Can You Put Bane of Arthropods on an Axe in Minecraft?
Yes, you absolutely can put the Bane of Arthropods enchantment on an axe in Minecraft. This enchantment isn’t exclusive to swords; axes can also benefit from its specific damage-boosting capabilities. However, before you rush off to the enchanting table, it’s vital to understand the nuances of this enchantment, its limitations, and how it stacks up against other options for your axe.
Understanding Bane of Arthropods
What Does Bane of Arthropods Do?
The Bane of Arthropods enchantment is designed to increase the damage you inflict on Arthropod mobs. These include:
- Spiders
- Cave Spiders
- Silverfish
- Endermites
- Bees (although this is less common in combat)
For each level of the enchantment, your weapon (be it an axe or sword) gains a damage increase of 2.5 points, or 1.25 hearts when attacking these specific mobs.
Limitations of Bane of Arthropods
While the increased damage sounds appealing, Bane of Arthropods has its drawbacks. The most significant is its limited applicability. It only works on Arthropod mobs. This makes it a very niche enchantment. Unlike Sharpness, which boosts damage against all mobs, or Smite, which is effective against undead mobs, Bane of Arthropods only works on the previously mentioned enemy types.
Also, it’s important to note that Bane of Arthropods, Sharpness, and Smite are mutually exclusive enchantments. This means you can only have one of these enchantments on your axe or sword at any given time. You cannot combine them.
The Axe as a Weapon
In Minecraft, the axe has evolved from being purely a tool to also being a viable weapon. Its slower attack speed is offset by its high base damage. Enchantments can further enhance its combat utility. The question is, does Bane of Arthropods fit in the ideal axe enchantment profile?
Other Useful Axe Enchantments
When considering an axe for combat, consider also these commonly sought-after enchantments:
- Sharpness: This is a more versatile alternative to Bane of Arthropods or Smite. It enhances the damage output against all types of enemies and therefore is the more versatile choice if you only can choose one of these.
- Efficiency: This increases the speed of using the axe as a tool when chopping down trees or mining wood, making wood gathering faster.
- Unbreaking: This increases the durability of the axe, making it last longer before breaking.
- Mending: This uses the experience you gain to automatically repair the axe, prolonging its lifespan.
- Silk Touch: This is mainly useful for other purposes. However, it can provide a more reliable drop rate on certain items like vines, ferns, and grass.
- Smite: Useful when you fight undead mobs.
Should you Use Bane of Arthropods on your Axe?
Whether you should use Bane of Arthropods on your axe largely depends on your game style and the challenges you frequently encounter. If you find yourself frequently battling spiders, cave spiders, or other arthropods, the extra damage might be beneficial. However, Sharpness is almost always the better option as it’s more universally useful. It makes your axe a formidable weapon against all foes, not just a select few.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Can you have both Bane of Arthropods and Sharpness on an Axe?
No. Bane of Arthropods, Sharpness, and Smite are mutually exclusive. You can only have one of these enchantments on a single axe or sword at a time.
2. How much damage does Bane of Arthropods add?
Each level of Bane of Arthropods adds 2.5 extra damage points (1.25 hearts) when attacking Arthropod mobs.
3. Is Bane of Arthropods better than Sharpness on an axe?
Generally, Sharpness is better because it increases damage against all mobs, making it a more versatile option than Bane of Arthropods, which only affects Arthropods.
4. Does Bane of Arthropods work on Creepers?
No. Creepers are not considered Arthropods, therefore Bane of Arthropods does not affect them.
5. Does Bane of Arthropods work on the Warden?
Yes, in a surprising twist, Wardens are considered weak to Bane of Arthropods and will take extra damage when being hit with a weapon with that enchantment.
6. Can you get Bane of Arthropods from an enchanting table?
Yes, Bane of Arthropods can be acquired from an enchanting table or found on enchanted books, which can then be applied to the axe using an anvil.
7. Does Bane of Arthropods give more XP when killing mobs?
No, Bane of Arthropods itself doesn’t increase the amount of XP you receive from killing mobs. It only increases the damage you deal.
8. Can you use commands to combine Bane of Arthropods and Sharpness?
Yes, if you use commands you can apply multiple conflicting enchantments. These enchantments will stack when applied through commands. But this isn’t possible in regular gameplay.
9. What is the maximum level of Bane of Arthropods?
The maximum level of Bane of Arthropods is V (5).
10. Does Bane of Arthropods work on Ender Dragons?
No, Ender Dragons are not considered arthropods, so Bane of Arthropods has no effect on them.
11. Can Bane of Arthropods be used on a bow?
No, Bane of Arthropods can only be applied to swords and axes. It is a weapon enchantment, not a ranged weapon enchantment.
12. Is Mending useful on an Axe?
Yes, Mending is an incredibly valuable enchantment for an axe. It allows you to repair the axe using experience, ensuring that your axe remains durable and you don’t have to craft a new one too often.
13. What does Fortune do on an axe?
Fortune on an axe increases the drop rate of items from certain blocks, including apples, sticks, saplings from leaves and grass, and ferns.
14. Is Sweeping Edge compatible with Bane of Arthropods?
No. Sweeping Edge is incompatible with Sharpness, Smite, and Bane of Arthropods, as these enchantments are mutually exclusive.
15. Is Bane of Arthropods generally considered useless?
While Bane of Arthropods can be very useful against specific mobs, it’s often considered niche and less versatile than Sharpness. Many players will pick Sharpness as it is more broadly useful.
Conclusion
In conclusion, yes, you can put Bane of Arthropods on an axe. While it’s a valid option for boosting damage against specific Arthropod mobs, it is outclassed by Sharpness in most situations. Its niche nature means you should consider other enchantments first. Consider your gameplay style and make an informed choice about what best suits your Minecraft experience.