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Dummy Entities

beginner
Dummy Entities

Dummy entities are invisible entities which are used behind the scenes for game-play purposes. Dummy entities are a very useful tool, and this document will cover some of the ways they are utilized, as well as showing how to set up the resource side of things.

Using Dummies ​

This is a non-exhaustive list of how dummies can be used:

  • For data storage: by adding tags to the entity, we can use it as a "game manager", much like Armor Stands used to be used.
  • As a named entity: by name-tagging a dummy, and then using execute to select for it, you can make command-blocks /say with a pretty display name.
  • As a location marker: you can run execute commands located at a dummy to get relative coordinates at a location.
  • As a waypoint: by making entities which are aggressive to your dummy, you can pathfind entities to any location by placing a dummy there.

Creating Dummies ​

Behavior Entity ​

You can use whatever behaviors you like, but here is a good template. The important aspects are: no damage, and can't be pushed.

BP/entities/dummy.json
json
{
	"format_version": "1.16.0",
	"minecraft:entity": {
		"description": {
			"identifier": "wiki:dummy",
			"is_summonable": true,
			"is_spawnable": false,
			"is_experimental": false
		},
		"components": {
			"minecraft:breathable": { //Optional, allows the entity to breath underwater
				"breathes_water": true
			},
			"minecraft:physics": { 
				"has_gravity": false, //Optional, allows the entity to not be affected by gravity or water
				"has_collision": false
			},
			"minecraft:custom_hit_test": {
				"hitboxes": [
					{
						"pivot": [0, 100, 0],
						"width": 0,
						"height": 0
					}
				]
			},
			"minecraft:damage_sensor": {
				"triggers": {
					"deals_damage": false
				}
			},
			"minecraft:pushable": {
				"is_pushable": false,
				"is_pushable_by_piston": false
			},
			"minecraft:collision_box": {
				"width": 0.0001,
				"height": 0.0001
			}
		}
	}
}

If you want to disable collision at all (so you can place a block at it's position), you can use arrow runtime identifier, however, there can be some side effects.

Resource Entity ​

RP/entity/dummy.json
json
{
	"format_version": "1.10.0",
	"minecraft:client_entity": {
		"description": {
			"identifier": "wiki:dummy",
			"materials": {
				"default": "entity_alphatest"
			},
			"geometry": {
				"default": "geometry.dummy"
			},
			"render_controllers": ["controller.render.dummy"],
			"textures": {
				"default": "textures/entity/dummy"
			}
		}
	}
}

Geometry ​

RP/models/entity/dummy.json
json
{
	"format_version": "1.12.0",
	"minecraft:geometry": [
		{
			"description": {
				"identifier": "geometry.dummy",
				"texture_width": 16,
				"texture_height": 16
			}
		}
	]
}

Render Controller (Optional) ​

RP/render_controllers/dummy.json
json
{
	"format_version": "1.10.0",
	"render_controllers": {
		"controller.render.dummy": {
			"geometry": "Geometry.default",
			"textures": ["Texture.default"],
			"materials": [
				{
					"*": "Material.default"
				}
			]
		}
	}
}

Texture (Optional) ​

You can either leave the texture location blank, or open the model in blockbench and create a blank texture.

Edit Dummy Entities on GitHub