Particle shapes

expressioncircle

draw particle circle with radius <r> using particle <name> at <position> · A flat ring. Around a player it lies on the ground at their feet

draw particle circle with radius 2 using particle "flame" at player's location

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expressionsphere

draw particle sphere with radius <r> using particle <name> at <position> · A hollow ball with evenly spread points

draw particle sphere with radius 3 using particle "dust" colored "#00ffaa" with 200 points at 0, 80, 0

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expressionline

draw particle line from <position> to <position> using particle <name> · A straight line; both ends must be in the same world

draw particle line from player to 0, 80, 0 using particle "end_rod"

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expressionboxsince 1.7.53

draw particle box from <position> to <position> using particle <name> · The edges of a box between two corners

draw particle box from 0, 60, 0 to 10, 70, 10 using particle "flame" for 10 seconds

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expressionoutlinesince 1.7.53

draw particle outline of region <name> using particle <name> · The edges of a script region

draw particle outline of region arg.1 using particle "end_rod" visible to player for 10 seconds

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expressionhelixsince 1.7.53

draw particle helix with radius <r> and height <h> using particle <name> at <position> · A coil that winds upwards; add and 3 turns to say how often

draw particle helix with radius 1 and height 2 using particle "end_rod" at effect location rising 1 blocks over 1 second

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expressionspiralsince 1.7.53

draw particle spiral with radius <r> using particle <name> at <position> · A flat line winding outwards from the middle

draw particle spiral with radius 3 using particle "end_rod" at player

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expressionstarsince 1.7.53

draw particle star with radius <r> using particle <name> at <position> · A flat star with five tips

draw particle star with radius 2 using particle "flame" at player spinning for 5 seconds

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expressionheartsince 1.7.53

draw particle heart with size <n> using particle <name> at <position> · A heart standing upright, turned towards the player of the trigger

draw particle heart with size 2 using particle "dust" colored "#ff3366" at player for 3 seconds

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expressionbeamsince 1.7.53

draw particle beam from <position> to <position> using particle <name> · A short stretch of light that travels from one end to the other; over 1 second says how long it takes

draw particle beam from player to 0, 80, 0 using particle "end_rod" over 1 second

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expressiontextsince 1.7.53

draw particle text <text> using particle <name> at <position> · Letters made of particles, turned towards the player of the trigger; with size 2 after the text for bigger ones

show floating text "&6+5" at player

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structurefor <duration>since 1.7.53

The shape stays that long instead of fading after a second

give player a trail of "dust" colored "#ffaa00" for 5 minutes

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expressionuntil <condition> / while <condition>since 1.7.53

It stays until the condition holds, or while it does

set {_left} to time until schedule "restart"

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expressionaround <who> (in place of at <position>)since 1.7.53

It stays with that creature or player as they move

draw particle circle with radius 1 using particle "flame" around player for 30 seconds

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expressionvisible to <who>since 1.7.53

Only they see it; only for <who> says the same

draw particle outline of region arg.1 using particle "end_rod" visible to player for 10 seconds

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expressionspinningsince 1.7.53

It turns round its middle; spinning at speed 2 for two turns a second

draw particle circle with radius 1 using particle "dust" colored "#ff66cc" to "#66ccff" around player spinning for 30 seconds

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expressiongrowing to radius <r> over <duration>since 1.7.53

It grows (or shrinks) from its radius to that one: a shockwave

draw particle circle with radius 0.5 using particle "flame" at effect location growing to radius 3 over 1 second

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expressionrising <n> blocks over <duration>since 1.7.53

It lifts that far

draw particle helix with radius 1 and height 2 using particle "end_rod" at effect location rising 1 blocks over 1 second

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expressioncolored "<#rrggbb>"since 1.7.53

The colour, for "dust"

give player a trail of "dust" colored "#ffaa00" for 5 minutes

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expressioncolored "<#a>" to "<#b>"since 1.7.53

A shape that runs from one colour at its start to another at its end

draw particle circle with radius 1 using particle "dust" colored "#ff66cc" to "#66ccff" around player spinning for 30 seconds

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expressionfading to "<#rrggbb>"since 1.7.53

Each particle changes to that colour while it lives. Needs Minecraft 1.17 or newer

spawn particle "dust" colored "#ff0000" fading to "#000000" count 20 at player

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expressionof <block or item>since 1.7.53

For "block" and "item": what the crumbs are made of, as in "block" of stone

give player a trail of "dust" colored "#ffaa00" for 5 minutes

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expressioncount <n>since 1.7.53

How many at each point

spawn particle "witch" count 20 at event.location

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effectwith speed <n>since 1.7.15

How fast they fly apart

summon 5 zombie at player with speed 1.6

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expressionspread <n> or spread <x>, <y>, <z>since 1.7.53

How far from the point each may appear

spawn particle "cloud" count 30 spread 2, 0.2, 2 at player

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Guide and examples

draw particle renders a whole shape in one statement.

