There are tons of useful and fun RPG-inspired mechanics in Minecraft. Aside from enchanting, players can also create their own potions. By gathering the right ingredients and crafting themselves a brewing stand, players can brew powerful Minecraft potions that give players incredible boosts. There's something for just about any occasion, from water breathing to night vision to even poison.
However, Minecraft doesn't exactly tell players how to brew these potions. These potion recipes can either be learned by trial and error, or players can rely on this handy guide. Every Minecraft potion recipe will be listed down below, along with its effects. And at the end, players can also find what different modifier ingredients they can add to make their potions even more powerful.
Updated on March 26, 2023, by Ashely Claudino: Minecraft is an ever-changing game, and there is always something new to explore and dangerous places to visit in order to improve one's inventory. There is a lot to speak about when it comes to the art of potion-making in Minecraft, and in order to understand the more complex potions in the game, the player must first learn the basics. Before a potion has any significant effects it must first become an Awkward Potion, and then once they've been turned into a regular potion, splashing and lingering effects can be added to it. This guide has now been updated to contain important information on how to brew these potions before attempting to turn them into something more powerful.
Potion Types
There are three major potion types: Awkward Potions, Splash Potions, and Lingering Potions.
Awkward Potion
In order to make any potion at all in Minecraft, the player must first create an Awkward Potion. It has no effect at all since it is a base potion, but it is a necessary step in order to be able to successfully brew other potions.
To make an Awkward Potion, the player needs to obtain a Glass Bottle. This can be done by either fishing or crafting one by placing three sand blocks on a crafting table - one on the right and one on the left of the middle row and another one on the center of the bottom row. It must then be filled with water at any water source location - this turns the Glass Bottle into a Water Bottle.
The next step is what will create the actual base potion. Players must first acquire Nether Wart by visiting the Nether and finding a Nether Fortress. Nether Wart is one of the most essential ingredients when it comes to potion brewing in Minecraft - it is indispensable. Placing Nether Wart in the brewing stand along with the Water Bottle will create the infamous Awkward Potion, which opens up a whole new world of potion brewing.
Splash Potion
Potions that have been merely created from an initial Awkward Potion must be consumed therefore they can only have an effect on players - they cannot be considered combat weapons. For example, if the player has a Potion of Harming, all they can do is consume it, which would be impractical as it would only deal damage to them.
Splash Potions, on the other hand, can be used against enemies if thrown at them, and that is what makes them so useful in combat. This means that a Splash Potion of Harming would actually deal damage to whoever it's thrown at it. At first, potions might not seem like the most useful offensive weapons, but if used correctly and strategically they can greatly impact on well a player does in a fight, and this might be crucial when facing threatening bosses such as the Wither for example.
Thankfully, it is quite easy to make a Splash Potion. To turn a regular potion into a Splash Potion, the player must place it back on the brewing stand and add gunpowder to it. Here are the best potions to turn into Splash Potions:
- Potion of Poison
- Potion of Harming
- Potion of Slowness
- Potion of Weakness
Lingering Potion
Another useful tool, similar to the Splash Potion, is the Lingering Potion, but these are extremely difficult to make since it requires the player to come face-to-face with the Ender Dragon.
Lingering Potions will create a cloud of gas upon being thrown, which will spread its effects to nearby enemies or teammates. In order to create it, the player must first turn the desired potion into a Splash Potion. Then, they will have to acquire Dragon's Breath by using a Glass Both to catch the Ender Dragon's breath. To brew a Lingering Potion, a Splash Potion must be added to the brewing stand with the Ender Dragon's breath.
This potion is especially powerful when being used as a weapon against a mob or in multiplayer mode since it can provide extra offensive attack or defensive resistance to a larger number of players. If the player has access to these resources, in these cases it becomes much more practical compared to brewing multiple Awkward-based Potions or Splash Potions.
All Potions & Their Ingredients At A Glance
Potion |
Ingredients |
---|---|
Potion of Fire Resistance |
|
Potion of Harming |
|
Potion of Healing |
|
Potion of Invisibility |
|
Potion of Leaping |
|
Potion of Night Vision |
|
Potion of Poison |
|
Potion of Regeneration |
|
Potion of Slow Falling |
|
Potion of Slowness |
|
Potion of Strength |
|
Potion of Swiftness |
|
Potion of the Turtle Master |
|
Potion of Water Breathing |
|
Potion of Weakness |
|
How To Use A Brewing Stand And Where To Find One
A brewing stand is a mid-game item. Typically, players will have to craft it on their own by first heading into the Nether, finding a Nether Fortress, and gathering Blaze Rods. However, villages, igloos with basements, End Cities with ships, and woodland mansions will occasionally have brewing stands. To craft a brewing stand, combine a Blaze Rod with three pieces of any type of stone.
The potion brewing stand needs to be fueled. To do this, place Blaze Powder in the top left square to fill up the progress bar on the left. This represents the fuel available. Brewing stands need to be refueled regularly. To start brewing, gather a bunch of glass bottles and fill them with water.
