Understand Mace
Useful when…
- Strike an enemy while descending after falling at least 1.5 blocks to trigger a smash attack.
- Use Density to increase damage from smash attacks when falling distance is part of the approach.
- Use Breach against armored targets; it reduces armor effectiveness by 15% per level.
- Use Wind Burst to launch upward after a smash attack.
Smash attacks and falling
A smash attack activates after falling at least 1.5 blocks, provided you are not grounded, in elytra flight, or affected by Slow Falling. It adds 4 HP per fallen block for the first 3 blocks, 2 HP per block for the next 5, then 1 HP per block after that. Smash attacks usually count as critical hits, increasing both base and smash damage by 50%. A successful smash resets the fall height used for fall damage at the smash point; if you keep falling, fall damage starts accumulating again. The hit also knocks back entities within 2.5 blocks. [1]
Normal attacks and enchantments
A fully charged normal attack deals 6 HP. In Java Edition, the mace's 0.6 attack speed corresponds to a 1.667-second interval and 3.6 damage per second, or 5.4 with critical hits. Density increases smash damage by 0.5 HP × 0.25 per level for each block fallen, up to level V; it does not increase normal attack damage. Breach reduces a target's armor effectiveness by 15% per level, up to level IV. Wind Burst launches the attacker upward after a smash attack. The mace can also receive Unbreaking and Mending; Mending repairs it when experience is obtained. [2]
Crafting, durability, and repair
The mace is crafted from a Heavy Core and a Breeze Rod. It has 500 durability, and each normal or smash attack costs 1 durability. An anvil can repair it with Breeze Rods or another mace; one Breeze Rod restores 25% durability, and these repair methods preserve enchantments. Combining two damaged maces adds their remaining durability plus 5%. In Java Edition, hitting a boat or minecart destroys it without consuming mace durability. [3]
Limitations and mistakes
Density does not increase damage from grounded normal attacks. Slow Falling prevents a smash attack, and Java Edition elytra flight does not trigger one. The mace's 0.6 attack speed makes repeated normal swings slow. Curse of Vanishing makes the mace disappear on death. [4]
Limitations and tradeoffs
- Smash damage depends on reaching a target during a qualifying fall.
- Density increases smash damage only; Breach reduces armor effectiveness.
- The slow attack speed limits repeated normal attacks, and each attack consumes durability.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Expecting Density to increase damage from normal attacks.
- Expecting a smash while grounded, in Java elytra flight, or affected by Slow Falling.
- Relying on frequent normal swings despite the 0.6 attack speed.
- Using Curse of Vanishing without accounting for the mace disappearing on death.