draw particle circle with radius 2 using particle "flame" at player's location
draw particle sphere with radius 3 using particle "dust" colored "#00ffaa" with 200 points at 0, 80, 0
draw particle line from player to 0, 80, 0 using particle "end_rod"

Shape	Syntax	Result
`circle`	`draw particle circle with radius <r> using particle <name> at <position>`	A flat ring. Around a player it lies on the ground at their feet
`sphere`	`draw particle sphere with radius <r> using particle <name> at <position>`	A hollow ball with evenly spread points
`line`	`draw particle line from <position> to <position> using particle <name>`	A straight line; both ends must be in the same world

Options, written after the particle name: colored "<#rrggbb>" (for "dust") and with <n> points. Without a point count the shape picks a density that looks solid for its size. A shape never uses more than 1000 particles.

Particles last about a second. For a lasting shape or a trail, draw from a timer:

every 5 ticks for all players:
    if {%player%.trail}:
        draw particle circle with radius 0.6 using particle "dust" colored "#ff66cc" at player

More shapes.

Shape	Syntax	Draws
`box`	`draw particle box from <position> to <position> using particle <name>`	The edges of a box between two corners
`outline`	`draw particle outline of region <name> using particle <name>`	The edges of a script region
`helix`	`draw particle helix with radius <r> and height <h> using particle <name> at <position>`	A coil that winds upwards; add `and 3 turns` to say how often
`spiral`	`draw particle spiral with radius <r> using particle <name> at <position>`	A flat line winding outwards from the middle
`star`	`draw particle star with radius <r> using particle <name> at <position>`	A flat star with five tips
`heart`	`draw particle heart with size <n> using particle <name> at <position>`	A heart standing upright, turned towards the player of the trigger
`beam`	`draw particle beam from <position> to <position> using particle <name>`	A short stretch of light that travels from one end to the other; `over 1 second` says how long it takes
`text`	`draw particle text <text> using particle <name> at <position>`	Letters made of particles, turned towards the player of the trigger; `with size 2` after the text for bigger ones

What can follow any shape, after its place:

Written	Does
`for <duration>`	The shape stays that long instead of fading after a second
`until <condition>` / `while <condition>`	It stays until the condition holds, or while it does
`around <who>` (in place of `at <position>`)	It stays with that creature or player as they move
`visible to <who>`	Only they see it; `only for <who>` says the same
`spinning`	It turns round its middle; `spinning at speed 2` for two turns a second
`growing to radius <r> over <duration>`	It grows (or shrinks) from its radius to that one: a shockwave
`rising <n> blocks over <duration>`	It lifts that far

What can follow the particle's name, in spawn particle and in a shape:

Written	Does
`colored "<#rrggbb>"`	The colour, for `"dust"`
`colored "<#a>" to "<#b>"`	A shape that runs from one colour at its start to another at its end
`fading to "<#rrggbb>"`	Each particle changes to that colour while it lives. Needs Minecraft 1.17 or newer
`of <block or item>`	For `"block"` and `"item"`: what the crumbs are made of, as in `"block" of stone`
`count <n>`	How many at each point
`with speed <n>`	How fast they fly apart
`spread <n>` or `spread <x>, <y>, <z>`	How far from the point each may appear

command /aura:
    trigger:
        draw particle circle with radius 1 using particle "dust" colored "#ff66cc" to "#66ccff" around player spinning for 30 seconds

on player death:
    draw particle circle with radius 0.5 using particle "cloud" at victim's location growing to radius 5 over 1 second

command /show <region>:
    trigger:
        draw particle outline of region arg.1 using particle "end_rod" visible to player for 10 seconds

Trails. give <who> a trail of <particle> leaves particles where a player walks, until remove trail of <who>, or with for, until or while. Standing still leaves none.

command /trail:
    trigger:
        give player a trail of "dust" colored "#ffaa00" for 5 minutes

Effects with a name. A particle effect "<name>": block, at the left margin like a function, holds the particle lines of one effect; play particle effect "<name>" at <position> plays it there. Inside the block, effect location is that place.

particle effect "level up":
    draw particle helix with radius 1 and height 2 using particle "end_rod" at effect location rising 1 blocks over 1 second
    draw particle circle with radius 0.5 using particle "flame" at effect location growing to radius 3 over 1 second

on level up:
    play particle effect "level up" at player

Things to know:

A shape that stays is drawn again several times a second, which costs more than one puff. Up to 200 can be going at once on a server; a new one beyond that takes the place of the oldest.
Everything ends when the scripts are reloaded or the server stops.
Text has capital letters, digits and ! ? . - + :; small letters are drawn as capitals, and it takes up to 24 characters.
"block" and "item" are the crumbs of breaking a block and of eating; the game calls them block_crack and item_crack before 1.20.5, and either name works.