Infection‐Stages

Infection Stages

The infection progresses through five stages, tracked on the HUD bar.

Stage 0 — Clean

No symptoms. Sonar is noisy and unreliable (80% jitter).

Stage 1 — First Contact (infection 1–24)

Mild interference. Occasional phantom points. The sculk notices you.

Stage 2 — Creeping (infection 25–49)

Fog darkens. Vision narrows. False signals decrease but the world feels wrong.

Stage 3 — Awareness (infection 50–74)

Mob silhouettes appear in sonar (red = hostile, green = passive). Possession episodes begin — the sculk briefly takes control.

Stage 4 — Consumption (infection 75–99)

Sonar is nearly clean. But the fog is thick. Possession episodes last longer. You hear whispers.

Stage 5 — Possession (infection 100)

The sculk has become part of you. Symbiosis unlocks:

• Hive Favor regenerates on sculk blocks
• Sculk Soul ability (G key)
• Summoning ability (H key)
• Stages 6–10 become available (path of Acceptance)

How Infection Spreads

• Melee hits from infected mobs
• Arrows from infected skeletons
• Shulker bullets (+3 infection per hit)
• Breeze wind charges (+2 infection per hit)
• Witch vials (+2 infection per hit)
• Sculk potion direct hits
• Sculk egg explosions

Cure?

There is no cure — only prevention. The Sculk Ward enchantment (sold by the Sculk Merchant) makes you invisible to the infection: mobs won't target you and infection cannot grow while the enchanted armor is worn.