While Minecraft is all about building, farming, and relaxing, there are plenty of hostile creatures in the vast open world. You can use various methods to dispatch them, but the most common are weapons like swords, axes, tridents, bows, crossbows, and the new mace introduced in 1.21. In this article, we're going to compare all major weapons in Minecraft 1.21 to determine which one is the best overall or in specific scenarios.
1. Comparison of Weapons in Minecraft 1.21
To make the comparison clear, we'll break it down by key attributes: damage, attack speed/charge time, durability, special abilities, and compatible enchantments. Note that stats are primarily from Java Edition unless specified otherwise, and higher-tier materials (like netherite) generally offer better stats. We'll focus on netherite or top-tier versions for brevity where applicable.
| Weapon | Base Damage | Attack Speed / Charge Time | Durability | Special Abilities | Key Enchantments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sword (Netherite) | 8 HP | 1.6 (0.625s cooldown) | 2031 | Sweeping attack damages multiple enemies; breaks certain blocks faster. | Sharpness, Smite, Bane of Arthropods, Knockback, Fire Aspect, Looting, Sweeping Edge, Unbreaking, Mending. |
| Axe (Netherite) | 10 HP | 1.0 (1s cooldown) | 2031 | Disables shields; strips logs and oxidizes copper. | Sharpness, Smite, Bane of Arthropods, Efficiency, Fortune, Silk Touch, Unbreaking, Mending. |
| Trident | Melee: 9 HP Ranged: 8 HP | 1.1 (0.91s cooldown) | 250 | Thrown for ranged attack; works well in water; can summon lightning or launch player. | Loyalty, Channeling, Riptide, Impaling, Unbreaking, Mending. |
| Bow | Up to 11 HP (critical fully charged) | Charge: 1.1s for critical | 384 | Ranged attack; critical hits with particle trail. | Power, Punch, Flame, Infinity, Unbreaking, Mending, Multishot, Piercing. |
| Crossbow | 7-11 HP (arrows); up to 18 HP (fireworks) | Charge: 1.25s (reducible with Quick Charge) | 465 | Pre-loadable; shoots fireworks for splash damage; pierces shields with enchantment. | Quick Charge, Multishot, Piercing, Unbreaking, Mending. |
| Mace | 6 HP base; +variable with fall distance (no limit) | 0.6 (1.67s cooldown) | 500 | Smash attack increases damage with fall height; negates fall damage; knockback area effect. | Density, Breach, Wind Burst, Smite, Bane of Arthropods, Fire Aspect, Unbreaking, Mending. |
Damage
Axes and tridents offer high base melee damage, with netherite axes at 10 HP and tridents at 9 HP. Swords are slightly lower at 8 HP but compensate with speed. The mace starts at 6 HP but can exceed all others with its smash attack—potentially one-shotting tough enemies after a long fall. For ranged, crossbows can deal up to 18 HP with fireworks, while bows max at 11 HP.
Attack Speed / Charge Time
Swords have the fastest attack speed at 1.6, allowing for rapid strikes. Axes and maces are slower, with maces being the slowest at 0.6. Ranged weapons like bows and crossbows require charging, but crossbows can be pre-loaded for quick shots.
Cost and Durability
Netherite weapons (swords, axes) have the highest durability at 2031, making them long-lasting but expensive to craft. Tridents and maces have lower durability (250 and 500), while bows and crossbows sit in the middle. Lower-tier materials like wood or gold are cheaper but less durable and damaging.
Special Abilities and Enchantments
Each weapon has unique perks: Swords sweep multiple targets, axes disable shields, tridents are versatile for melee/ranged, bows offer infinite ammo with enchantments, crossbows handle crowds with multishot, and maces deliver massive fall-based damage. Enchantments like Sharpness or Power boost damage across most weapons.
2. Which is the Best Weapon in Minecraft?
The "best" weapon depends on the situation, playstyle, and environment. There's no one-size-fits-all, but netherite swords are often favored for their balance of speed, damage, and versatility. However, the mace can be the most powerful in controlled scenarios with height advantages.
In PVP
In player-vs-player combat, swords excel due to fast attacks and sweeping for groups. Axes are great for shield-breaking, while maces can one-shot if you drop from heights. Tridents offer ranged options, and crossbows provide high burst damage. Overall, a netherite sword with enchantments is often considered superior for skilled players, as seen in duels like Technoblade vs. Dream.
In PVE
For player-vs-environment (mobs), axes shine for high single-target damage against tough enemies like wardens. Maces are excellent with height for massive damage without fall harm. Ranged weapons like bows or crossbows keep distance from dangers, and tridents dominate underwater. The axe or mace might edge out for efficiency in most overworld fights, but carry a sword for crowds.
Interested in more of our articles related to Minecraft? Please check this post to find out more about Crossbows Vs Bows: Which Is The Better Ranged Weapon In Minecraft?
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