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.
Minecraft PvP History: Every Combat Change
Minecraft PvP took its classic shape in Beta 1.8, which added sprint-knockback attacks and sword blocking. Java 1.9 rewrote combat with the attack cooldown, shields and elytra. Later updates added totems (1.11), tridents (1.13), crossbows (1.14), netherite (1.16), maces and wind charges (1.21) and spears (1.21.11).
When did each change arrive?
| Java version | PvP change (minecraft.wiki) |
|---|---|
| Beta 1.8 | Sprint-knockback attacks and sword blocking added |
| 1.9 (2016) | Attack cooldown, shields (axes can disable them), sweep attacks, elytra, offhand slot; pearl cooldown; rods stop knocking back; Strength becomes +3 per level |
| 1.11 | Totem of Undying; axe hits always disable shields |
| 1.13 | Trident |
| 1.14 | Crossbow |
| 1.16 | Netherite |
| 1.21 | Mace and wind charges (first in experimental 1.20.x snapshots) |
| 1.21.11 | Spears |
Combat basics changed most in 1.9; see the Combat Update.
How did shields change after 1.9?
minecraft.wiki's shield history: added in 1.9 snapshot 15w33c, where an axe hit 'may' disable a shield for 5 seconds and the raise delay was cut from 0.5 to 0.25 seconds. In 1.11 (16w35a) axe hits started disabling shields every time, and Efficiency or sprinting stopped affecting the chance. See shield techniques.
How did knockback change?
Sprint knockback arrived in Beta 1.8; in 1.9 sprint hits stopped stacking with crits and airborne targets stopped taking vertical knockback. Full list: knockback history.
Why does version history matter for PvP?
Servers pick a combat version, and players move between them. Knowing what changed, and when, explains why techniques from one server fail on another: rod knockback is gone after 1.9, axe disables need 1.9 or later, and maces or spears only exist on modern versions. ArtemisPvP, for example, is built around 1.8.9 combat.
What came after?
Mojang's Combat Test snapshots (2019 to 2020) tried a new system, then went on hiatus; see Combat Tests. For the 1.8 vs modern comparison, see 1.8 vs 1.9+.
Which era does ArtemisPvP use?
ArtemisPvP is built around 1.8.9 combat, and Java players on newer versions can also join; see the 1.8.9 PvP FAQ.
Frequently asked questions
When was the Minecraft combat update?
Java Edition 1.9, released in 2016.
When were maces added?
Java 1.21, after experimental snapshots in the 1.20.x era.
Sources
Every fact on this page was checked against these pages; the wording is ours.
- minecraft.wiki/w/Knockback_(mechanic)
- minecraft.wiki/w/Sword
- minecraft.wiki/w/Java_Edition_1.9
- minecraft.wiki/w/Shield
- minecraft.wiki/w/Elytra
- minecraft.wiki/w/Totem_of_Undying
- minecraft.wiki/w/Trident
- minecraft.wiki/w/Crossbow
- minecraft.wiki/w/Netherite_Ingot
- minecraft.wiki/w/Mace
- minecraft.wiki/w/Wind_Charge
- minecraft.wiki/w/Spear
- minecraft.wiki/w/Java_Edition_Combat_Tests