A Potion of Harming deals instant damage, making it one of the best offensive brews in Minecraft for PvP, base defense, and traps. Unlike most potions, you do not start it from an Awkward Potion; you brew a fermented spider eye into a Potion of Healing or Poison. This guide covers the full recipe, the stronger and throwable versions, and the one situation where a harming potion backfires.
Everything here is confirmed in the current 2026 version of Minecraft (26.2).
Quick answer: brew a fermented spider eye into a Potion of Healing or a Potion of Poison to get a Potion of Harming (instant damage, 6 damage / 3 hearts). Add glowstone for Harming II, or gunpowder to make it a throwable splash potion.
Potion of Harming at a Glance
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Base recipe | Fermented spider eye + Potion of Healing or Poison |
| Effect | Instant Damage, 6 damage (3 hearts) |
| Harming II | Add glowstone dust (12 damage / 6 hearts) |
| Splash version | Add gunpowder |
Step 1: Make a Base Potion
The Potion of Harming is unusual: you do not brew it from an Awkward Potion. Instead, you first make one of two base potions, then corrupt it. Fuel your brewing stand with blaze powder first, then:
- Water bottles + nether wart = Awkward Potion.
- Turn the Awkward Potion into either a Potion of Healing (add a glistering melon) or a Potion of Poison (add a spider eye).
Either base works; the result is identical.
Step 2: Add a Fermented Spider Eye
Put your Healing or Poison potion in the bottom slots and a fermented spider eye in the top ingredient slot. In about 20 seconds, it becomes a Potion of Harming. Drinking it deals 6 damage (3 hearts) instantly; there is no timer, the damage is immediate.
A fermented spider eye normally flips a potion into its “negative,” and that is exactly what is happening here: Healing becomes Harming, and Poison also becomes Harming.
Making It Stronger or Throwable
Two upgrades turn a basic harming potion into a real weapon:
- Harming II (more damage): add glowstone dust to a Potion of Harming. This roughly doubles the hit to 12 damage (6 hearts). Note that glowstone (strength) and redstone (duration) are different, and since Harming is instant, redstone does nothing to it.
- Splash Potion (throwable): add gunpowder to a Potion of Harming so you can throw it at enemies instead of drinking it. This is the version you actually want for combat.
- Lingering Potion: add dragon’s breath to a splash potion of harming to leave a damaging cloud. It must already be a splash potion first.
The One Big Warning: Undead
Here is the catch that catches people out: instant damage is reversed on undead mobs. A Potion of Harming will heal zombies, skeletons, husks, and wither skeletons instead of hurting them (and Healing potions damage them). So do not throw Harming at a zombie horde; use it on players and living mobs, and use Healing/Instant Health as your “damage” potion against the undead. For the full brewing tree, see our best Minecraft potions guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Brew a fermented spider eye into a Potion of Healing or a Potion of Poison. It becomes a Potion of Harming, which deals 6 instant damage (3 hearts) when consumed.
No. You start from a finished Potion of Healing or Poison, then add a fermented spider eye. The fermented spider eye flips it into Harming.
Add glowstone dust to a Potion of Harming. That upgrades it to Instant Damage II, dealing about 12 damage (6 hearts).
Add gunpowder to a Potion of Harming to make a Splash Potion of Harming. You can then throw it at mobs or players. Add dragon’s breath to a splash potion to make a lingering version.
Instant damage is reversed on undead mobs. Harming heals zombies, skeletons, and other undead, while Healing potions damage them. Use Harming on living targets only.
No. Harming is an instant effect with no duration, so redstone (which extends duration) does nothing. Use glowstone to increase its strength instead.
A Potion of Harming is one of the most useful combat brews once you know the twist: build a Healing or Poison potion, drop in a fermented spider eye, then add glowstone for power and gunpowder to throw it. Just remember to keep it away from the undead, or you will be handing your enemies free health.
