What Does Smite Do on Minecraft? Complete Enchantment Guide

What does smite do on minecraft? Smite is a weapon enchantment that adds 2.5 damage per level against undead mobs. Smite V adds 12.5 damage, or 6.25 hearts, to a qualifying hit. It works on swords and axes, but not ordinary players or non-undead mobs. ([minecraft.fandom.com](https://minecraft.fandom.com/wiki/Smite?utm_source=openai))

what does smite do on minecraft?

Smite increases the damage dealt by an enchanted sword or axe when you hit an undead target. It does not make the weapon stronger against every creature. A Smite sword is specialized for enemies such as zombies, skeletons, drowned, phantoms, and the Wither.

Each Smite level adds another 2.5 points of damage, equal to 1.25 hearts, against an undead mob. The bonus is added to the weapon's normal attack damage, so the total damage still depends on the sword or axe, attack strength, critical hits, armor, difficulty, and other combat rules. ([minecraft.fandom.com](https://minecraft.fandom.com/wiki/Smite?utm_source=openai))

Which mobs take extra Smite damage?

Smite affects mobs classified as undead. The most useful targets are the enemies you regularly meet while caving, exploring the Nether, defending a village, or fighting the Wither.

• Zombies and zombie villagers
• Drowned, husks, and other zombie variants
• Skeletons, strays, bogged, and wither skeletons
• Phantoms
• Zombified piglins
• Zoglins
• Skeleton horses and zombie horses
• The Wither

The enchantment works against the undead category, not simply against anything that looks frightening or hostile. Creepers, spiders, endermen, blazes, the Ender Dragon, and regular players do not take Smite's extra damage. ([minecraft.fandom.com](https://minecraft.fandom.com/wiki/Undead?utm_source=openai))

Smite levels I through V explained

Smite has five normal levels. The Roman numeral on the item tells you how much bonus damage it adds against undead mobs.

Smite I is useful early in a world, but Smite V is the maximum normal level and the best choice for a dedicated undead weapon. For example, Smite IV adds 10 damage to every qualifying hit, while Smite V adds 12.5. The bonus does not apply when you hit a non-undead creature. ([minecraft.fandom.com](https://minecraft.fandom.com/wiki/Smite?utm_source=openai))

How to get Smite on a sword or axe

You can apply Smite through an enchanting table, an anvil, or commands in a world where commands are enabled. In ordinary survival, the most reliable method is combining a Smite enchanted book with your weapon on an anvil.

Use an enchanting table

1. Place an enchanting table and surround it with bookshelves if you want access to stronger enchantments.
2. Put a sword, axe, or book in the enchanting slot.
3. Spend the required experience levels and lapis lazuli on an available enchantment.
4. Check the result before accepting it. The enchantment may be Smite I through Smite V, depending on the offered level and your available options.

Enchanting a book gives you more flexibility because you can save it until you have the right weapon. You can also find enchanted books through loot, fishing, or villager trades, although the available enchantment and level depend on the source.

Apply a Smite book with an anvil

1. Place the sword or axe in the first anvil slot.
2. Place the Smite book in the second slot.
3. Pay the displayed experience cost.
4. Move the upgraded weapon into your inventory.

An anvil can also combine two compatible Smite weapons or books to raise the level. Two Smite II books can become Smite III, for example. You cannot normally combine different damage enchantments to create a higher Smite level.

Smite versus Sharpness

Sharpness is the general-purpose damage enchantment, while Smite is the specialist choice for undead mobs. Sharpness works against nearly every attackable target, but Smite provides a larger bonus when the target belongs to the undead category.

• Choose Smite for zombies, skeletons, mob farms, Nether fortresses, and the Wither.
• Choose Sharpness for one weapon that handles a wide variety of mobs and players.
• Keep both weapons if you regularly fight undead mobs but also need a general combat weapon.

Smite and Sharpness are normally mutually exclusive, so you cannot place both on the same sword or axe through standard survival enchanting. Bane of Arthropods is another competing damage enchantment and is designed for spiders, cave spiders, bees, silverfish, and endermites instead. ([minecraft.fandom.com](https://minecraft.fandom.com/wiki/Tutorials/Best_enchantments_guide?utm_source=openai))

For a Wither fight, Smite is usually the better damage enchantment because the Wither is undead. For ordinary exploration, Sharpness may be more convenient if you do not want to carry a second weapon.

Java Edition and Bedrock Edition

Smite behaves essentially the same in Java Edition and Bedrock Edition: it increases weapon damage against undead mobs, reaches level V, and does not normally combine with Sharpness or Bane of Arthropods. The main difference players notice between editions usually comes from other combat mechanics, weapon damage, attack timing, or how damage is rounded, not from a different purpose for Smite.

On either edition, Smite V is a strong choice for a zombie or skeleton farm and is especially valuable when fighting the Wither. Check the enchantment name and level on the item rather than relying on the weapon's material alone, because an iron Smite weapon can still outperform a stronger unenchanted weapon against an undead target in some situations. ([minecraft.fandom.com](https://minecraft.fandom.com/wiki/Smite?utm_source=openai))

How to use Smite effectively

To smite an undead enemy, equip the enchanted sword or axe and attack the target normally. There is no separate Smite button, spell, projectile, or right-click ability. The enchantment activates automatically when your weapon hits a qualifying undead mob.

If you mean “how to Smite someone” as another player, normal Smite does not deal bonus damage to players. Players are not undead targets, even if they are wearing undead-themed armor or using a zombie skin. Use Smite for mobs, not for ordinary player-versus-player combat.

• Put Smite V on a weapon used near zombie or skeleton spawners.
• Carry Smite when preparing to fight the Wither.
• Add Unbreaking and Mending if the weapon will be used for repeated farming.
• Use Looting on a sword when you want more mob drops, since Smite itself only changes damage.
• Do not waste Smite on a general-purpose weapon if most of your targets are animals, creepers, endermen, or players.

The common mistake is choosing Smite because it sounds stronger than Sharpness without considering the target. Smite is stronger in its category, but Sharpness is more flexible. If you spend most of your time fighting undead mobs, Smite V is worth keeping; otherwise, use Sharpness or carry a second specialized weapon.