Bad Luck is a status effect found exclusively in Java Edition and Legacy Console Edition that decreases the chance of the player getting high-quality loot, contrary to Luck.
Effect
Bad Luck subtracts the effects level from the luck attribute, which affects the results of loot tables, with a lower attribute value decreasing the amount and quality of results.
The number of rolls is increased by the pools "bonus rolls"-value times this attributes value, rounded down, and the weight of each entry is increased by its quality times this attributes value, also rounded down.
Quality is currently only used by fishing.
Causes
Bad Luck can only be obtained using commands. The /effect command can apply it directly to an entity or player. The player can obtain a potion, splash potion, lingering potion, or tipped arrow with Bad Luck using /give, although it will be referred to as an uncraftable potion.
Immune mobs
- Withers and ender dragons are immune to Bad Luck.
- All mobs are unaffected by Bad Luck.
Data values
ID
| Name | Identifier | Translation key |
|---|---|---|
 Bad Luck | unluck |
effect |
History
Java Edition
| Java Edition | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.9 | 15w44b |  Added Bad Luck.
| |||||
| The effect was initially purely experimental and was intended to be removed later (hence its unobtainability in survival), but was ultimately kept in the game due to usage by mapmakers.[1] | |||||||
| 1.14 | 18w43a |  The effect icon texture of Bad Luck has now been changed. | |||||
| 19w08a |  The effect icon texture of Bad Luck has now been changed, once again. | ||||||
| 1.20.2 | 23w32a | The game no longer uses numeric values when storing mob effects to world. Prior to the removal of numeric IDs, this effect's numeral ID was 27. | |||||
Legacy Console Edition
| Legacy Console Edition | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xbox 360 | Xbox One | PS3 | PS4 | PS Vita | Wii U | Switch | |
| TU46 | CU36 | 1.38 | 1.38 | 1.38 | Patch 15 | 1.0.1 | Added Bad Luck. |
| 1.91 | The effect icon texture of Bad Luck has been changed. | ||||||
Issues
Issues relating to "Bad Luck" are maintained on the bug tracker. Issues should be reported and viewed there.
References
- ↑ "Good Monday! FYI we'll revert the decision to remove the luck and unluck effects in Minecraft because people were using them in custom maps." – @jeb_ (Jens Bergensten) on X (formerly Twitter), December 12, 2016
