Minecraft weapon DPS calculator: compare damage per second
Compare every melee weapon in Minecraft Java Edition by damage per second (DPS). Pick a weapon, add offensive enchantments, switch on a critical hit and the Strength effect, and the calculator works out exact damage per hit, DPS and the time between attacks. The interactive chart lets you compare all weapons with identical settings at a glance.
How does DPS work in Minecraft?
DPS (damage per second) is the key metric in Minecraft Java Edition for comparing the effectiveness of different weapons objectively. Since version 1.9 (the Combat Update), every weapon has an attack speed, the time it takes to complete a full swing. Hitting before a full swing deals only a fraction of normal damage, so DPS reflects a weapon's real strength better than damage per hit alone.
The DPS formula is simple: DPS = damage per hit x attack speed. Swords attack at 1.6/s, axes from 0.8/s (wooden) to 1.0/s (diamond, netherite), and the trident at 1.1/s. That is why swords with lower damage per hit can have a higher DPS than axes.
Sword vs axe: which one to pick?
In pure DPS, swords win. A netherite sword with Sharpness V reaches a DPS of about 17.6, while a netherite axe with the same enchantment reaches about 13.0. Axes have two advantages, though: higher damage per hit (better for "hit and run") and the ability to disable a shield in PvP (25% chance + 5% per Efficiency level).
In PvE (fighting mobs) a sword is almost always better: faster attacks let you push back several mobs at once and keep control of the fight. In PvP an axe works well as an opening weapon (the first hit disables the shield), after which players often switch to a sword.
Offensive enchantments compared
The calculator supports four enchantments that affect damage:
- Sharpness - +0.5 x level + 0.5 damage. Universal, works on every target. Sharpness V adds +3 damage.
- Smite - +2.5 x level damage against undead (zombies, skeletons, phantoms, the Wither). Smite V adds +12.5 damage, but only against undead.
- Bane of Arthropods - +2.5 x level against arthropods (spiders, silverfish, endermites, bees). It also slows the target.
- Fire Aspect - sets the target on fire for 4 s (I) or 8 s (II), dealing 4 or 8 fire damage over time. It doesn't raise direct DPS, but it adds DOT damage.
Critical hits and the Strength effect
A critical hit increases a weapon's base damage by 50%. To land one, you have to be falling at the moment of impact: the easiest way is to jump and attack in mid-air. Critical hits don't work on ladders, in water or while gliding with an elytra.
The Strength effect from a potion adds a flat bonus: +3 for Strength I and +6 for Strength II. Stacked with enchantments and critical hits, it is the strongest single damage buff in the game.
Frequently asked questions
Which weapon has the highest DPS in Minecraft?
A netherite sword with Sharpness V has the highest DPS of any melee weapon in Minecraft Java Edition. At an attack speed of 1.6/s it reaches a DPS of about 17.6. A diamond sword with Sharpness V is not far behind (about 16.0 DPS). Axes deal more damage per hit, but their lower speed (0.8-1.0/s) makes them lose in DPS.
What is DPS in Minecraft?
DPS (damage per second) is the damage you deal each second. You get it by multiplying damage per hit by the weapon's attack speed. DPS lets you compare how effective different weapons are: a sword with lower damage but a faster attack can deal more damage over time than a slow axe.
Sword or axe: which is better in Minecraft?
It depends on the situation. Swords have a higher DPS thanks to their faster attack (1.6/s vs 0.8-1.0/s), which makes them better in longer PvE fights. Axes deal more damage per hit and have a chance to disable a shield (25% + 5% per Efficiency level), which gives them the edge in PvP.
How does a critical hit work in Minecraft?
A critical hit happens when you attack with a melee weapon while falling (not on a ladder, not in water). It adds 50% to the weapon's base damage and shows star particles around the target. It works with melee weapons only: swords, axes and the trident.
How much damage does Sharpness V add?
Sharpness V adds +3 damage (1.5 hearts). The formula is 0.5 x level + 0.5. Sharpness works on every target, unlike Smite (+12.5 against undead) and Bane of Arthropods (+12.5 against arthropods), which deal more damage but only to certain types of mobs.
Is Smite V better than Sharpness V?
Against undead, definitely. Smite V gives +12.5 damage (vs +3 from Sharpness V), more than four times the bonus. But Smite only works on zombies, skeletons, phantoms, the Wither and other undead mobs, so Sharpness remains the better all-round pick.
Does the Strength effect stack with weapon enchantments?
Yes. Strength I adds +3 damage and Strength II adds +6. A Potion of Strength is brewed with Blaze Powder. The effect stacks with all offensive enchantments, critical hits and other modifiers.
Does DPS include Fire Aspect?
No. The calculator shows DPS from direct damage. Fire Aspect deals fire damage over time (4 damage per level, over 4 seconds per level). That is damage over time (DOT), and it can't simply be added to DPS because it depends on how long the fight lasts.
Why can't a trident have Sharpness?
In Java Edition a trident doesn't accept Sharpness, Smite or Bane of Arthropods. It has its own enchantments instead, such as Channeling (calls down lightning) and Riptide (launches you forward). The calculator still lets you compare the trident's base DPS with other weapons.
How many sword hits does it take to kill a player with 20 HP?
Without armor, a netherite sword with Sharpness V deals 11 damage, so it takes 2 hits. With Strength II and a critical hit, a single hit is enough.