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.
Levitation Effect in Minecraft: Causes and Cures
Levitation makes you float upward without control. Shulker bullets give it in End cities. You take no fall damage while floating, but when it ends you drop and take damage as usual, so a long float can be deadly. It has no effect while you ride or glide with elytra, and on Java none in water or lava.
What gives Levitation?
| Cause | Notes |
|---|---|
| Shulker bullet | When it hits you |
| /effect | Any level with cheats |
Every effect in the game: status effects.
What does Levitation do?
Each bullet gives Levitation I for 10 seconds; another hit restarts the timer instead of raising the level. High levels from commands make you rise very fast. See shulkers.
How do you remove or counter it?
Drink milk to stop rising, then drink Slow Falling or place a block to stand on. Open your elytra and you are no longer affected. Most effects show an icon in your inventory and at the top right of the screen, with the time left; the /effect command can give or clear any of them.
More about Levitation
Over the void in the End, Levitation is dangerous, so fight shulkers on solid ground and away from edges. Some players use it on purpose to rise up End city towers quickly. A ceiling stops you rising, but you still fall when the effect ends.
Status effects come from potions, food, beacons, conduits, mobs and blocks. Each has a level and a timer, and most can be cleared by drinking milk; beacon and conduit effects keep refreshing while you stay in range, so they never run out there.
Tips
In End cities, block shulker bullets with a shield, which stops the Levitation. Related: Slow Falling.
Frequently asked questions
What causes Levitation?
Shulker bullets.
Sources
Every fact on this page was checked against these pages; the wording is ours.