Does Smite Increase Damage? A Comprehensive Guide
Yes, Smite definitively increases damage in Minecraft, but with a crucial caveat: it only enhances damage against undead mobs. This enchantment is designed to specifically target these creatures, making it a powerful tool against certain enemy types, while remaining entirely ineffective against others. Understanding the mechanics and limitations of Smite is essential for any Minecraft player looking to optimize their combat strategy. Let’s delve deeper into how this enchantment works, its effectiveness, and how it compares to other damage-boosting options.
How Smite Works
Smite functions as a weapon enchantment, applicable to both swords and axes. It adds a flat damage bonus per level to every hit landed on an undead mob. This damage is not a percentage increase but a fixed number, meaning its effectiveness scales linearly with the enchantment level.
Specifically, each level of Smite adds 2.5 extra points of damage to your weapon’s base damage. This means:
- Smite I: +2.5 damage
- Smite II: +5 damage
- Smite III: +7.5 damage
- Smite IV: +10 damage
- Smite V: +12.5 damage
Smite V, being the highest level, provides the most significant damage boost at 12.5 additional damage points per hit against undead mobs. This can dramatically reduce the number of hits required to defeat these creatures.
Undead Mobs Affected by Smite
It’s vital to understand which mobs are classified as “undead” in Minecraft to effectively utilize Smite. The following mobs are vulnerable to the extra damage provided by Smite:
- Zombies
- Zombie Pigmen (now Zombified Piglins)
- Skeletons
- Wither Skeletons
- Drowned
- Zombie Horses
- Skeleton Horses
- Phantoms
- Husks
- Strays
- The Wither Boss
Notably, Endermen, spiders, creepers, and the Ender Dragon are not affected by Smite. They are classified as different types of mobs and therefore do not take additional damage from this enchantment.
Smite vs. Sharpness: Which is Better?
The key decision for players is often whether to choose Smite or Sharpness, another common damage enchantment. Sharpness is a more versatile option, increasing damage against all mob types, including players. However, the damage increase provided by Sharpness is less than that of Smite when used against undead mobs.
Here’s a comparison:
- Smite: More damage against undead, no effect on others.
- Sharpness: Less damage than Smite against undead, but damages all mob types including players.
The choice depends on the player’s focus. If the primary enemies are undead, Smite is superior for raw damage output against those specific mobs. However, Sharpness is the better all-around choice if facing a variety of enemies, including other players in PvP scenarios, or if the user wants a single weapon that deals extra damage against any mob. You cannot combine these two enchantments on the same item.
Additional Considerations
Smite and Critical Hits
Smite damage is added before critical hit calculations. If you land a critical hit, the entire damage output, including the Smite bonus, is doubled. This further enhances the effectiveness of Smite against undead mobs, making critical hits particularly devastating.
Smite and Attack Speed
Smite damage is applied with every hit based on the weapon’s attack speed. Faster weapons with Smite will result in more consistent damage output per second compared to slower weapons. It is affected by attack speed, not casting rate.
Durability
The article mentions that smiting does indeed affect the weapon durability and not the shield. This means that every hit, regardless of damage type, does have a chance to reduce the durability of the item.
Enchantment Availability
Smite appears randomly at the enchantment table, just like any other enchantment. This means that players must continually enchant items until they get the desired Smite level. It can also be obtained through trading with villagers or finding enchanted books in loot chests.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Does Smite damage double on a critical hit?
Yes, Smite damage is doubled on a critical hit, just like the base weapon damage. This means that a critical hit with a Smite-enchanted weapon will result in significantly higher damage output against undead mobs.
2. Can you have Smite and Sharpness on the same weapon?
No, Smite and Sharpness are mutually exclusive. You cannot apply both of these enchantments to the same sword or axe.
3. Does Smite work on Creepers?
No, Smite does not affect Creepers. Creepers are not classified as undead mobs and therefore do not take additional damage from Smite.
4. Is Smite effective against Endermen?
No, Smite is not effective against Endermen. Endermen are not undead, so they receive no additional damage from the Smite enchantment.
5. Does Smite work on the Ender Dragon?
No, Smite does not work on the Ender Dragon. The Ender Dragon is not considered an undead mob.
6. Is Smite better than Sharpness for the Wither?
Yes, Smite is better than Sharpness for fighting the Wither, as the Wither is an undead mob and receives the extra damage from Smite. If you do not have Smite, Sharpness will be a suitable alternative over having no enchantment at all.
7. How much extra damage does Smite IV do?
Smite IV adds 10 extra damage to each hit against undead mobs.
8. Is Smite good for Player vs. Player (PvP)?
No, Smite is not effective in PvP because it does not affect human players. Sharpness is a better enchantment for PvP.
9. Does Smite override Sharpness?
No, Smite does not override Sharpness. They are incompatible and cannot both be present on the same weapon, so it’s a matter of choosing one or the other.
10. What is the best level of Smite?
Smite V is the best level, as it provides the highest damage boost of 12.5 extra damage per hit against undead mobs.
11. Does Smite work on Piglins?
Yes, Smite works on Zombified Piglins, as they are considered undead mobs. However, it does not affect regular Piglins.
12. Does Smite work on Phantoms?
Yes, Smite works on Phantoms, which are classified as undead.
13. How can I get the Smite enchantment?
You can obtain Smite from an enchanting table, trading with villagers, or finding enchanted books in loot chests. It appears as a random option, so persistence may be required.
14. Is Smite better for killing mobs in general?
No, Smite is not better for killing mobs in general. It is only more effective against undead mobs. Sharpness is the better option for overall mob fighting, as it affects all mobs.
15. Does Unbreaking affect how long Smite lasts?
Unbreaking does not affect how long Smite lasts, it only affects the durability of the item it is on. This is important to note as a Smite weapon will always break at the same durability as any other weapon, but an unbreaking enchantment will increase that durability significantly.
Conclusion
Smite is a powerful damage enchantment that, when used strategically, can provide significant benefits in Minecraft. While its usefulness is limited to undead mobs, against those specific enemies, Smite can significantly increase a weapon’s damage output. Knowing when to choose Smite over Sharpness is crucial for maximizing a player’s combat potential. By understanding the mechanics and limitations of Smite, players can make more informed choices about their enchantments and dominate the undead foes that lurk in the Minecraft world.