diff --git a/ecs/query.go b/ecs/query.go
index 3de4beb3..af4205fa 100644
--- a/ecs/query.go
+++ b/ecs/query.go
@@ -166,8 +166,12 @@ func (q *Query) Mask() Mask {
 }
 
 // Ids returns the component IDs for the archetype of the [Entity] at the iterator's current position.
+//
+// Returns a copy of the archetype's component IDs slice, for safety.
+// This means that the result can be manipulated safely,
+// but also that calling the method may incur some significant cost.
 func (q *Query) Ids() []ID {
-	return q.archetype.node.Ids
+	return append([]ID{}, q.archetype.node.Ids...)
 }
 
 // Close closes the Query and unlocks the world.
diff --git a/ecs/world.go b/ecs/world.go
index 634502ec..190c0ff0 100644
--- a/ecs/world.go
+++ b/ecs/world.go
@@ -1045,11 +1045,15 @@ func (w *World) Mask(entity Entity) Mask {
 }
 
 // Ids returns the component IDs for the archetype of the given [Entity].
+//
+// Returns a copy of the archetype's component IDs slice, for safety.
+// This means that the result can be manipulated safely,
+// but also that calling the method may incur some significant cost.
 func (w *World) Ids(entity Entity) []ID {
 	if !w.entityPool.Alive(entity) {
 		panic("can't get mask for a dead entity")
 	}
-	return w.entities[entity.id].arch.node.Ids
+	return append([]ID{}, w.entities[entity.id].arch.node.Ids...)
 }
 
 // ComponentType returns the reflect.Type for a given component ID, as well as whether the ID is in use.