Updated 25 October 2026. Facts on this page come from minecraft.wiki, community sites named in the text and the live Artemis PvP server; sources are listed at the bottom.
Status Effects for PvP: Strength, Speed, Poison
The PvP essentials are Strength, Speed and Fire Resistance; the main debuffs are Poison, Slowness and Weakness. Strength changed a lot between versions: in Java 1.8 it added 130% damage per level, and since 1.9 it adds a flat 3 damage per level.
How strong is Strength?
In Java 1.9 and later, Strength adds 3 melee damage per level. minecraft.wiki's history shows it was 130% bonus damage per level before 1.9 (changed back to 3 per level in snapshot 15w33a; the 1.9 notes describe the change from a relative bonus to an absolute one). Bedrock uses its own formula that still multiplies by 1.3 per level. Arrows ignore Strength and Weakness.
Which effects help you?
| Effect | Why it matters in PvP |
|---|---|
| Strength | More melee damage; see above |
| Speed | Faster movement; Speed II changes how you aim in pot kits |
| Fire Resistance | Blocks lava and fire damage; the guide calls Strength, Speed and Fire Resistance crucial |
| Regeneration | Heals over time; since 1.9 enchanted golden apples give Regeneration II for 20 seconds |
| Absorption | Extra temporary hearts, mainly from golden apples |
| Instant Health | Instant healing: 4 at level I, 8 at level II |
Which debuffs are used against you?
| Effect | What it does in PvP |
|---|---|
| Poison | Damages through armour and its damage ticks disrupt movement and knockback; Poison II is the deadly one |
| Slowness | Makes them easier to chase and hit; from tipped arrows or splash potions |
| Weakness | Cuts their melee damage (4 less per level since 1.9); a hit that drops to 0 deals no knockback |
| Slow Falling | From tipped arrows; makes it hard for them to crit and easy to combo |
| Instant Damage | Bypasses armour but not the Protection enchantment; the guide calls Harming potions weak value |
How do you remove debuffs?
Milk clears every effect, good ones too, so the PvP guide calls it niche. Honey bottles clear Poison only, stack to 16 and leave your Strength, Speed and Fire Resistance alone.
Where do effects come from in PvP?
Splash potions (splash potions in PvP), tipped arrows (bow PvP) and golden apples (golden apples). Every effect in the game: status effects.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Strength II add?
In Java 1.9 and later, 6 melee damage (3 per level). In 1.8 it added 130% per level.
Does milk remove Strength?
Yes, milk clears all effects, which is why PvP players prefer honey for poison.
Sources
Every fact on this page was checked against these pages; the wording is ours.