Best Sword Enchantments in Minecraft 1.21

(Estimated Read Time: 5 Minutes)

Despite Minecraft’s arsenal of weapons, the classic sword remains a must-have staple. So, today, we explore the best sword enchantments in Minecraft 1.21 alongside the most optimal setup a general-purpose enchanted sword can have.

All Compatible Sword Enchantments in Minecraft 1.21

Sharpness

• Maximum Level: V
• Source: Enchanting Table & Enchanted Books
• Restrictions: Incompatible with Smite & Bane of Arthropods

Sharpness enchanted weapons deal an additional 1 damage at the first level before increasing by 0.5 damage with each level of the enchantment up to a maximum of level 5.

Smite

• Maximum Level: V
• Source: Enchanting Table & Enchanted Books
• Restrictions: Incompatible with Sharpness & Bane of Arthropods

Smite enchanted weapons deal an additional 2.5 damage to undead with every hit, increasing by 2.5 damage with each level of the enchantment to a maximum of level 5.

Bane of Arthropods

• Maximum Level: V
• Source: Enchanting Table & Enchanted Books
• Restrictions: Incompatible with Sharpness & Smite

Bane of Arthropods enchanted weapons deal an additional 2.5 damage to arthropods with every hit, increasing by 2.5 damage with each level of the enchantment to a maximum of level 5.

Fire Aspect

• Maximum Level: II
• Source: Enchanting Table & Enchanted Books
• Restrictions: None

Fire Aspect enchanted weapons apply 4 seconds of burning, increasing to 8 seconds at level 2. Additionally, mobs that drop raw meat will drop the cooked variant instead.

Sweeping Edge

• Maximum Level: III
• Source: Enchanting Table & Enchanted Books
• Restrictions: Sword Exclusive, Java Edition Exclusive

Sweeping Edge increases the cleave damage caused by a sword when swung at a charge of 85% or higher. The first level of the enchantment deals an additional 50% of the sword’s attack damage to mobs hit by sweep attacks, increasing to 67% at level 2 and 75% at level 3.

Knockback

• Maximum Level: II
• Source: Enchanting Table & Enchanted Books
• Restrictions: Sword Exclusive

Knockback increases a sword’s knockback effect by approximately 2.5 blocks for each level of the enchantment up to a maximum of level 2.

Looting

• Maximum Level: III
• Source: Enchanting Table & Enchanted Books
• Restrictions: Sword Exclusive

Swords enchanted with looting provide bonuses to drops that vary occasionally depending on the mob slain. Generally speaking, the number of common drops is increased by 1 per level of the enchantment, while the chance of rare drops occurring is increased by 1% per level. The maximum level of looting is level 3.

Unbreaking

• Maximum Level: III
• Source: Enchanting Table & Enchanted Books
• Restrictions: None

Unbreaking creates a chance that an item or tool’s durability will not decrease when used, averaging a 100% increase in lifespan per level of the enchantment. This enchantment has a maximum level of 3.

Mending

• Maximum Level: I
• Source: Enchanted Books
• Restrictions: None

Gathered Experience Orbs are automatically consumed to repair items enchanted with Mending. Mending enchanted items must be in the main hand, off hand, or an equipped armor slot for this effect to occur.

Best Sword Enchantments in Minecraft 1.21

• Sharpness V
• Sweeping Edge III
• Fire Aspect II
• Looting III
• Unbreaking III
• Mending I

Players seeking to craft the ultimate sword will want to aim for the enchantments we have listed above. This is one less than the maximum number of enchantments the sword can hold, with only knockback being avoided. The reason knockback has not been included is that it occasionally becomes detrimental to the player. Examples of this include knocking potential loot (mobs) from high places, knocking farm animals around, and granting space to ranged mobs or escaping players. Those who don’t mind such instances or simply prefer to have the enchantment present can also add knockback without any penalty.