What Does Smite Do in Minecraft? Full Enchantment Explained

Smite is a Minecraft enchantment that allows you to deal additional damage against undead mobs. It can be applied to swords or axes. It grants you 2.5 extra damage per level.

Smite only applies to select mob types in Minecraft, the undead. Unlike most damage enchants, Smite does not affect all monsters. You will not deal more damage to living mobs, players, or other creatures with a Smite enchanted weapon.

We’ve done our fair share of undead slaying in Minecraft survival servers, and this guide covers everything you need to know about Smite. Including; what mobs it applies to, how much damage it adds per level, and when to use Smite instead of Sharpness. We’ll also break down what situations Smite is best used for.

What Does Smite Do in Minecraft?

Smite adds extra damage to your weapon against undead mobs. Each level of Smite gives you 2.5 extra damage. This is on top of your weapons default attack damage.

Only undead mobs are affected by Smite. Regular hostile monsters, passive animals, and other players receive no additional damage from Smited weapons.

Smite is fantastic if you plan on taking down tons of undead mobs. It won’t be any use to you if you plan on using your weapon for anything else, though.

What Mobs Does Smite Affect?

Smite works exclusively on undead mobs. Here is the complete list of affected creatures:

• Zombies
• Zombie Villagers
• Husks
• Drowned
• Skeletons
• Strays
• Wither Skeletons
• Zombified Piglins
• Phantoms
• Skeleton Horses
• Zombie Horses
• Zoglins
• The Wither

Smite does not affect players, Endermen, the Ender Dragon, or the Warden. Any mob not classified as undead receives no bonus damage from this enchantment.

How Strong is Smite?

Smite’s quite strong versus undead enemies as it adds 2.5 damage to your attacks per level. This bonus reaches a maximum of 12.5 damage at Smite level 5.

Sword Damage Per Level with Smite in Minecraft (Java Edition)

Weapon	Base Damage	Smite 1	Smite 2	Smite 3	Smite 4	Smite 5
Wooden Sword	4	6.5	9	11.5	14	16.5
Stone Sword	5	7.5	10	12.5	15	17.5
Iron Sword	6	8.5	11	13.5	16	18.5
Diamond Sword	7	9.5	12	14.5	17	19.5
Netherite Sword	8	10.5	13	15.5	18	20.5

Axe Damage Per Level with Smite in Minecraft (Java Edition)

Weapon	Base Damage	Smite 1	Smite 2	Smite 3	Smite 4	Smite 5
Wooden Axe	7	9.5	12	14.5	17	19.5
Stone Axe	9	11.5	14	16.5	19	21.5
Iron Axe	9	11.5	14	16.5	19	21.5
Diamond Axe	9	11.5	14	16.5	19	21.5
Netherite Axe	10	12.5	15	17.5	20	22.5

Sword Damage Per Level with Smite in Minecraft (Bedrock Edition)

Weapon	Base Damage	Smite 1	Smite 2	Smite 3	Smite 4	Smite 5
Wooden Sword	4	7.5	10	12.5	15	17.5
Stone Sword	5	8.5	11	13.5	16	18.5
Iron Sword	6	8.5	11	13.5	17	19.5
Diamond Sword	7	10.5	13	15	18	20.5
Netherite Sword	8	11.5	14	16	19	21.5

Axe Damage Per Level with Smite in Minecraft (Bedrock Edition)

Weapon	Base Damage	Smite 1	Smite 2	Smite 3	Smite 4	Smite 5
Wooden Axe	3	6.5	9	11.5	14	16.5
Stone Axe	4	7.5	10	12.5	15	17.5
Iron Axe	5	8.5	11	13.5	16	18.5
Diamond Axe	6	9.5	12	14.5	17	19.5
Netherite Axe	7	10.5	13	15.5	18	20.5

A Netherite sword with Smite V deals 20.5 damage to undead mobs in Java Edition. The damage increases to 21.5 damage in Bedrock Edition due to faster attack speed. If you land a critical hit, you can one-shot certain undead mobs with a Netherite or a Diamond Sword that has the Smite 5 Enchantment.

What Is the Max Level of Smite in Minecraft?

The maximum level for Smite is V (5) in Minecraft. The enchantment adds 12.5 bonus damage against the undead at the max level.

We recommend getting at least Smite 2 for meaningful impact. After getting Smite 2 on our sword, we could feel the change in combat duration, and undead combat gets ridiculously faster at Smite 4 and 5.

Incompatible Enchantments with Smite in Minecraft

Smite cannot be combined with certain enchantments on the same weapon:

• Sharpness
• Bane of Arthropods
• Density
• Breach
• Cleaving

You can only have one damage enchantment on a weapon in Minecraft. Smite will not stack with Sharpness if you try to put both on a weapon using an anvil. The game will not allow it.

Is Smite Worth Using in Minecraft?

Yes. Smite is worth using in Minecraft if you find yourself fighting a lot of undead mobs. 

Smite gives you a greater damage buff then Sharpness does against undead mobs. However, there’s a trade-off. Smite offers no benefits against other mob types. Smite’s value depends on what you fight most often in Minecraft.

Smite is worth using if:

• You run zombie or skeleton farms frequently
• You are preparing to defeat the Wither boss
• You explore Nether fortresses for wither skeleton skulls
• You hunt drowned for tridents
• You have a dedicated weapon for undead combat
• Your survival world features heavy undead mob spawns

Skip Smite if:

• You want one weapon for all situations
• You fight a wide variety of mob types regularly
• You prioritize PvP combat over PvE
• You prefer flexible loadouts over specialized gear
• You rarely encounter undead-heavy areas

Almost all enchantments in Minecraft have a specialty. Even the Depth Strider enchantment can emerge as the best option at times, especially if you engage in underwater content often.

