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.
Sweep Attacks and Sweeping Edge
A sweep attack is a sword hit that also deals 1 damage to other entities right next to your target. It only happens in Java Edition 1.9 and later, with the attack meter at 84.8% or more, standing on the ground and not critting or sprint-hitting. Sweeping Edge makes the side damage bigger.
When does a sweep attack happen?
minecraft.wiki lists every condition: the attack meter is at 84.8% or more; you are not doing a critical hit or a sprint-knockback attack; you are standing on the ground; your main-hand weapon is a sword; the attack can deal damage; and you are not moving faster than your movement speed attribute (2 blocks per second by default). A sweep shows a gale-like particle.
Who gets hit by a sweep?
The area is built around the entity you hit: 1 block out horizontally in every direction and 0.25 blocks up and down from its hitbox. Every entity in that area and within 3 blocks of you takes the sweep damage, except you, the main target and some armour stands.
What does Sweeping Edge do?
Sweeping Edge raises the sweep's damage to nearby entities (not the main target). By default, levels I, II and III raise sweep damage by 50%, 67% and 75% of the weapon's base damage (before Sharpness), according to minecraft.wiki.
Is sweeping useful in PvP?
It can be. The PvP guide's sidesweep technique uses a sweep hit for very little knockback: after being crit, strafe to the opponent's side and sweep-hit them so they miss their next hit. When it arrived in 1.9 the notes described the sweep's knockback as 80% of Knockback I; minecraft.wiki now gives sweep knockback as 0.4 blocks per tick, unaffected by the Knockback enchantment or sprinting. See strafing and spacing.
Is there a sweep attack in 1.8 or Bedrock?
Not in 1.8: the sweep attack arrived with the Combat Update in 1.9, along with the attack cooldown. minecraft.wiki's attack cooldown and its 84.8% rule are Java-only, and the sweep conditions are written for Java. See attack cooldown and 1.8 vs 1.9+. Sword vs axe: sword vs axe.
Frequently asked questions
How much damage does a sweep attack do?
1 damage to each nearby entity, more with Sweeping Edge.
Why is my sword not sweeping?
Sweeps need the attack meter at 84.8% or more and do not happen on crits or sprint hits.
Sources
Every fact on this page was checked against these pages; the wording is ours.