Page 2 · Actions

Actions: The Building Blocks of DAI

An action is one instruction DAI knows how to execute. Datapacks combine actions into objectives, sequences, rotors, menus, builders, Survival systems, and other gameplay.

134 registered action typesCurrent 1.6 action-handler catalog.

One shared JSON shapeIndividual handlers read only the fields they need.

ComposableActions can sequence, queue, branch into, and call other behavior.

The Action JSON Shape

General action definition

{
  "type": "action_type",
  "action": "string",
  "conditions": [],
  "sequence": [],
  "menu": "string",
  "open": "string",
  "yaw": 0.0,
  "pitch": 0.0,
  "direction": "string",
  "ticks": 0,
  "slot": 0,
  "state": false,
  "value": 0.0
}

Only provide the fields the selected action needs. The handler-specific parameters are listed in the catalog below.

Parameter Glossary

typeRegistered action handler ID.

actionGeneral string payload: resource ID, item/block/tag, waypoint, command, key, gamemode, or referenced action.

conditionsConditions evaluated immediately before the atomic action executes.

sequenceNested child actions used by sequence/random composition.

menuMenu category used by menu actions.

openSecondary string payload, commonly a menu ID.

yaw / pitchCamera angle or offsets.

directionMovement direction, spatial offset, or scan mode depending on the handler.

ticksDuration, timeout, or action-specific tick budget.

slotHotbar/container slot or generation identifier depending on handler.

stateBoolean on/off value.

valueGeneric numeric input such as radius, stop distance, or count.

Presentation Actions

DAI 1.6 also exposes screen presentation through normal action JSON. Static sprites and sprite sheets intentionally use separate schemas.

Action	Payload	Purpose
`overlay_sprite`	`sprite`	Add or replace a static resource-pack texture layer.
`overlay_sprite_sheet`	`sprite_sheet`	Add or replace an animated frame-grid layer.
`overlay_remove`	`action`	Remove one overlay by overlay ID.
`overlay_clear`	none	Clear every active DAI overlay.

Texture assets are resource-pack content. A datapack can reference my_pack:gui/combat/pow, while Minecraft resolves the PNG from assets/my_pack/textures/gui/combat/pow.png in an enabled resource pack.

Complete Registered Action Catalog

Open any category below. The parameter column lists the fields the registered Java handler reads directly.

Menus & Screens · 4 actions

Action type	Handler parameters	Purpose
`pause_menu`	none	Open Minecraft's pause menu.
`update_menu`	menu open	Open or update a DAI menu.
`open_chat`	none	Open the chat screen.
`close_screen`	none	Close the currently open screen.

Camera & Look · 2 actions

Action type	Handler parameters	Purpose
`set_look`	yaw pitch	Set player yaw and pitch.
`add_look`	yaw pitch	Add yaw/pitch offsets to the current view.

Movement · 9 actions

Action type	Handler parameters	Purpose
`move`	direction ticks	Move in a cardinal player-relative direction for a number of ticks.
`jump`	direction ticks	Jump; optionally combine the jump with short directional movement.
`crouch_toggle`	none	Toggle crouch/sneak input.
`crouch_set`	state	Explicitly enable or disable crouch.
`sprint_toggle`	none	Toggle sprint input.
`sprint_set`	state	Explicitly enable or disable sprint.
`swim_toggle`	none	Toggle managed swimming.
`swim_set`	state	Explicitly enable or disable managed swimming.
`input_stop_all`	none	Release/reset all DAI-managed movement input.

Targeting & Recognition · 4 actions

Action type	Handler parameters	Purpose
`scan`	none	Run the normal target scan.
`target_clear`	none	Clear the current selected DAI target.
`recognize_target`	none	Run recognition against the selected target.
`recognize_block`	action value	Find a nearby block or block tag and select it as the target.

Combat · 4 actions

Action type	Handler parameters	Purpose
`attack_target`	none	Attack the current DAI target.
`attack_basic`	none	Perform a basic attack.
`attack_start`	none	Hold attack.
`attack_stop`	none	Release attack.

Automation / Compatibility · 7 actions

Action type	Handler parameters	Purpose
`automation_start_vanilla_gameplay compatibility`	none	Automation start vanilla gameplay.
`automation_start_speedrun compatibility`	none	Automation start speedrun.
`automation_start_creative_builder compatibility`	none	Automation start creative builder.
`automation_start_adventure compatibility`	none	Automation start adventure.
`automation_continue`	none	Continue the currently configured automation lifecycle.
`speedrun_find_portal_site compatibility`	open	Speedrun find portal site.
`automation_stop`	none	Stop active automation and clear managed runtime work.

