Whenever I get the itch to play Minecraft again, I always browse the Marketplace first to see if there are any packs I can add to make the game a little bit more exciting. There’s an overwhelming amount of content you can spend your coins on, from adding a larger variety of animals and fish, to even dinosaurs if you fancy re-creating your own Jurassic Park.
But the Marketplace isn’t just about expanding wildlife. You can also add new, horrifying mobs, different animations, and a number of new blocks created by other players—all of which alter the core Minecraft experience in one way or another.
However, the most popular add-on currently available doesn’t focus on terrors or a huge variety of creatures. Instead, it centers on one thing and one thing only: owls.
Obviously, everyone loves Minecraft’s existing mob selection, but I can’t lie—I do find myself getting a bit bored of seeing nothing but pigs, chickens, cows, and sheep. That said, I still get incredibly excited whenever I stumble across a fox, so I can understand why so many players have jumped at the opportunity to add an all-new creature to the game. Plus, the fact that this add-on is entirely free definitely helps its popularity.
The add-on features nine different species of owls—three found in the wild and six more accessible through cross-breeding. That’s thrilling enough if you ask me. But unlike other animals, these owls aren’t just for looks. You can tame them using raw rabbit meat, equip them with tools, and assign them jobs to help you out on your adventures.
One of the coolest features is the ability to craft a Witch Staff, which allows your player to ride your owl and soar through the skies without needing an Elytra. The jobs your owl can take on include being a battle companion, a healer, or a potion brewer—depending on the equipment you craft for them.
Even better, you can change your owl’s role by removing its current equipment and giving it something new. This makes them incredibly versatile and valuable companions, especially if you find yourself wandering around and taking unnecessary damage from enemies.
So, this add-on is much more than just adding owls to bulk out the animal roster. I can see why it has quickly risen to the most popular spot on the Marketplace and remained there for quite some time. The extra help from your owl companions goes a long way.
I wouldn’t be surprised if owls eventually make their way into the base game—but I’m not sure they’d be as useful as they are here.
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/survival-crafting/i-was-baffled-when-i-found-out-minecrafts-most-popular-marketplace-mod-just-adds-owls-but-now-ive-tried-it-i-cant-live-without-it/