Mule

You can spawn a mule using the following spawn egg:

Mule Spawn Egg

Things to Do with Mules

Here are some activities that you can do with mules in Minecraft:

How to Feed a Mule

How to Breed Mules

How to Tame and Ride a Mule

Mule Generator

Need some help generating the /summon command for a mule carrying a chest of items? Try our command generator:

Summon Mule with Chest Generator

Summon Mule with Chest Generator

Summon Mule with Chest Generator

Summon Mule with Chest Generator

Command Examples

Here are some game command examples for a mule in Minecraft:

How to Summon a Mule

NBT Tags for Mule (Java Edition)

Here are the NBT tags that you can use in game commands for a mule in Java Edition:

NBT Tags for Mule

Spawn Events for Mule (Bedrock/Education)

Here are the spawn events that you can use in game commands for a mule in Bedrock Edition and Education Edition:

Are mules faster than horses in Minecraft?

Can you tame a mule in Minecraft?