Pufferfish
passive
Health
Damage
XP Drop
Added InOverview
The Pufferfish is a passive mob in Minecraft, which means it will never attack a player and simply goes about its own behaviour.
Look for the Pufferfish across the Overworld; it is tied to Warm Ocean and Lukewarm Ocean.
Its defining trait is simple — inflates when players or mobs approach, dealing poison damage.
It carries 3 health points — 1.5 hearts — and yields 1–3 experience when it dies.
The Pufferfish has been part of the game since version 1.13.
A useful detail many players miss — Pufferfish are used in Potions of Water Breathing.
Even without combat or loot to speak of, the Pufferfish adds character to the worlds it lives in and often plays a quiet supporting role in the wider ecosystem.
Damage by Difficulty
Spawning
Natural spawns for the Pufferfish occur in Warm Ocean and Lukewarm Ocean.
Your best bet is to head straight for Warm Ocean, since that is where it turns up most reliably out of the handful of biomes it favours.
Spawns in warm and lukewarm ocean water.
Left alone far from any player, wild pufferfishes eventually despawn, so use a name tag if you want a specific one to stick around.
Because it is harmless, the Pufferfish is mostly useful as a renewable source of its drops, and you can let a small population breed up over time.
Drops
Here is what you can expect to collect from a Pufferfish:
Every kill yields 1 Pufferfish (always, 100% chance).
On top of that, rarer rolls can give 1 Bone Meal (occasionally, 5% chance).
In terms of experience, each kill is worth 1–3 XP orbs.
These are well worth keeping. Inflicts Poison for 7 seconds.
Across many kills the guaranteed items pile up steadily while the chance-based extras trickle in, so consistent farming is the way to build a meaningful stockpile.
As a harmless mob, the Pufferfish is best gathered opportunistically while you explore — there is no danger in collecting from it, so it rarely justifies a dedicated trip.
| Item | Count | Chance |
|---|---|---|
| Pufferfish | 1 | 100% |
| Bone Meal | 1 | 5% |
Pufferfish
Bone MealBehavior & Combat
Behaviourally, inflates when players or mobs approach, dealing poison damage. Three inflation stages: deflated, half-puffed, fully puffed.
It is fragile, with only 3 health — a single diamond-sword strike (7 damage) is enough to kill it instantly.
Its combat profile is 3 health (1.5 hearts) with attacks dealing 2 on Easy, 3 on Normal and 4 on Hard.
The Pufferfish cannot be bred, so the only way to get more is to find them spawning naturally in their home biomes.
Like other fish, you can scoop it up with a bucket of water to create a "bucket of pufferfish", letting you carry it home and release it into a tank or pond without it taking damage.
It is a water-dwelling creature and will suffocate if it ends up on dry land, so keeping it in water is essential if you want to transport or keep one.
All told, the Pufferfish is a low-risk part of the world that rewards patience more than aggression.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Pufferfish
How much health does a Pufferfish have?
A Pufferfish has 3 health points, which is 1.5 hearts on its health bar.
What does a Pufferfish drop?
When killed, a Pufferfish drops 1 Pufferfish (100% chance) and 1 Bone Meal (5% chance), along with 1–3 experience.
Where do Pufferfishes spawn in Minecraft?
Pufferfishes spawn in Warm Ocean and Lukewarm Ocean. Spawns in warm and lukewarm ocean water.
How much damage does a Pufferfish deal?
A Pufferfish deals 2 damage on Easy, 3 on Normal and 4 on Hard difficulty.
How much XP does a Pufferfish drop?
A Pufferfish drops 1 to 3 experience points when killed.
What biome is the best place to find Pufferfishes?
Pufferfishes are found in Warm Ocean and Lukewarm Ocean, so any of those biomes is a good place to start looking.