Minecraft Wiki

Silverfish

Revision as of 21:55, 15 June 2024 by UnExpectedDino (talk | contribs)
This article is about the gray hostile mob. For the joke feature, see Redstone Bug.

Silverfish are small hostile mobs that infest stone and deepslate blocks in mountains, strongholds, igloo basements and woodland mansions. They crawl at their targets to bite them, and attacking them incites other nearby silverfish to emerge from their blocks and attack the aggressor.

Silverfish
Silverfish.gif: Infobox image for Silverfish the entity in Minecraft
Invicon Silverfish Spawn Egg.png: Inventory sprite for Silverfish Spawn Egg in Minecraft as shown in-game with description: Silverfish Spawn Egg
Health points

8HP♥♥♥♥

Behavior

Hostile

Attack
strength

Easy and Normal: 1HP♥
Hard: 1.5HP♥ × 0.75

Hitbox size

Height: 0.3 Blocks
Width: 0.4 Blocks

Speed

0.25

Spawn

After mining infested blocks
Monster Spawner in strongholds
Trial Spawners or Ominous Trial Spawners in trial chambers
When an entity with the Infested effect takes damage. 

{
    "title": "Silverfish",
    "rows": [
        {
            "field": "8<span class=\"hidden-alt-text\">HP</span><span class=\"nowrap mc-hearts\"><span class=\"iconbar pixel-image nowrap\" style=\"--icon-offset:-1px;\" title=\"4  hearts\">(link to File:Heart (icon).png article, displayed as 9px|link=|alt=&#9829)(link to File:Heart (icon).png article, displayed as 9px|link=|alt=&#9829)(link to File:Heart (icon).png article, displayed as 9px|link=|alt=&#9829)(link to File:Heart (icon).png article, displayed as 9px|link=|alt=&#9829)</span></span>",
            "label": "(link to Health article, displayed as Health points)"
        },
        {
            "field": "Hostile",
            "label": "Behavior"
        },
        {
            "field": "Easy and Normal: 1<span class=\"hidden-alt-text\">HP</span><span class=\"nowrap mc-hearts\"><span class=\"iconbar pixel-image nowrap\" style=\"--icon-offset:-1px;\" title=\"0.5  hearts\">(link to File:Half Heart (icon).png article, displayed as 9px|link=|alt=&#9829)</span></span><br>Hard: 1.5<span class=\"hidden-alt-text\">HP</span><span class=\"nowrap mc-hearts\"><span class=\"iconbar pixel-image nowrap\" style=\"--icon-offset:-1px;\" title=\"1  heart\">(link to File:Heart (icon).png article, displayed as 9px|link=|alt=&#9829)</span> × 0.75</span>",
            "label": "Attack<br/>strength"
        },
        {
            "field": "Height: 0.3 Blocks<br>Width: 0.4 Blocks",
            "label": "(link to Hitbox article, displayed as Hitbox size)"
        },
        {
            "field": "0.25",
            "label": "(link to Attribute#movementSpeed article, displayed as Speed)"
        },
        {
            "field": "(values exceeds 1000 characters...)",
            "label": "(link to Mob spawning article, displayed as Spawn)"
        }
    ],
    "invimages": [
        "Silverfish Spawn Egg"
    ],
    "images": [
        "Silverfish.gif"
    ]
}

Spawning

Silverfish spawn from broken infested blocks, which generate in strongholds, underground in mountains and windswept hills biomes, in igloo basements and in woodland mansion false portal rooms. Silverfish do not appear if the block is broken with the Silk Touch enchantment.[1]

Monster spawners

Silverfish monster spawners naturally generate in end portal rooms in strongholds. Silverfish can spawn from spawners only at light level 11 or lower, or on stone types they can enter (stone, cobblestone, stone bricks, etc.) at any light level, and cannot spawn within a 5 block distance of any player[verify].

Trial spawners

Silverfish have a chance to be selected as the "small melee" mob for trial spawners in trial chambers.

Infested

Silverfish have a chance to spawn when an entity with the Infested status effect takes damage.

Drops

On death

Silverfish have no drops other than 5XP experience points when killed by a player or tamed wolf.

