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.
Sharpness Enchantment in Minecraft: What It Does
Sharpness adds extra melee damage to every hit. On Java, level I adds 1 damage and each level after adds 0.5, so Sharpness V adds 3; on Bedrock it adds 1.25 times the level, rounded down, so V adds 6. It is the go-to damage enchantment for swords.
Sharpness at a glance
| Max level | V |
| Goes on | Swords, axes and spears |
| Cannot combine with | Smite and Bane of Arthropods. |
| Where to get it | Enchanting tables (swords and spears; axes only by anvil on Java), librarians, loot and mob drops. |
Get enchantments from an enchanting table with bookshelves, from enchanted books on an anvil, from librarian villagers, or as loot; see enchanting and anvils.
What does Sharpness do?
It boosts damage against every mob and player. Smite and Bane of Arthropods do more against undead or arthropods, but only one of the three can be on a weapon. More: sword enchantments.
More about Sharpness
It raises damage against every target, so it is the safest general choice. On Java the enchanting table puts it on swords and spears; axes need an anvil and a book. Each extra enchantment raises the anvil cost of later repairs, which is another reason to add Mending early.
Enchanting tables use lapis lazuli and experience levels, anvils combine books and gear, and librarians sell books. Treasure enchantments only come from loot, trading and fishing, never the table, and higher levels cost more experience to apply and repair.
Tips for Sharpness
Pick Sharpness for all-round use and PvP; switch to a Smite sword for wither and zombie farms. Every enchantment: every enchantment.
Does ArtemisPvP have custom enchants too?
Frequently asked questions
How much damage does Sharpness V add?
+3 on Java, +6 on Bedrock.
Sources
Every fact on this page was checked against these pages; the wording is ours.