Potions are certainly not a new feature in Minecraft. They have actually been part of the game since its official release in November 2011. Yet, many players continue to overlook them, despite the fact that they contain some incredible effects that can greatly simplify your gameplay. Additionally, you can modify them into splash potions or even arrow tips! The possibilities are endless, and new status effects are constantly being added.
We’ve already written an article for a general introduction to Minecraft’s brewing system, as well as an automatic brewing station (Build an Automatic Potion Brewer in Minecraft: Guide & Tips) . So, if you want to learn more about the basics, feel free to check out that article. Today, we will focus more on the effects that the potions provide and offer you scenarios in which they are useful.
Effective Potions in Combat
Healing (Glistering Melon): This potion heals two hearts per level instantly. In combat, it can save you from certain death, especially if you have a brief moment to catch your breath. However, always keep in mind that the drinking animation takes a few seconds, so use this potion at the right moment to prevent your demise.
Harming (Glistering Melon + Fermented Spider Eye): The potion of harming does the opposite, dealing instant 3 or even 6 hearts of damage. It’s best used as a splash or lingering potion to hit multiple enemies. And, of course, you should avoid drinking the potion yourself at all costs.
Regeneration (Ghast Tear): Unlike the healing potion, this status effect works more slowly. Every 2.5 seconds, you regain half a heart. Overall, regeneration can heal 9 to 18 hearts, making it one of the absolute best potions in combat.
Slowness (Sugar + Fermented Spider Eye): When attacked by many enemies at once, a thrown potion of slowness can buy you some time. It reduces the movement speed of all mobs and players by 15% per level. This potion is also useful in PvP to create more distance between you and your opponent.
Strength (Blaze Powder): A simple but very effective potion in your combat arsenal. With it, you deal 1.5 or 3 hearts more damage, depending on the level. This can be extremely practical against tough bosses like the Wither, Ender Dragon, or Warden.
Weakness (Fermented Spider Eye): The damage your opponent deals is reduced by one heart per level. While not the most practical in combat, it has another function. Combined with a golden apple, you can use it to cure a zombie villager.
Poison (Spider Eye): This potion is particularly exciting to use, especially in PvP scenarios. While it can’t kill opponents directly, it deals tremendous damage. Poison can drain up to 36 hearts over time. This makes your opponent vulnerable to a one-hit kill. Additionally, it ignores all other effects and even armor!
Turtle Master (Turtle Shell): This potion makes you 15% slower but 20% more resistant to damage. The higher the level, the slower you become – but you can also take more hits. It may not always be worthwhile, but it can save your skin.
Potions for Farming
Infestation (Stone): This potion yields a very peculiar effect. Affected creatures spawn silverfish when they take damage. Minecraft players use this status effect to create XP farms.
Slime (Slime Block): When a mob dies, it spawns two medium-sized slimes in its place. This can be useful if you die in combat and still want to win. You can also use the effect to create a slime farm without a slime chunk.
Webbing (Cobweb): Another peculiar effect is “Webbing,” which causes a mob to leave behind 2-3 cobwebs upon death. Primarily used for farming, this effect is used to obtain string and craft various items like wool, linen, or scaffolding.
Potions for Safe Exploration
Fire Resistance (Magma Cream): You should always have this potion with you when venturing into the Nether. A single misstep could land you in lava, causing you to lose all your hard-earned materials. With this effect active, you can even swim in lava! You also become immune to blaze fireballs, making it a good choice for combat as well.
Water Breathing (Pufferfish): If you want to raid an ocean monument, find ruins, or build an underwater city, this potion is perfect for you! For the duration of the potion, you can breathe underwater and move freely without worrying about drowning.
Night Vision (Golden Carrot): For cave tours, underwater work, or other dark places, this potion is practically indispensable. You will see everything with a consistent light level of 15. Remember, though, that this only affects your vision and does not illuminate the area. Monsters can still spawn!
Potions for Increased Mobility
Swiftness (Sugar): Run 20% faster per level and jump slightly further with this wonderful potion! It’s commonly used in adventure maps but can also be very practical in regular gameplay when you want to travel from point A to point B.
Leaping (Rabbit’s Foot): Your jump height increases from one block to 1.83 or 2.51 blocks, which is a significant difference! Additionally, this potion reduces fall damage you take. Especially on long hikes where you want to climb mountain peaks, this potion should always be in your inventory.
Invisibility (Golden Carrot + Fermented Spider Eye): Everyone has probably dreamed of being invisible at some point. In Minecraft, this status effect is one of the best available! Without armor (which doesn’t become invisible), no monster can see you, but you can also use a splash potion to make mobs invisible.
Slow Falling (Phantom Membrane): This potion prevents any fall damage for its duration and is worth its weight in gold during battles against the Ender Dragon. It can also be useful if you’re building large structures and don’t want to fall to your death. With this potion, you gently descend to the ground.
Gust (Gust Rod): Upon death, this effect releases a gust of wind similar to the new wind balls. Finding a direct use for it is challenging, but you can create an Elytra launcher by giving chickens this effect and then killing them. This allows you to launch yourself thousands of blocks into the air!
Conclusion
Minecraft’s potions can provide you with genuinely useful status effects that can assist in various situations. Whether it’s in combat, for automatic farms, or exploration, there’s always a practical potion you should have in your pocket. You can rent your own Minecraft server from us and try out some potions in PvP! This will make player encounters even more interesting and add significant depth to battles.