Behavior

A silverfish being freed from an infested block, which calls for help from other silverfish; causing them to emerge from more infested blocks.

Silverfish attack players, iron golems, and snow golems, and they call other silverfish in the area upon being hit. Silverfish pathfind toward the player and can see the player through walls.

When they suffer Poison damage or damage inflicted by the player and survive, they cause other silverfish within a 21×11×21 area to break out of their infested blocks. The player can prevent other silverfish from appearing by killing them in one hit.[2] If the game rule doTileDrops is set to false, the infested blocks are broken, but no silverfish spawn from them.

Silverfish, being arthropods, take extra damage from the Bane of Arthropods enchantment, and receive Slowness IV upon being hit.

When idle, silverfish enter a nearby deepslate, stone, cobblestone, stone bricks, mossy stone bricks, cracked stone bricks or chiseled stone bricks block, transforming it into the respective infested block if the game rule mobGriefing is set to true, as per default. They cannot infest mossy cobblestone,[3] despite being capable of infesting both mossy blocks and cobblestone, and they also cannot infest slab and stairs of these blocks.[4] They are also unable to infest andesite, diorite, granite or smooth stone.[5] Silverfish are also immune to the infested status effect.

Sounds

Java Edition:
Silverfish use the Hostile Creatures sound category for entity-dependent sound events.

[hide]Sounds
SoundSubtitlesSourceDescriptionResource locationTranslation keyVolumePitchAttenuation
distance
​Silverfish hissesHostile CreaturesRandomlyentity.silverfish.ambientsubtitles.entity.silverfish.ambient​1.00.8-1.216
{ "pitch": "0.8-1.2", "subtitle": "&#x200B;Silverfish hisses", "source": "Hostile Creatures", "id": "entity.silverfish.ambient", "distance": "16", "desc": "Randomly", "sounds": [ "Silverfish idle1.ogg", "Silverfish idle2.ogg", "Silverfish idle3.ogg", "Silverfish idle4.ogg" ], "volume": "1.0", "java": "1", "translationkey": "subtitles.entity.silverfish.ambient" }
​Silverfish diesHostile CreaturesWhen a silverfish diesentity.silverfish.deathsubtitles.entity.silverfish.death​1.00.8-1.216
{ "pitch": "0.8-1.2", "subtitle": "&#x200B;Silverfish dies", "source": "Hostile Creatures", "id": "entity.silverfish.death", "distance": "16", "desc": "When a silverfish dies", "sounds": [ "Silverfish death.ogg" ], "volume": "1.0", "java": "1", "translationkey": "subtitles.entity.silverfish.death" }
​Silverfish hurtsHostile CreaturesWhen a silverfish is damagedentity.silverfish.hurtsubtitles.entity.silverfish.hurt​1.00.8-1.216
{ "pitch": "0.8-1.2", "subtitle": "&#x200B;Silverfish hurts", "source": "Hostile Creatures", "id": "entity.silverfish.hurt", "distance": "16", "desc": "When a silverfish is damaged", "sounds": [ "Silverfish hurt1.ogg", "Silverfish hurt2.ogg", "Silverfish hurt3.ogg" ], "volume": "1.0", "java": "1", "translationkey": "subtitles.entity.silverfish.hurt" }
​FootstepsHostile CreaturesUnused sound event [sound 1]entity.silverfish.stepsubtitles.block.generic.footsteps​0.151.016
{ "pitch": "1.0", "subtitle": "&#x200B;Footsteps", "source": "Hostile Creatures", "id": "entity.silverfish.step", "distance": "16", "desc": "''Unused sound event'' '\"`UNIQ--ref-0000001E-QINU`\"'", "sounds": [ "Silverfish step1.ogg", "Silverfish step2.ogg", "Silverfish step3.ogg", "Silverfish step4.ogg" ], "volume": "0.15", "java": "1", "translationkey": "subtitles.block.generic.footsteps" }
  1. ↑ MC-117609 — Silverfish and Endermites don't make footstep sounds or subtitles

Bedrock Edition:

