

Guardians deal damage each time it is hit with a melee attack while its spikes are extended, similar to the Thorns armor enchantment. Once the target is out of range, or if the laser is obstructed by solid blocks (including transparent blocks like glass), the guardian's laser disengages. The laser cannot be dodged or blocked by a shield and has a maximum range of 15 blocks. If the target approaches while the guardian is loading its laser, it stops firing and swims away until it is at a comfortable range, at which point it continues attacking. Guardians swim around for 3 seconds before firing again.

Once charged, the laser flashes green and deals 6 regular damage and additional 1 magical damage on normal difficulty. It starts out purple and fades to yellow. The laser takes 2 seconds to charge, doing no damage in the meantime. Otherwise, a guardian does not retaliate against mobs (such as iron golems) that attack it, other than damaging the attacking mob with its natural thorns defense. Guardians attack players, axolotls, and squid. Instead, it simply continues swimming until the player becomes visible again to start charging its laser. Unlike most other hostile mobs, a guardian does not follow a player who moves out of sight. Guardians have two methods of attack: a laser and a defensive attack analogous to the Thorns enchantment. Guardians, as aquatic mobs, are affected by the Impaling enchantment. Combat Their spikes always extend when out of water. They do not suffocate in air and can live indefinitely out of water. When out of water, guardians squeak while flopping about. When pushed horizontally, they move significantly faster than other mobs pushed by water. Stationary guardians can be pushed by flowing water, but swimming guardians cannot. A player can wear one piece of armor while under the effects of Invisibility and not be attacked. In Java Edition, the eye does not follow unarmored players under the effects of a potion of Invisibility and the guardians cannot attack them. The guardian's eye follows and stares at any nearby players, and always looks directly at its target. When not swimming, they sink slowly and their spikes extend and quiver. They swim in abrupt charges, moving their tail rapidly when doing so.

Guardians swim around in water, attacking any players, squid, glow squid, or axolotl that come into range of its laser. Guardians also drop 10 when killed by a player or tamed wolf. This drop uses the same chances that fishing uses, resulting in a 60% chance for raw cod, a 25% chance for raw salmon, a 13% chance for pufferfish, and a 2% chance for tropical fish. This chance is increased by 1% per Looting level, for a maximum of 5.5% with Looting III. When killed by the player Guardians have a 2.5% chance of dropping a random fish as an extra drop in addition to the normal fish drop. An additional 0-1 drops are added per level of Looting for a maximum of 4 prismarine crystals with Looting III.
