Splash Potion is brewed by adding gunpowder to any finished potion at a brewing stand. The gunpowder converts the drinkable bottle into a throwable projectile that shatters on contact with a solid surface or an entity. On impact, Splash Potion forms a small effect cloud and applies the potion's effect to every entity inside the radius, including the thrower if standing close, although thrown timed effects last only about three-quarters of the drinkable version's duration.

Splash Potion is the format players use to apply effects to others rather than only to themselves. A Splash Potion of Healing damages undead mobs such as zombies and skeletons because their healing is inverted, while a Potion of Harming heals the undead instead. Slowness and Weakness variants anchor PvP kits and zombie-villager curing, and adding dragon's breath turns a Splash Potion into a Lingering Potion that leaves a persistent cloud. A splash water bottle, brewed with no effect ingredient, extinguishes fire on entities and damages endermen, blazes, and striders.