Pillager is a hostile illager armed with a crossbow, found in wandering patrols, Pillager outposts, and village raids. It attacks by firing arrows at players and villagers, making it one of the main threats during raids. Pillagers are commonly seen in groups, often alongside other illagers.

Pillagers drop 0–2 arrows upon death, with the amount increasing if they have the Looting enchantment. If a Pillager is a raid captain and not part of a raid, it also drops an ominous bottle, with a random level between 1 and 5. When killed by a player, pillagers drop 5 experience.

Pillagers cannot be bred and spawn naturally in Pillager outposts, patrols, and raids. Patrols can appear anywhere in the Overworld, while outposts serve as permanent bases for pillagers.

Pillagers are hostile mobs that attack from a distance using their crossbows. They have a slow reload time, making it easier for players to evade their shots or attack between reloads. Unlike most ranged mobs, pillagers do not run away in melee combat, making them aggressive even at close range. Their crossbows can break from overuse, causing them to become defenseless unless they pick up another weapon.