Sword
Rarity |
Common |
---|---|
Durability |
Wood: 59 |
Renewable |
Yes |
Stackable |
No |
Namespaced ID |
See Data values |
A sword is a melee weapons that is mainly used to deal damage to mobs and/or players. Swords are also useful for mining cobwebs.
Contents
Obtaining[edit]
Crafting[edit]
Ingredients | Crafting recipe | Description |
---|---|---|
Any Planks or Cobblestone or Iron Ingot or Gold Ingot or Diamond + Stick |
||
Damaged Matching Swords | The durability of the two swords is added together, plus an extra 5% of the tool type's total durability. |
Repairing[edit]
Grinding[edit]
Ingredients | Grinding recipe | Description |
---|---|---|
2x Damaged Wooden Sword or 2x Damaged Stone Sword or 2x Damaged Iron Sword or 2x Damaged Golden Sword or 2x Damaged Diamond Sword |
The durability of the two swords is added together, plus an extra 5% durability. |
Unit repair[edit]
A sword can be repaired in an anvil by adding units of the corresponding material, each restores 25% its maximum durability, rounded down.
Mobs[edit]
Some monsters can spawn with a sword, and have an 8.5% (9.5% with Looting I, 10.5% with Looting II and 11.5% with Looting III) chance of dropping them upon death by player: Zombies and husks can drop iron swords, zombie pigmen can drop golden swords, and wither skeletons can drop stone swords. The dropped sword is usually badly damaged, and may be enchanted. Stone swords dropped by wither skeletons are always unenchanted.
A vex wields an iron sword that normally has a 0% chance of dropping, because their main hand's HandDropChances
is 0. However, this chance increases by 1 percentage point per level of Looting. It is never damaged[Java Edition only] and may be enchanted.
In Bedrock Edition, pillagers and vindicators that spawn from raids have a 4.1% chance (5.12% chance on hard) of dropping an iron sword, badly damaged although it can be enchanted with a random enchantment.
Trading[edit]
Weaponsmith villagers sell enchanted iron swords for 9–10 emeralds as part of their second tier trades, and enchanted diamond swords for 12–15 emeralds as part of their third tier trades.[Legacy Console Edition only]
Apprentice-level weaponsmith villagers sell enchanted iron swords for 2 emeralds, and expert-level weaponsmiths sell enchanted diamond swords for 8 emeralds.[Bedrock Edition only]
Novice-level weaponsmith villagers have a 2⁄3 chance of selling an enchanted iron sword for 7-22 emeralds. Master-level weaponsmiths offer to sell an enchanted diamond sword for 11-27 emeralds.[Java Edition only]
The enchantments are the same as the ones obtained from an enchantment table at levels 5–19.
Natural generation[edit]
Iron swords can be found in 12.1% of stronghold altar chests, 25.6% of village weaponsmith chests, and 75.0% of buried treasure chests, all in groups of 1.
In Bedrock Edition they can be found in 11.8% of stronghold altar chests in groups of 1.
Golden swords can be found in 19.0% of fortress chests in groups of 1.
Enchanted iron swords[note 1] can be found in 13.3% of End city chests in groups of 1.
Enchanted diamond swords[note 1] can be found in 13.3% of End city chests in groups of 1.
- Notes
- ↑ a b Enchantment probabilities are the same as a level-20 to level-39 enchantment would be on an enchantment table that had no cap at level 30, and that was able to apply treasure enchantments, and where the chance of multiple enchantments is not reduced.
Usage[edit]
Attacking[edit]
Pressing attack while holding a sword inflicts damage on both mobs and other players. Upon damaging a mob or player, the sword's durability decreases by 1.
Attacking a boat or a minecart with a sword instantly destroys it, without decreasing the sword's durability.
Sweep attack[edit]
This feature is exclusive to Java Edition. |
If the attack recharge meter is 84.8% or above, and the player is standing or moving no faster than walking speed, the sword perform a "sweep" attack that can hit nearby enemies. Enemies near the hit enemy are knocked back and damaged by 1 from the slashing attack. The Sweeping Edge enchantment increases the damage dealt by 50% of the normal hit damage for level I, 67% for level II, and 75% for level III. The amount of knockback is 80% that of the knockback due to Knockback I (in other words, 2.8 blocks), and does not benefit from that enchantment. All enemies within 1 block horizontally and 0.25 blocks vertically of any part of the attacked mob and within up to 4 blocks of the player are knocked back. It is impossible to perform both a sweep attack and critical hit on the same attack.