[hide]Sounds
SoundSourceDescriptionResource locationVolumePitch
Hostile CreaturesRandomlymob.silverfish.say1.00.8-1.2
{ "sounds": [ "Silverfish idle1.ogg", "Silverfish idle2.ogg", "Silverfish idle3.ogg", "Silverfish idle4.ogg" ], "source": "Hostile Creatures", "volume": "1.0", "id": "mob.silverfish.say", "pitch": "0.8-1.2", "bedrock": "1", "desc": "Randomly" }
Hostile CreaturesWhen a silverfish diesmob.silverfish.kill1.00.8-1.2
{ "sounds": [ "Silverfish death.ogg" ], "source": "Hostile Creatures", "volume": "1.0", "id": "mob.silverfish.kill", "pitch": "0.8-1.2", "bedrock": "1", "desc": "When a silverfish dies" }
Hostile CreaturesWhen a silverfish is damagedmob.silverfish.hit1.00.8-1.2
{ "sounds": [ "Silverfish hurt1.ogg", "Silverfish hurt2.ogg", "Silverfish hurt3.ogg" ], "source": "Hostile Creatures", "volume": "1.0", "id": "mob.silverfish.hit", "pitch": "0.8-1.2", "bedrock": "1", "desc": "When a silverfish is damaged" }
Hostile CreaturesWhile a silverfish is walkingmob.silverfish.step0.351.0
{ "sounds": [ "Silverfish step1.ogg", "Silverfish step2.ogg", "Silverfish step3.ogg", "Silverfish step4.ogg" ], "source": "Hostile Creatures", "volume": "0.35", "id": "mob.silverfish.step", "pitch": "1.0", "bedrock": "1", "desc": "While a silverfish is walking" }

Data values

ID

Java Edition:

NameIdentifierEntity tags[hide]Translation key
EntitySprite silverfish.png: Sprite image for silverfish in Minecraft Silverfishsilverfisharthropod
powder_snow_walkable_mobs
sensitive_to_bane_of_arthropods		entity.minecraft.silverfish

Bedrock Edition:

NameIdentifierNumeric ID [hide]Translation key
EntitySprite silverfish.png: Sprite image for silverfish in Minecraft Silverfishsilverfish39entity.silverfish.name

Entity data

Silverfish have entity data associated with them that contains various properties.

Java Edition:

Main article: Entity format

Bedrock Edition:

See Bedrock Edition level format/Entity format.

Achievements

[hide]
IconAchievementIn-game descriptionActual requirements (if different)Gamerscore earnedTrophy type (PS)
PS4Other
It SpreadsKill a mob next to a catalyst—10Bronze
Monster HunterAttack and destroy a monster.Kill a hostile mob or one of the following neutral mobs: an enderman, a piglin, a zombified piglin, a spider, or a cave spider.15Bronze
OverkillDeal nine hearts of damage in a single hit.Damage can be dealt to any mob, even those that do not have nine hearts of health overall.30Bronze

Advancements

IconAdvancementIn-game descriptionActual requirements (if different)
A Throwaway JokeThrow a Trident at something.
Note: Throwing away your only weapon is not a good idea.		Hit a mob with a thrown trident.
AdventureAdventure, exploration and combatKill any mob, or be killed by any living entity.
ArbalisticKill five unique mobs with one crossbow shotArmor Stand also counts for this advancement.
This is a hidden advancement, meaning that it can be viewed by the player only after completing it, regardless of if its child advancement(s), if any, have been completed.
It SpreadsKill a mob near a Sculk Catalyst Mobs that drop no experience as well as the ender dragon are ignored for this advancement.
Monster HunterKill any hostile monster
Kill one of these 37 mobs:[hide]
Other mobs may be killed, but are ignored for this advancement.
Monsters HuntedKill one of every hostile monster
Kill each of these 37 mobs:[hide]
Other mobs may be killed, but are ignored for this advancement.
Over-OverkillDeal 50 hearts of damage in a single hit using the Mace–
Take AimShoot something with an ArrowUsing a bow or a crossbow, shoot a mob with an arrow, tipped arrow, or spectral arrow.

