Bogged vs breeze: Which Minecraft 1.21 mob is better?

Minecraft 1.21, also known as the Tricky Trials update, introduced two new hostile mobs: the breeze and the bogged. These mobs are incredibly different in appearance, behavior, combat ability, and droppable items, but which is the better one overall? The answer depends on how the two mobs are being compared, but it's tough not to see the breeze as superior from multiple perspectives.

Whether it's from a design standpoint, a combat capability one, or simply what drops the mobs provide, the breeze has an advantage over its Minecraft 1.21 counterpart.

Other fans may have their own opinions on the matter, but it might not be a bad idea to examine why so many players consider the breeze a better mob than the bogged overall.

Note: Some aspects of this article are subjective and reflect the opinions of the writer

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Why the breeze is better than the bogged in Minecraft 1.21

A breeze spawning in a trial chamber in Minecraft 1.21 (Image via Mojang)

This shouldn't be considered a knock on the bogged, first and foremost, as the Minecraft 1.21 mob is certainly an interesting one. However, when all things are considered, the bogged is essentially a variant of the existing skeleton mob. Its behavior and gameplay mechanics are almost identical, with a few exceptions.

The bogged is still undead and susceptible to Smite and the sun, just like skeletons. It's different in the fact that it is limited to spawning in trial chambers and swamps and that it fires (and drops) poisonous arrows and can be sheared to receive mushrooms. However, that's about where the differences end.

Meanwhile, the breeze is much more unique in nearly every aspect. While the breeze has been compared to the blaze mob, it still has enough visual distinction in its design to stand out in Minecraft 1.21.

The breeze drops breeze rods, which can be broken down into the new wind charges or combined with heavy cores to make the powerful mace weapon. It is unique in its combat mechanics, thanks to the fact it doesn't lean into direct damage.

Instead of simply dealing damage with a basic attack, the breeze launches its wind charges that cause substantial knockback, which can inflict fall damage. Moreover, the mob is capable of leaping large distances, making it a difficult target to pin down, especially when it has the ability to deflect any projectiles fired its way, forcing players to engage it in melee or unconventional combat.

Even in a direct fight between the two mobs, the breeze's ability to deflect projectiles leaves the bogged effectively helpless to defeat it. Put plainly, by nearly any metric, the breeze is a more unique combat challenge with plenty to offer. Both mobs are certainly a welcome addition to Minecraft 1.21, but the breeze just has more to offer in the update.