Updated 25 October 2026. Facts on this page come from minecraft.wiki, minecraft.net and the live Artemis PvP server; sources are listed at the bottom.
Minecraft /damage Command: Deal Real Damage
/damage applies a set amount of a chosen damage type, as if it took real damage (armor and other reductions can still lower it): /damage @p 5 minecraft:fall deals 5 fall damage that Feather Falling can reduce. Java can also say who caused it (by an entity) or from where (at a location); Bedrock takes a damage cause and an optional damager. It needs cheats or operator rights.
How does /damage work?
| Edition | Syntax |
|---|---|
| Java | /damage <target> <amount> [damageType] [at <location>] |
| Java | /damage <target> <amount> [damageType] [by <entity>] [from <cause>] |
| Bedrock | /damage <target> <amount> [cause] |
| Bedrock | /damage <target> <amount> <cause> entity <damager> |
Because it uses the normal damage rules, armor, Protection and Resistance reduce it when the damage type allows (the Java default generic type and magic bypass armor), and it starts invulnerability frames. Damage types: health and damage.
What are some /damage examples?
| Command | Result |
|---|---|
/damage @s 4 minecraft:fall | 4 fall damage to you (Java) |
/damage @e[type=zombie,limit=1,sort=nearest] 10 minecraft:player_attack by @p | The nearest zombie is hit as if by the nearest player (Java) |
/damage @p 6 fire | 6 fire damage (Bedrock cause name) |
/damage or /kill?
/kill removes an entity outright, ignoring armor and totems; /damage hurts it normally, so it can survive, trigger a totem, or be blocked. Use /damage for traps and custom attacks. See /kill and totems.
What is /damage used for?
Custom traps in adventure maps, testing how much a piece of armor blocks, boss abilities in data packs, and minigames where a shrinking zone hurts players over time. Combine it with /execute to target areas.
Does ArtemisPvP have custom damage?
Frequently asked questions
Does /damage go through armor?
It depends on the damage type: fall or player_attack damage is reduced by armor, but the Java default generic type and magic bypass armor.
Is /damage on Bedrock?
Yes, with a damage cause instead of a damage type.
Sources
Every fact on this page was checked against these pages; the wording is ours.