What Does Smite Do in Minecraft? Damage Stats, Mobs List and Loadout Guide

Smite is a weapon enchantment in Minecraft that increases melee damage against undead mobs. So you might wonder: what does Smite do in Minecraft? The short answer is that it turns your sword, axe, or any compatible weapon into a specialist-killing tool. So, go through this guide to learn more about the Smite enchantment in Minecraft and how to obtain it as well.

What is the Smite Enchantment in Minecraft?

Smite is one of the best enchantments in Minecraft that increases the damage dealt by compatible melee weapons against undead mobs. Smite has five normal levels: Smite 1, Smite 2, Smite 3, Smite 4, and Smite 5.

The higher the level, the more bonus damage you deal to enemies. For example, Smite 2 adds 5 damage points, while Smite 5 adds 12.5 damage points. Below is a quick overview and maximum damage levels for the Smite enchantment.

Quick Summary and Maximum Level

Feature	Smite
Main effect	Increases damage against undead mobs
Maximum normal level	Smite 5
Maximum bonus damage in Java	+12.5 damage
Maximum bonus damage in Bedrock	+12 damage
Works on the Wither	Yes
Works on Ender Dragons	No
Incompatible with	Sharpness

How Much Extra Damage Does Smite Add: Java vs. Bedrock

Among the many differences between Minecraft Java and Bedrock Edition, this is where Smite has different damage output values.

In Java, each level of Smite adds +2.5 HP (1.25 hearts) of extra damage per hit to the undead mobs. Whereas in Bedrock, this value is rounded down to +2 HP (1 heart) of extra damage added to each level. This makes the Smite enchantment slightly weaker in Bedrock.

Smite Level I to V Damage Scaling Chart

Here is the complete scaling for all levels of the Smite enchantment in Minecraft:

Smite Level	Extra damage in Java	Extra damage in Bedrock
Smite 1	+2.5	+2
Smite 2	+5	+5
Smite 3	+7.5	+7
Smite 4	+10	+10
Smite 5	+12.5	+12

Java Edition

Here’s what the Smite enchantment damage looks like in Minecraft Java Edition. This covers the question: what does the Smite enchantment do in Minecraft, including what does Smite 2 do as well.

Weapon	Base	Smite I	Smite II	Smite III	Smite IV	Smite V
Wooden Sword	4 (6)	6.5 (8.5)	9 (11)	11.5 (13.5)	14 (16)	16.5 (18.5)
Gold Sword	4 (6)	6.5 (8.5)	9 (11)	11.5 (13.5)	14 (16)	16.5 (18.5)
Stone/Copper Sword	5 (7.5)	7.5 (10)	10 (12.5)	12.5 (15)	15 (17.5)	17.5 (20)
Iron Sword	6 (9)	8.5 (11.5)	11 (14)	13.5 (16.5)	16 (19)	18.5 (21.5)
Diamond Sword	7 (10.5)	9.5 (13)	12 (15.5)	14.5 (18)	17 (20.5)	19.5 (23)
Netherite Sword	8 (12)	10.5 (14.5)	13 (17)	15.5 (19.5)	18 (22)	20.5 (24.5)
Wooden Axe	7 (10.5)	9.5 (13)	12 (15.5)	14.5 (18)	17 (20.5)	19.5 (23)
Gold Axe	7 (10.5)	9.5 (13)	12 (15.5)	14.5 (18)	17 (20.5)	19.5 (23)
Stone/Copper Axe	9 (13.5)	11.5 (16)	14 (18.5)	16.5 (21)	19 (23.5)	21.5 (26)
Iron Axe	9 (13.5)	11.5 (16)	14 (18.5)	16.5 (21)	19 (23.5)	21.5 (26)
Diamond Axe	9 (13.5)	11.5 (16)	14 (18.5)	16.5 (21)	19 (23.5)	21.5 (26)
Netherite Axe	10 (15)	12.5 (17.5)	15 (20)	17.5 (22.5)	20 (25)	22.5 (27.5)
Mace	6 (9)	8.5 (11.5)	11 (14)	13.5 (16.5)	16 (19)	18.5 (21.5)

Bedrock Edition

Here’s what the Smite enchantment damage looks like in Minecraft Bedrock Edition. This chart will help you understand the stats if you’re wondering: What does Smite 2 do in Minecraft?