Nether Wart is a must-have base ingredient for most Minecraft potions, so make sure to have some at hand. It can be found in Nether Fortresses. For a more in-depth guide on brewing, check this potion brewing strategy guide.
Potion Of Fire Resistance
Ingredients:
- Nether Wart
- Magma Cream
To become completely immune to fire damage, combine a bottle of water with Nether Wart. Then, add Magma Cream. In order to craft Magma Cream, combine a Slime Ball from a Slime with Blaze Powder from a Blaze. Players can also get Magma Cream from Magma Cubes found in the Nether. Magma Cubes spawn in abundance in Basalt Delta biomes.
Best Use Of Fire Resistance Potions
Fire resistance potions are a must-have when entering the Nether. Players won't have to worry about falling into lava or walking into a fire during the effects of the potion. It's particularly useful when mining for ancient debris at low elevations in the Nether, where lava can spill out of seemingly nowhere.
Potion Of Harming
Ingredients:
- Nether Wart
- Spider Eye
- Fermented Spider Eye
- Optional: Gunpowder
In order to deal tons of damage, craft Potion of Harming using this Minecraft recipe. Combine a bottle of water with Nether Wart. Then, add in a spider eye from a Spider. Finally, add a Fermented Spider Eye. Players can craft one by combining sugar, a brown mushroom, and a spider.
Since the potion is best used on enemies, add in some gunpowder, which turns it into a Splash Potion. This allows the potion to be thrown at a target. Gunpowder can be found in desert temple chests and it's also sometimes dropped by Creepers when slain.
Potion Of Healing
Ingredients:
- Nether Wart
- Glistening Melon
Ideal for healing players in a pinch, the Potion of Healing recipe in Minecraft can be brewed with Nether Wart combined with a bottle of water.
Add in a Glistening Melon, which can be made by combining a slice of melon with eight nuggets of gold surrounding it in the crafting grid. Melon seeds are found in mineshaft chests, and melons typically grow in jungle biomes.
Best Use Of Potions Of Healing
Potions of Healing are a necessity in Minecraft when facing tough boss-type enemies like the Wither, Ender Dragon, or Elder Guardians. However, any adventurer without proper gear or weapons will benefit from having a Potion of Healing at hand, especially when exploring caves or the Nether, or the End.
Potion Of Invisibility
Ingredients:
- Nether Wart
- Golden Carrot
- Fermented Spider Eye
For a quick escape from monsters at night time, the potion of invisibility is great. Combine a bottle of water with Nether Wart. Then, add in a Golden Carrot and finally a Fermented Spider Eye.
The Golden Carrot is made by surrounding a carrot with eight gold nuggets in the crafting grid. To find carrots, there's a chance a village or a shipwreck chest might have them. The Fermented Spider Eye is made by combining a brown mushroom, sugar, and a spider eye.
Potion Of Leaping
Ingredients:
- Nether Wart
- Rabbit's Foot
To become as agile as a rabbit and gain a jump boost, craft this potion recipe in Minecraft. Combine Nether Wart with a bottle of water.
Add in a Rabbit's Foot, which can be gained from killing a rabbit if players have a good sword with Looting enchantment on it. Otherwise, this item is hard to come by. Rabbits usually spawn in abundance in desert biomes.
Potion Of Night Vision
Ingredients:
- Nether Wart
- Golden Carrot
To better see at night or underwater, this potion recipe in Minecraft will make players' lives much easier. Combine a bottle of water and Nether Wart.
Add in a Golden Carrot, which is made with eight nuggets of gold around one carrot in the crafting grid. Carrots are somewhat easy to find in village farms or shipwreck chests.
Best Use Of Potions Of Night Vision
Potions of Night Vision are extremely useful when exploring caves. They are an upgrade from using torches, though it means mobs will still spawn around the player due to a lack of light. Exploring underwater structures like shipwrecks, ruins, or ocean monuments also gets significantly easier when using Night Vision potions.
Potion Of Poison
Ingredients:
- Nether Wart
- Spider Eye
- Optional: Gunpowder
This is an average damage potion that will leave the target with a poisoned effect.
Combine a bottle of water with Nether Wart. Then, simply add in a spider's eye which is easy enough to get from killing a spider. Since this poison needs to be hit on enemies, adding gunpowder is useful to turn it into a Splash Potion that can be thrown. Gunpowder can be found in desert temple chests and when killing a Creeper.
Potion Of Regeneration
Ingredients:
- Nether Wart
- Ghast Tear
In order to keep health replenished quickly in a tight spot, craft this potion recipe in Minecraft before a lengthy adventure. Combine a bottle of water with some Nether Wart.
Then, add in a Ghast Tear, which is pretty easy to get after killing a Ghast. Make sure they don't die over a lake of lava, or the Ghast Tear will get incinerated. Ghasts don't drop this item every single time, so it might take a few tries before finding one.
Best Use Of Potions Of Regeneration
While exploring dangerous areas like the Nether, the End, or caves, Potions of Regeneration are extremely useful. They are practically a must-have during any boss fights, such as against the Ender Dragon, the Wither, or Elder Guardians.
Potion Of Slow Falling
Ingredients:
- Nether Wart
- Phantom Membrane
If dying from fall damage is a major concern, consider crafting this potion recipe in Minecraft.
