Minecraft Op Permission Levels

Java 1.21

Minecraft's op system has five tiers (0–4). Each tier unlocks progressively more powerful commands. Use the selector below to explore what each level can do and get best-practice guidance for your server.

Level 2 — Builder Op
op-permission-level=2
0 – Player 1 2 3 4 – Admin

Unlocked at Level 2

Commands newly available at this level only.

/advancement/attribute/bossbar/clone/damage/data/datapack/debug/defaultgamemode/difficulty/effect/enchant/execute/fill/fillbiome/forceload/function/gamemode/gamerule/give/help/item/jfr/kill/list/locate/loot/particle/place/playsound/publish/recipe/return/ride/rotate/save-all/save-off/save-on/schedule/scoreboard/seed/setblock/setidletimeout/setworldspawn/spawnpoint/spectate/spreadplayers/stopsound/summon/tag/team/teleport/tick/time/title/tp/transfer/weather/worldborder/xp

Total Access (levels 0–2)

Everything this player can run, including inherited levels.

/me/msg/teammsg/tell/trigger/w/ability/clear/advancement/attribute/bossbar/clone/damage/data/datapack/debug/defaultgamemode/difficulty/effect/enchant/execute/fill/fillbiome/forceload/function/gamemode/gamerule/give/help/item/jfr/kill/list/locate/loot/particle/place/playsound/publish/recipe/return/ride/rotate/save-all/save-off/save-on/schedule/scoreboard/seed/setblock/setidletimeout/setworldspawn/spawnpoint/spectate/spreadplayers/stopsound/summon/tag/team/teleport/tick/time/title/tp/transfer/weather/worldborder/xp

About Level 2 — Builder Op

The standard op level for trusted builders and helpers. Unlocks most world-manipulation commands: /fill, /give, /tp, /effect, /enchant, /summon, /time, /weather, /gamerule (most), /scoreboard, /worldborder, and many more. Can also use command blocks if "Enable Command Block" is on in server.properties.

Plugin and mod permissions override vanilla op levels

Plugins like LuckPerms, EssentialsX, and WorldGuard use their own permission systems entirely separate from vanilla op levels. A player can have plugin permissions without being opped, or be opped but blocked by plugin nodes. Always check your plugin's docs for its permission model.

Best Practices

  • L2 Trusted builders — Use level 2 for players who need building tools like /fill, /give, /teleport, and /effect, but shouldn't be able to manage other players.
  • L3 Moderators — Use level 3 for staff who need to ban, kick, and manage the whitelist. Understand they can also op/deop players.
  • L4 Server owners only — Level 4 is the only level that can stop or reload the server. Do not hand this out casually.
  • 💡 Consider LuckPerms — For fine-grained control, use a permission plugin rather than vanilla op levels. It lets you grant individual commands without elevated server access.

All Levels — Quick Reference

0
Player

Chat, /me, /msg, /tell, /teammsg, /trigger. No op commands.

1
Trusted Op

Bypass spawn protection, /clear (self only). Rarely assigned on its own.

2
Builder Op

World-manipulation commands, command blocks, most gamerules. Standard trusted builder level.

3
Moderator Op

/ban, /kick, /op, /deop, /whitelist. Can manage other players including opping/deopping.

4
Admin Op

/stop, /reload — can shut down or reload the entire server. Owner-only.

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