How to Get Bad Omen in Minecraft

Guide Java Bedrock

Quick answer: Since 1.21, Bad Omen only comes from drinking an ominous bottle - dropped by pillager raid captains (the ones with the banner) or looted from vaults. Carry it into a village to start a raid, or near a trial spawner to trigger an ominous trial.

What you need

An ominous bottle from a raid captain or vault
Combat gear for the raid or ominous trial you are about to start
Milk bucket as an emergency exit

Step by step

Find a raid captain: pillager outpost leaders and patrol captains wear an ominous banner on their head. Kill one outside a raid and it drops an ominous bottle.
Or loot vaults: standard vaults in trial chambers can contain ominous bottles too.
Drink it: the bottle gives Bad Omen at level I-V for 100 minutes. Higher-level bottles come from higher-difficulty captains and ominous vaults.
Trigger a raid: walk into a village with Bad Omen and it becomes Raid Omen - the raid starts after 30 seconds. On Java, levels above II add an extra wave and stronger raider gear, and Hero of the Village matches your omen level.
Trigger an ominous trial instead: bring Bad Omen near a trial spawner and it transforms into Trial Omen (15 minutes per level), converting nearby spawners into ominous trial spawners.
Cash in: ominous trial spawners drop ominous trial keys, which open ominous vaults - the only source of the heavy core and the flow armor trim.
Change your mind? Drink milk (or die) to clear the effect before you walk somewhere unfortunate.

Java vs Bedrock

Big edition split: on Java the omen level upgrades raids (extra wave, better gear, stronger Hero of the Village). On Bedrock the level only affects trial spawners - raids ignore it.

Versions: Bad Omen exists since Java 1.14 and Bedrock 1.11 (Village & Pillage); the ominous bottle mechanic replaced automatic Bad Omen from captains in Java 1.21 and Bedrock 1.21.0.

Frequently asked questions

Why did killing a pillager captain not give me Bad Omen?

Since 1.21 captains drop an ominous BOTTLE instead of applying the effect - you choose when to drink it. No more accidental raids when you walk home through a village.

What does Bad Omen do in trial chambers?

Near a trial spawner it becomes Trial Omen, turning spawners ominous: harder fights, but they drop ominous trial keys for ominous vaults - heavy cores, flow trims and better loot.

How do you get rid of Bad Omen?

Drink milk, die, or simply let the 100 minutes run out. It also converts away once it becomes Raid Omen or Trial Omen.