Damage[edit]
Java Edition[edit]
Swords have an attack speed of 1.6 and take 0.625 seconds to recover.
Material | Wooden | Gold | Stone | Iron | Diamond |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Attack Damage | 4 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
Attack Speed | 1.6 | 1.6 | 1.6 | 1.6 | 1.6 |
Damage/Second (DPS) | 6.4 | 6.4 | 8 | 9.6 | 11.2 |
Durability | 59 | 32 | 131 | 250 | 1561 |
Lifetime damage inflicted[note 1] | 240 |
132 |
660 |
1506 |
10934 |
- ↑ The formula to find the total lifetime damage is Durability × Damage per hit = Lifetime damage minimum. It ignores enchantments and critical hits, and assumes the sword is at maximum charge
Bedrock and PS4 editions[edit]
In Bedrock and Legacy Console editions, swords have no attack cooldown or sweep attack and do the following damage:
Material | Wooden | Gold | Stone | Iron | Diamond |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Attack Damage | 5 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
Durability | 59 | 32 | 131 | 250 | 1561 |
Lifetime damage inflicted[note 1] | 300 |
165 |
792 |
1757 |
12496 |
- ↑ The formula to find the total lifetime damage is Durability × Damage per hit = Lifetime damage minimum. It excludes enchantments and critical hits
The most amount of damage that a diamond sword enchanted with Sharpness V can do is 10 in Java Edition, 11 in Legacy Console Edition and 13.5 in Bedrock Edition (without critical hits).
Knockback[edit]
In Bedrock and PlayStation 4 editions, the knockback inflicted by swords is a bit higher than other melee items, especially while sprinting.
Sword breaking times[edit]
A sword can also be used to destroy certain blocks more quickly than with fists. Using a sword to destroy any block that doesn't break instantly decreases its durability by 2.
If a sword is enchanted with Silk Touch, either using Creative or commands, it can collect cobwebs rather than getting the string drop. This is due to the sword being classified as the proper tool for cobwebs.
The following table shows the time it takes to break blocks on which swords have any effect. Colors indicate what gets dropped:
- White: an original block.
- Blue: block's normal drop (e.g. seeds, sapling, apple).
- Red: nothing.
Block | Fists | Sword | Proper/fastest tool | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Cobweb | 20 s | 0.4 s | 0.4 s | |
Jack o'Lantern | 1.5 s | 1 s | 0.125 – 0.75 s | |
Melon | 1.5 s | 1 s | 0.125 – 0.75 s | |
Pumpkin | 1.5s | 1 s | 0.125 – 0.75 s | |
Cocoa | 0.3s | 0.2s | 0.025 – 0.15 s | |
Leaves | 0.3 s | 0.2 s | 0.02s | |
Vines | 0.3 s | 0.2 s | 0.025 – 0.15 s | |
0.02 s |
Swords can also be used for instant breaking of bamboo.[Java Edition only]
Safety around constructions[edit]
In Creative mode, swords are unable to break most blocks. However, they can "break" (put out) fire, which are considered blocks.[1] Care must also be taken around minecarts, paintings, item frames and armor stands, which are also not safe with swords in Creative.[2][3]
Blocking[edit]
This feature is exclusive to Legacy Console Edition. |
Previously, all types of swords could be used to parry to block some forms of damage. If the player is using a sword when attacked, the sword deflects 50% of the incoming melee, non-magical projectiles like arrows and explosion damage, plus a bit of knockback. The sword is held in front of the player and its durability is not reduced by blocking.
As 1.9 of Java Edition, this functionality was replaced by blocking with shields. The player also moves at a slower rate than sneaking if blocking with a sword, nevertheless, it blocks instantly, unlike the shields, which have a 0.25 seconds cooldown period of activation.
Enchantments[edit]
Swords can receive the following enchantments:
Name | Max Level |
---|---|
Fire Aspect | II |
Looting | III |
Unbreaking | III |
Sharpness[note 1] | V |
Smite[note 1] | V |
Bane of Arthropods[note 1] | V |
Knockback | II |
Mending[note 2] | I |
Curse of Vanishing[note 2][JE & LCE only] | I |
Sweeping Edge[JE only] | III |
Fuel[edit]
Wooden swords can be used as a fuel in furnaces, smelting 1 item per sword.
