Potions, Golden Apples and the Dangers of the World

Comrades, my first lecture taught you to keep the body fed. This one teaches you to mend it quickly when it is hurt, and above all to avoid being hurt. Prevention is the first duty of the Health Service.

Brewing

Potions are brewed at a brewing stand (a blaze rod on cobblestone). It burns blaze powder as fuel, and brews three bottles at a time.

1. Fill glass bottles with water.
2. Add nether wart to make an awkward potion. Nether wart grows on soul sand, and is found in the fortresses of the Nether.
3. Add the ingredient for the effect you need.
4. Add redstone to make it last longer, or glowstone to make it stronger (but shorter). Gunpowder makes a splash potion you can throw.

The potions of the Health Service:

• Healing (glistering melon slice): heals at once, two hearts, or four if strengthened with glowstone.
• Regeneration (ghast tear): heals steadily for a while, more quickly if strengthened.
• Fire Resistance (magma cream): no harm from fire or lava while it lasts. Essential for the Nether.
• Water Breathing (pufferfish): no drowning while it lasts.
• Night Vision (golden carrot): see in the dark.
• Slow Falling (phantom membrane): fall gently, without harm.

A fermented spider eye turns a potion to its opposite (Healing to Harming, for example). Keep those away from the infirmary.

Golden apples, milk, honey and the totem

• A golden apple (an apple in eight gold ingots) gives Regeneration II for a few seconds and two extra hearts of Absorption for two minutes. You can eat it even when full.
• An enchanted golden apple cannot be crafted; it is found in chests. It gives much stronger regeneration and absorption, and resistance to harm and to fire for minutes. Keep one for the worst day.
• Milk clears every effect, good or bad: poison, wither, but also your own potions.
• Honey cures poison.
• A totem of undying, held in either hand, saves you from death once: you are left with half a heart and a few seconds of strong healing. Evokers drop them.

The dangers of the world

Falling. A fall of more than three blocks hurts, a little more for every block. Water, hay bales and slime blocks break a fall; boots with Feather Falling soften it. Use ladders, scaffolding or stairs, and never jump into the dark.

Fire and lava. Lava burns hard and sets you alight. Never dig straight down, and never dig out a block you are standing on. If you catch fire, jump into water. In lava country, drink Fire Resistance first.

Drowning. Under water your air lasts about fifteen seconds; then you lose a heart every second. Watch the bubbles, and come up for air. Respiration on a helmet, a turtle shell or a potion of Water Breathing let you stay under longer.

Suffocation. Sand and gravel fall. Do not dig upwards beneath them, or they fall on your head.

Poison and wither. Poison drains your health but cannot kill you; it stops at half a heart. Wither (from wither skeletons in the Nether) can kill. Drink milk.

Creatures of the night. Zombies, skeletons, spiders and creepers spawn in darkness. Light your homes and streets (they spawn only where there is no block light at all), carry a shield, and step back from a hissing creeper.

The Nether. There is no water, and a bed explodes if you sleep in it. Ghasts shoot fireballs (strike them back), magma cubes and blazes burn, and piglins attack anyone who wears no gold: wear at least one piece of golden armour. Take Fire Resistance, food, blocks to build with, and a way home.

The Deep Dark. Deep beneath the world lie ancient cities and the Warden, which hunts by sound. Move sneaking, do not wake the shriekers, and leave if it comes. It is the one enemy the Health Service advises you never to fight.

Armour

Wear armour whenever you leave the town: iron at first, diamond and then netherite later. The Protection enchantment reduces most harm. A shield blocks arrows and much of an explosion.

If you fall

Set your bed before any journey, so you wake nearby. Go back for your belongings at once and carefully: what killed you may still be there.

Questions: /cw ask physician <question>, or a check-up with /cw checkup. For your own, real health, always see a real doctor.