First off let me say I have done some research and searching, and personal testing, but apologize if I missed a similar post. Most of what I've found labels Sharpness as the best overall choice between Sharpness, Smite & Bane of who cares (if you had to pick just one). However I think the discussions / videos I've found on this are dated and don't take netherite swords and max levels of the enchantments into account. So for the purposes of this thread please assume Netherite sword, and Level V Sharpness or Smite
What I'm finding which contradicts with what I've read is Smite seems like the best overall choice, and here's why. Most mobs have 20hp, some less & some more, but "most" of the common hostile mobs one runs into have 20hp - Reference. And I find most tend to be undead with the exception of spiders & creepers (which are only in the overworld), therefore:
Sharpness V even with critical hit from a sword or axe will still require two hits to kill a 20hp mob
Smite V would kill an undead 20hp mob in one hit (20.5 damage), but would still only require 2-3 hits to kill an alive 20hp mob depending on other enchantments (this was untrue with diamond or lesser swords), hence why netherite is a huge game changer. Especially when coupled with Sweeping Edge III and a horde of pissed of zombie pigment, two hits and they are all dead (target one dies on the first hit), vs. 3+ hits with Sharpness sword
Don't get me wrong, I'm not poopooing on Sharpness and my secondary melee weapon is a Sharpness Axe, I just find that my primary melee weapon is my Smite V netherite sword, with all the other goodies. Now if I know I'm going to take on some non dead boss I'd think differently
First off let me say I have done some research and searching, and personal testing, but apologize if I missed a similar post. Most of what I've found labels Sharpness as the best overall choice between Sharpness, Smite & Bane of who cares (if you had to pick just one). However I think the discussions / videos I've found on this are dated and don't take netherite swords and max levels of the enchantments into account. So for the purposes of this thread please assume Netherite sword, and Level V Sharpness or Smite
What I'm finding which contradicts with what I've read is Smite seems like the best overall choice, and here's why. Most mobs have 20hp, some less & some more, but "most" of the common hostile mobs one runs into have 20hp - Reference. And I find most tend to be undead with the exception of spiders & creepers (which are only in the overworld), therefore:
Sharpness V even with critical hit from a sword or axe will still require two hits to kill a 20hp mob
Smite V would kill an undead 20hp mob in one hit (20.5 damage), but would still only require 2-3 hits to kill an alive 20hp mob depending on other enchantments (this was untrue with diamond or lesser swords), hence why netherite is a huge game changer. Especially when coupled with Sweeping Edge III and a horde of pissed of zombie pigment, two hits and they are all dead (target one dies on the first hit), vs. 3+ hits with Sharpness sword
Don't get me wrong, I'm not poopooing on Sharpness and my secondary melee weapon is a Sharpness Axe, I just find that my primary melee weapon is my Smite V netherite sword, with all the other goodies. Now if I know I'm going to take on some non dead boss I'd think differently
Thoughts?
I play mostly in the overworld, and i see it very simular but i have another reason to choose smite above sharpness.
-Skeletons.
They can be very annoying, so they are what i want dead asap. Zombies aren't scary (exept babys).
And creepers, like you mentioned won't die from 1 hit unless you buff up with strenght effect.
Also creepers don't need to be killed if you wear a shield, since they take care of themselfs.
But that depends on reaction and if you are ok with the crates.
Edit:
I forgot to mention that phantoms are also undead mobs, so smite works here too.
I've always preferred Sharpness for the greater overall damage, including the ability to kill creepers in two hits (otherwise you need 3 unless one is critical) and cave spiders in one hit (note that I play in 1.6.4, where a Sharpness V diamond sword deals 14.25 damage; a Smite V diamond sword is the same as Netherite since the only change since then was to reduce weapon damage by one). Also, zombies actually need more than 20 damage to die in one (non-critical) hit since they have 2 innate armor points, leading to an effective 21.74 HP (in 1.6.4, which does not have armor penetration; a Smite V diamond sword deals 20.5 damage). I've only actually played in 1.9+ for like 30 minutes, just to see what it was like, but I had no issues using essentially the same gear that I do in 1.6.4, aside from the addition of Blast Protection to my otherwise Feather Falling-only boots to offset the much greater damage from creeper explosions (I did not use the off-hand at all, not even for e.g. torches (I spent the time caving), as it would have been a very different change from what I'm used to).
I've always preferred Sharpness for the greater overall damage, including the ability to kill creepers in two hits (otherwise you need 3 unless one is critical) and cave spiders in one hit (note that I play in 1.6.4, where a Sharpness V diamond sword deals 14.25 damage; a Smite V diamond sword is the same as Netherite since the only change since then was to reduce weapon damage by one). Also, zombies actually need more than 20 damage to die in one (non-critical) hit since they have 2 innate armor points, leading to an effective 21.74 HP (in 1.6.4, which does not have armor penetration; a Smite V diamond sword deals 20.5 damage). I've only actually played in 1.9+ for like 30 minutes, just to see what it was like, but I had no issues using essentially the same gear that I do in 1.6.4, aside from the addition of Blast Protection to my otherwise Feather Falling-only boots to offset the much greater damage from creeper explosions (I did not use the off-hand at all, not even for e.g. torches (I spent the time caving), as it would have been a very different change from what I'm used to).