Video

History

[hide]Java Edition Beta
1.7The texture (silverfish.png) has been added. However, the mob itself is not yet present. 
{"type": "java Beta", "version": "1.7", "exp": "", "snap": "", "content": "The texture (silverfish.png) has been added. However, the (link to mob article, displayed as mob) itself is not yet present."}
1.8Pre-release Added silverfish. 
{"type": "java Beta", "version": "1.8", "exp": "", "snap": "Pre-release", "content": "(link to File:Silverfish JE1 BE1.gif article, displayed as 32px) Added silverfish."}
[hide]Java Edition
1.0.0Beta 1.9 Prerelease 2The health of silverfish has been reduced from 20HP♥ × 10 to 8HP♥♥♥♥. 
{"type": "java", "version": "1.0.0", "exp": "", "snap": "Beta 1.9 Prerelease 2", "content": "The health of silverfish has been reduced from 20<span class=\"hidden-alt-text\">HP</span><span class=\"nowrap mc-hearts\"><span class=\"iconbar pixel-image nowrap\" style=\"--icon-offset:-1px;\" title=\"1  heart\">(link to File:Heart (icon).png article, displayed as 9px|link=|alt=&#9829)</span> × 10</span> to 8<span class=\"hidden-alt-text\">HP</span><span class=\"nowrap mc-hearts\"><span class=\"iconbar pixel-image nowrap\" style=\"--icon-offset:-1px;\" title=\"4  hearts\">(link to File:Heart (icon).png article, displayed as 9px|link=|alt=&#9829)(link to File:Heart (icon).png article, displayed as 9px|link=|alt=&#9829)(link to File:Heart (icon).png article, displayed as 9px|link=|alt=&#9829)(link to File:Heart (icon).png article, displayed as 9px|link=|alt=&#9829)</span></span>."}
Beta 1.9 Prerelease 3Silverfish monster spawners are now found in end portal rooms in strongholds. 
{"type": "java", "version": "1.0.0", "exp": "", "snap": "Beta 1.9 Prerelease 3", "content": "Silverfish (link to monster spawners article, displayed as monster spawners) are now found in (link to end portal article, displayed as end portal) rooms in (link to stronghold article, displayed as strongholds)."}
Beta 1.9 Prerelease 4Silverfish are now considered arthropods. 
{"type": "java", "version": "1.0.0", "exp": "", "snap": "Beta 1.9 Prerelease 4", "content": "Silverfish are now considered (link to arthropod article, displayed as arthropods)."}
RC1Added sounds for silverfish. Before the update, silverfish used spider sounds. 
{"type": "java", "version": "1.0.0", "exp": "", "snap": "RC1", "content": "Added (link to sound article, displayed as sounds) for silverfish. Before the update, silverfish used (link to spider article, displayed as spider) sounds."}
1.3.112w26aSilverfish now summon silverfish from nearby monster eggs whenever they take Poison damage. 
{"type": "java", "version": "1.3.1", "exp": "", "snap": "12w26a", "content": "Silverfish now summon silverfish from nearby (link to infested block article, displayed as monster eggs) whenever they take (link to Poison article, displayed as Poison) damage."}
1.4.212w38aMonster eggs containing silverfish can now generate underground in extreme hills biomes. 
{"type": "java", "version": "1.4.2", "exp": "", "snap": "12w38a", "content": "(link to infested block article, displayed as Monster eggs) containing silverfish can now generate underground in (link to extreme hills article, displayed as extreme hills) biomes."}
1.7.213w36aSilverfish can now possess cracked stone bricks, mossy stone bricks, and chiseled stone bricks. However, the first two do not actually generate within strongholds.[6] 
{"type": "java", "version": "1.7.2", "exp": "", "snap": "13w36a", "content": "Silverfish can now possess cracked (link to stone bricks article, displayed as stone bricks), mossy stone bricks, and chiseled stone bricks. However, the first two do not actually generate within (link to strongholds article, displayed as strongholds)."}
?Silverfish can now rarely spawn inside cobblestone or stone brick blocks.[verify] 
{"type": "java", "version": "1.7.2", "exp": "", "snap": "?", "content": "Silverfish can now rarely spawn inside (link to cobblestone article, displayed as cobblestone) or stone brick blocks.<sup class=\"noprint nowrap Inline-Template \" title=\"\">[<i>[https://minecraft.wiki/w/Talk:Silverfish <span title=\"what ones exactly?  \" style=\"border-bottom: 1px dotted\">verify</span>]</i>]</sup>(link to Category:Verify article, displayed as Category:Verify)"}
1.814w06aSilverfish now pathfind, alert other silverfish of the player when hit, and stop occasionally before moving again (similar to most other mobs). 
{"type": "java", "version": "1.8", "exp": "", "snap": "14w06a", "content": "Silverfish now pathfind, alert other silverfish of the (link to player article, displayed as player) when hit, and stop occasionally before moving again (similar to most other mobs)."}
1.915w43aSilverfish can now be spawned from broken monster eggs in the basements of igloos. 
