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.
Sprinting, Swimming and Sneaking in Minecraft
Sprinting (double-tap forward or hold the sprint key) makes you about 30% faster but uses hunger and stops working at 6 hunger points (3 drumsticks) or less. Sprint-swimming lets you glide underwater. Sneaking (Shift) slows you to about 1.3 blocks a second, stops you falling off edges, hides your name tag and makes mobs notice you from closer.
How fast is each kind of movement?
| Movement | Speed (blocks/second) |
|---|---|
| Sneaking | About 1.3 |
| Walking | About 4.3 |
| Sprinting | About 5.6 |
| Sprint-jumping | About 7.1 on average |
| Swimming on the surface | About 2.2 |
| Sprint-swimming | About 3.9 |
Speed and Slowness effects change all of these; see status effects.
How does sprinting work?
- You cannot sprint at 6 hunger or below, or with Blindness.
- A sprint jump crosses 4-block gaps instead of 2.
- Hitting while sprinting deals extra knockback and ends the sprint, the basis of 1.8 PvP combos; see 1.8 vs 1.9 PvP.
- Sprinting uses saturation faster, so eat high-saturation food on long runs.
How does swimming work?
Press forward in water to swim; sprint in water of at least 1 block depth to sprint-swim, a smooth horizontal glide. Look down, sprint-swim and sneak to dive fastest; jump to rise. Depth Strider and Dolphin's Grace speed you up. Breath: drowning.
What does sneaking do?
- Stops you walking off ledges, even over lava.
- Hides your name tag behind walls and on the Locator Bar, and mobs detect you from closer.
- Lets you place blocks against chests and other usable blocks without opening them.
- Sneaking past sculk sensors and wardens makes no vibration; see the warden.
- Swift Sneak (leggings) speeds sneaking by 15% per level.
Do movement skills matter on ArtemisPvP?
Frequently asked questions
Why can't I sprint in Minecraft?
Your hunger is at 6 points (3 drumsticks) or lower, or you have Blindness.
How fast is sprinting?
About 5.6 blocks a second, 30% faster than walking.
Sources
Every fact on this page was checked against these pages; the wording is ours.