Potion of Water Breathing in Minecraft

Description and uses

The Potion of Water Breathing removes the need to surface: your air bar doesn't drop underwater for the whole duration of the effect. It is a key potion for exploring underwater structures, ocean monuments, shipwrecks and underwater ruins.

Without this potion, underwater exploration is extremely frustrating: the standard air bar lasts only 15 seconds, after which the player starts to drown (2 HP of damage every second). The Potion of Water Breathing changes that completely: for 3 or 8 minutes you can dive freely, build underwater and fight guardians without worrying about air. You'll find a full description of the brewing system in the potion brewing guide.

This potion matters most when attacking ocean monuments, where you have to fight guardians and elder guardians in a fully underwater environment. Without Water Breathing, taking on a monument is very hard in Survival mode. It's one of the potions worth preparing as early as possible in the game, as we describe in the first steps guide.

Ingredients

• Water Bottle (x3): the base.
• Nether Wart (x1): makes an Awkward Potion, found in a Nether Fortress.
• Pufferfish (x1): the main ingredient of the potion.
• Blaze Powder: fuel for the brewing stand, from blazes in the Nether.

Brewing step by step

You'll find a detailed description of the brewing mechanics in the complete brewing guide. Instructions for the Potion of Water Breathing:

1. Set up a brewing stand: place it and add fuel. You can craft a stand from 1 blaze rod and 3 cobblestone.
2. Fill the bottles: 3 water bottles in the bottom slots.
3. Add Nether Wart: after 20 s you get an Awkward Potion.
4. Add the pufferfish: after 20 s you have 3 Potions of Water Breathing (3:00).
5. Extend it: add Redstone Dust for the 8:00 version (strongly recommended!).

Variants: levels and modifiers

The Potion of Water Breathing has no level II: Glowstone Dust has no effect. The effect is binary: either you breathe underwater or you don't. Always use the Redstone Dust version (8:00).

Best uses

Ocean monuments

An ocean monument is a huge underwater structure guarded by guardians and 3 elder guardians. Attacking a monument without a Potion of Water Breathing is very risky. Bring at least 3 bottles of the 8:00 version (24 minutes in total), a Potion of Night Vision (visibility underwater) and a Potion of Strength II for the fight with the elder guardians. After you clear the monument you'll get sponges, prismarine and gold.

Underwater ruins and shipwrecks

Underwater ruins and shipwrecks contain chests with treasure maps, emeralds and other valuable items. The extended Potion of Water Breathing lets you search many structures calmly in a single dive. You'll find more about exploring oceans in the beginner's guide.

Building underwater

Underwater building projects (bases, tunnels, glass domes) require staying underwater for a long time. The extended Potion of Water Breathing (8:00) is the minimum; for bigger projects bring several bottles. An alternative is a conduit (powered by prismarine), but it needs rare materials. The Aqua Affinity enchantment on a helmet lets you mine underwater at normal speed.

Combo with Night Vision

Being able to breathe doesn't solve the visibility problem underwater. Water drastically limits your field of view, especially in deep oceans. The Potion of Night Vision eliminates that problem, and together with Water Breathing it makes an ideal combo for underwater exploration. Brew both potions at the same time.

Tips and trivia

• Respiration III on your helmet: the Respiration enchantment extends your time underwater. Combined with the potion, it gives you double protection when the potion's effect runs out.
• Aqua Affinity: the Aqua Affinity enchantment on a helmet lets you mine underwater at normal speed. Without it, mining is 5x slower. A must-have for underwater building. You'll find more about enchantments in the enchanting guide.
• Depth Strider: the Depth Strider enchantment on boots speeds up movement underwater. At level III you move underwater as fast as on land. An ideal complement to the potion.
• Conduit as an alternative: a conduit built with nautilus shells and a heart of the sea gives a constant Water Breathing effect, plus Night Vision and faster mining underwater within 32-96 blocks. A better option for permanent underwater bases.
• Magma blocks: magma blocks on the ocean floor create bubble columns where you can breathe. Use them as "breathing stations" on long dives without a potion.
• Doors: placing a door underwater creates an air pocket. An old trick, but it still works, and it's useful in emergencies.
• Turtle shell as a helmet: the turtle shell (a helmet crafted from turtle scutes) gives 10 seconds of Water Breathing when you enter the water. A small but free supplement to the potion. You'll find the recipe in the crafting guide.
• Combo with the Potion of Swiftness: swimming faster underwater lets you cover a bigger area while the Water Breathing lasts.