Comparison
Netherite Sword vs Netherite Axe
Minecraft 1.21.8. Java Edition values.
Verdict
Sword does 8 damage at 1.6 attacks/s = 12.8 DPS, while Axe does 10 damage at 1.0 attacks/s = 10 DPS. Axe hits harder per swing but the sword's higher attack speed means more total damage over time. The decisive factor: axe attacks disable shields for 5 seconds — game-changing in PvP.
Side-by-side stats
Highlighted cell wins that row.
| Stat | Netherite Sword | Netherite Axe |
|---|---|---|
| Attack damage | 8 | 10 |
| Attack speed | 1.6/s | 1/s |
| DPS | 12.8 | 10 |
| Durability | 2,031 | 2,031 |
| Disables shields | No | Yes (5s) |
| Can chop wood | No | Yes |
When to pick each
Pick Sword when…
PvE, hordes of low-HP mobs (zombies, skeletons, husks), or anything where the 28% higher DPS pays off across multiple targets. Sweeping Edge no longer exists in 1.21+ but the sword still has Knockback over the axe.
Pick Axe when…
PvP and Iron Golem / Ravager / Wither fights. Higher per-hit damage means more crit potential, and the shield-disable on hit is the single most valuable PvP utility in vanilla.
Get these tools
Netherite Sword
Netherite Axe
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 Sword vs Iron Sword
- Diamond Axe vs Iron Axe
- Iron Sword vs Stone Sword
- Diamond Sword vs Golden Sword
- Diamond Sword vs Diamond Axe
- Netherite Shovel vs Diamond Shovel
- Iron Axe vs Stone Axe
- Stone Pickaxe vs Wooden Pickaxe
FAQ
- Should I use a sword or axe in Minecraft?
- Sword does 8 damage at 1.6 attacks/s = 12.8 DPS, while Axe does 10 damage at 1.0 attacks/s = 10 DPS. Axe hits harder per swing but the sword's higher attack speed means more total damage over time. The decisive factor: axe attacks disable shields for 5 seconds — game-changing in PvP.
- Which does more damage, Netherite Sword or Netherite Axe?
- Per swing: Netherite Sword hits for 8, Netherite Axe for 10. Per second: Netherite Sword is 12.8 DPS at 1.6 attacks/sec; Netherite Axe is 10 DPS at 1.0 attacks/sec.
- Does an axe disable shields?
- Yes. An axe attack disables the target's shield for 5 seconds (1.21+). Swords don't have this property. In PvP, a critical axe hit followed by additional damage is one of the highest-burst openers in vanilla.
- Which has more durability, Netherite Sword or Netherite Axe?
- Both use netherite so they have the same durability: 2,031 uses. Material is the only thing that determines durability — tool type doesn't change it.