Updated 25 October 2026. Facts on this page come from minecraft.wiki, community sites named in the text and the live Artemis PvP server; sources are listed at the bottom.
Knockback History: 1.8 vs 1.9+
Knockback in Java 1.8 differs from 1.9+ in ways PvP players feel. In 1.8, airborne players still took vertical knockback and crits could combine with sprint hits. Java 1.9 removed vertical knockback on airborne targets (15w49a), made sprint hits beat crits, and added the 84.8% cooldown rule for sprint hits.
What changed, and when?
| Version | Change (minecraft.wiki knockback history) |
|---|---|
| Classic 0.24 Survival Test | Knockback added |
| Beta 1.8 pre-release | Sprint-knockback attacks added |
| 1.9 (15w34c) | Sprint hits need 84.8% cooldown; they can no longer happen with crits, and take priority |
| 1.9 (15w36a) | Fishing bobbers stop dealing knockback |
| 1.9 (15w47a) | Sprint hits get 0.5 vertical knockback instead of 0.1 (for living entities) |
| 1.9 (15w49a) | Airborne entities stop taking vertical knockback; elytra gliders too |
| 1.16 (20w06a) | Knockback resistance reduces knockback, not just a chance to ignore it |
| 1.18.2 (22w03a) | Knockback resistance no longer gives a chance to ignore all knockback |
How does this change PvP?
Because 1.8 still knocked airborne players upward, a player hit in the air kept rising, which is part of why 1.8 combos look and feel different from modern Java, where an airborne hit only pushes sideways. Bedrock never removed it: minecraft.wiki says Bedrock treats airborne and grounded targets the same. The Combat Test snapshots tried bringing it back to Java. See Combat Tests and Java vs Bedrock.
What else changed for 1.8 players?
In 1.9 (15w36a) fishing bobbers stopped dealing knockback when they hook an entity (fishing rod PvP), and iron golems became fully knockback-immune in 15w46a.
Do servers change knockback?
Many do, especially Bedrock servers: minecraft.wiki's Bedrock PvP guide says servers like The Hive and CubeCraft make normal and sprint hits push the same, and that knockback varies across modes. Current rules: knockback mechanics.
Which knockback does ArtemisPvP use?
ArtemisPvP is built around 1.8.9 combat; see the 1.8.9 PvP FAQ and 1.8 vs 1.9+.
Frequently asked questions
Did 1.8 have vertical knockback on airborne players?
Yes. Java 1.9 snapshot 15w49a removed vertical knockback on airborne entities.
Can you crit and sprint hit at once in 1.8?
Before 1.9 snapshot 15w34c they could happen together; since then the sprint hit takes priority.
Sources
Every fact on this page was checked against these pages; the wording is ours.