Comparison
Diamond Sword vs Iron Sword
Minecraft 1.21.8. Java Edition values.
Verdict
Diamond hits for 7 vs Iron's 6 — a ~17% damage bump — and lasts 6× longer (1,561 vs 250 uses). Worth it the moment you have 2 diamonds to spare. Diamond also accepts richer enchantments via the Smithing Table upgrade path to Netherite.
Side-by-side stats
Highlighted cell wins that row.
| Stat | Diamond Sword | Iron Sword |
|---|---|---|
| Attack damage | 7 | 6 |
| Attack speed | 1.6/s | 1.6/s |
| DPS | 11.2 | 9.6 |
| Durability | 1,561 | 250 |
| Enchantability | 10 | 14 |
| Mining tier | Diamond | Iron |
| Survives lava (as dropped item) | No | No |
| Crafted from | Diamond | Iron Ingot |
When to pick each
Pick Diamond when…
You have at least 2 diamonds and aren't saving them all for a pickaxe. The damage edge and durability mean you can fight bosses (Wither, Iron Golems) without breaking mid-fight.
Pick Iron when…
You're still diamond-hunting. Iron is cheap, smeltable from any iron ore, and good enough to bridge until your first diamond. Don't waste your diamond on a sword if you don't have a pickaxe yet.
Get these tools
Diamond Sword
Iron Sword
Other tool comparisons
- Netherite Sword vs Diamond Sword
- Netherite Pickaxe vs Diamond Pickaxe
- Netherite Axe vs Diamond Axe
- Diamond Pickaxe vs Iron Pickaxe
- Golden Pickaxe vs Diamond Pickaxe
- Iron Pickaxe vs Stone Pickaxe
- Diamond Axe vs Iron Axe
- Iron Sword vs Stone Sword
- Diamond Sword vs Golden Sword
- Netherite Sword vs Netherite Axe
- Diamond Sword vs Diamond Axe
- Netherite Shovel vs Diamond Shovel
- Iron Axe vs Stone Axe
- Stone Pickaxe vs Wooden Pickaxe
FAQ
- When should I choose Diamond Sword over Iron Sword?
- Diamond hits for 7 vs Iron's 6 — a ~17% damage bump — and lasts 6× longer (1,561 vs 250 uses). Worth it the moment you have 2 diamonds to spare. Diamond also accepts richer enchantments via the Smithing Table upgrade path to Netherite.
- How much damage does a Diamond Sword do?
- 7 attack damage with 1.6 attacks per second — 11.2 DPS at full charge. That's 1 more than a Iron Sword (6 damage).
- What's the durability of a Diamond Sword?
- 1,561 uses before it breaks. That's 1,311 more than a Iron Sword (250 uses). Unbreaking III roughly multiplies durability by 4.
- Do I need Diamond Sword if I already have Iron Sword?
- You have at least 2 diamonds and aren't saving them all for a pickaxe. The damage edge and durability mean you can fight bosses (Wither, Iron Golems) without breaking mid-fight. If those don't apply, you're still diamond-hunting. iron is cheap, smeltable from any iron ore, and good enough to bridge until your first diamond. don't waste your diamond on a sword if you don't have a pickaxe yet.