[MC-123013] @p/@r can select dead players and distance/dx/dy/dz parameters do not exclude dead players

The bug

@p and @r can target dead players when they previously could not. As well, the distance/dx/dy/dz parameters should also prevent the @a selector from targeting dead players, but do not. Via MC-46223:

@unknown added a comment - 05/Feb/14 10:53 PM
The @a selector (but only without a radius/area defined via r/rx/ry/rz) will include dead players in the next snapshot. All other selectors work as intended.

How to reproduce

Place the following commands inside a repeating command block chain. They will state your name while alive and when dead, except for @e which correctly excludes dead players:

say P: @p
say R: @r
say A: @a[distance=..20]
say E: @e[type=minecraft:player]

Linked issues

relates to 3

MC-272490 @n can select dying entities, unlike @e Resolved

MC-46223 @a doesn't include dead players Resolved

MC-301458 @e will not select players who have died and are on the death screen, but @a can. Open

Comments 5

chenyuxuan 2017-12-08T06:16:52Z

if you do not want to select dead player,
you can use @p[nbt=!{Health:0f}]

Aaron Rhodes 2018-01-30T06:41:37Z

I have an issue where a failed /say @p command will only show @ in the console when using the distance parameter and standing out of range. The command should either fail and give no output or give an error somewhere since no player was found. This is a different issue that I found while testing the current issue, and it occurs whenever the selector fails to find the desired entity. More on topic, the issue of this ticket is confirmed in 18w03b, from @p and @a[distance=..20] finding dead players to @e[type=player] not finding dead players.

Maxaxik 2018-07-19T14:20:04Z

Affects 1.13

Ely G 2020-05-04T20:19:56Z

This seems kinda inconsistent: why do some selectors target dead players but not others?

kelianor 2024-06-02T08:45:09Z

Affects 1.21 pre release 2. Possibly relates to MC-272490