Dummy Entities

beginner

Using Dummies
Creating Dummies

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"
				}
			]
		}
	}
}