Spear vs trident in Minecraft: Which is better?

The spear is a new weapon added in the Minecraft Mounts of Mayhem update. It is a first-tier melee weapon with two unique damage methods: jab and charge. The trident is the closest comparable weapon in Minecraft.

The spear and trident look totally different. The spear uses textures from sticks and earth material, the exact ingredients for crafting it. The trident shows shades of teal with three prongs at the end. It is basically the Minecraft take on Aquaman's trident from the DC Comics Book universe.

Melee vs ranged weapon difference

The spear sticks to melee attacks. Jab works like a normal swing. Charge means holding the spear out while running at the enemy. Damage scales with your speed.

The trident does basic melee too. But you can throw it for ranged attacks. The spear cannot do that, even if real-life spears get thrown.

Difference in special features

The spear boosts charge attack damage based on your movement speed. The lunge enchantment lets you dash ahead like a jumping camel, then jab. It costs hunger points though.

The trident ties into water mechanics. Mojang gave it unique enchantments. Channeling summons lightning in thunderstorms or rain. Riptide propels you forward on throw, but only if wet.

Rarity

The spear shines in accessibility. Craft it early-game with basic resources: two sticks and one material matching the tier (planks for wooden, cobblestone for stone, copper ingot, iron ingot, gold ingot, or diamond). Upgrade diamond spears to netherite at a smithing table.

No rare drops required, making spears viable from your first shelter.

Tridents demand patience and luck. They drop from drowned zombies (6.25% spawn rate in Java Edition, 15% in Bedrock), with an 8.5% (Java) or 25% (Bedrock) drop chance on death, boosted by Looting. Also loot them from trial chamber vaults (2.1% chance). Expect to slay dozens of drowned for one.

Damage

Spears scale with tiers, offering progression like swords but with longer reach (2-4.5 blocks minimum-maximum, 0.125 hitbox margin). Jabs are slow; higher tiers trade speed for power. Charge attacks multiply base damage by velocity (your speed minus target's), capping at 1.2x for netherite.

Tridents fix at diamond-sword level: 9 melee damage, 3-block reach, throwable for 8 ranged. No tiers, but consistent and crit-capable in melee.