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.
Potion of Harming in Minecraft: Recipe and Effects
A Potion of Harming deals 6 damage instantly, or 12 with Harming II. Brew it by adding a fermented spider eye to a Potion of Healing or Poison. On undead mobs it heals them instead, so never throw it at a skeleton or zombie. Splash Harming is a common PvP and mob-fighting potion.
How do you brew a Potion of Harming?
| Potion | Made from | Lasts |
|---|---|---|
| Potion of Harming | Healing or Poison + fermented spider eye | Instant, 6 damage |
| Potion of Harming II | Harming + glowstone dust | Instant, 12 damage |
Brew in a brewing stand fuelled with blaze powder: water bottles plus Nether wart make Awkward Potions, the base for most potions; see brewing potions.
What does it do?
Instant Damage deals magic damage at once to living mobs and players, which only Resistance and Protection reduce, doubling with each level. Undead mobs, including the wither and phantoms, are healed by it instead. Effect list: every potion.
When should you use it?
Splash Harming II at a group of non-undead mobs, such as spiders or creepers, is very effective; lingering Harming makes tipped arrows of Harming. Do not use it in an undead fight. See zombies.
Step by step
Fill three glass bottles with water and place them in the bottom slots of a brewing stand, with blaze powder as fuel. Add Nether wart to make Awkward Potions (Weakness skips this step), then add the main ingredient. Finally add redstone for a longer version, glowstone for a stronger one, or gunpowder for a splash potion. Arrows tipped with Harming deal the instant damage when they hit, which is handy against non-undead mobs.
Splash, lingering and tips
Fermented spider eyes are a spider eye, brown mushroom and sugar crafted together. Add gunpowder for a splash version you throw, then dragon's breath for a lingering cloud; see splash and lingering potions. Related: tipped arrows.
Frequently asked questions
Does Harming hurt zombies?
No, it heals undead mobs; use Healing to hurt them.
Sources
Every fact on this page was checked against these pages; the wording is ours.