How to Make a Weakness Potion in Minecraft
Brewing guide for the Potion of Weakness in Minecraft 1.21+. Covers the unique Water Bottle brewing path, duration chart, and the critical role of Weakness in curing Zombie Villagers.
Ingredients
| Item | Quantity | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Fermented Spider Eye | 1 | Crafted from Spider Eye + Brown Mushroom + Sugar |
| Blaze Powder | fuel | Crafted from Blaze Rods |
| Glass Bottle | 1-3 | Crafted from Glass |
Note: Weakness is unique because it does not require an Awkward Potion base. You brew it directly from a Water Bottle. No Nether Wart is needed.
Brewing Chain
- Fill Glass Bottles with water to get Water Bottles.
- Add Fermented Spider Eye directly to produce Potion of Weakness (1:30).
Variants
| Variant | Modifier | Effect | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Potion of Weakness | - | -4 melee attack damage | 1:30 |
| Potion of Weakness (Extended) | Redstone Dust | -4 melee attack damage | 4:00 |
| Splash Potion of Weakness | Gunpowder | -4 damage (throwable) | 1:07 |
| Lingering Potion of Weakness | Dragon's Breath on Splash | -4 damage (area cloud) | 0:22 |
Weakness has no enhanced (level II) variant.
Splash and Lingering Variants
Add Gunpowder to any finished potion to create a Splash Potion you can throw. Splash potions affect all entities within a small radius on impact. Durations for splash variants are reduced to 75 % of the drinkable version. Add Dragon's Breath to a Splash Potion to create a Lingering Potion that leaves an area-of-effect cloud on the ground. Lingering potion durations are 25 % of the drinkable version.
Best Uses
- Curing Zombie Villagers: This is the primary use case. Throw a Splash Potion of Weakness at a Zombie Villager, then feed it a Golden Apple to start the curing process. The villager converts back in 3-5 minutes and offers discounted trades afterward. This is the foundation of most efficient trading hall designs.
- PvP: Splash Weakness reduces an opponent's melee damage by 4 points, which can make a significant difference in sword fights.
- Early game brewing: Weakness is one of the easiest potions to brew because it skips the Awkward Potion step entirely, requiring no Nether Wart.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I cure Zombie Villagers without a brewing stand?
Yes. Witches sometimes throw Splash Potions of Weakness, and you can find them in some loot chests. However, brewing your own is far more reliable.
Does Weakness affect ranged attacks?
No. Weakness only reduces melee attack damage. Bow, crossbow, and trident ranged attacks are unaffected.
Why does the Weakness recipe skip Awkward Potion?
Fermented Spider Eye has a unique interaction with Water Bottles specifically. This is the only case where a Water Bottle produces a useful potion without Nether Wart as a base step.
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