Invalid data value Cactus

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Invalid data value cacti are item forms of the cactus block with damage values outside of the usual range which cactus can usually be obtained in.

Without the use of commands, invalid data value cacti are unobtainable in the last versions in which they existed without inheriting them from a prior version in which they were obtainable.

The growth state of a cactus block is stored in the block's metadata as a value from 0 to 15. When an enderman picks up a cactus, this value is saved, and when killed, it will drop an item with that metadata value set as its damage. For 0, this is a normal cactus, but any value from 1 to 15 will result in an invalid data value cactus.^[1]

The first version this is possible in is 15w31a (when endermen became capable of dropping held blocks), and the last version is 16w21b, as the first pre-release for 1.10 fixed this issue.

Note that while there are 15 distinct possible invalid cactus variants, there is no way to tell in-game which cactus is obtained; damage is not listed after the block's numeric ID if advanced tooltips are enabled, and all cacti will stack with each other regardless of damage value, making collecting each individual type difficult. Only external tools will display the damage associated with these items.

As cacti as an item do not track their damage value for any purpose, invalid data value cacti can be created by picking up dropped normal cacti with an incomplete stack of invalid data value cacti already in the inventory, as well as merging together existing item stacks. This can also result in invalid data value cacti being converted to non-anomalous cacti in the same way, and therefore care should be taken when transporting such items. As such, if collection of all 15 different types of cacti is desired, they should be stored in a storage container such as a chest in different slots via manual placement - shift-clicking should be avoided.

Unlike placement in the world as a block, invalid data value cacti placed inside a flower pot will preserve their metadata, and breaking the potted cactus will drop a cactus with that specific damage value.^[2]

Inventory appearances

Invalid data value cacti are an issue, and due to their removal, can be considered already fixed.

• Invalid Data Value Cactus at the Minecraft Discontinued Features wiki