Best Situations to Use Smite in Minecraft

Smite performs best in the following Minecraft scenarios:

• Wither boss fights: The Wither is an undead mob that takes full Smite damage
• Nether fortress exploration: Wither skeletons spawn frequently in these areas
• Ocean monument raids: Drowned appear in and around these structures
• Zombie spawner farms: Smite speeds up mob clearing for experience grinding
• Village defense: Zombie sieges become easier to manage
• Cave systems: Skeletons and zombies are common underground

When Smite Is Not the Best Choice in Minecraft

Smite underperforms in situations with mixed mob types in Minecraft:

• General exploration: You encounter creepers, spiders, and other non-undead mobs
• End dimension: Endermen are not undead and take no bonus damage
• PvP servers: Smite does not affect players
• Overworld surface travel: Mob spawns include many non-undead creatures
• Cave systems with varied enemies: Creepers and spiders reduce Smite’s effectiveness

Smite vs Sharpness in Minecraft: Which Should You Choose?

We prefer Smite over Sharpness in Minecraft maps where the mob density favors the undead. Sharpness is a better all-rounder, especially if you’re dealing with a variety of mobs on your server.

Smite advantages:

• Deals 12.5 bonus damage at max level to undead
• Best for Wither fights and undead farming
• Can one-shot many undead mobs with a proper setup

Sharpness advantages:

• Works on every hostile mob and player
• More versatile for mixed combat situations
• Better for PvP gameplay

When to choose Smite:

• You farm undead mobs regularly
• You are preparing for specific undead-heavy content

When to choose Sharpness:

• You want one weapon for everything
• You encounter varied mob types
• You play on PvP servers

If you have the resources, we’d also recommend carrying two weapons with you. A Smite weapon for undead combat, and a Sharpness weapon for general use.

Best Enchantments to Combine with Smite

Smite works well with plenty of enchantments in Minecraft that don’t conflict with it, and the following are our favorites:

• Unbreaking: Reduces durability loss and extends your weapon’s life.
• Mending: Repairs your weapon using XP orbs.
• Looting: Increases mob drop rates for items and XP.

We also enjoy using Fire Aspect for setting mobs on fire, and also Knockback to push enemies away in combination with the Smite enchantment.

How to Get Smite in Minecraft

You can get Smite in Minecraft by:

• Using the Enchanting Table
• Trading with Villagers, as some can sell the enchantment
• Opening loot chests
• Fishing, but with very minimal chances

If you have two Smite 1 enchantments, you can combine them to get Smite 2 in the Anvil.

How to Put Smite on a Weapon in Minecraft

Once you have the Smite enchanted book in Minecraft, you can put it in your weapon using an anvil:

1. Place an anvil
2. Put your sword or axe in the left slot
3. Put the Smite enchanted book in the right slot
4. The result shows in the output slot
5. Pay the experience level cost shown
6. Take your enchanted weapon

How Rare Is Smite 5 in Minecraft?

Smite 5 is a rare enchantment in Minecraft. Even at level 30 enchantments, you’ll have a small chance to receive Smite 5 directly. For that reason, most players obtain Smite 5 by combining lower-level Smite books at an anvil to unlock higher levels.

Alternatively, you can regularly engage in Librarian trading since you’ll have an option to reroll trades. One of the rerolls may contain a Smite 5, but the odds will still be slim.

Is Smite Actually Worth Using?

Smite is definitely worth using, especially when you know what type of mobs you’ll be fighting against. 

Here’s everything you need to remember about Smite in Minecraft, so you’ll know when it’s worth enchanting your weapon with it:

The Core Mechanics of Smite:

• Smite adds 2.5 damage per level against undead mobs only
• Maximum level is Smite V (+12.5 damage total)
• Cannot be combined with Sharpness or Bane of Arthropods

When It’s Worth Using:

• You farm zombies, skeletons, or drowned regularly
• You’re preparing to fight the Wither boss
• You explore Nether fortresses
• You want a dedicated weapon to use against the undead

When to Skip It:

• You want one weapon for all situations
• Most fights involve mixed mob types
• You play on PvP-focused servers
• You rarely encounter undead-heavy areas

If you’d like to fight against hordes with enchanted gear alongside other players, you can check out the active Minecraft servers on MineRank to find survival worlds, SMP communities, and PvE-focused servers where your Smite weapon will dominate.

FAQs about Smite in Minecraft

What enchantment kills zombies faster?

Smite kills zombies faster than any other enchantment in Minecraft.

Is Smite better than Sharpness?

Smite is better than Sharpness for fighting undead mobs. Sharpness is better for general combat and PvP.

Is Smite IV good on a sword?

Yes, Smite IV on a sword is great. It gives you 10 damage versus undead mobs. This will one shot zombies, skeletons, and undead monsters alike when you crit.

What mobs does Smite not affect?

Smite does not work on any mobs that are not undead. This includes creepers, spiders, Endermen, the Ender Dragon, slimes, guardians, the Warden, or any passive mobs. Smite will also not work on players in PvP.

How much damage does Smite 5 add?

Smite V gives you 12.5 extra damage versus undead mobs. This bonus stacks with your weapon’s base damage and critical hit multipliers.

Can you override Smite with Sharpness?

No. You cannot replace Smite with Sharpness on the same weapon. You must use a grindstone to remove Smite first.