Command Reference

Minecraft /effect Command

playerJavaBedrock

Applies, removes, or clears status effects (like Speed, Poison, Strength, Night Vision) on players or mobs with custom durations and particle visibility.

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Version Compatibility

Java Edition:1.21.4 (1.13+)

Bedrock Edition:1.21.60

Command Syntax

Java Edition/effect give <targets> <effect> [<seconds>] [<amplifier>] [<hideParticles>] | /effect clear <targets> [<effect>]

Bedrock Edition/effect <player> <effect> [seconds] [amplifier] [hideParticles: Boolean] | /effect <player> clear

Arguments Explained

action (Java)give / clearRequired

Specify whether to bestow or wipe away potion effects.

targets / playerSelector / Player NameRequired

Target entity or players (e.g. @s, @p, @a[team=blue], @e[type=zombie]).

effectNamespaced Effect IDRequired

Status effect identifier (e.g. minecraft:speed, regeneration, night_vision).

secondsInteger / "infinite"

Duration in seconds (up to 1,000,000) or "infinite" in modern Java.

amplifierInteger (0-255)

Power level: 0 is Level I, 1 is Level II, up to 255 (maximum potency).

hideParticlesBoolean

Set to true to hide ambient swirling potion bubbles from player vision.

Practical Examples

beginnerJava

/effect give @s minecraft:night_vision infinite 0 true

Java 1.20+: Gives yourself permanent Night Vision with invisible particles.

Standard mining and building quality-of-life setup.

beginnerBedrock

/effect @s night_vision 9999 0 true

Bedrock: Gives yourself 9,999 seconds of Night Vision with invisible particles.

Bedrock command syntax for clean night exploration.

intermediateBoth

/effect give @p minecraft:strength 300 2 false

Gives the nearest player Strength III for 5 minutes (300 seconds).

PvP arena boss powerup.

beginnerBoth

/effect clear @a

Wipes all active status effects from every player in the world.

Resetting players after minigame rounds.

intermediateBoth

/effect clear @s minecraft:poison

Removes specifically the Poison effect while keeping other buffs active.

Selective status cleanse.

Common Mistakes

Mistake:

Setting amplifier to 1 expecting Level 1 effect

Fix:

Amplifiers are 0-indexed: 0 gives Level I, 1 gives Level II.

Mistake:

Using Java syntax /effect give on Bedrock Edition

Fix:

Bedrock syntax does not use "give": use /effect @s speed 30 1 true

Mistake:

Forgetting hideParticles true and obscuring player vision with dense potion bubbles

Fix:

Always append true to hide swirling particles in maps and cinematics.

Java vs Bedrock Differences

Java requires "give" or "clear" directly after /effect. Bedrock does not use "give", instead taking "/effect <player> <effect> [duration] [amplifier] [hideParticles]". Bedrock puts "clear" as the final argument.

Command Block Usage & Automation

In Command Blocks, create passive healing sanctuaries or hazard zones using a Repeating Always Active block: "/effect give @a[distance=..15] regeneration 2 1 true" (the trailing true hides swirling potion bubbles to keep the screen clear). To clear status debuffs when players enter safe rooms, chain an Impulse block running "/effect clear @p".

Automation Tip: Command blocks require Operator permissions (permission level 2+) and cheats enabled. In Java Edition, command blocks can execute commands up to 32,767 characters long compared to the 256-character player chat limit.

Useful Tips

Amplifier 255 on Resistance makes the player completely immune to all physical and magical damage.
Instant Damage and Instant Health take a duration of 1 second; increasing the amplifier multiplies the damage/healing burst.
Combine /effect give @a invisibility 9999 0 true with /replaceitem to make floating weapon phantoms.

Important Notes

Java Edition requires specifying `give` or `clear` before the target selector. Bedrock Edition omits `give` entirely and places `clear` at the very end of the line (e.g. `/effect @s clear`).

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I give infinite effects in Minecraft?

In Java 1.19.4+, use "infinite" for the seconds value: /effect give @s night_vision infinite 0 true. In Bedrock, use 99999.

What is the maximum effect amplifier level?

The maximum amplifier is 255. Note that certain effects like Jump Boost 250+ will disable jumping altogether due to integer rollover.

Can /effect target hostile mobs?

Yes! You can buff mobs using selectors like /effect give @e[type=zombie] speed 60 2.

Related Commands

/give

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