Smelting ingredient[edit]
Name | Ingredients | Smelting recipe |
---|---|---|
Iron Nugget or Gold Nugget |
Iron Sword or Golden Sword + Any fuel |
Sounds[edit]
Sound | Subtitle | Namespaced ID | Subtitle ID | Source | Pitch | Volume | Attenuation distance |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No subtitle | entity.player.attack.crit
|
(Plays during some attacks) | ? | ? | 0.7 | 16 | |
No subtitle | entity.player.attack.knockback
|
(Plays during some attacks) | ? | ? | 0.7 | 16 | |
No subtitle | entity.player.attack.nodamage
|
(Plays during some attacks) | ? | ? | 0.7 | 16 | |
No subtitle | entity.player.attack.strong
|
(Plays during some attacks) | ? | ? | 1, 2, 3, 4 = 0.6; 5, 6 = 0.7 | 16 | |
No subtitle | entity.player.attack.sweep
|
(Plays during some attacks) | ? | ? | 0.7 | 16 | |
No subtitle | entity.player.attack.weak
|
(Plays during some attacks) | ? | ? | 0.7 | 16 | |
Item breaks | entity.item.break
|
subtitles.entity.item.break
|
? | 0.9 | 1.0 | 16 |
Data values[edit]
ID[edit]
Item | Namespaced ID | Numeric ID[BE only] |
---|---|---|
Wooden Sword | wooden_sword
|
268 |
Stone Sword | stone_sword
|
272 |
Iron Sword | iron_sword
|
267 |
Diamond Sword | diamond_sword
|
276 |
Golden Sword | golden_sword
|
283 |
Video[edit]
Note: This video is outdated. Since Java Edition 1.9, swords can no longer block attacks. Instead, shields are used.
Achievements[edit]
Icon | Achievement | In-game description | Actual requirements (if different) | Availability | Xbox points earned | Trophy type (PS) | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Xbox | PS | Bedrock | Nintendo | ||||||
Time to Strike! | Use planks and sticks to make a sword | Pick up any type of sword from a crafting table output. | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 10G | Bronze | |
Overkill | Deal nine hearts of damage in a single hit | Damage can be dealt to any mob, even those that do not have nine hearts of health overall. | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 30G | Bronze |
History[edit]
![]() |
“ |
|
„ |
— Duncan Geere[4] |
Java Edition Indev | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Indev 0.31 | January 29, 2010 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | |||
January 30, 2010 | ![]() | ||||
February 1, 2010 (1) | Swords now take damage when being used. Better swords last longer. | ||||
Indev | February 6, 2010 | ![]() | |||
Java Edition Alpha | |||||
v1.2.0 | release | Zombie pigmen now hold golden swords. | |||
Java Edition Beta | |||||
1.2 | Swords, like all tools, now have more durability. It is not known what the prior durabilities were. | ||||
1.8 | Pre-release | Added the ability to block with a sword, giving the player more options in combat. | |||
? | Swords no longer inflict more damage than bows. | ||||
Java Edition | |||||
1.0.0 | Beta 1.9 Prerelease 3 | Sword damage has now been reduced to make way for enchanting. A diamond sword's damage has now been reduced from 10 | |||
Iron swords are now found in the new stronghold altar chests. | |||||
Beta 1.9 Prerelease 4 | Swords can now be enchanted in the enchantment table. | ||||
1.1 | 12w01a | Iron swords are now found in village blacksmith chests. | |||
1.2.1 | 12w06a | The player now has a rare chance of obtaining iron swords by killing zombies and golden swords from zombie pigmen from the addition of rare drops. These swords have a 20% chance of being enchanted. | |||
1.3.1 | 12w18a | Wooden swords can now be used as fuel in a furnace. | |||
12w21a | Blacksmith villagers now sell diamond swords for 12–13 emeralds, and iron swords for 7–10 emeralds. | ||||
With the trading implementation, renewable items such as wheat can now be sold to buy a diamond sword. This has now made all swords renewable. | |||||
1.4.2 | 12w32a | Zombies may sometimes wield iron swords, dealing extra damage. | |||
12w34a | If a player has dyed leather armor equipped and selected a sword of any kind, it appears in the color of the dye applied to the armor, when switching to second or third person view. | ||||
12w36a | Added wither skeletons, which hold stone swords. | ||||
1.4.6 | 12w49a | Unbreaking can now be applied to a sword with an enchanted book. | |||
1.6.1 | 13w18a | Golden swords are now found in the new chests in nether fortresses. | |||
