Sharpness Enchantment: Damage per Level on Each Edition
Sharpness V adds 3 extra damage on Java and up to 6 on Bedrock. Exact numbers per level, what it goes on, its conflicts, and how to get Sharpness V.
Sharpness increases the damage of every melee hit with a sword, axe or spear. It goes up to level V, and it is the default damage enchantment for a main weapon because it works on every mob and player, not just one family.
How much it adds depends on your edition, and the gap is bigger than most people expect.
| Level | Java extra damage | Bedrock extra damage |
|---|---|---|
| I | +1 (half a heart) | +1 |
| II | +1.5 | +2 |
| III | +2 | +3 |
| IV | +2.5 | +5 |
| V | +3 (1.5 hearts) | +6 (3 hearts) |
Java uses 0.5 × (level + 1). Bedrock uses 1.25 × level, rounded down. So a Sharpness V diamond sword hits for 10 on Java and 14 on Bedrock (Bedrock swords also start one point higher).
Where it goes and what it blocks
- Swords and spears: from the enchanting table, books or loot.
- Axes: table on Bedrock; books only on Java.
- Conflicts: Smite and Bane of Arthropods. You get one of the three per weapon.
Sharpness also boosts the extra damage from Java’s Sweeping Edge, because sweep damage includes your enchantment bonus.
Getting Sharpness V
The enchanting table only rolls Sharpness V on golden swords. Every other material tops out at IV because its enchantability is too low. You have three ways around that:
- Combine two Sharpness IV books (or a IV sword and a IV book) on an anvil. Equal levels merge into the next level.
- Buy a Sharpness V book from a librarian. See all villager jobs for setting one up.
- Find one in chests. Monster rooms, mineshafts and other non-village loot can carry Sharpness books.
Under the experimental Villager Trade Rebalance, Sharpness V is the special master-level book of savanna librarians, and other biomes stop selling it.
Sharpness or something else?
Take Sharpness on the sword you carry everywhere. Smite does 2.5 extra damage per level against undead, which beats Sharpness against zombies, skeletons and the Wither, but it does nothing to creepers, endermen or players. If you build a second sword for a specific fight, make it a Smite one and keep Sharpness on your daily blade. Our best sword enchantments page has the full loadout.
On Java, a Sharpness axe hits harder per swing than a sword but swings slower, and it can disable shields. On Bedrock there is no attack cooldown, so the sword usually wins for raw damage per second.
Common questions
How much damage does Sharpness V add?
On Java Edition, Sharpness V adds 3 damage (1.5 hearts) to every hit. On Bedrock Edition it adds 6 damage (3 hearts), so it matters a lot more there.
Can you put Sharpness on an axe?
Yes. On Bedrock the enchanting table can roll it on an axe directly. On Java you need an enchanted book and an anvil.
Why can't I get Sharpness V from the enchanting table?
Only golden swords have high enough enchantability to roll Sharpness V. For iron, diamond or netherite you combine two Sharpness IV items or books on an anvil, or buy a Sharpness V book.
Sources & verification
Facts on this page are checked against these references and in-game behavior for the stated edition(s). how we verify.
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