Whether you’re a seasoned Minecraft player or new to the world of block-building, you probably recognize that the sword is the ultimate weapon in the game. Even the most skilled players sometimes find that a sword alone doesn’t pack enough punch. Luckily, enhancing your sword with the best Minecraft sword enchantments can significantly change the game.
Many of these powerful enchantments can be obtained by using an Enchanting Table, while others require enchanted books. In this article, we have compiled a list of the top sword enchantments in Minecraft, detailing their uses and benefits.
Top Minecraft Sword Enchantments
We’ve rigorously tested these enchantments to confirm their effectiveness, ensuring compatibility with both the Java and Bedrock editions of Minecraft. The enchantments below are ranked from least to most useful, giving you a comprehensive guide to elevating your gameplay.
10. Curse of Vanishing
The Curse of Vanishing can only be applied using enchanted books. This negative enchantment ensures that your sword disappears upon your character’s death, unlike regular items that can be retrieved later. The benefit? In multiplayer, it prevents other players from claiming your sword. However, there is no method to remove this enchantment once applied.
9. Bane of Arthropods
This enchantment increases the damage your sword inflicts on arthropod mobs, including:
- Spiders
- Cave Spiders
- Bees
- Silverfish
- Endermites
8. Sweeping Edge
A Java-exclusive enchantment, Sweeping Edge enhances the damage dealt by your sword’s sweeping attack. Although it won’t change how you attack, it allows you to deal more damage with groups of enemies, making it invaluable during chaotic fights, especially in the Nether. The enchantment has three levels, causing up to 75% additional damage relative to the main hit.
7. Smite
Smite is designed to boost damage solely against undead mobs, which include:
- Skeletons
- Zombies
- Zombie Villagers
- Wither
- Wither Skeletons
- Zombified Piglins
- Skeleton Horses
- Zombie Horses
- Strays
- Husks
- Phantoms
- Drowned
- Zoglins
For players venturing into zombie-infested areas, having a sword with Smite can be a game-changer. Just note that this enchantment cannot be combined with Sharpness or Bane of Arthropods.
6. Looting
Looting enhances the drop rate of items from defeated mobs, increasing both the quantity and rarity. Imagine defeating a Drowned and getting a Trident or striking down an Enderman for additional Ender Pearls! With three levels available, the Looting enchantment can be combined with Sweeping Edge on the Java edition, providing an extra edge in combat.
5. Unbreaking
Unbreaking extends the lifespan of your sword by reducing the chance of durability loss. While it can only technically delay the inevitable, it has a big impact on the overall durability of your weapons. This enchantment has two levels and is often one of the first enchantments you come across.
4. Knockback
Knockback allows you to push enemies back with your sword strikes, amplifying the knockback effect up to 190%. One hit can send a mob flying up to 6 blocks away, which is handy for creating distance between you and your foes in tough situations.
3. Mending
For those grappling with worn-down swords, Mending rejuvenates your weapon by using experience orbs to restore durability. Some players argue that Mending is even better than Unbreaking due to its ability to continuously heal your sword as you defeat enemies, making it a must-have enchantment.
2. Fire Aspect
Fire Aspect is among the simplest yet most effective enchantments. By hitting an enemy, you ignite them, causing damage over time. This enchantment has two levels, dealing a total of 1.5 hearts of damage at level 1 and 3.5 hearts at level 2. Note that this enchantment may not kill every enemy instantly, so pairing it with a Potion of Fire Resistance is smart. Additionally, it can be used to light candles or activate TNT in the Bedrock edition.
1. Sharpness
Sharpness is arguably the most beneficial enchantment, amplifying your sword’s overall damage output against all mobs. With a maximum of five levels, it can be applied to different sword types. Level 5 can only be added to a gold sword via an enchantment table, but enchanting books allow you to attach all levels to any sword.
How to Craft a Sword in Minecraft
Crafting a sword in Minecraft is straightforward and requires a crafting table, a stick, and two materials specific to the sword type. For example, use wooden planks for a wooden sword or iron ingots for an iron sword. Here’s how to do it:
- Open the crafting table interface by right-clicking.
- Place a stick in the center cell of the bottom row.
- Add two respective materials in the center cells of the first and second rows.
- Drag the crafted sword into your inventory.
How to Craft a Netherite Sword in Minecraft
Ready to step up your game with a Netherite sword? You’ll need a Diamond sword, a Smithing table, a Netherite Smithing template, and a Netherite ingot. Here are the steps:
- Access the Smithing table interface by right-clicking.
- Put the smithing template in the leftmost cell, the Diamond sword in the center cell, and the Netherite ingot in the right cell.
- Your Netherite sword will appear in the right cell; drag it to your inventory.
How to Enchant Swords in Minecraft
After crafting your sword, it’s time to enchant it for added abilities. You can enchant swords using enchanted books with an anvil or by employing an enchanting table. Here’s how to do both:
1. Enchanted Books
Enchanted books let you directly apply your desired enchantment. Here’s what to do:
- Place the anvil on the ground and right-click to access its interface.
- Put your sword on the left and the enchanted book on the right beside the plus sign.
- Your new enchanted sword will appear on the right; drag it to your inventory.
2. Enchanting Table
Using the Enchanting Table can yield one of three random enchantments for your sword, wasting experience points if you’re not careful. Here are the steps to follow:
- Place the enchanting table and right-click to open its interface.
- Put your sword in the left slot and a lapis lazuli in the right slot.
- Three random enchantments will show up on the right for you to choose from.
- Select your desired enchantment and drag your newly enchanted sword to your inventory.
With these enchantments, you can explore your Minecraft world with confidence and enhanced capabilities. What enchantments do you prefer the most? Share in the comments! For more tips, visit Moyens I/O to delve deeper into the Minecraft universe.
What is the best sword enchantment in Minecraft? Sharpness is often regarded as the best due to its overall damage increase against a variety of enemies.
What are the best combinations of sword enchantments in Minecraft? A strong combo includes Sharpness 5, Sweeping Edge 3, Looting 3, Unbreaking 3, and Mending for maximum effectiveness.
How many enchantments can a Minecraft sword have? A sword can have up to 7 compatible enchantments along with either the Curse of Vanishing or the Curse of Binding.