How to Make a Potion of Weakness in Minecraft

Guide Java Bedrock

Quick answer: Brew a potion of Weakness by adding a fermented spider eye directly to a water bottle in a brewing stand. It is the only potion that does not need nether wart first. Add gunpowder to make it splash, which you need to cure zombie villagers.

What you need

Brewing stand + blaze powder fuel
1 fermented spider eye (spider eye + brown mushroom + sugar)
Water bottles
Gunpowder (for the splash version)
Redstone dust (optional, longer duration)

Step by step

Set up a brewing stand and fuel it with blaze powder.
Craft a fermented spider eye from 1 spider eye, 1 brown mushroom and 1 sugar.
Fill glass bottles with water and place up to 3 water bottles in the brewing stand's bottom slots.
Put the fermented spider eye in the ingredient slot on top. No nether wart is needed: Weakness brews straight from plain water bottles.
Wait 20 seconds. You now have potions of Weakness that last 1 minute 30 seconds.
Optional: add redstone dust to extend the duration to 4 minutes.
To cure zombie villagers, add gunpowder to turn it into a splash potion of Weakness, then throw it at the zombie villager and feed it a golden apple.

Java vs Bedrock

Weakness is the only potion brewed straight from a water bottle with a fermented spider eye, no nether wart needed (in Bedrock, awkward, mundane and thick potions also work as a base). The effect cuts melee damage: a flat 4 HP per level in Java, and a percentage-based reduction in Bedrock. Splash Weakness plus a golden apple is the zombie villager cure, the strongest trade-discount engine in the game.

Versions: javabedrock

Frequently asked questions

Do you need nether wart for a potion of Weakness?

No. Weakness is the exception: it brews directly from a plain water bottle with a fermented spider eye. Every other standard potion starts with nether wart to make an awkward potion first.

How do you make a splash potion of Weakness?

Brew a regular potion of Weakness, then add gunpowder in the brewing stand. The splash version is the one you need for curing zombie villagers.

What does the Weakness effect do?

It reduces the melee attack damage of whoever has it, which is why it is thrown at enemies rather than drunk. Its main use is curing zombie villagers together with a golden apple.