Updated 25 October 2026. Facts on this page come from minecraft.wiki, minecraft.net and the live Artemis PvP server; sources are listed at the bottom.
The Off-Hand in Minecraft: What to Hold in It
The off-hand slot lets you hold a second item in your other hand. On Java press F to swap your held item into it, or put it there in your inventory. The off-hand item is used when the main-hand item has nothing to do, which is why a shield or a torch there works so well. Bedrock allows only certain items, not blocks.
What is best in the off-hand?
- Shield: block while holding a sword or axe; it cannot block if your main hand item has its own use, such as a bow; see shields.
- Totem of undying: saves you from death; see totems.
- Torches or blocks (Java): place them without switching from your pickaxe while mining.
- Fireworks: with a crossbow, fireworks fire only from the off-hand; with elytra they boost flight.
- Food (Java): eat without changing your hotbar slot.
- A map: see it while you walk; see maps.
Which hand gets used?
The main hand always comes first. The off-hand item is used only when the main-hand item has no use, or cannot be used on what you are looking at, such as an axe aimed at a block it cannot strip. So holding a bow in your main hand blocks a shield in your off-hand.
Can you fight with two weapons?
No: only a bow, crossbow, spear or trident can be used from the off-hand, and you cannot attack with a second sword. Melee damage always comes from the main hand. PvP setups: 1.8 vs 1.9 PvP.
Do mobs use the off-hand?
Some do: drowned are the only mob that spawns holding something in the off-hand, a nautilus shell. Mobs that pick up a shield put it in the off-hand, and piglins briefly use both hands while inspecting gold.
When was the off-hand added?
In Java 1.9, the Combat Update, together with shields. Players on 1.8 have no off-hand slot. Combat versions: 1.9 combat.
Frequently asked questions
What key puts an item in your off-hand?
F on Java Edition.
Sources
Every fact on this page was checked against these pages; the wording is ours.