Ranking every Minecraft wolf variant based on their rarity 

The release of Minecraft 1.20.5 has introduced a variety of new wolf variants to the game. Given the game's affection for wolves as pets, this unexpected addition was warmly welcomed by players.

Alongside the familiar original pale wolf, Minecraft now features eight additional variants that spawn in various Overworld biomes. The differences between these wolf variants lie solely in their spawning mechanics and texture designs. In this article, we rank all the new wolf variants in Minecraft based solely on their rarity.

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Ranking Minecraft wolf variants based on rarity

The addition of these wolf variants brings more life and diversity to the game's biomes and presents a new task for pet enthusiasts: venturing into the wild to adopt all nine variants.

Below, we list all nine wolf variants ranked solely based on their rarity:

9) Spotted

Spotted wolf (Image via Mojang)

Spotted wolves boast distinctive fur with a captivating mix of orange and black hues. These wolves exclusively inhabit the dry grasslands of the Savanna biome.

Despite their beauty, they rank among the least rare wolf variants in Minecraft due to the savanna biome's relative accessibility. Spawning in packs of four to eight further contributes to their frequent appearance.

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8) Striped

Striped wolf (Image via Mojang)

The striped wolf is a visually striking variant with intricate texture details. True to its name, this version features dark brown stripes adorning its beige-colored body. Found exclusively in the Wooded Badlands biome, it forms packs of up to eight wolves, making it nearly as rare as the spotted variant.

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7) Woods

Woods wolf (Image via Mojang)

Unlike many other variants, where the name reflects its appearance, this wolf's name indicates its habitat. These variants are found solely in Forest biomes, usually gathering in medium-sized packs, each consisting of four members.

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6) Pale

Pale wolf (Image via Mojang)

The pale wolf, Minecraft's original wolf and a longtime companion for many players, now holds a special place among the newer variants. It can only be found spawning exclusively in the Taiga biome, boasting the same pack size as the woods variant. Its slight rarity stems from the fact that players are more likely to encounter a forest biome before stumbling upon a Taiga biome.

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5) Ashen

Ashen wolf (Image via Mojang)

Although the ashen wolf has the same size as the previous two variants on the list, encounters with this variant are far rarer in Minecraft. This is because the Snowy Taiga biome it spawns in is rarer than the Forest and regular Taiga biomes.

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4) Chestnut

Chestnut wolf (Image via Mojang)

The chestnut wolves roam the Old Growth Spruce Taiga biome in packs of two to four. These variants have a simple design, featuring dark paws and a body contrasted by uneven lighter shades of brown.

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3) Black

Black wolf (Image via Mojang)

Exclusive to the Old Growth Pine Taiga biome, the black wolf earns its name as perhaps the most fitting among all wolf variants. With a pack size matching that of its chestnut counterpart and residing in a similarly elusive biome, the black wolf stands out as almost just as rare as its chestnut cousin.

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2) Rusty

Rusty wolf (Image via Mojang)

Among all the wolf variants in Minecraft, the rusty wolf stands as the second-rarest. Exclusive to the Sparse Jungle biome, these wolves are usually seen in packs of two to four individuals.

The scarcity of the Jungle biome and being notoriously challenging to encounter solidifies the rusty wolf as the runner-up in rarity.

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1) Snowy

Snowy wolf (Image via Mojang)

The snowy wolf is the rarest wolf variant in Minecraft, primarily because it does not spawn in packs. Instead, it wanders solo in the groves biome. While resembling the pale wolf, it can be distinguished with the silver fur around its paws and back.