Updated 23 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 Manhunt: Rules, Setup and Tips
Manhunt is a twist on speedrunning: one runner tries to beat the game while hunters try to kill them. The runner has one life; hunters respawn. Hunters track the runner with a compass, which you can set up in vanilla with a repeating command block.
How does Manhunt work?
Players split into a runner and hunters. The runner must stay alive and beat the game; the hunters must kill the runner. The runner is not allowed to respawn, while hunters can, so the runner wins by finishing the game and the hunters win with one kill. minecraft.wiki's tutorial recommends 2-4 players, and traces the first known Manhunt video to the YouTube channel Dastro in September 2014; creators such as Dream later made it popular. See speedrunning.
How do you set up a tracking compass in vanilla?
- Put
/execute at <runner> run setworldspawn ~ ~ ~in a repeating, always-active command block, so world spawn follows the runner and every compass points at them. - Turn off command block chat spam with the game rule
command_block_output(Java) orcommandblockoutput(Bedrock). - Keep the command block's chunk loaded with
/forceload add ~ ~(Java) or/tickingarea add ~ ~(Bedrock). - Hunters must set their own spawn with a bed, respawn anchor or
/spawnpoint, or they will respawn next to the runner.
How do you win as the runner?
- Get away fast at the start: hunters you kill early simply respawn.
- Gather about 36 iron: 24 for full iron armour plus a pickaxe, axe, shield, flint and steel, shovel and bucket.
- Never stop moving when chased, and use boats when you can.
- Avoid risky clutches, take plenty of food into the Nether, and collect at least 20 eyes of ender, since hunters will try to grab thrown eyes.
How do you win as a hunter?
Get full iron armour and tools as soon as you can, but stay near the runner and follow the compass. You can respawn, so being killed by the runner does not end your chances.
What minigames can you play on ArtemisPvP?
/g; see Minigames on Artemis PvP.Frequently asked questions
How do you make a Manhunt compass without mods?
Use a repeating command block that keeps setting the world spawn to the runner; compasses then point at them.
How many players do you need for Manhunt?
minecraft.wiki's tutorial recommends 2 to 4, but any number works.
Sources
Every fact on this page was checked against these pages; the wording is ours.