If you’ve ever lost a enchanted sword in Minecraft and had no idea why it vanished after you died… chances are you were cursed. Specifically, by the Curse of Vanishing. This sneaky little enchantment is one of the few negative magical effects in the game,
We’ll break down everything you could possibly want to know about Curse of Vanishing in Minecraft:
- What it is and how it works (Java + Bedrock)
- How to find it, use it, or avoid it
- Complete item list it can affect
- PvP tactics and strategic uses
- Why it exists at all
- Common myths & mistakes
- And much more — with real examples, tables, and FAQs
Table of Contents
💀 What Is Curse of Vanishing in Minecraft?
The Curse of Vanishing is a rare negative enchantment in Minecraft that causes any item it’s applied to to disappear upon the player’s death — instead of dropping to the ground like normal.
📌 Core effect:
When you die in Survival or Hardcore mode, any item enchanted with Curse of Vanishing is destroyed forever.
This enchantment adds real tension and consequence to carrying powerful gear — especially if you’re heading into danger.
⚙️ How Does Curse of Vanishing Work?
✅ Applicable Modes:
- Survival
- Hardcore
- Adventure
- Creative (for testing, only cosmetic)
❌ NOT active when:
- You place the item into a chest or drop it manually — it only vanishes on death
- Playing in Creative mode (since death doesn’t apply)
📲 Bedrock vs Java Compatibility:
| Feature | Java Edition | Bedrock Edition |
|---|---|---|
| Curse triggers on death | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Cannot remove with grindstone | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Available via trades or loot | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Can be applied via anvil | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
🧾 Which Items Can Be Cursed?
You can apply Curse of Vanishing to almost any item that can be enchanted, with a few surprising inclusions.
🎒 Curse-Compatible Items:
| Item Type | Examples |
|---|---|
| Weapons | Swords, Axes, Bows, Crossbows, Tridents |
| Armor | Helmets, Chestplates, Leggings, Boots |
| Tools | Pickaxes, Shovels, Hoes, Fishing Rods |
| Misc Items | Elytra, Banners, Carved Pumpkins, Shields, Compass, Clock |
| Decor Items | Some custom maps and items in mods |
⚠️ Warning: Even unique items like Elytra or Tridents will vanish permanently if they’re cursed and you die while wearing them.
🔍 How to Get Curse of Vanishing
Unlike most enchantments, you can’t get this one from the enchanting table. You’ll have to rely on loot or villagers.
🧰 5 Main Ways to Obtain Curse of Vanishing:
- Loot Chests
- Found in Dungeons, Desert Temples, End Cities, Bastions, Strongholds, and Mineshafts
- Chance-based; not guaranteed
- Fishing (Treasure Loot)
- Rarely, you might fish out a book with Curse of Vanishing
- Requires a fishing rod with the Luck of the Sea enchantment for higher odds
- Librarian Villager Trades
- Some librarians offer enchanted books with Curse of Vanishing
- Refresh their trades by breaking and replacing their lectern
- Command Blocks / Cheats (Creative Mode)
- Example:
/give @p minecraft:diamond_sword{Enchantments:[{id:vanishing_curse,lvl:1}]} 1
- Example:
- Mods / Datapacks
- Some modded worlds offer the enchantment as part of custom loot tables or quests
🔨 Can You Remove the Curse of Vanishing?
Sadly, no — the curse is permanent in Survival mode.
❌ Not removable by:
- Grindstone — does not remove curses
- Anvil combination — curse is retained unless overwritten with a clean item
- Milk or potions — only affect potion effects, not enchantments
- Bookshelves / XP farms — won’t help either
✅ Removable in:
- Creative Mode (via item replacement or commands)
⛓️ Best and Worst Times to Use Curse of Vanishing
✅ Best Use Cases:
- PvP servers where you don’t want to give loot to other players
- Traps or mini-games with high-stakes items
- Troll builds (e.g. giving someone cursed armor they’ll lose upon death)
- Speedrunning or hardcore scenarios where inventory loss doesn’t matter
❌ Worst Use Cases:
- Long adventures in caves or the Nether
- Carrying rare gear in Hardcore mode
- Items you’ve invested lots of XP into enchanting or repairing
⚔️ Curse of Vanishing in PvP
In multiplayer, the curse becomes strategic.
