Phantom
hostile
Health
Damage
XP Drop
Added InOverview
A Phantom is a hostile mob: it will attack players on sight whenever it is able to reach them.
Phantoms make their home in the Overworld, turning up in Overworld (sky).
In practice you will recognise it quickly, because flies in circles above the player, then swoops down to attack.
Stat-wise it sits at 20 health (10 hearts), dropping 5 experience on death.
It was first added in 1.13 and has been a fixture of Minecraft ever since.
One thing worth knowing: Sleep regularly to prevent phantom spawns.
Knowing how the Phantom behaves is mostly about survival: recognising it early and reacting correctly is what keeps a night-time excursion from ending in a respawn.
Damage by Difficulty
Spawning
Phantoms spawn in Overworld (sky).
That single-biome restriction means Overworld (sky) is the only place to look; if you are not there, you will not find one, so locating the biome is the real task.
Spawns in the sky at night or during thunderstorms if the player has not slept for 3+ in-game days.
Like most hostile mobs in the Overworld, it requires darkness (a block light level of 0) to spawn, so lighting an area up with torches stops it from appearing there.
Naturally spawned phantoms will despawn over time when no player is nearby; naming one with a name tag or leading it away on a lead keeps it permanent.
For a reliable Phantom farm, set your spawning floor within the biomes above and light everything else nearby so spawns funnel to one spot.
Drops
The Phantom drop table breaks down like this:
Every kill yields 1 Phantom Membrane (always, 100% chance).
You also collect 5 experience for every Phantom you defeat.
These are well worth keeping. Phantom Membranes are used to repair Elytra and brew Potions of Slow Falling.
Since every item here is guaranteed, the only variable is quantity, which makes this mob a dependable, low-variance source of what it carries.
| Item | Count | Chance |
|---|---|---|
| Phantom Membrane | 0-1 | 100% |
Phantom MembraneBehavior & Combat
Flies in circles above the player, then swoops down to attack. Burns in sunlight. Targets only players who haven't slept.
Its 20 health is modest, falling to roughly 3 hits from a diamond sword.
It can hit you for 2 on Easy, 3 on Normal and 4 on Hard, while its own 20 health (10 hearts) determines how many blows it takes to kill.
The fastest way to win is to lean on what it fears: Sunlight, Cats (flees from them), and Fire.
A sword enchanted with Smite shortens the fight considerably against this mob.
As an undead mob it catches fire in direct daylight, so during the day it will either burn up or scramble for shade and water — one reason these are mostly a night-time and cave threat.
Being undead, it is healed by the Wither effect and harmed by Instant Health, while Instant Damage (Harming) potions hurt it instead of helping — the opposite of how those potions affect you.
The practical takeaway is to respect its strengths, exploit the weaknesses listed above, and you will rarely lose a fight you choose to take.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Phantom
How much health does a Phantom have?
A Phantom has 20 health points, which is 10 hearts on its health bar.
What does a Phantom drop?
When killed, a Phantom drops 0–1 Phantom Membrane (100% chance), along with 5 experience.
Where do Phantoms spawn in Minecraft?
Phantoms spawn in Overworld (sky). Spawns in the sky at night or during thunderstorms if the player has not slept for 3+ in-game days.
How do you defeat a Phantom?
To defeat a Phantom, target its weaknesses — it is vulnerable to Sunlight, Cats (flees from them), and Fire — while dealing with its 20 health (10 hearts).
How much damage does a Phantom deal?
A Phantom deals 2 damage on Easy, 3 on Normal and 4 on Hard difficulty.
How much XP does a Phantom drop?
A Phantom drops 5 experience points when killed.