Understand Golden Sword
Useful when…
- Use it as a melee weapon with the listed Java base damage of 4 HP.
- Choose among compatible sword enchantments for a specific combat effect.
- Drop it near piglins to attract them; they inspect it for 6–8 seconds and do not attack nearby players during that time.
Combat and block breaking
The reference lists 4 HP base damage for golden swords in Java Edition. The mainhand attack damage modifier is 3, and the attack speed modifier is -2.4. Swords can break certain blocks; breaking a block that does not break instantly by hand consumes 2 durability. The golden sword's tool component lists cobwebs and sword-tagged block groups among its rules.
Durability, repair, and enchantments
The sword has 32 durability and is repairable with gold ingots. The reference says each ingot restores 25% of maximum durability, rounded down; with a maximum of 32, that is 8 durability per ingot. Combining two damaged swords adds their durability together plus an extra 5% durability; anvil repairs and combinations preserve enchantments. Supported enchantments include Looting, Knockback, Fire Aspect, Java-only Sweeping Edge, Unbreaking, and Mending. Sharpness, Smite, and Bane of Arthropods are mutually exclusive.
Piglin interaction and other uses
Piglins are attracted to golden swords on the ground and inspect one for 6–8 seconds before putting it in their inventory. During that time, they do not attack nearby players, even if those players are not wearing gold armor. A golden sword can also be smelted into a gold nugget.
Obtaining
Craft a golden sword from a gold ingot and a stick. Golden swords can also appear in bastion remnant and Nether Fortress chests; the reference lists an enchanted golden sword in ruined portal chests. Piglins and zombified piglins have a chance to drop a sword when naturally holding one.
Limitations and tradeoffs
- The sword has 32 durability, and non-instant block breaking consumes 2 durability.
- Gold ingots restore 25% of maximum durability each, rounded down.
- Sharpness, Smite, and Bane of Arthropods cannot be combined on the same sword.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Do not describe its attack speed as high or compare it with other weapons without supporting evidence.
- Do not explain the 4 HP Java damage as the sum of its attribute modifier and player damage; the reference does not establish that calculation.
- Do not combine Sharpness, Smite, and Bane of Arthropods.
- Remember that gold ingot repair restores 25% of maximum durability, rounded down.