diff --git a/src/pocketmine/Player.php b/src/pocketmine/Player.php
index a3e8e1378..956139527 100644
--- a/src/pocketmine/Player.php
+++ b/src/pocketmine/Player.php
@@ -3590,6 +3590,14 @@ class Player extends Human implements CommandSender, ChunkLoader, IPlayer{
 		}
 	}
 
+	protected function onDeathUpdate(int $tickDiff) : bool{
+		if(parent::onDeathUpdate($tickDiff)){
+			$this->despawnFromAll(); //non-player entities rely on close() to do this for them
+		}
+
+		return false; //never flag players for despawn
+	}
+
 	public function attack(EntityDamageEvent $source){
 		if(!$this->isAlive()){
 			return;
diff --git a/src/pocketmine/entity/Entity.php b/src/pocketmine/entity/Entity.php
index 3d4bd6a62..1d1068c76 100644
--- a/src/pocketmine/entity/Entity.php
+++ b/src/pocketmine/entity/Entity.php
@@ -393,10 +393,6 @@ abstract class Entity extends Location implements Metadatable, EntityIds{
 	/** @var bool */
 	public $onGround;
 	/** @var int */
-	public $deadTicks = 0;
-	/** @var int */
-	protected $maxDeadTicks = 0;
-	/** @var int */
 	protected $age = 0;
 
 	/** @var float */
@@ -878,6 +874,16 @@ abstract class Entity extends Location implements Metadatable, EntityIds{
 		$this->scheduleUpdate();
 	}
 
+	/**
+	 * Called to tick entities while dead. Returns whether the entity should be flagged for despawn yet.
+	 *
+	 * @param int $tickDiff
+	 * @return bool
+	 */
+	protected function onDeathUpdate(int $tickDiff) : bool{
+		return true;
+	}
+
 	public function isAlive() : bool{
 		return $this->health > 0;
 	}
@@ -1267,13 +1273,10 @@ abstract class Entity extends Location implements Metadatable, EntityIds{
 		}
 
 		if(!$this->isAlive()){
-			$this->deadTicks += $tickDiff;
-			if($this->deadTicks >= $this->maxDeadTicks){
-				$this->despawnFromAll();
-				if(!$this->isPlayer){
-					$this->flagForDespawn();
-				}
+			if($this->onDeathUpdate($tickDiff)){
+				$this->flagForDespawn();
 			}
+
 			return true;
 		}
 
diff --git a/src/pocketmine/entity/Living.php b/src/pocketmine/entity/Living.php
index 6df27765f..e2bcc2098 100644
--- a/src/pocketmine/entity/Living.php
+++ b/src/pocketmine/entity/Living.php
@@ -50,6 +50,8 @@ abstract class Living extends Entity implements Damageable{
 
 	protected $attackTime = 0;
 
+	/** @var int */
+	public $deadTicks = 0;
 	/** @var int */
 	protected $maxDeadTicks = 20;
 
@@ -377,11 +379,19 @@ abstract class Living extends Entity implements Damageable{
 
 		$this->setAbsorption(max(0, $this->getAbsorption() + $source->getDamage(EntityDamageEvent::MODIFIER_ABSORPTION)));
 
-		$this->broadcastEntityEvent($this->getHealth() <= 0 ? EntityEventPacket::DEATH_ANIMATION : EntityEventPacket::HURT_ANIMATION); //Ouch!
+		if($this->isAlive()){
+			$this->doHitAnimation();
+		}else{
+			$this->startDeathAnimation();
+		}
 
 		$this->attackTime = 10; //0.5 seconds cooldown
 	}
 
+	protected function doHitAnimation() : void{
+		$this->broadcastEntityEvent(EntityEventPacket::HURT_ANIMATION);
+	}
+
 	public function knockBack(Entity $attacker, float $damage, float $x, float $z, float $base = 0.4){
 		$f = sqrt($x * $x + $z * $z);
 		if($f <= 0){
@@ -421,6 +431,26 @@ abstract class Living extends Entity implements Damageable{
 		}
 	}
 
+	protected function onDeathUpdate(int $tickDiff) : bool{
+		if($this->deadTicks < $this->maxDeadTicks){
+			$this->deadTicks += $tickDiff;
+			if($this->deadTicks >= $this->maxDeadTicks){
+				$this->endDeathAnimation();
+				//TODO: spawn experience orbs here
+			}
+		}
+
+		return $this->deadTicks >= 20;
+	}
+
+	protected function startDeathAnimation() : void{
+		$this->broadcastEntityEvent(EntityEventPacket::DEATH_ANIMATION);
+	}
+
+	protected function endDeathAnimation() : void{
+		//TODO
+	}
+
 	public function entityBaseTick(int $tickDiff = 1) : bool{
 		Timings::$timerLivingEntityBaseTick->startTiming();