Game Mode, Input & Creative · 25 actions

Action type	Handler parameters	Purpose
`set_gamemode`	action	Request a gamemode change through Minecraft's normal command path.
`run_command`	action	Submit a Minecraft command string.
`key_click`	action	Click a named key once.
`key_press`	action	Press/hold a named key.
`key_release`	action	Release a named key.
`type_text`	action	Type the supplied text through DAI's input layer.
`creative_open_inventory`	none	Open the Creative inventory.
`creative_close_inventory`	none	Close the Creative inventory.
`creative_select_tab`	action	Select a Creative inventory tab.
`creative_search_item`	action	Enter a Creative inventory search query.
`creative_take_item`	action slot	Take a visible Creative item into a hotbar slot.
`creative_equip_item`	action slot	Put a specified Creative item directly into a hotbar slot.
`creative_save_toolbar`	none	Save a Creative toolbar preset.
`creative_load_toolbar`	none	Load a Creative toolbar preset.
`creative_pick_block_nbt`	none	Creative pick-block while preserving block data.
`creative_remove_block`	none	Remove the selected block through the Creative helper.
`creative_place_block`	none	Place the currently selected Creative block.
`creative_set_block`	action	Apply a requested block-state string through the Creative helper.
`creative_flight_set`	state	Enable or disable Creative flight.
`creative_fly_to`	ticks value	Fly toward the current spatial destination.
`wait_for_creative_flight`	slot	Wait for the active Creative flight generation to finish.
`creative_hover`	ticks	Hold position in Creative flight for a number of ticks.
`creative_build_blueprint`	none	Start the configured Creative blueprint build.
`creative_blueprint_cell internal`	none	Nested blueprint payload type; normally not dispatched directly.
`wait_for_creative_build`	slot	Wait for the active Creative build generation to finish.

Inventory & Hotbar · 10 actions

Action type	Handler parameters	Purpose
`open_inventory`	none	Open the player's inventory.
`hotbar_select`	slot	Select a hotbar slot.
`hotbar_next`	none	Select the next hotbar slot.
`hotbar_previous`	none	Select the previous hotbar slot.
`hotbar_normalize`	none	Normalize/reorganize the hotbar using DAI's helper.
`item_use`	none	Perform a normal item-use click.
`use_start`	none	Hold item use.
`use_stop`	none	Release item use.
`item_drop`	none	Drop the currently selected item.
`item_swap`	none	Swap main-hand and off-hand items.

Equipment Selection · 5 actions

Action type	Handler parameters	Purpose
`hotbar_select_item`	action	Select a matching item in the hotbar.
`equip_best_tool`	action	Equip the best tool, optionally for a requested target.
`equip_best_weapon`	none	Equip the best available weapon.
`equip_best_food`	none	Equip the best available food.
`equip_best_block`	action	Equip the best matching block.

Interaction · 2 actions

Action type	Handler parameters	Purpose
`interact`	none	Perform a normal interaction with the current crosshair target.
`pick_block`	none	Perform Minecraft's pick-block input.

Mining & Item Collection · 8 actions

Action type	Handler parameters	Purpose
`break_targeted_once`	none	Compatibility alias for one targeted break attempt.
`break_once`	none	Perform one targeted break attempt.
`break_start`	none	Hold block-breaking input.
`break_stop`	none	Release block-breaking input.
`equip_best_tool_for_block`	none	Equip the best tool for the selected block.
`mine_targeted_block`	none	Mine the currently selected DAI block target.
`mine_nearest_block`	action ticks value	Find and mine a nearby matching block.
`collect_nearby_items`	action ticks value	Navigate toward and collect nearby matching item entities.

Block Placement & Harvesting · 8 actions

Action type	Handler parameters	Purpose
`place`	none	Perform one normal placement/use action.
`place_targeted_block`	none	Place against the selected DAI target.
`place_nearest_block`	ticks value	Find a nearby placement opportunity and place a block.
`place_block_at_selected_position`	action ticks	Physically place a requested block at the selected exact position.
`exact_place_align internal`	none	Internal smooth-look stage used by exact Creative placement.
`exact_place_finish internal`	none	Internal continuation stage used by exact placement.
`exact_place_verify internal`	none	Internal world-state verification stage used by exact placement.
`harvest_crop`	ticks	Harvest the selected crop target.