13w25b | In Creative mode, swords are no longer able to break blocks, and no sound plays when they're hit with one. | ||||
1.6.2 | ? | Instead of replacing the barehanded damage (1 | |||
1.8 | 14w02a | Weaponsmith villagers now sell enchanted diamond swords for 12–15 emeralds, and iron swords for 9–10 emeralds. Unenchanted swords are no longer sold. | |||
1.9 | 15w31a | Enchanted iron and diamond swords can now be found in end city ship chests. | |||
15w33c | Swords no longer block attacks. Instead, shields are used. | ||||
15w34b | Swords now use the attack speed attribute. The attack speed of a sword is 1.25 or 0.8 seconds. | ||||
15w34c | Swords now do one less damage and have an attack speed of 1.45, or 0.69 seconds. | ||||
Swords can now do a sweep attack when moving at walking speed or slower, which knock back mobs near the one hit. The attack speed meter must be filled for it to work. | |||||
15w36a | Each Sharpness level now adds 1 | ||||
15w37a | Swords now have an attack speed of 1.6, or 0.63 seconds. | ||||
15w43a | The average yield of golden swords in nether fortress chests has now been decreased. | ||||
15w49a | Sweep attack now does 1 | ||||
1.11.1 | 16w50a | Golden and iron swords now smelt down into one of their respective nuggets. | |||
Added Sweeping Edge enchantment. | |||||
1.13 | 17w47a | Prior to The Flattening, these items' numeral IDs were 268, 272, 267, 276 and 283. | |||
18w10a | Swords can now generate in buried treasure chests. | ||||
September 10, 2018 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ||||
1.14 | 18w43a | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | |||
Swords now break bamboo instantly. | |||||
Pocket Edition Alpha | |||||
0.2.0 | ![]() | ||||
0.3.0 | ![]() | ||||
0.3.2 | ![]() ![]() ![]() | ||||
0.9.0 | build 1 | Iron swords can now be found in stronghold altar chests and inside blacksmith chests. | |||
0.11.0 | build 11 | Wooden, stone, golden and diamond swords are now available in the creative inventory. | |||
build 12 | Wooden, stone, golden and diamond swords have now been removed from creative. | ||||
build 13 | All swords are available in creative mode again. | ||||
0.12.1 | build 1 | In creative mode, swords are no longer able to break blocks, and no sound plays when they're hit with one. | |||
Golden swords can now be found in nether fortress chests. | |||||
Zombies now rarely spawn holding an iron sword that have a chance to dropped. | |||||
Golden swords are now rarely dropped by zombie pigmen. | |||||
Stone swords are now rarely dropped by wither skeletons. | |||||
0.15.0 | build 1 | Iron swords are now sometimes dropped by husks that spawn holding an iron sword. | |||
Pocket Edition | |||||
1.0.0 | alpha 0.17.0.1 | Enchanted iron and diamond swords can now be found in end city chests. | |||
1.0.4 | alpha 1.0.4.0 | Iron swords and enchanted diamond swords are now sold by weaponsmith villagers. | |||
1.1.0 | alpha 1.1.0.0 | Iron and golden swords are now smeltable. | |||
Added vexes, which rarely drop an iron sword if killed using Looting enchantment. | |||||
Bedrock Edition | |||||
1.10.0 | beta 1.10.0.3 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | |||
Iron swords are now found in plains village weaponsmiths. | |||||
1.11.0 | beta 1.11.0.1 | Iron swords can now be found in savanna, snowy taiga, taiga and desert village weaponsmiths. | |||
beta 1.11.0.4 | Pillagers and vindicators that spawn in raids can now drop iron swords upon death. | ||||
Trading has now been changed. Iron swords sold by weaponsmith villagers now cost 2 emeralds while diamond swords cost 8 emeralds as part of their fourth tier trades. | |||||
Legacy Console Edition | |||||
TU1 | CU1 | 1.0 | Patch 1 | 1.0.1 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
TU5 | Added the ability to block, giving the player more options in combat. | ||||
TU53 | CU43 | 1.49 | Patch 23 | 1.0.3 | Iron and golden swords are now smeltable. |
PlayStation 4 Edition | |||||
1.90 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Issues[edit]
Issues relating to "Sword" are maintained on the bug tracker. Report issues there.
Trivia[edit]
- The sword's texture came from Notch's abandoned RPG, Legend of the Chambered. The iron sword's texture was created first, as it was from the game, and the other swords followed.