How to Make Lingering Potions in Minecraft

Guide Java Bedrock

Quick answer: Brew dragon's breath into any splash potion to get its lingering version: when thrown, it leaves an effect cloud on the ground for 30 seconds that applies the effect to anything that walks through it. Lingering potions are also the ingredient for tipped arrows.

What you need

A brewing stand and blaze powder as fuel
Any splash potion to convert
1 dragon's breath per batch of up to 3 potions

Step by step

Brew the regular potion, then convert it to a splash potion with gunpowder first - lingering potions only come from splash ones.
Get dragon's breath: fight the ender dragon and scoop the purple breath clouds she leaves on the ground with empty glass bottles.
Place the splash potion in a brewing stand with dragon's breath as the ingredient. Wait 20 seconds.
The lingering version throws like a splash potion but leaves a shrinking cloud for 30 seconds. Every second inside the cloud applies the effect at reduced duration (1/4 of the base).
Craft tipped arrows with them: 1 lingering potion surrounded by 8 arrows gives 8 tipped arrows of that effect.
Best uses: lingering Harming or Poison for area denial, lingering Healing under a team fight, lingering Slow Falling at a drop party, and mass-producing tipped arrows.
Ominous trial spawners also dispense lingering Wind Charged, Oozing, Weaving and Infested potions during ominous trials - those cannot be collected in bottles.

Java vs Bedrock

Identical brewing on both editions. In Java the cloud shrinks as entities consume it; Bedrock behaves the same in practice.

Versions: Lingering potions were added in Java 1.9 (the Combat Update) and Bedrock 1.0. Dragon's breath comes from the ender dragon's breath attack.

Frequently asked questions

How long does the lingering cloud last?

30 seconds at full radius, shrinking as entities touch it. The more mobs or players walk through, the faster it runs out.

Do lingering potions stack?

No - like all potions, lingering potions do not stack, so plan inventory space before brewing a big batch.

Can I brew lingering water bottles?

Yes: dragon's breath plus a splash water bottle gives a lingering water bottle, which extinguishes fire and hurts blazes.