Minecraft’s Best Hidden Advancement Triggers

Quick Summary: Minecraft has 20+ secret advancements with obscure triggers—from riding a pig off a cliff to summoning a Wither during a thunderstorm. This guide reveals exactly how to unlock them all, including version differences (Java vs. Bedrock).

1. "How Did We Get Here?" (The Hardest Advancement)

Trigger:

Have all 26 status effects applied simultaneously.

Secret Mechanics:

• Requires combining potions, beacons, and mob abilities
• Bedrock Exclusive: "Conduit Power" and "Dolphin’s Grace" aren’t needed
• Use a lingering potion splash + arrow combo for efficiency

Warning: "Bad Omen" and "Hero of the Village" cancel each other—get them last.

2. "Surge Protector" (Storm-Based Secret)

Trigger:

Strike a villager with lightning while having a Channeling trident.

Hidden Conditions:

• Must convert the villager into a witch (not just hit them)
• Works with zombie villagers (converts them to witches too)
• Bedrock Bug: Sometimes requires hitting the ground near the villager

3. "When Pigs Fly" (Misleading Trigger)

Trigger:

Ride a pig while it takes fall damage.

Optimal Method:

1. Equip a carrot on a stick
2. Find a cliff at least 5 blocks high
3. Jump off while boosting the pig mid-air

4. "Arbalistic" (Crossbow Trick)

Trigger:

Kill five unique mobs with one piercing crossbow shot.

Best Mobs to Use:

• Chicken, cow, pig, sheep, rabbit (passive mobs work best)
• Line them up using fence posts or boats
• Pro Tip: Baby mobs count as separate types

5. "The Healing Power of Friendship"

Trigger:

Heal a zombie villager while having all four team colors (red, yellow, green, blue) of wolves tamed.

Hidden Mechanics:

• Wolves must be within 8 blocks during the cure
• Use dyed collars (right-click with dye)
• Bedrock Exclusive: Wolves can be sitting

6. "Light as a Rabbit" (Snow Biome Secret)

Trigger:

Walk on powder snow without sinking while wearing leather boots.

Common Mistakes:

• Boots must be regular leather (not dyed)
• Sneaking cancels the trigger
• Works only in snowy taiga biomes

7. "Withering Heights" (Nether Challenge)

Trigger:

Summon the Wither at world height (Y=320).

Pro Strategy:

• Build a Nether roof platform (break bedrock first)
• Use pistons + end crystals to position skulls
• Warning: Wither can break blocks at this altitude

8. "Sound of Music" (Jukebox Trick)

Trigger:

Have every music disc playing simultaneously near you.

How To:

1. Place 12+ jukeboxes in a 5x5 area
2. Insert discs in quick succession
3. Stand in the center before the first disc finishes

9. "Cover Me in Debris" (Netherite Secret)

Trigger:

Wear a full set of netherite armor while standing on ancient debris.

Hidden Details:

• Must be unenchanted armor
• Works with one ancient debris block (no stack needed)
• Bedrock Bug: Sometimes requires jumping

10. "Uneasy Alliance" (Ghast Transport)

Trigger:

Bring a ghast to the Overworld and kill it there.

Best Method:

• Use fishing rods to pull it through the nether portal
• Ghast must die within 30 seconds of arriving
• Pro Tip: Name-tag it to prevent despawning

11. "Tactical Fishing" (Bedrock Exclusive)

Trigger:

Catch a fish, junk, and treasure with one cast of the fishing rod.

Pro Tip:

• Use Luck of the Sea III to increase treasure odds
• Fish in open ocean for best results

12. "The Parrot and the Igloo"

Trigger:

Have a tamed parrot sit on your shoulder while inside an igloo.

Hidden Condition:

• Must be a natural igloo (not player-built)
• Works with any color parrot

13. "Echolocation" (Sculk Sensor Trick)

Trigger:

Bounce an arrow or snowball off a sculk sensor.

How To:

• Place sensor on ceiling 3 blocks high
• Shoot at 45-degree angle

14. "The End... Again?"

Trigger:

Respawn the Ender Dragon while wearing a pumpkin.

Version Difference:

• Java: Pumpkin must be on head during summoning
• Bedrock: Can equip pumpkin after placing crystals

15. "Camouflage Expert"

Trigger:

Kill a mob while wearing its head as a helmet.

Easiest Targets:

• Zombie (common drop)
• Skeleton (farmable)
• Creeper (charged works too)

16. "Redstone Savant"

Trigger:

Power 15+ redstone devices with one lever flip.

Devices That Count:

• Doors, pistons, lamps
• Dispensers, droppers
• Note blocks, rails

17. "Nether Navigator"

Trigger:

Use a compass in the Nether until it spins wildly.

Mechanics:

• Must hold for 10+ seconds
• Works with lodestone compasses too

18. "Master of Disguise"

Trigger:

Wear full leather armor dyed to match a biome's colors.

Best Biomes:

• Desert (brown/yellow)
• Taiga (green/brown)
• Nether (red/black)

19. "The Ultimate Challenge"

Trigger:

Have every hostile mob targeting you simultaneously.

Strategy:

• Use name tags to prevent despawning
• Stand in dark area to spawn more

20. "Biome Explorer"

Trigger:

Visit 15+ biomes in one Minecraft day.

Best Method:

• Use elytra + rockets
• Focus on small edge biomes

Bonus: 5 More Obscure Triggers

1. "Two Birds, One Arrow" – Kill a phantom and another mob with one piercing arrow
2. "Fishy Business" – Catch an item with a fishing rod that isn’t fish/junk/treasure
3. "This Boat Has Legs" – Ride a strider on lava in the Overworld
4. "Feels Like Home" – Take damage from a Hoglin in the Overworld
5. "Echolocation" – Bounce a projectile (arrow/snowball) off a sculk sensor

Version Differences (Java vs. Bedrock)

Advancement	Java Requirement	Bedrock Requirement
"How Did We Get Here?"	26 effects	24 effects
"Uneasy Alliance"	Kill ghast in Overworld	Bring ghast through portal

Bonus: 5 Ultra-Rare Advancements

1. "Perfect Harmony" – Have all 6 passive mob types following you
2. "Lava Diver" – Swim in lava for 10 seconds with Fire Resistance
3. "Moon Walker" – Walk on every gravity-affected block (sand, gravel, etc.)
4. "The Collector" – Have one of every tool/weapon in your inventory
5. "Silent Assassin" – Kill a mob with a thrown potion while sneaking

Now you’re ready to hunt down Minecraft’s most elusive advancements—happy exploring!