Smite Enchantment in Minecraft: Undead Damage Per Level
Smite adds 2.5 damage per level against zombies, skeletons, phantoms and the Wither. Java and Bedrock numbers, conflicts, and when it beats Sharpness.
Smite adds 2.5 damage per level, up to +12.5 at Smite V, but only against undead mobs. That is more than four times what Sharpness V adds on Java, which is why Smite is the go-to for Wither fights, undead mob farms and anyone who spends nights fighting zombies.
Which mobs count as undead
- Zombies and all their variants: husks, drowned, zombie villagers, zombified piglins, zoglins, zombie horses
- Skeletons and their variants: strays, bogged, wither skeletons, skeleton horses
- Phantoms
- The Wither
Creepers, spiders, endermen, illagers and players are not undead, so Smite does nothing extra to them.
Damage per level
| Level | Java | Bedrock |
|---|---|---|
| I | +2.5 | +2 |
| II | +5 | +5 |
| III | +7.5 | +7 |
| IV | +10 | +10 |
| V | +12.5 | +12 |
Bedrock rounds down, so the odd levels lose half a point. A Java netherite sword with Smite V hits undead for 20.5 per swing, enough to kill a zombie (20 health) in one fully charged hit.
What it goes on
Smite works on swords, spears, axes and maces. The enchanting table puts it on swords and spears in both editions, and on axes and maces only in Bedrock. On Java, axes and maces need a book on an anvil.
It conflicts with Sharpness, Bane of Arthropods, and on maces with Density and Breach.
How to get it
Smite is a common enchantment. It rolls on the enchanting table, comes on books from fishing and loot chests, and librarians sell it. With the experimental Villager Trade Rebalance on, only plains librarians offer Smite.
When to use it
Make a dedicated Smite V sword or axe if you plan to fight the Wither, clear a skeleton farm by hand, or raid nether fortresses for wither skeleton skulls. On a mace, Smite is a better pick than Breach for single-player, since most armored mobs you’ll meet are zombies and skeletons anyway.
Common questions
Is Smite better than Sharpness?
Against undead mobs, yes by a wide margin: Smite V adds 12.5 damage on Java versus 3 from Sharpness V. Against anything else Smite adds nothing, so most players keep Sharpness on their main sword and use Smite on a second one.
Does Smite work on the Wither?
Yes. The Wither, wither skeletons and every zombie and skeleton variant count as undead, so Smite V is the standard enchantment for a Wither fight.
Can you put Smite on a mace?
Yes. On Bedrock the enchanting table can roll it on a mace; on Java you apply it with a book. It conflicts with Density and Breach.
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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