"The pig of the Nether": New Minecraft video explores the history behind the strider mob

Minecraft has a habit of releasing videos that explain how they develop a particular mob and reveal a few fun details about them. They have done this for many of their existing mobs like iron golem, illager, Ender Dragons and so many others. The strider is one of Minecraft’s quirkiest mobs, and a recent video dives into its fascinating history.

The narrator calls the strider a lava-crossing cube and a red-faced rascal. It is considered the friendliest mob by default since the Nether isn’t the friendliest place. These are not the only ways it was described, as one developer playfully called it:

"The pig of the Nether."

The strider was introduced to solve a major problem in Minecraft’s fiery Nether dimension: crossing vast lakes of lava. Traditionally, players might have expected a boat to help with this. The developer, wanting to subvert the players, came up with a unique idea, a rideable mob that could walk on lava.

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Designing the strider for Minecraft

The crawler was the first draft of the strider (Image via Mojang Studios)

The process of creating the strider was far from straightforward. Early concept art included a creature called the "crawler," which resembled a tardigrade, a microscopic organism. While the crawler was interesting, it wasn’t quite the right fit. The developer wanted something funny-looking and wobbly, with a personality that would stand out.

Another original concept featured a massive strider with long, spindly legs. The idea was that the legs would touch the bottom of lava lakes, but the size of this design caused technical issues. The team then scaled it down, and the strider slowly began to take its current shape.

There were even fish-like versions, with fins and a frog-like tongue to interact with fungus, but these ideas were abandoned to make the creature feel more alien. One inspiration came from a Swedish insect called "Skräddare," which can walk on water.

This helped the team imagine how striders could glide across lava without sinking. While the design evolved, so did the mechanics. Early bugs caused striders to leap wildly or skyrocket through lava waterfalls. These glitches were eventually fixed, leading to the mob we know today.

The strider’s sound design plays a big role in its charm. Its chirps and sad noises contrast with the Nether’s eerie atmosphere, making it feel cute and approachable. It even received a shivering animation when it leaves lava, adding a touch of personality. Players can ride striders using a saddle and a warped fungus on a stick to guide them.

The history of the strider shows how much thought goes into designing even the simplest features in Minecraft. The mob’s quirky personality and usefulness have made it a favorite among players. The strider proves that even in the fiery depths of the Nether, there’s room for a little fun.