You do not need to hit this molten core to hurt one, contrary to some beliefs. Unlike Slimes, Magma Cubes split into eight layers while hopping, exposing a molten core. Even so, it is fairly rare, with a 25% drop chance. Only the small ones drop their unique drop, Magma Cream, a brewing ingredient. The three former sizes split into the one below them, and the tiny size will die if hit enough. Both mobs come in large, medium or tiny sizes.
Magma Cubes do not spawn in the same conditions as their green Overworld counterpart they can spawn all over the Nether, though mostly in the Superflat Nether worlds unique to the console edition of Minecraft.
Tiny Magma Cubes will hurt the player, but tiny Slimes will not. These mobs can jump much higher than Slimes, making them harder to avoid. Magma Cubes, also called Fire Slimes, Magma SlimesĀ or Lava Slimes, are the Nether equivalent of the rare overworld mob, Slimes, although they are a bit more dangerous. This Magma Cube is trying to hop out of the Nether lava.