Question 1

How is damage calculated in Minecraft?

Accepted Answer

In Java Edition the game starts with the weapon's attack-damage attribute (which already includes Strength and Weakness), multiplies it by the attack-cooldown charge (0.2 + 0.8 times the charge squared, so a fresh fully-recharged swing is 100% and a spam-click can be as low as 20%), then multiplies by 1.5 if it is a critical hit. Enchantment damage from Sharpness, Smite or Bane of Arthropods is added after the critical multiplier. So a Strength II netherite sword crit is (8 + 6) x 1.5 = 21, plus 3 from Sharpness V = 24. Bedrock has no attack cooldown and applies the critical multiplier after enchantments instead.

Question 2

How much does armor reduce damage?

Accepted Answer

Java uses damage x (1 - min(20, max(armor/5, armor - damage/(2 + toughness/4))) / 25). Each armor point is worth at least 4% reduction, but big hits eat into that: a 20-damage attack against full iron armor (20 points, 0 toughness) is reduced to about 16, while full diamond (20 points, 8 toughness) brings it to 8. The maximum any armor can reduce is 80%, reached only against small hits; toughness (only on diamond and netherite) keeps the reduction higher against large hits.

Question 3

What’s the maximum Protection?

Accepted Answer

Protection is measured in EPF (Enchantment Protection Factor), capped at 20, where each point removes 4% of the damage that gets through armor. Generic Protection contributes its level per piece, so Protection IV on all four pieces is 16 EPF = 64%. To reach the 20-EPF / 80% cap you need a type-specific protection like Blast Protection (worth double against explosions). Beyond 20 EPF the extra is wasted. Protection stacks with armor points and is applied after them.

Question 4

Sharpness vs Smite — which is better?

Accepted Answer

Sharpness adds 0.5 x level + 0.5 against everything (so +3 at level V in Java). Smite and Bane of Arthropods add 2.5 x level but only against undead (zombies, skeletons, the wither) or arthropods (spiders, silverfish, bees) respectively - that is +12.5 at level V, far more than Sharpness, but zero against anything else. Use Smite on a dedicated mob-farm or wither weapon and Sharpness as your general-purpose enchantment. The target-type selector here lets you compare them honestly.

Question 5

Does attack cooldown matter?

Accepted Answer

In Java Edition since 1.9, yes - hugely. After a swing the attack indicator recharges, and damage scales as 0.2 + 0.8 x charge squared. Attacking again before it refills can drop you to as little as 20% of your weapon's damage, so spam-clicking a slow weapon like an axe is far weaker than waiting for the full charge. The damage from Sharpness and Smite is also reduced by an under-charged hit, but along a gentler (non-squared) curve. Bedrock has no cooldown at all, which is why it rewards rapid clicking instead.

Question 6

What are the Java vs Bedrock combat differences?

Accepted Answer

Three big ones. First, Bedrock has no attack cooldown, so every hit lands at full damage and rapid clicking is optimal. Second, Sharpness adds 1.25 per level in Bedrock (6.25 at level V) versus 0.5 x level + 0.5 in Java. Third, Bedrock applies the critical x1.5 after adding enchantment damage, while Java applies it before. Bedrock also uses slightly different weapon base values (swords a point higher, axes a point lower) and a multiplicative Strength effect. Toggle the edition at the top to switch the model.

Minecraft Damage & Armor Calculator

Damage calculator (weapons & enchantments)

Armor calculator (damage reduction)

How outgoing damage is calculated

How armor reduces damage

Protection enchantment calculator (EPF)

Armor points by material

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