Potion of Strength in Minecraft — Recipe, Strength II and Damage

The Potion of Strength increases melee damage. In Java Edition, the Strength I effect adds +3 to the damage of each attack, and Strength II adds +6. It only affects strikes with melee weapons and fists, and has no effect on arrows and tridents. To brew it, you need a Brewing Stand, Nether Wart, and Blaze Powder.

Preparation

Blaze Powder plays two roles here: fuel for the stand and the key ingredient for the effect. Craft it from a Blaze Rod: 1 rod gives 2 powders.

Step 1. Awkward Potion

Place the Brewing Stand, and put Blaze Powder into the left fuel slot. Insert up to three Water Bottles in the bottom slots, and a Nether Wart in the top ingredient slot. After brewing, the water will become an Awkward Potion. You cannot brew a potion with an effect without Nether Wart.

Step 2. Potion of Strength (Strength I)

Without removing the Awkward Potion, place another Blaze Powder in the top slot. You will get a Potion of Strength (Strength I, 3:00). One powder processes all three bottles at once.

Step 3. Extension or Upgrade

The finished potion can be modified with one of two ingredients. You cannot combine them together: the second one cancels the effect of the first:

• Redstone Dust — extends the duration from 3:00 to 8:00, the effect remains Strength I.

  

• Glowstone Dust — upgrades it to Strength II (+6 damage), but the duration drops to 1:30.

  

Step 4. Splash and Lingering Variants

Any finished Potion of Strength can be converted for throwing and area of effect:

• Gunpowder turns it into a Splash Potion. When thrown, the effect applies to everyone within the splash radius, and the duration is reduced by about a quarter.

• Dragon's Breath in a Splash Potion creates a Lingering Potion, which leaves a cloud that grants Strength to anyone standing in it.

How Much Damage the Potion of Strength Grants

Strength is added to the weapon's base damage before critical hit multipliers and enchantments. Examples for Java Edition:

Conclusion

Strength II for 1:30 is an option for a specific battle: a raid on an outpost, a boss fight, or a PvP encounter. Strength I for 8:00 is more practical for long expeditions, where the peak number is less important than ensuring the effect doesn't wear off mid-fight. Unlike the Potion of Swiftness or Fire Resistance, there is no point in keeping Strength "in reserve" at all times — it is needed specifically for melee combat, so a few bottles of Strength I with Redstone Dust are usually enough. The only limitation is that the effect does not apply to ranged weapons, so it is useless for an archer.

Q&A

What is needed for a Potion of Strength? A Brewing Stand, Blaze Powder (fuel and ingredient), Water Bottles, and Nether Wart for the Awkward Potion.

How to make a Strength II potion? Add Glowstone Dust to a ready Potion of Strength. The effect will increase to +6 damage, but the duration will drop from 3:00 to 1:30.

How to extend a Potion of Strength? Add Redstone Dust — the duration will increase from 3:00 to 8:00. Redstone Dust and Glowstone Dust do not work together.

Which weapons does Strength affect? Only melee ones — swords, axes, fists. The effect does not apply to bows, crossbows, or tridents.

How much damage does Strength add? Strength I adds +3 to each attack, Strength II adds +6. For example, a Diamond Sword with a base damage of 7 deals 10 with Strength I and 13 with Strength II.