Smarter Equipment Scavenging and Shield Use for Hostile Mobs

I suggest expanding the existing equipment-pickup behaviour of Zombies and Skeletons. Instead of only picking up items that happen to be nearby, they should actively detect suitable weapons, armor, and shields within a limited radius, move towards them, and equip them when they offer a real upgrade.

Mobs should compare equipment based on its material, protection or damage, durability, and enchantments. They should ignore inferior or unsuitable items. Their choices should reflect their combat roles: Zombies should prioritize melee weapons and armor, while Skeletons should keep using bows and only replace them with a better or enchanted bow—not an ordinary sword.

Zombies and Skeletons should also be able to equip shields in their off-hand and use them situationally. Zombies could block incoming attacks while approaching or fighting. Skeletons could raise a shield when threatened at close range or by projectiles, then lower it to shoot.

This would build on mechanics already present in Minecraft and make encounters more dynamic through smarter behaviour, rather than simply giving mobs more health or damage.