A plain sword won’t cut it in Minecraft—you need the best Minecraft sword enchantments to deal more damage, last longer, and gain extra loot. But with so many options, which ones are actually worth using?

In this guide, we’ll break down every sword enchantment, reveal the top picks, and show you how to build the ultimate enchanted sword.

All Sword Enchantments in Minecraft

Swords are one of the most essential weapons in Minecraft, helping players fight off mobs, defend themselves in PvP, and even farm valuable loot. However, a basic sword isn't enough when facing powerful enemies—enchanting your sword can turn it into a lethal combat tool & here are your options:

But which enchantments are the best? Let’s explore the best Minecraft sword enchantments in both Java and Bedrock editions and how to apply them to create the best enchanted sword in Minecraft.

Exploring the 5 best Minecraft sword enchantments

Each enchantment in Minecraft has a unique purpose, whether it's boosting damage, extending durability, or adding special effects like fire. However, some sword enchantments are especially sought after:

1. Sharpness V

• Effect: Increases the sword’s damage against all mobs.
• Max level: V (5)
• Best use: Ideal for general combat against all types of mobs and players.

Sharpness is the best damage-increasing enchantment because it provides a consistent boost to all enemies. With Sharpness V, a Diamond Sword can deal up to 11 damage per hit, making it a must-have for any player.

2. Looting III 

• Effect: Increases the amount of loot dropped by mobs.
• Max level: III (3)
• Best use: Great for farming valuable mob drops like ender pearls, wither skeleton skulls, and rare items.

With Looting III, you can collect more resources from each mob. It is especially useful when fighting Endermen, Wither Skeletons, or Blazes, as they drop rare materials needed for progression.

3. Unbreaking III

• Effect: Reduces durability loss, making the sword last longer.
• Max level: III (3)
• Best use: Essential for all weapons to make them last longer.

A sword with Unbreaking III has a much lower chance of taking durability damage, allowing you to use it for a longer time without needing repairs.

4. Mending 

• Effect: Uses experience points (XP) to repair the sword instead of letting it break.
• Max level: I (1)
• Best use: Best for keeping your Netherite or Diamond Sword in top condition forever.

Mending makes your sword virtually unbreakable if you regularly gain XP. Every XP point collected will automatically repair your sword, saving resources and time.

5. Fire Aspect II 

• Effect: Causes enemies to catch fire when hit.
• Max level: II (2)
• Best use: Useful for combat and farming cooked meat from animals.

Fire Aspect II adds burning damage to mobs and players, dealing extra damage over time. It also instantly cooks meat when you kill animals, making it great for food collection.

Best enchantment for a sword in Minecraft

The best enchantment for a sword in Minecraft depends on your playstyle, but if we had to choose just one enchantment for a sword in Minecraft, it would undoubtedly be Sharpness V. This enchantment is the most versatile and universally beneficial because it increases the sword’s damage against all enemies, unlike Smite (which only works on undead mobs) or Bane of Arthropods (which only affects spiders and similar creatures). 

Whether you're fighting zombies, skeletons, creepers, or even other players in PvP, Sharpness V ensures that every hit is as powerful as possible, making battles faster and more efficient. It's a must-have for survival, where high damage output can mean the difference between life and death.

While other enchantments add useful effects like durability, fire, or extra loot, damage is the core function of a sword, and Sharpness V maximizes that potential better than any other enchantment.

How to enchant a sword

To enchant a sword, you’ll need one of the following:

1. Enchantment Table

• Requires lapis lazuli and XP levels.
• Provides random enchantments based on your XP level.
• Cannot combine multiple enchantments at once.

2. Anvil + Enchanted Books

• Found in villages or crafted with iron blocks.
• Lets you combine enchantments using enchanted books with anvil.
• Best for creating a perfect enchanted sword.

3. /enchant Command (Creative Mode or Cheats Enabled)

• Syntax: /enchant <player> <enchantment> <level>
  • Example: /enchant erai sharpness 5

Best Minecraft swords

Different sword materials have varying levels of attack damage and durability. Here’s a comparison:

Building Minecraft's best enchanted sword

The best possible sword in Minecraft (both Bedrock & Java) is Netherite Sword with:

• Sharpness V
• Looting III
• Unbreaking III
• Mending
• Fire Aspect II
• Knockback II
• Sweeping Edge III (Java only)

This sword is unbreakable, deals maximum damage, and collects the most loot.

How to craft a sword in Minecraft: Recipe

Minecraft sword crafting recipe is simple and requires a Crafting Table. Here’s how you can make one:

• Open the Crafting Table.
• Place 1 Stick in the middle of the bottom row.
• Place 2 of any of the following materials in the middle row and top-middle slot:
  • Wooden Planks (Wooden Sword)
  • Cobblestone/Blackstone (Stone Sword)
  • Iron Ingots (Iron Sword)
  • Gold Ingots (Golden Sword)
  • Diamonds (Diamond Sword)
• Drag the crafted sword into your inventory.

How to get 7 enchantments on a sword

You can add 7 enchantments to a sword by using an enchantment table and an anvil. Start with a clean sword. You can enchant it directly or use enchanted books. To reach 7 enchantments, you must combine books on an anvil and apply them step by step.

Choose enchantments that work together. Some common choices are Sharpness, Unbreaking, Looting, Sweeping Edge, Fire Aspect, Mending, and Knockback. You can find these enchantments from villagers, fishing, loot chests, or by crafting books with an enchanting table.

Use the anvil to combine two books at a time. Then combine the results until you have all enchantments in one book. After that, apply the book to your sword. Each use of the anvil increases the cost, so plan your steps well. If the cost gets too high, the game may say “Too Expensive.” If that happens, you need to restart with a new sword.

Why can't I put sharpness 5 on my sword?

Sharpness V may not work if your sword already has Smite or Bane of Arthropods. These three cannot go on the same sword. The game lets you use only one of them.

You might also see “Too Expensive” on the anvil. This happens when you combine too many books or rename the sword too often. The game has a limit on how much XP you can spend. If you reach that limit, you must start with a fresh sword. To avoid this, combine books in the right order and check the XP cost after each step.

Can you put sharpness and sweeping edge on the same sword?

Yes, you can use Sharpness and Sweeping Edge together, but only in Java Edition. They work well as a combo. Sharpness increases damage. Sweeping Edge increases sweep attack damage.

In Bedrock Edition, Sweeping Edge does not exist, so you can’t use this combo there. To add both in Java, use books and an anvil or enchant directly. This setup is useful for clearing groups of mobs quickly.