The Glare remains one of Minecraft’s most talked-about “what ifs.” This adorable little bush mob, introduced during the 2021 Mob Vote, captured hearts with its grumpy face and helpful intentions, but it never made it into the base game. While players eventually chose a different mob, the Glare still sparks debates about what could have been and whether it would’ve actually been useful in practice.
If you’re curious about what the Glare was supposed to do, why it lost, or how you can still experience it through community creations, you’re in the right place. This guide covers everything from its original mechanics to its current relevance in the modern Minecraft landscape.
Key Takeaways
- The Glare in Minecraft was a proposed passive mob from the 2021 Mob Vote designed to detect dark areas where hostile mobs spawn, but it lost to the Allay in the community vote.
- Glare’s utility became less relevant after the 1.18 update changed mob spawning to require complete darkness (light level 0) instead of light level 7, making spawn-proofing easier without a helper mob.
- You can still experience the Glare through community-created mods like Mob Vote Losers and Glare Revived, datapacks, and custom adventure maps that recreate the mob’s original detection mechanics.
- The Glare faced tough competition from the Allay’s item-sorting capabilities and the Copper Golem’s randomization features, which offered more immediate value to experienced players and redstone enthusiasts.
- Minecraft’s Mob Vote tradition continues to introduce rejected concepts like the Glare, sparking ongoing debates about whether past mobs should be revisited with updated functionality for modern gameplay.
What Is the Glare in Minecraft?
The Glare is a passive mob that was proposed during Minecraft Live 2021 as part of the annual Mob Vote. Designed as a helpful companion for players concerned about hostile mob spawns, the Glare was essentially a living darkness detector wrapped in a bush-like exterior.
Origins and the 2021 Mob Vote
Minecraft’s Mob Vote has become a yearly tradition where Mojang presents three potential mobs and lets the community decide which one gets added to the game. The 2021 vote featured the Glare, the Allay, and the Copper Golem.
The Glare was pitched as a utility mob that would help players identify dark spots where hostile mobs could spawn. This was particularly relevant before the lighting mechanics changes that came in later updates. Mojang presented the concept through animated videos showing the Glare’s behavior and potential use cases.
The vote took place during Minecraft Live on October 16, 2021. Players voted through Twitter polls, and the results were decisive, the Glare was eliminated in the first round, while the Allay went on to win against the Copper Golem.
Physical Appearance and Behavior
The Glare resembled a floating bush with leaves forming its body and a grumpy, expressive face peeking through the foliage. Its design was intentionally cute and slightly temperamental-looking, fitting the “grumpy helper” aesthetic.
According to Mojang’s presentation, the Glare would fly around and seek out dark areas. When it found a spot dark enough for hostile mobs to spawn, it would become visibly upset, shaking and displaying an angry expression. This visual feedback was meant to be the core of its functionality.
The mob was described as passive and tameable, suggesting players could potentially keep Glares as companions. Its leaf-covered appearance gave it a natural, forest-dwelling vibe that would’ve fit nicely into woodland biomes or player-built gardens.
How the Glare Was Supposed to Work
Understanding the Glare’s intended mechanics helps explain both its appeal and the criticisms it faced during the vote.
Detecting Dark Areas and Mob Spawning Zones
The Glare’s primary function was straightforward: it would detect areas with light levels low enough to allow hostile mob spawning. In Java Edition at the time of the vote (version 1.17 and earlier), hostile mobs could spawn at light level 7 or below. The Bedrock Edition had similar mechanics but with slightly different implementation.
When the Glare entered a dark area meeting the spawn threshold, it would fly to that location and display its signature grumpy animation. This would alert players to potential spawn points they might have missed while lighting up their bases, mines, or other structures.
The concept was simple: bring a Glare along while building or exploring, and let it act as a living spawn-proofing assistant. Players wouldn’t need to manually check F3 debug screens (on Java) or place and remove temporary blocks to test light levels.
Mojang’s presentation suggested the Glare would be particularly useful for large builds, complex redstone contraptions with awkward corners, or sprawling underground bases where missed dark spots could lead to unwanted Creeper surprises.
Player Interaction and Mechanics
While Mojang didn’t reveal every detail about the Glare’s mechanics, the presentation hinted at several interaction possibilities. The mob would likely follow players similarly to how tamed wolves or cats behave, making it a portable darkness detector.
