Commands · Spawning
How to Use the /summon Command
The /summon command drops any entity into your world on demand. Pair it with tilde coordinates and NBT tags to spawn named, custom, frozen or boosted mobs exactly where you want them.
server console, world: overworld
[12:04:18] [Server thread/INFO]: Awaiting command…
> /summon zombie ~ ~ ~ {CustomName:'"Brutus"',IsBaby:0b,Health:40f}
[12:04:19] [Server thread/INFO]: Resolving target position → 128.5 71.0 -340.5
[12:04:19] [Server thread/INFO]: Applying NBT tags · CustomName, IsBaby, Health
[12:04:19] [Server thread/INFO]: Summoned new Zombie «Brutus»
<Server> Brutus the Zombie has entered the world
✓ 1 entity summoned · 40♥ · named mob
The full grammar
Read it as /summon → entity → x y z → {nbt}. The entity ID is mandatory; everything after is optional but positional, so you cannot add NBT without first giving a position. Tilde coordinates anchor to the command runner, making ~ ~ ~ the safest default. NBT keys are case sensitive and need exact suffixes: 0b for boolean, 40f for float, quoted strings for names.
Quick answers
+What is the basic /summon syntax?
/summon <entity> [x y z] [nbt]. Only the entity ID is required, for example /summon creeper. Position and NBT are optional.
+What does ~ ~ ~ mean?
The tildes are relative coordinates. ~ ~ ~ means the exact spot the command runs from. ~ ~5 ~ means 5 blocks above it. Mix tilde and numbers freely.
+How do I name a summoned mob?
Add the CustomName tag: /summon villager ~ ~ ~ {CustomName:'"Bob"'}. Add CustomNameVisible:1b to keep the nameplate showing without looking at it.
+How do I spawn a baby mob?
Set IsBaby:1b in the NBT, like /summon zombie ~ ~ ~ {IsBaby:1b}. For animals use Age:-24000 instead, which is the baby timer.
+Can I summon a mob that cannot move?
Yes. Use {NoAI:1b} to freeze its brain, or {Silent:1b} to mute it. Combine tags: {NoAI:1b,Silent:1b,Invulnerable:1b} for a decorative statue mob.
+Why does my /summon command fail?
Common causes: a typo in the entity ID, a missing comma in NBT, wrong quote escaping, or no permission. Check the red error text for the exact character position it failed at.
/summon at a glance
Syntax
/summon <entity> [<pos>] [<nbt>]What it does
Spawns an entity at a specified location, optionally with NBT data to customize the entity.
Three things /summon is actually used for
/summon minecraft:cow ~ ~ ~5Spawns one cow five blocks in front of you.
/summon minecraft:lightning_bolt ~ ~ ~10Strikes lightning ten blocks away, which is how you make a charged creeper on purpose.
/summon minecraft:armor_stand ~ ~ ~ {NoGravity:1b}Places an armour stand that floats where you put it instead of falling.
/summon sits with the world commands in Minecraft, 9 of them in total. The ones with a guide here: /clone, /fill, /locate, /setblock.
Every command with its full argument list lives in the command reference.
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Trial Key
Diamond
String
Target