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.
SMP and Netherite PvP Guide
SMP PvP is fighting in high-power diamond or netherite gear without maces, end crystals or respawn anchors, which is how many SMP servers run combat. It is a slow, tactical style: shields and axe disables, two swords, golden apples, ender pearls and careful armour durability management.
What does an SMP kit include?
The guide's example netherite kit: fully enchanted netherite armour, two netherite swords (one with Knockback I and one without), a fully enchanted axe, two stacks of golden apples, a totem, about two stacks of pearls, an enchanted shield, a stack of XP bottles, and plenty of Strength II, Speed II and Fire Resistance potions. Many SMPs ban explosive weapons, which is where the kit's name comes from.
What are the key SMP tips?
- Master shield and sword techniques; shields are the biggest obstacle.
- Learn when your opponent will shield, and disable it with an axe for a 5-second opening.
- Pearl away at about 4 hearts, not too close and not too far.
- Drain: take as few hits as possible and heal away from them so they cannot hurt your armour while you heal.
- Deception: fake being low, eat a gapple or two and play aggressively.
- A Knockback I sword brings back crit deflects and combos against netherite.
Shield play: shield techniques. Pearls: ender pearls in PvP.
Why carry two swords?
Netherite armour's knockback resistance makes combos weak with a normal sword, so a Knockback I sword restores combo knockback. But a Knockback sword pushes them out of crit range. The guide's answer: pressure with the Knockback sword, then switch to the no-Knockback sword to crit-chain them when they try to retreat.
How do you manage armour durability?
Back off before armour breaks (the guide suggests when your helmet or boots drop below about 70 durability) and repair with XP bottles away from your opponent. Because XP bottles repair everything you wear evenly but pieces have different durability, the guide's trick is to repair pieces one at a time. Details: healing and armour repair.
Which other kits are similar?
Pot PvP uses the same gear with potions instead of gapples and no shield; see pot PvP. All kits: PvP kit types.
Frequently asked questions
What is SMP PvP?
Fighting in high-power diamond or netherite gear without maces, end crystals or respawn anchors.
Why do SMP players carry two swords?
One with Knockback I for combos against netherite and one without for crit chains.
Sources
Every fact on this page was checked against these pages; the wording is ours.