This Minecraft tutorial explains the NBT tags (formerly called data tags) that you can use for a skeleton in Minecraft Java Edition (PC/Mac) 1.16, 1.17, 1.18, 1.19 and 1.20.

TIP: If you are not running Minecraft Java Edition (PC/Mac) 1.16/1.17/1.18/1.19/1.20, find NBT tags for skeleton in another version of Minecraft:

  • Java Edition (PC/Mac) 1.14/1.15
  • Java Edition (PC/Mac) 1.11/1.12
  • Java Edition (PC/Mac) 1.10

Background

In Minecraft Java Edition 1.16, 1.17, 1.18, 1.19 and 1.20, the entity value for a skeleton is skeleton. The skeleton entity has a unique set of data tags that can be used in Minecraft commands such as: /summon and /data.

What are NBT tags (formerly called Data Tags)?

NBT tags allow you to set certain properties of an entity (such as skeleton). The NBT tag is always surrounded in {} such as {CustomName:”\”Bones\””}. If there is more than one NBT tag used in a game command, the NBT tags are separated by a comma such as {CustomName:”\”Bones\””, Health:25.0f}.

List of NBT Tags

Here is a list of the NBT tags that you can use for skeleton in Minecraft Java Edition (PC/Mac) 1.16, 1.17, 1.18, 1.19 and 1.20:

NBT Tag Value (Description)
LeftHanded 0 (The skeleton is right-handed)
1 (The skeleton is left-handed)

Example
{LeftHanded:1}
CanPickUpLoot  

0 (The skeleton can not pick up loot off the ground)
1 (The skeleton can pick up loot off the ground)

Example
{CanPickUpLoot:0}
CustomName  

name (The name to assign to the skeleton)

Example
{CustomName:”\”Bones\””}
Health  

number (The number of health points the skeleton has)

Example
{Health:25.0f}
AbsorptionAmount  

number (The number of absorption health points the skeleton has)

Example
{AbsorptionAmount:2.0f}
Invulnerable  

0 (The skeleton will take damage like normal)
1 (The skeleton will not take any damage from attacks or physical surroundings)

Example
{Invulnerable:1}
PersistenceRequired  

0 (The skeleton will despawn naturally)
1 (The skeleton won’t despawn)

Example
{PersistenceRequired:1}
NoAI  

0 (The skeleton will have artificial intelligence and will move/behave like normal)
1 (The skeleton will have no artificial intelligence so it will appear motionless)

Example
{NoAI:1}
Silent  

0 (The skeleton will make its usual noises in the game)
1 (The skeleton will not make any noise in the game)

Example
{Silent:1}
Fire  

ticks (The number of game ticks until the skeleton is no longer on fire – there are 20 ticks in a second)

Example
{Fire:60}
PortalCooldown  

ticks (The number of game ticks until the skeleton can go through a portal again – there are 20 ticks in a second)

Example
{PortalCooldown:120}
Air  

ticks (The number of game ticks the skeleton has air left for)

Example
{Air:120}
HandItems  

Items that the skeleton is holding in its hands, listed in this order: right hand, left hand

Syntax
HandItems:[{Count:1,id:item}, {Count:1,id:item}]

Example
{HandItems:[{Count:1,id:diamond_sword}, {Count:1,id:shield}]}
HandDropChances  

The drop chances for each of the 2 items listed in HandItems. A value of 1.0f means 100% chance of the item being dropped when the skeleton is killed, 0.5f means 50%, 0.2f means 20%, and so on.

Example
{HandDropChances:[1.0f,1.0f,1.0f,1.0f]}
ArmorItems  

Items of armor that the skeleton is wearing, listed in this order: boots, leggings, chestplate, helmet

Syntax
ArmorItems:[{Count:1,id:item}, {Count:1,id:item}, {Count:1,id:item}, {Count:1,id:item}]

Example
{ArmorItems:[{Count:1,id:diamond_boots}, {Count:1,id:diamond_leggings}, {Count:1,id:diamond_chestplate}, {Count:1,id:diamond_helmet}]}
ArmorDropChances  

The drop chances for each of the 4 items listed in ArmorItems. A value of 1.0f means 100% chance of the item being dropped when the skeleton is killed, 0.5f means 50%, 0.2f means 20%, and so on.

Example
{ArmorDropChances:[1.0f,1.0f,1.0f,1.0f]}
id  

skeleton (The entity value used to represent a skeleton in the EntityTag or Passengers tag)

Example
{id:skeleton}
Passengers  

The mob that is riding on the skeleton. Use the entity value for the passenger mob

Example of zombie as passenger
Passengers:[{id:zombie}]

NBT Tag Examples

To summon a skeleton that is named Bones:

/summon skeleton ~ ~ ~ {CustomName:"\"Bones\""}

To summon a skeleton that is named “The Killer” who is wearing a set of full netherite armor:

/summon skeleton ~ ~1 ~ {CustomName:"\"The Killer\"", ArmorItems:[{Count:1,id:netherite_boots}, {Count:1,id:netherite_leggings}, {Count:1,id:netherite_chestplate}, {Count:1,id:netherite_helmet}], ArmorDropChances:[1.0f,1.0f,1.0f,1.0f]}

Target Selectors

Before we finish discussing data tags, let’s quickly explore how to use the @e target selector. The @e target selector allows you to target entities in your commands. If you use the type=skeleton value, you can target skeletons:

@e[type=skeleton]

Target Selector Examples

To change the name of the nearest skeleton to Bones:

/data merge entity @e[type=skeleton,limit=1,sort=nearest] {CustomName:"\"Bones\""}

To kill all skeletons:

/kill @e[type=skeleton]

Next, learn how to use the game commands in Minecraft.

Command Examples

Here are some game command examples for a skeleton in Minecraft:

How to Summon a Skeleton
How to Summon a Spider Jockey

Click to rate this post!
[Total: 2 Average: 5]