Combine a bottle of water with some Nether Wart. Add in Phantom Membrane, which can be looted from a Phantom after it's killed. Phantoms only appear if players haven't slept for three nights straight in-game.
Best Use Of Potion Of Slow Falling
Though Potions of Slow Falling are a bit niche, fall damage is a big danger when exploring caves with ravines, or when building tall constructions. Having Potions of Slow Falling is also useful when exploring End Cities to minimize fall damage from the levitation effect that Shulkers shoot at the player.
Potion Of Slowness
Ingredients:
- Nether Wart
- Sugar
- Fermented Spider Eye
- Optional: Gunpowder
To apply a devastating slowness effect on a target, brew this potion. Combine a bottle of water with some Nether Wart.
Add in some Sugar and finally add in a Fermented Spider Eye. Sugar can be gained from Sugar Cane plant and the Fermented Spider Eye is made by combining a brown mushroom, sugar, and a spider eye. Gunpowder is a nice addition to make it easy to toss this on an enemy. To get some, slay a Creeper first.
Best Use Of Potion Of Slowness
There aren't that many incredibly fast and dangerous mobs in Minecraft, which makes this potion mostly useless. That said, against Illagers wielding an axe and baby zombies that both charge at the player quite fast it can be a decent option.
Potion Of Strength
Ingredients:
- Nether Wart
- Blaze Powder
In order to quickly become the strongest one around, this potion recipe in Minecraft is a must. Start off by adding Nether Wart into a bottle of water.
Then, just add in some Blaze Powder, which is crafted from Blaze Rods. To get them, head to the Nether and find a Nether Fortress where Blaze spawners are located, and slay as many Blazes as possible.
Best Use Of Potions Of Strength
Potions of Strength are great when players need to kill mobs fast. Powerful enemies like the Wither might require the player to drink a Potion of Strength to help them end the fight quicker.
Potion Of Swiftness
Ingredients:
- Nether Wart
- Sugar
Should players have the need for speed, a Potion of Swiftness is ideal with its simple ingredients.
In a bottle of water, add in some Nether Wart. Then, add in sugar, which is made from Sugar Cane plant.
Best Use Of Potions Of Swiftness
The improved running and walking speed from Potions of Swiftness is really useful when traversing long distances in Minecraft. Players exploring the End or the Overworld where the terrain is relatively safe should craft Potions of Swiftness to get to their destination faster.
Potion Of The Turtle Master
Ingredients:
- Nether Wart
- Turtle Shell
To become slow yet resistant to damage like a turtle, craft this potion recipe in Minecraft with both negative and positive effects. Combine a bottle of water with Nether Wart.
Turtle Shells are made from scutes, which are dropped by baby turtles when they grow into adult turtles. Find a beach with several turtles, and using seagrass start breeding them to gather a bunch of scutes. Make sure to protect the turtle eggs from mobs.
Best Use Of Potion Of The Turtle Master
Players shouldn't scoff at this somewhat niche-sounding potion. There's a trade-off to be made here: speed for higher damage resistance. This potion is wonderful when players find themselves getting swarmed by enemies or taking a ton of damage, but don't really need to move away quickly.
Potion Of Water Breathing
Ingredients:
- Nether Wart
- Pufferfish
For anyone looking to dive for treasure or enter an Ocean Temple, this potion recipe in Minecraft is a requirement. Start by adding Nether Wart into a bottle of water.
Then, add in a Pufferfish. This type of fish is fairly common to find when players go fishing. They can even capture it straight into a bucket.
Best Use Of Potion Of Water Breathing
As already mentioned, anything to do with underwater exploration absolutely requires Potions of Water Breathing in Minecraft. As of 1.13, a ton of treasure can be found underwater in ruins and shipwrecks, so having Water Breathing Potions is a huge advantage while exploring.
Potion Of Weakness
Ingredients:
- Fermented Spider Eye
- Optional: Gunpowder
To turn a strong enemy into a weakling, this Minecraft recipe can be crafted and is incredibly easy to make even without Nether Wart.
Combine a Fermented Spider Eye with a bottle of water. To make a Fermented Spider Eye, combine a brown mushroom, sugar, and a spider eye. To easily use it on enemies, add some gunpowder to make it into a throwable Splash Potion. Gunpowder can be looted from Creepers and desert temples.
Best Use Of Potion Of Weakness
If players find themselves outnumbered against a horde of enemies, using the Potion of Weakness on them can be an option to lower their defenses. In most cases, however, it's still recommended to use something to buff the player's own defenses or damage rather than wasting time on using a Potion of Weakness. It's definitely an extremely niche potion.
Potion Modifiers
While any of the above-mentioned Minecraft potion recipes can be consumed as they are, it's recommended to use modifiers to make them even more potent. Once players have crafted a potion, add one of these four modifiers in the brewing stand to give it an extra effect.
- Redstone Dust: The effect of the potion lasts longer.
- Glowstone Dust: The effect of the potion is amplified.
Minecraft is available on PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Android, iOS, Wii U, and many other platforms.