Players would presumably find Glares spawning naturally in certain biomes, likely forests or caves given its appearance. Taming or befriending one would probably involve a specific item, following Minecraft’s established patterns (cookies for parrots, fish for cats, etc.).
The Glare wouldn’t attack mobs or defend players. Its sole purpose was detection and notification. This utility-focused design differentiated it from combat pets like wolves or defensive iron golems.
Why the Glare Lost the Mob Vote
The Glare’s loss wasn’t just about bad luck, several factors worked against it in a competitive vote.
Competition: Allay and Copper Golem
The Allay offered item collection and sorting capabilities that immediately appealed to redstone enthusiasts and builders. Its ability to pick up dropped items and bring them to note blocks opened up new automation possibilities. Many in the community viewed creative flexibility as more valuable than spawn detection, particularly for those already familiar with using mods or tools like Nexus Mods to enhance gameplay.
The Copper Golem brought randomization mechanics through its button-pressing behavior and added utility to copper, which at the time felt underused. It also appealed to players who wanted more golems and decorative statue possibilities as it oxidized over time.
Both competitors offered mechanics that didn’t have easy in-game alternatives. The Glare, by contrast, could be mostly replaced by pressing F3 on Java Edition or understanding basic light level mechanics.
Community Reactions and Criticisms
The Minecraft community’s response to the Glare was mixed from the start. Supporters appreciated its beginner-friendly design and the convenience it would offer for large-scale building projects. The cute aesthetic also earned it fans.
But, critics were quick to point out its limited utility for experienced players. Veteran Minecrafters argued that checking light levels manually wasn’t difficult and that the Glare solved a problem that wasn’t really a problem for anyone past the early game.
Some players also noted that the upcoming 1.18 Caves & Cliffs Part II update was already changing mob spawning rules. Complete darkness (light level 0) would soon be required for hostile spawns in many cases, which would make light level management even easier without the Glare’s help.
The debate got heated on social media, with content creators and their audiences forming voting blocs. The Glare’s elimination in the first round showed it had the smallest dedicated fanbase of the three options.
Would the Glare Still Be Useful Today?
Looking back with the benefit of hindsight and several major updates, the Glare’s value proposition has shifted considerably.
Light Level Changes Since 2021
Minecraft’s lighting and spawning mechanics have evolved significantly since the 2021 vote. The 1.18 update (Caves & Cliffs Part II) changed hostile mob spawning to require complete darkness (light level 0) rather than the previous threshold of light level 7 or below.
This change made spawn-proofing dramatically easier. Players no longer needed to achieve specific light levels, they just needed to prevent complete darkness. Torches, lanterns, and other light sources now have much more forgiving coverage.
The 1.19 Wild Update and subsequent versions continued refining these mechanics. The introduction of sculk sensors, frogs, and other mobs shifted development focus toward new biome-specific creatures rather than utility mobs.
These changes mean the Glare’s original purpose, detecting light level 7 areas, would need complete redesign to stay relevant. A modern Glare would need to detect light level 0 specifically, which is much more obvious to spot visually.
Alternative Uses and Potential Updates
If Mojang were to revisit the Glare concept, they’d likely need to expand its functionality. Several community suggestions have emerged:
- Mob spawn prediction: Instead of just detecting darkness, the Glare could indicate which specific mobs might spawn in an area based on biome and light level.
- Block highlighting: The Glare could visually mark exact blocks where spawns are possible, similar to spawn-checking mods.
- Cave exploration: With the massive cave systems from 1.18+, a Glare could help players navigate by indicating unexplored dark branches or warning about nearby mob spawners.
- Decorative companion: Even without major utility, the Glare’s aesthetic could make it a popular pet choice, similar to parrots or axolotls.
Some players following guides on sites like Twinfinite have speculated about future mob votes potentially bringing back previously rejected concepts with updated mechanics, though Mojang hasn’t confirmed this approach.
How to Experience the Glare in Minecraft
Just because the Glare didn’t win the official vote doesn’t mean you can’t experience it in your game. The Minecraft community has created multiple ways to add the Glare.
Mods and Datapacks That Add the Glare
Several mod creators developed Glare implementations shortly after the 2021 vote. These mods recreate the mob based on Mojang’s original concept video, complete with darkness detection and grumpy animations.