Weapon	Base	Smite I	Smite II	Smite III	Smite IV	Smite V
Wooden Sword	5 (7.5)	7 (10.5)	10 (15)	12 (18)	15 (22.5)	17 (25.5)
Gold Sword	5 (7.5)	7 (10.5)	10 (15)	12 (18)	15 (22.5)	17 (25.5)
Stone/Copper Sword	6 (9)	8 (12)	11 (16.5)	13 (19.5)	16 (24)	18 (27)
Iron Sword	7 (10.5)	9 (13.5)	12 (18)	14 (21)	17 (25.5)	19 (28.5)
Diamond Sword	8 (12)	10 (15)	13 (19.5)	15 (22.5)	18 (27)	20 (30)
Netherite Sword	9 (13.5)	11 (16.5)	14 (21)	16 (24)	19 (28.5)	21 (31.5)
Wooden Axe	4 (6)	6 (9)	9 (13.5)	11 (16.5)	14 (21)	16 (24)
Gold Axe	4 (6)	6 (9)	9 (13.5)	11 (16.5)	14 (21)	16 (24)
Stone/Copper Axe	5 (7.5)	7 (10.5)	10 (15)	12 (18)	15 (22.5)	17 (22.5)
Iron Axe	6 (9)	8 (12)	11 (16.5)	13 (19.5)	16 (24)	18 (27)
Diamond Axe	7 (10.5)	9 (13.5)	12 (18)	14 (21)	17 (25.5)	19 (28.5)
Netherite Axe	8 (12)	10 (15)	13 (19.5)	15 (22.5)	18 (27)	20 (30)
Mace	6 (9)	8 (12)	11 (16.5)	13 (19.5)	16 (24)	18 (27)

As you might notice, the axes of the Java edition are much more powerful than its swords. Meanwhile, the swords are the superior weapon in the Bedrock edition.

The “One-Shot” Breakpoint: Hits-to-Kill Breakdown (Smite V)

One of the biggest practical advantages of Smite 5 in Minecraft is that it can push certain weapons over important health thresholds. A standard zombie has 20 HP. So, in Java Edition, a Smite 5 Netherite sword, producing 20.5 damage, can cross this threshold and defeat an unarmored standard zombie.

The exact number of hits can change depending on the edition, weapon, target, and enemy armor. So, such one-shot claims should not be treated as universal for all the undead mobs in the game.

Complete List of Undead Mobs Affected by Smite in Minecraft

The undead mobs in Minecraft appear “dead” in appearance, and most of them are generally hostile toward the players. Moreover, all these mobs are immune to drowning but transform when trapped underwater (zombie to drowned zombie). Not to forget, the Potion of Healing in Minecraft damages these mobs, but the Potion of Harming ironically heals them.

Overworld, Nether, and End Undead Mobs

That said, here are all the undead mobs that are affected by the Smite enchantment:

Bosses & New Undead Mobs (Wither, Bogged, Parched)

The Wither is particularly important because it’s classified as an undead boss mob. This means that Smite will work against it. So, here are the bosses and undead mobs affected by Smite:

Common Misconceptions: Mobs NOT Affected by Smite

Note that not every hostile mob is undead, so here are all the mobs that are not affected by the Smite enchantment:

Smite vs. Sharpness: Which Minecraft Enchantment is Better?

Now that you’re aware of what Smite actually does in Minecraft, it’s time to learn which is a better enchantment — Smite or Sharpness. Since Smite improves the damage output of your sword and axe against a particular group of mobs in Minecraft, you should keep another sword or axe with the Sharpness enchantment on it.

Sharpness-enchanted weapons will be useful in general applications like striking down hostile mobs, of course, and killing cows and sheep for food in the minimum strikes possible.

