Minecraft Particle Data Format

Particle Data Format

The data format of particles. Java Edition only. SNBT in /particle commands; JSON in biome/enchantment files.

Format

{ "type": "<particle type>", ... }

Particles are either simple (type only) or with particle options (must specify the option fields or parsing fails).

Common Structures

• RGB color — int (Red<<16 + Green<<8 + Blue; top 8 bits ignored) or list of 3 floats [0,1] (R,G,B). Out-of-range lists are undefined behavior.
• ARGB color — int (Alpha<<24 + Red<<16 + Green<<8 + Blue) or list of 4 floats [0,1] (R,G,B,A).

Particle Options

• Block (block, block_marker, dust_pillar) — block_state (block ID string with default properties, or a full {Name, Properties} block state). Example: /particle block{block_state:"minecraft:diamond_block"}; {block_state:{Name:"minecraft:grass_block",Properties:{snowy:"true"}}}.
• Dust (dust) — color (RGB) + scale (0.01–4.0; also a lifetime multiplier: lifetime = random 8–40 ticks × scale, min 1). Example: dust{color:[0.0,0.0,1.0],scale:1.0}.
• Dust color transition (dust_color_transition) — from_color, to_color (RGB), scale (same scaling).
• Color (entity_effect) — color (ARGB). Examples: entity_effect{color:[1,1,1,1]}, entity_effect{color:-1}, entity_effect{color:4294967295L}.
• Item (item) — item (item template). Examples: item{item:"minecraft:apple"}, item{item:{id:"minecraft:apple"}}.
• Power — power (default 1): initial velocity multiplier after the random base.
• Sculk charge (sculk_charge) — roll (radians; display angle relative to the camera). Example: sculk_charge{roll:3.14}.
• Shriek (shriek) — delay (ticks until shown). Example: shriek{delay:100}.
• Spell (spell, instant_effect, entity_effect...) — color (RGB, default 0xFFFFFF) + power (default 1).
• Vibration (vibration) — destination (position source; only block type allowed here: {type:"block",pos:[x,y,z]}), arrival_in_ticks (travel time = lifetime). Example: vibration{destination:{type:"block",pos:[5,64,0]},arrival_in_ticks:200} moves to 5.5 64.5 0.5.
• Trail (trail) — color (ARGB), duration (ticks), target ([x,y,z] destination), leaving a trail.
• Geyser plume (geyser_plume) — water_blocks: lifetime = water_blocks × 25 ticks, rise height = water_blocks × 5 blocks; geyser passes the value to child particles.
• Geyser base (geyser_base) — water_blocks (size = 3.0 + water_blocks × 0.125; base velocity = water_blocks × 0.25), burst_impulse_base (velocity increment added to the base).