For Java Edition, popular Glare mods include:
- Mob Vote Losers: This mod adds all losing mob vote creatures from various years, including the Glare with functional darkness detection.
- Glare Revived: A standalone mod focused specifically on implementing the Glare with enhanced features beyond the original concept.
- Lost Legends: Adds the Glare alongside other rejected mobs with balanced mechanics for survival gameplay.
Most of these are available through CurseForge or similar mod repositories. They typically require Forge or Fabric mod loaders depending on the version.
Bedrock Edition has fewer options due to addon limitations, but some behavior packs attempt to recreate the Glare using existing mob models and modified behaviors. These aren’t perfect recreations but offer a taste of what could have been.
Datapacks offer another route for Java players who prefer not to use full mods. Several datapack creators have built Glare functionality using armor stands, particle effects, and command blocks to simulate the detection behavior.
Custom Maps and Community Creations
Beyond mods, some adventure maps and custom creations have incorporated Glare-inspired mechanics or included the mob as part of story-driven experiences.
Mapmakers have created puzzle maps where players must use a Glare-like companion to navigate dark areas safely or identify specific spawn points to progress. These maps often use custom resource packs to create Glare-like visuals.
Some multiplayer servers running modded experiences include the Glare as part of their custom creature lineup, particularly on servers focused on exploration or building challenges where spawn-proofing is emphasized.
YouTube content creators have also featured the Glare in modded challenge videos, giving it exposure beyond what the base game would have provided. These videos often explore “what if” scenarios showing how different the game might be with all three 2021 mob vote options included.
Other Lost Mob Vote Creatures Worth Knowing
The Glare isn’t alone in Minecraft’s history of mobs that could have been. Understanding the other rejected options provides context for the ongoing mob vote debates.
The Copper Golem (2021)
The Copper Golem was the Glare’s fellow finalist in 2021, losing to the Allay in the final round. This small golem would have been craftable from copper blocks and would randomly press copper buttons, providing a randomization mechanic for redstone contraptions.
Its secondary feature, gradual oxidation into a statue, appealed to builders who wanted decorative elements that changed over time. The Copper Golem had strong support from the redstone community who saw potential for randomizers, timers, and decorative builds.
Like the Glare, the Copper Golem has been recreated in several mods. Its loss was more controversial than the Glare’s, with debates about whether the Allay’s sorting mechanics truly offered more value than copper-based randomization.
Notable Mobs from Previous Votes
Minecraft’s mob votes have been running since 2017, creating a growing list of “lost” creatures:
2017 Mob Vote (the first):
- Mob A (Monster of the Ocean Depths): A sea creature that would attack players in water
- Mob C (The Great Hunger): A hostile mob that would eat items
- Mob D (The Hovering Inferno): A flying blaze-like creature for the Nether
The Phantom won this vote and was added in version 1.13. It remains controversial due to its annoying mechanic of punishing players who don’t sleep.
2018 Minecon Earth Vote:
- Barnacle: An ocean mob concept
- Swamp monster: Never detailed beyond basic concept
- Hunger: Another eating-based mob
This vote never resulted in additions as the format changed.
2020 Mob Vote:
- Moobloom: A flower-covered cow variant
- Iceologer/Chillager: A hostile illager that throws ice attacks
The Glow Squid won this extremely controversial vote, largely due to content creator influence. Many players felt it was the least interesting option.
Coverage of these past votes and their impacts on the game frequently appears on gaming news sites like GameSpot, especially during each year’s new mob vote announcements.
Each rejected mob has its dedicated fans who believe their choice should have won. Some community members argue Mojang should eventually add all proposed mobs rather than permanently discarding popular concepts.
Conclusion
The Glare represents an interesting moment in Minecraft’s development, a mob designed to solve a specific problem that became less relevant just months after its proposal. While it lost the vote decisively, the concept still resonates with players who appreciate helper mobs and beginner-friendly features.
Whether the Glare would have actually improved Minecraft is debatable. The lighting changes in 1.18 and beyond reduced its utility, but there’s something charming about the idea of a grumpy bush companion following you around and alerting you to dangers.
For now, the Glare lives on through mods, datapacks, and community creations. If you want to experience what could have been, those options are readily available. And who knows, with Mojang occasionally revisiting old concepts, we might see a reimagined Glare return in some form down the line.
Until then, it remains a “what if” in Minecraft’s ever-expanding roster of creatures.