Sharpness is good, but it is for general destruction
against undead mobs Smite 5 still does the most damage and here is why
Skeletons will die in one hit from a Smite 5 sword
however with Sharpness 5 enchant it would take 2 hits to take a Skeleton down at minimum
If you're fighting the Wither, Zombified Piglin, or Skeletons, Smite 5 is advised in my opinion.
Otherwise I agree with you, Sharpness 5 is great as a buffed general damage type sword.
Smite is better for PvE, Sharpness is good for PvP.
When playing multiplayer with possibility that someonce can attack you, sharpness.
But this is more about single player. Lots of normal mobs can be killed with 1 hit instead of 2, BUT. Mobs, that I am most worried about -> creepers, piglin brute, hoglin, ravager and wither & ender dragon does not count as undead. (Another mobs, I count to that list are evoker and vexes, but it is same with both smite and sharpness). As I am playing hardcore most of the time, I want best things against these strong mobs, that requie more hits than sharpness. As I would always forget to switch werapons when going to nether, boss fights or to raid, I am going to keep sharpness on me all the time.If someone would not forget to switch, or use axe with sharpness instead, then, I think that it could be worth it to just shoot creepers instead of fighting them with smite sword and use smite sword to 1 shot kill phantoms and other mobs that are not creepers and spawn normally.
Hello everyone!
First off let me say I have done some research and searching, and personal testing, but apologize if I missed a similar post. Most of what I've found labels Sharpness as the best overall choice between Sharpness, Smite & Bane of who cares (if you had to pick just one). However I think the discussions / videos I've found on this are dated and don't take netherite swords and max levels of the enchantments into account. So for the purposes of this thread please assume Netherite sword, and Level V Sharpness or Smite
What I'm finding which contradicts with what I've read is Smite seems like the best overall choice, and here's why. Most mobs have 20hp, some less & some more, but "most" of the common hostile mobs one runs into have 20hp - Reference. And I find most tend to be undead with the exception of spiders & creepers (which are only in the overworld), therefore:
Don't get me wrong, I'm not poopooing on Sharpness and my secondary melee weapon is a Sharpness Axe, I just find that my primary melee weapon is my Smite V netherite sword, with all the other goodies. Now if I know I'm going to take on some non dead boss I'd think differently
Thoughts?
I play mostly in the overworld, and i see it very simular but i have another reason to choose smite above sharpness.
-Skeletons.
They can be very annoying, so they are what i want dead asap. Zombies aren't scary (exept babys).
And creepers, like you mentioned won't die from 1 hit unless you buff up with strenght effect.
Also creepers don't need to be killed if you wear a shield, since they take care of themselfs.
But that depends on reaction and if you are ok with the crates.
Edit:
I forgot to mention that phantoms are also undead mobs, so smite works here too.
But i always disable insomnia in singleplayer.
My projects:
-are abandoned for now. I might pick 'em up in the future.
For now i'm working on a private modpack that suit's my own playstyle.
I am gonna stay in modded 1.12.2 untill my potato dies. No mercy! :Q
I've always preferred Sharpness for the greater overall damage, including the ability to kill creepers in two hits (otherwise you need 3 unless one is critical) and cave spiders in one hit (note that I play in 1.6.4, where a Sharpness V diamond sword deals 14.25 damage; a Smite V diamond sword is the same as Netherite since the only change since then was to reduce weapon damage by one). Also, zombies actually need more than 20 damage to die in one (non-critical) hit since they have 2 innate armor points, leading to an effective 21.74 HP (in 1.6.4, which does not have armor penetration; a Smite V diamond sword deals 20.5 damage). I've only actually played in 1.9+ for like 30 minutes, just to see what it was like, but I had no issues using essentially the same gear that I do in 1.6.4, aside from the addition of Blast Protection to my otherwise Feather Falling-only boots to offset the much greater damage from creeper explosions (I did not use the off-hand at all, not even for e.g. torches (I spent the time caving), as it would have been a very different change from what I'm used to).
TheMasterCaver's First World - possibly the most caved-out world in Minecraft history - includes world download.
TheMasterCaver's World - my own version of Minecraft largely based on my views of how the game should have evolved since 1.6.4.
Why do I still play in 1.6.4?
Sharpness is good, but it is for general destruction
against undead mobs Smite 5 still does the most damage and here is why
Skeletons will die in one hit from a Smite 5 sword
however with Sharpness 5 enchant it would take 2 hits to take a Skeleton down at minimum
If you're fighting the Wither, Zombified Piglin, or Skeletons, Smite 5 is advised in my opinion.
Otherwise I agree with you, Sharpness 5 is great as a buffed general damage type sword.
Smite is better for PvE, Sharpness is good for PvP.
Hello.
When playing multiplayer with possibility that someonce can attack you, sharpness.
But this is more about single player. Lots of normal mobs can be killed with 1 hit instead of 2, BUT. Mobs, that I am most worried about -> creepers, piglin brute, hoglin, ravager and wither & ender dragon does not count as undead. (Another mobs, I count to that list are evoker and vexes, but it is same with both smite and sharpness). As I am playing hardcore most of the time, I want best things against these strong mobs, that requie more hits than sharpness. As I would always forget to switch werapons when going to nether, boss fights or to raid, I am going to keep sharpness on me all the time.If someone would not forget to switch, or use axe with sharpness instead, then, I think that it could be worth it to just shoot creepers instead of fighting them with smite sword and use smite sword to 1 shot kill phantoms and other mobs that are not creepers and spawn normally.