How to Use It:
- Enchant your best sword with Curse of Vanishing — if you die, no one gets it
- Give cursed armor to a teammate who’s risking a raid
- Apply it to bait items in traps to prevent looting
🛡️ Bonus Tip: Combine it with Curse of Binding for ultimate troll gear.
🧱 Can You Avoid the Curse?
Yes, with some smart planning.
5 Ways to Avoid the Curse:
| Strategy | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Inspect Enchanted Books | Always read the enchantment list before applying |
| Sort Loot Carefully | Store cursed items in separate chests |
| Use Clean Gear on Risky Runs | Don’t carry cursed tools when exploring |
| Name Your Gear | Use an anvil to name important items (helps you remember) |
| Backup Saves (Java) | If you’re playing solo, backups help undo mistakes |
💀 Curse of Vanishing in Hardcore Mode
Hardcore mode makes the curse especially dangerous:
- Death = Game over
- Cursed items = Lost forever
- No respawn to retrieve gear
If you’re playing Hardcore, it’s usually best to avoid Curse of Vanishing entirely.
⚖️ Curse of Vanishing vs Curse of Binding
They’re the only two curse enchantments in Minecraft — let’s compare them:
| Feature | Curse of Vanishing | Curse of Binding |
|---|---|---|
| Item disappears on death | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Item can’t be unequipped | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Works on armor | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Can be removed | ❌ No | Only by dying |
| Strategic PvP use | ✅ Strong | ✅ Strong |
| Annoyance level | Moderate | High (esp. pumpkins!) |
🧪 Command Examples for Creative Use
Want to test it out or make cursed gear for a map? Use these commands:
Example 1: Cursed Sword
/give @p minecraft:netherite_sword{Enchantments:[{id:vanishing_curse,lvl:1}]} 1
Example 2: Cursed Pumpkin
/give @p minecraft:carved_pumpkin{Enchantments:[{id:vanishing_curse,lvl:1}]} 1
Example 3: Cursed Elytra with Mending
/give @p minecraft:elytra{Enchantments:[{id:vanishing_curse,lvl:1},{id:mending,lvl:1}]} 1
📊 Full Comparison Table: Curse vs Useful Enchantments
| Enchantment | Purpose | Can Be Removed? | Risk Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Curse of Vanishing | Deletes item on death | ❌ No | ⚠️ High |
| Curse of Binding | Locks armor on player | ❌ Only by dying | ⚠️ Medium |
| Mending | Auto-repairs using XP | ✅ Yes | ✅ Safe |
| Unbreaking | Increases durability | ✅ Yes | ✅ Safe |
| Protection | Reduces damage | ✅ Yes | ✅ Safe |
🧠 Common Misconceptions
Let’s clear up some myths:
- ❌ “You can remove it with a grindstone.”
➤ False — curses are not removable this way. - ❌ “It only works on armor.”
➤ False — applies to weapons, tools, and more. - ❌ “It vanishes only if it’s equipped.”
➤ False — even if it’s in your inventory, it will disappear on death.
🙋 FAQ
Q: Does Curse of Vanishing work in Creative mode?
A: No. You won’t die in Creative, so the curse has no effect.
Q: What happens if you drop a cursed item?
A: It behaves like any normal item. Only death triggers the curse.
Q: Can mobs drop cursed gear?
A: Sometimes, yes — especially if they’re naturally equipped or spawned with it.
Q: Does it work on custom items?
A: Yes, as long as they can be enchanted via command or loot tables.