Minecraft Sword Enchantments
All 10 enchantments that can be applied to a sword in Minecraft. Click a row for full details, or copy the /enchant command at any level shown.
Best enchantments for a sword
A best-in-slot sword stacks raw damage (Sharpness), crowd control (Knockback), and lifetime (Unbreaking + Mending). Pick one damage modifier — Sharpness, Smite, or Bane of Arthropods — they conflict.
- 1Sharpness VDamage
- 2Looting IIIMob drops
- 3Unbreaking IIIDurability
- 4Mending IRepair
- 5Fire Aspect IIDoT + cooked drops
- 6Sweeping Edge IIICrowd control (Java only)
Situational swaps
- Smite V — Replaces Sharpness vs undead (zombies, skeletons, wither).
- Bane of Arthropods V — Replaces Sharpness vs spiders, bees, silverfish.
- Knockback II — Replaces Fire Aspect — useful for PvP, removes lava/fire pushback risk.
All enchantments that apply to a sword
| Enchantment | Max level | Type | /enchant command |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bane of Arthropods | V (5) | weapon | |
| Curse of VanishingCurse | I (1) | vanishing | |
| Fire Aspect | II (2) | fire aspect | |
| Knockback | II (2) | sword | |
| Looting | III (3) | sword | |
| MendingTreasure | I (1) | durability | |
| Sharpness | V (5) | sharp weapon | |
| Smite | V (5) | weapon | |
| Sweeping Edge | III (3) | sword | |
| Unbreaking | III (3) | durability |
Enchantments for other items
- Mace enchantments
- Trident enchantments
- Bow enchantments
- Crossbow enchantments
- Pickaxe enchantments
- Axe enchantments
- Shovel enchantments
- Hoe enchantments
- Shears enchantments
- Fishing Rod enchantments
- Shield enchantments
- Elytra enchantments
- Helmet enchantments
- Chestplate enchantments
- Leggings enchantments
- Boots enchantments
FAQ
What is the best enchantment for a sword?
The top picks for a sword in Minecraft 1.21.8 are Sharpness V, Looting III, Unbreaking III. A best-in-slot sword stacks raw damage (Sharpness), crowd control (Knockback), and lifetime (Unbreaking + Mending). Pick one damage modifier — Sharpness, Smite, or Bane of Arthropods — they conflict.
What enchantments can be put on a sword in Minecraft?
There are 10 enchantments that can be applied to a sword in Minecraft 1.21.8. They are listed in the table below, sorted alphabetically, with the maximum level for each.
How do you enchant a sword in Minecraft?
You can enchant a sword at an Enchanting Table (with bookshelves nearby for higher levels), combine it with enchanted books at an Anvil, or apply any enchantment directly with the /enchant command shown in each row of the table.