{"type": "java", "version": "1.9", "exp": "", "snap": "15w43a", "content": "Silverfish can now be spawned from broken (link to infested block article, displayed as monster eggs) in the basements of (link to igloo article, displayed as igloos)."}
15w51bSilverfish no longer enter into blocks if the game rule mobGriefing is false. 
{"type": "java", "version": "1.9", "exp": "", "snap": "15w51b", "content": "Silverfish no longer enter into blocks if the (link to game rule article, displayed as game rule) <code>mobGriefing</code> is false."}
1.1116w32aThe entity ID has been changed from Silverfish to silverfish. 
{"type": "java", "version": "1.11", "exp": "", "snap": "16w32a", "content": "The (link to entity article, displayed as entity) ID has been changed from <code>Silverfish</code> to <code>silverfish</code>."}
16w36aSilverfish can now spawn from broken infested cobblestone in the fake portal room of woodland mansions. 
{"type": "java", "version": "1.11", "exp": "", "snap": "16w36a", "content": "Silverfish can now spawn from broken infested cobblestone in the fake portal room of (link to woodland mansion article, displayed as woodland mansions)."}
1.20.3
Experiment
Update 1.21		23w45aSilverfish now spawn in trial chambers behind the "Update 1.21" experimental data pack. 
{"type": "java", "version": "1.20.3", "exp": "Update 1.21", "snap": "23w45a", "content": "Silverfish now spawn in (link to trial chambers article, displayed as trial chambers) behind the \"(link to Java Edition 1.21 article, displayed as Update 1.21)\" (link to experimental article, displayed as experimental) (link to data pack article, displayed as data pack)."}
1.20.5
Experiment
Update 1.21		24w13aSilverfish can now spawn when an entity with the infested status effect takes damage. 
{"type": "java", "version": "1.20.5", "exp": "Update 1.21", "snap": "24w13a", "content": "Silverfish can now spawn when an entity with the (link to infested article, displayed as infested) status effect takes damage."}
[hide]Pocket Edition Alpha
v0.9.0build 1 Added silverfish. 
{"type": "pocket Alpha", "version": "v0.9.0", "exp": "", "snap": "build 1", "content": "(link to File:Silverfish JE1 BE1.gif article, displayed as 32px) Added silverfish."}
v0.12.1build 12Silverfish no longer make sounds while moving. 
{"type": "pocket Alpha", "version": "v0.12.1", "exp": "", "snap": "build 12", "content": "Silverfish no longer make (link to sound article, displayed as sounds) while moving."}
[hide]Pocket Edition
1.0.0alpha 0.17.0.1Silverfish can now be spawned from broken monster eggs in the basements of igloos. 
{"type": "pocket", "version": "1.0.0", "exp": "", "snap": "alpha 0.17.0.1", "content": "Silverfish can now be spawned from broken (link to infested block article, displayed as monster eggs) in the basements of (link to igloo article, displayed as igloos)."}
1.1.0alpha 1.1.0.0Silverfish can now spawn from broken infested cobblestone in the fake portal room of woodland mansions. 
{"type": "pocket", "version": "1.1.0", "exp": "", "snap": "alpha 1.1.0.0", "content": "Silverfish can now spawn from broken infested cobblestone in the fake portal room of (link to woodland mansion article, displayed as woodland mansions)."}
??Silverfish once again make sounds while moving. 
{"type": "pocket", "version": "?", "exp": "", "snap": "?", "content": "Silverfish once again make sounds while moving."}
[hide]Bedrock Edition
1.20.60
Experiment
Update 1.21		Preview 1.20.60.20Silverfish now spawn in trial chambers behind the "Update 1.21" experimental toggle. 
{"type": "bedrock", "version": "1.20.60", "exp": "Update 1.21", "snap": "Preview 1.20.60.20", "content": "Silverfish now spawn in (link to trial chambers article, displayed as trial chambers) behind the \"(link to Bedrock Edition 1.21.0 article, displayed as Update 1.21)\" (link to experimental article, displayed as experimental) toggle."}
1.21.0
Experiment
Update 1.21		Preview 1.21.0.20Silverfish can now spawn when an entity with the infested status effect takes damage. 
{"type": "bedrock", "version": "1.21.0", "exp": "Update 1.21", "snap": "Preview 1.21.0.20", "content": "Silverfish can now spawn when an entity with the (link to infested article, displayed as infested) status effect takes damage."}
[hide]Legacy Console Edition
Xbox 360 Xbox One PS3 PS4 PS Vita Wii U Switch
TU5CU11.001.001.00Patch 1 Added silverfish. 
{"type": "console", "xbox": "TU5", "xbone": "CU1", "ps3": "1.00", "ps4": "1.00", "psvita": "1.00", "wiiu": "Patch 1", "switch": "", "content": "(link to File:Silverfish JE1 BE1.gif article, displayed as 32px) Added silverfish."}
[hide]New Nintendo 3DS Edition
0.1.0 Added silverfish. 
{"type": "new3ds", "version": "0.1.0", "exp": "", "snap": "", "content": "(link to File:Silverfish JE1 BE1.gif article, displayed as 32px) Added silverfish."}