Navigation & Exploration · 9 actions

Action type	Handler parameters	Purpose
`approach_target_block`	ticks value	Navigate to a reachable interaction position near the selected block.
`wait_for_approach`	slot	Barrier/wait action paired with approach_target_block.
`wait_for_target_block`	none	Wait until the selected block is aligned/reachable for interaction.
`explore_for_block`	action ticks value	Explore until a matching block or block tag is discovered.
`wait_for_exploration`	slot	Barrier/wait action paired with explore_for_block.
`vertical_scaffold_to_target`	ticks value	Build/ascend a vertical scaffold toward the target.
`wait_for_vertical_scaffold`	none	Wait for scaffold ascent to finish.
`vertical_scaffold_descend`	ticks	Descend the current vertical scaffold.
`wait_for_scaffold_descent`	none	Wait for scaffold descent to finish.

Waypoints · 5 actions

Action type	Handler parameters	Purpose
`remember_waypoint`	action	Save the player's current position under a waypoint name.
`remember_target_waypoint`	action	Save the current selected block as a waypoint.
`select_waypoint`	action	Select a named waypoint as the current target.
`forget_waypoint`	action	Delete a named waypoint.
`forget_failed_waypoint`	action	Remove a waypoint from failed-waypoint memory.

Spatial / Adjacency · 6 actions

Action type	Handler parameters	Purpose
`select_waypoint_offset`	action direction	Select a block at waypoint + offset.
`remember_offset_waypoint`	action open direction	Create a waypoint at base waypoint + offset.
`remember_surface_offset_waypoint`	action open direction	Create an offset waypoint normalized to the nearby walkable surface.
`scan_adjacent_blocks`	action direction	Scan blocks around a target/player/waypoint into spatial state.
`select_adjacent_block`	action direction	Select one adjacent block/offset from a spatial origin.
`spatial_clear`	none	Clear temporary spatial scan state.

Food · 1 actions

Action type	Handler parameters	Purpose
`eat_best_food`	ticks	Select/use the best available food until eating completes.

Containers & Screen Profiles · 9 actions

Action type	Handler parameters	Purpose
`open_container`	ticks	Interact with the selected target to open a container.
`wait_for_container`	ticks	Wait for a container screen to open.
`wait_for_screen_profile`	action ticks	Wait for a named DAI screen profile.
`close_container`	none	Close the current container screen.
`container_click_slot`	none	Click a logical container slot.
`container_shift_click_slot`	none	Shift-click a logical container slot.
`container_insert_item`	action	Insert a requested item into a matching logical slot.
`container_take_slot`	none	Take from a logical container slot.
`wait_for_container_slot`	action ticks	Wait until a logical slot matches requested criteria.

Queue & Sequences · 5 actions

Action type	Handler parameters	Purpose
`delay`	ticks	Wait a number of game ticks.
`sequence`	none	Queue child actions in order.
`enqueue_action`	action	Queue another named DAI action/objective by resource ID.
`queue_clear`	none	Clear queued runtime actions.
`random_action`	sequence	Choose from the supplied child action sequence.

Crafting · 2 actions

Action type	Handler parameters	Purpose
`craft_recipe`	action state	Craft a requested recipe.
`craft_take_result`	none	Take the result from the active crafting output.

Objectives · 1 actions

Action type	Handler parameters	Purpose
`objective_execute`	action	Execute another named objective/action definition.

Flow Control · 4 actions

Action type	Handler parameters	Purpose
`stop_if_failure`	none	Stop queued flow when the previous action failed.
`stop_if_success`	none	Stop queued flow when the previous action succeeded.
`run_if_failure`	none	Run a referenced action when the previous action failed.
`run_if_success`	none	Run a referenced action when the previous action succeeded.

Example: Find a Nearby Log

recognize_block

{
  "type": "recognize_block",
  "action": "#minecraft:logs",
  "value": 24.0
}

Example: Compose Actions

Simple sequence

{
  "type": "sequence",
  "sequence": [
    {
      "type": "move",
      "direction": "forward",
      "ticks": 20
    },
    {
      "type": "input_stop_all"
    },
    {
      "type": "delay",
      "ticks": 10
    }
  ]
}