The best endgame weapon enchantment combination includes using Smite on an Axe and Sharpness on the Sword. Moreover, if you’re going on a Nether Fortress in Minecraft for exploration, farming the Wither boss, or going into the ocean to kill some zombie nautilus, Smite V can greatly enhance your damage output.

Can You Put Smite and Sharpness on the Same Sword?

No, not through normal Survival gameplay. Smite and Sharpness are mutually exclusive enchantments, and you cannot normally use an anvil or an Enchanting Table to put both on the same sword.

The same fact applies to other competing enchantments such as Bane of Arthropods and Cleaving. So, when you’re enchanting your main sword, you must decide whether you want a general-purpose Sharpness weapon or a specialized one to defeat the undead.

Pro Loadout Strategy: The Two-Weapon Setup (Sword vs. Axe)

Since the Smite enchantment is incompatible with a few other damage-dealing enchantments in Minecraft, a highly practical setup is to carry two weapons:

• All-Time Use Weapon: Sword with Sharpness 5 to use it against mixed mobs.
• Undead Specialist: Sword or axe with Smite 5 to use it against Zombies, Drowned, Wither Skeletons, and more.

How to Get and Apply Smite in Minecraft

Now that you know the answer to ” What does the Smite enchantment do in Minecraft?”, you must now learn where to get it. There are two main ways to obtain enchantments in Minecraft:

• Enchanted Books: Available for Smite on axes in the Java Edition
• Enchanting Table: Applicable for Smite on axes in Bedrock Edition and on swords in both editions.

Enchanting Table vs. Librarian Villager Trading

Unfortunately, there are no fixed locations to find an enchanted book for the Smite enchantment. However, you can use our guide to learn how to find and use enchanted books in Minecraft to make your search simpler. Having said that, here’s how to apply Smite using the Enchanting Table:

• First, place an Enchanting Table in Minecraft on a surface and upgrade it by placing various bookshelves around it. It allows you to get higher levels of Smite.
• Right-click to open the Enchanting Table, then place your sword in the cell on the left cell.
• Place a lapis lazuli in the cell next to it. After that, the table will show three available enchantments on the right side.
• Hover to find the Smite enchantment, then click to apply it to your sword (or even an axe in the Bedrock edition).
• If it doesn’t show up, replace the weapon or the table and then try again.

The next most reliable method is by trading with the librarian villagers. Place a Minecraft lectern beside the unemployed villager to make them a librarian.

Then, you can try trading with the librarian to increase its level and increase the chances of getting a higher-level Smite enchantment. You can also consider breaking and replacing the Lectern block until the Smite enchantment book appears.

Once it does, lock the trade with the required cost, which is mostly emeralds. This method allows you to find Smite enchantment books faster than the enchanting table. Later, you can use an anvil in Minecraft to apply the Smite enchantment to your sword or axe.

Incompatible Enchantments

When it comes to drawbacks, the Smite enchantment is incompatible with the following enchantments:

• Bane of Arthropods
• Sharpness, and
• Cleaving

So, you can’t apply the Smite enchantment to an item that already has one of the three incompatible enchantments.

How to Use Smite Enchantment in Minecraft

Since you now know “what does Smite enchantment do in Minecraft?”, let’s take it for a spin:

• First, look for an undead mob because they are the only ones affected by this enchantment (see the list above). The easiest one to find is a zombie, which spawns in the Overworld in dark places.
• Then, simply walk up to the undead mob and attack it with your Smite-enchanted weapon. Compared to any non-enchanted tool, your Smite axe or sword will kill the mob much faster.

With that, you are now ready to step into your next fight and completely annihilate all the undead mobs of Minecraft. But don’t become too reliant on your weapons. While your axe and sword might be powerful, they can’t deal with swarms of enemies.

So, make sure that you also have a bunch of the best Minecraft armor enchantments for protection. What is your preference: going with the Smite enchanted sword or the one with Sharpness on it? Let us know in the comments below.