Issues

Issues relating to "Silverfish" are maintained on the bug tracker. Issues should be reported and viewed there.

Java Edition

  • MC-270009 – Entities with the infested effect can spawn silverfish without actually being hurt
  • MC-117609 – Silverfish and endermites don't make footstep sounds or subtitles
  • MC-210283 – Sculk sensors are not activated upon silverfish infesting blocks
  • MC-225217 – Silverfish can infest blocks in spawn protection
  • MC-265157 – Silverfish can infest blocks when in a boat
  • MC-164906 – Infested blocks do not save silverfish NBT data
  • MC-167357 – Inconsistency: Silverfish cannot infest mossy cobblestone
  • MC-167372 – Silverfish cannot infest stair, slab or wall variants of blocks they can infest
  • MC-189974 – Silverfish can't infest smooth stone
  • MC-269844 – Silverfish will retaliate against breezes
  • And 2 other open issues.

Bedrock Edition

  • MCPE-48586 – Silverfish spawn in the bottom-west-north corner of infested stone

Trivia

  • In real life, silverfish are harmless, small, and wingless insects that are often found in dark areas in buildings and the wooden pilings of seaside piers and trees. They are infamous for damaging paper-based products.
  • Silverfish appeared in the April Fools 2.0 update as the redstone bug.

Gallery

Screenshots

  • Two silverfish.

    Two silverfish.

  • A swarm of silverfish.

    A swarm of silverfish.

  • Silverfish spawner room in a stronghold.

    Silverfish spawner room in a stronghold.

  • The same room, with a lit portal.

    The same room, with a lit portal.

  • A silverfish riding a minecart.

    A silverfish riding a minecart.

  • Many silverfish in a village (click for animation).

    Many silverfish in a village (click for animation).

  • A giant stone silverfish as seen in the Java Edition 13w26a banner.

    A giant stone silverfish as seen in the Java Edition 13w26a banner.

  • Lots of silverfish.

    Lots of silverfish.

  • Silverfish as they appear in the Timeless Trails DLC, seemingly made out of sandstone.

    Silverfish as they appear in the Timeless Trails DLC, seemingly made out of sandstone.

In other media

See also

References

  1. ↑ MC-48184 — resolved as "Works As Intended".
  2. ↑ MC-2432 — resolved as "Works As Intended".
  3. ↑ MC-167357
  4. ↑ MC-167372
  5. ↑ MC-189974
  6. ↑ MC-140209

External links

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Retrieved from "https://minecraft.wiki/w/Silverfish?oldid=2602568"