Updated 23 October 2026. Facts on this page come from minecraft.wiki, minecraft.net and the live Artemis PvP server; sources are listed at the bottom.
Minecraft PvP Terms Explained
Minecraft PvP has its own vocabulary: W-tapping resets your sprint for knockback combos, jump-resetting cuts the knockback you take, crit-spam chains jumping critical hits, and outspacing means hitting from the edge of your 3-block reach. Here is every common term.
What do Minecraft PvP terms mean?
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Combo | Chaining hits while keeping the opponent out of reach, letting them land before each hit |
| Crit-spam (c-spam) | Landing critical hits over and over by jumping constantly |
| Half-swing | Attacking with the cooldown between 84.8% and 100% to swing faster while keeping crits and sprint hits |
| Outspacing | Hitting from the very edge of the 3-block reach |
| S-tap | Tapping S right after a hit to stop moving forward |
| Sprint-crit state | Holding sprint after a sprint hit so later hits can be crits while sprinting |
| W-tap (sprint reset) | Restarting your sprint after each hit to keep landing sprint-knockback hits |
| Hit-select | A sprint hit right after the opponent hits you, cutting your own horizontal speed by 40% so you take less knockback |
| Jump-reset | Jumping as you are hit to take less horizontal knockback |
| P-crit | A critical hit using the upward knockback from the opponent's hit instead of a jump |
| Stun-slam | An axe hit to stun the shield, then a mace smash attack |
| 1v1 | A fight of one player against one other player |
| Bubbling (web bubbling) | Placing two cobwebs where you stand to block melee while you heal |
| Double-handing (d-hand) | Holding totems in both hands in Crystal PvP to survive twice in a row |
| Hit crystal | Knocking the opponent up before exploding end crystals |
| Quick-drop | Dying early in a fight through poor health management |
| Toteming | Putting a new totem in your offhand straight after one is used |
These definitions follow minecraft.wiki's modern Java PvP guide. Some, such as half-swing and the sprint-crit state, depend on the attack cooldown, which 1.8 does not have; see 1.8 vs 1.9+ combat.
What are the two main ways to attack?
- Sprint-knockback hits: hit while sprinting to send the opponent up and away; resetting the sprint (W-tapping) chains them into combos.
- Critical hits: hit while falling for 50% extra damage; players can jump about 1.6 times a second, so crits are slower but harder.
Sprint hits do nothing to a raised shield, which is why breaking shields with an axe opens combos. See shields.
How do you counter combos?
- Jump-reset to take less knockback.
- Back out after a sprint hit lands on you.
- Hit-select: answer their hit with your own sprint hit straight away.
- Sprint-hit an opponent who is jumping for crits while you are on the ground.
Which PvP kits use these skills?
Sword, Axe, SMP, Pot, UHC, Crystal, Cart, Mace, Spear and Vanilla kits each lean on different techniques; see every PvP kit and practice PvP.
Where can you use these on ArtemisPvP?
Frequently asked questions
What is W-tapping?
Restarting your sprint after each hit so every hit is a sprint-knockback hit.
What is a jump-reset?
Jumping as you are hit to take less horizontal knockback.
Sources
Every fact on this page was checked against these pages; the wording is ours.