What Is Smite in Minecraft?

Smite is a sword and axe enchantment in Minecraft that deals extra damage to undead mobs. Each level adds 2.5 extra damage (1.25 hearts) per hit against zombies, skeletons, phantoms, wither skeletons, the Wither, and all other undead. Smite V adds 12.5 extra damage.

Undead Mobs Affected by Smite

• Zombies (all types: husk, drowned, zombie villager, zombified piglin)
• Skeletons (regular, stray, wither skeleton)
• Phantoms
• Zoglins
• The Wither and Wither boss
• Skeleton horses

Smite vs Sharpness

• Smite: +2.5 per level, but ONLY vs undead. Max +12.5 at level V.
• Sharpness: +1.5 per level vs ALL mobs. Max +7.5 at level V.
• They are mutually exclusive — you can’t have both on the same weapon.
• Use Smite for Nether fortress farming (wither skeletons) and mob grinders.
• Use Sharpness for general PvP and fighting all mob types.

How to Get Smite

• Enchanting table — apply to a sword or axe at level 1-30 enchanting.
• Anvil + enchanted book (found in dungeon/stronghold chests or from librarian villagers).
• Grindstone removes Smite if you want to switch to Sharpness.

Smite vs Sharpness

Smite and Sharpness are mutually exclusive sword enchantments — you can only use one at a time. Sharpness adds flat bonus damage (+1 at level I, up to +3 at level V) to all attacks regardless of mob type. Smite adds much more damage (+2.5 per level, up to +12.5 at level V) but only against undead mobs. For general use, Sharpness is more versatile. For Nether fortresses, soul sand valleys, and zombie/skeleton spawner farms, Smite V is significantly stronger. A Smite V diamond sword can one-hit regular zombies and skeletons.

All Undead Mobs in Minecraft

• Zombies, zombie villagers, husks, drowned
• Skeletons, strays, wither skeletons
• Phantoms
• Zoglins and zombie piglins (zombified piglins)
• The Wither boss
• Skeleton horses

When to Choose Smite

Choose Smite V if you are primarily fighting undead. The Wither boss takes full Smite damage, making it the best enchantment for wither fights — Smite V adds 12.5 extra damage per hit on top of your sword’s base damage. For mob farms and spawner-based XP farms, Smite reduces kill time significantly. Many players keep two swords: a Sharpness V sword for everyday use and a Smite V sword specifically for undead encounters, wither fights, and the Nether where wither skeletons are the primary threat.

Smite and Undead Farm Design

A Smite V sword is the ideal weapon for zombie and skeleton spawner XP farms. At Smite V, a diamond sword deals 19.5 total damage to undead per hit, one-shotting regular zombies and skeletons without needing critical hits. This speed dramatically increases XP gain per hour since you can clear mobs faster from the kill chamber. For wither skeleton farms in Nether fortresses, Smite V combined with a Looting III sword provides maximum wither skull drops. Wither skeletons have 20 health, so Smite V plus diamond sword base damage kills them in one critical hit, making skull farming significantly less tedious.

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